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Plugs & Lighting

Kasa vs Wyze

The two budget smart-home brands renters weigh most — plugs and bulbs compared on ecosystem support, price and the little things that matter.

By Stephen V.Updated How we pick

Kasa and Wyze are the two brands renters reach for when they want to make a lamp or a fan smart without spending real money. Both make plug-in smart plugs and screw-in smart bulbs, both need no hub, and both are genuinely good — this is a close call, not a blowout. The decision usually comes down to one thing most people don’t think about until it’s too late: which voice ecosystem you use.

We’re comparing the plugs most people buy first — the Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 and the Wyze Plug— with a note on how the same logic applies to their bulbs. Both are the most reversible upgrades there are: they plug in or screw in and leave with you at move-out. Prices are pulled live and dated. For the full field, see the best smart plugs roundup.

How this is funded: we earn a commission if you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. It never changes which product we recommend, and we’ll tell you when we’d skip one. Full disclosure.

The picks at a glance

Ranked on renter fit, no-fee recording and how cleanly each one comes off the wall. Select a row to jump to the full write-up. We haven’t tested these — here is exactly what we do instead.

#ProductBest forLease-SafePrice
1
Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25

Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25

The best smart plug for a renter: it needs no hub, works with Alexa, Google and Apple Home, and is small enough not to block the second outlet. It just plugs in — the most no-drill upgrade there is.

Best plug for most rentersLease-Safe: Excellent
$17.99 · View on Amazon

$24.9928% off

Price as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

2
Wyze Plug (2-pack)

Wyze Plug (2-pack)

Usually sold as a two-pack, so it's the cheapest per-outlet way to make a couple of lamps smart. Works with Alexa and Google; no hub. A fine first buy if you want two plugs for the price of one competitor's.

Cheapest per outletLease-Safe: Excellent
$44.32 · View on Amazon

Price as of September 8, 2026. #ad How we’re funded

The picks in full

#1Best plug for most rentersLease-Safe: Excellent

Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25

The best smart plug for a renter: it needs no hub, works with Alexa, Google and Apple Home, and is small enough not to block the second outlet. It just plugs in — the most no-drill upgrade there is.

What we like

  • No hub required — connects straight to Wi-Fi
  • Works with Alexa, Google Home and Apple Home (HomeKit)
  • Compact — won't block the outlet beside it

Trade-offs

  • 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only
  • One outlet per plug
Installs byPlug-in (no install)
PowerPlug-in
SubscriptionNot required
Connectivity2.4GHz Wi-Fi (no hub)
Hub neededNo
EcosystemsAlexa, Google, Apple Home

Lease-Safe: Excellent. It plugs into an outlet and does nothing to the wall. Take it with you in a second at move-out. Nothing is more deposit-safe.

Spec note. Kasa publishes HomeKit support and hub-free 2.4GHz Wi-Fi operation. The mini form factor is specifically to avoid blocking the second socket.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

#2Cheapest per outletLease-Safe: Excellent

Wyze Plug (2-pack)

Usually sold as a two-pack, so it's the cheapest per-outlet way to make a couple of lamps smart. Works with Alexa and Google; no hub. A fine first buy if you want two plugs for the price of one competitor's.

What we like

  • Two plugs in the box — lowest cost per outlet
  • No hub; Alexa and Google support
  • Small footprint

Trade-offs

  • No Apple Home (HomeKit) support
  • 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only
Installs byPlug-in (no install)
PowerPlug-in
SubscriptionNot required
Connectivity2.4GHz Wi-Fi (no hub)
Pack2 plugs
Hub neededNo

Lease-Safe: Excellent. Plug-in only; nothing is fixed to the wall and both plugs travel with you.

Spec note. Wyze lists Alexa and Google support with no hub. No HomeKit. Frequently the lowest cost per outlet because it ships as a pair.

Specs read from the product listing, on July 25, 2026. “Not published” means the brand does not state that figure.

Ecosystem: the deciding factor

This is the one that should settle it. The Kasa EP25 works with Apple Home (HomeKit) as well as Alexa and Google, which makes it the only pick here for an iPhone household that wants Siri and the Home app. The Wyze Plug works with Alexa and Google but notApple Home. So if you’re on Apple, Kasa wins by default; if you’re on Alexa or Google, both are in play and it comes down to price.

Price per outlet

Wyze’s advantage is the format: the Wyze Plug is usually sold as a two-pack, which makes it the cheapest way to get two outlets smart at once. Kasa’s EP25 is often sold singly (though multipacks exist). If you just want to put two lamps on a schedule as cheaply as possible and you’re on Alexa/Google, the Wyze two-pack is hard to beat on cost per plug. If you want one plug, the best ecosystem support, and a very compact body, the Kasa is the pick.

Size, app and reliability

Both are compact enough not to block the second outlet on a duplex socket — the Kasa Mini is especially small. Kasa’s app is a bit more mature for scheduling and automations; Wyze’s is perfectly capable and familiar if you own other Wyze gear. Both connect over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with no hub, and both are reliable in day-to-day use. There’s no subscription on either, ever.

What about the bulbs?

The same pattern holds for their smart bulbs. The Kasa Smart Color Bulb and the Wyze Bulb Colorare both hub-free, screw-in color bulbs that work with Alexa and Google; neither supports Apple Home. Wyze’s bulb is notably bright (1100 lumens) and cheap in multipacks — the value pick for lighting several rooms — while Kasa’s is the tidy all-rounder. Either way, remember the wall switch has to stay on for a smart bulb to respond; the renter fix is the no-wiring smart switch.

The verdict

Buy Kasa if you use Apple Home, want the best all-round ecosystem support, or want a single very compact plug. Buy Wyzeif you’re on Alexa or Google and want the lowest cost per outlet via the two-pack. You really can’t go wrong — both are Excellent Lease-Safe, no-install, take-them-with-you upgrades. See the whole category in the best smart plugs and best apartment lights roundups.

Frequently asked questions

Is Kasa or Wyze better for smart plugs?

Both are excellent, cheap, no-hub renter plugs. Kasa (the EP25 Mini) wins if you use Apple Home, since it supports HomeKit as well as Alexa and Google. Wyze wins on cost per outlet because it's usually sold as a two-pack, but it doesn't support Apple Home. On Alexa or Google, pick on price; on Apple, pick Kasa.

Do Kasa or Wyze plugs work with Apple HomeKit?

Kasa's EP25 does — it works with Apple Home (HomeKit) as well as Alexa and Google Home. The Wyze Plug does not support Apple Home; it works with Alexa and Google only. If you're an iPhone household that wants Siri control, choose Kasa.

Do these smart plugs need a hub?

No. Both the Kasa EP25 and the Wyze Plug connect directly to your 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with no hub required. You just plug them in, add them in the app, and they leave with you at move-out — the most reversible smart-home upgrade there is.

Are Kasa and Wyze bulbs any good?

Yes. Both make hub-free, screw-in color bulbs that work with Alexa and Google (neither supports Apple Home). The Wyze Bulb Color is bright (1100 lumens) and cheap in multipacks — great for lighting several rooms — while Kasa's is a tidy all-rounder. Remember the wall switch must stay on for any smart bulb to respond.

Sources

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