A few months ago, I bought this TP-Link Kasa smart plug 2-pack for $25.
Back in May, I posted about the deal pricing when it was discounted to $18 for the 2-pack.
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Now, the same Kasa smart plug 2-pack is priced at $15. *Hold on a moment. Done, I just ordered a second pair.*
This is crazy-good pricing, not only compared to what I paid just 4 months ago in March, but compared to competing products, such as Amazon’s ($25 via Amazon).
Setup of my Kasa smart plugs were easy, the app is straightforward, and so far everything has been working quite well. *Knock on wood,* it has all been trouble-free.
As I mentioned, I just ordered two more, for use with shop lights and maybe also an air cleaning fan or dust vac. I’ve been careful to avoid exceeding the load rating, using mine for low-surge devices.
I connected surge protector power strips without issue, for controlling multiple lights and a heat lamp when I was starting my summer vegetable plants from seed, and also had no trouble fitting other plugs into the adjacent receptacles due to the compact design and rectangular shape.
This particular smart plug, the “Lite” model HS103, is designed for controlling “lamps, fans, and other smaller electronics.” It’s rated for powering any device under 12 amps.
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There’s also the HS105, which is rated to 15 amps, and it’s quite a bit pricier.
You get scheduling via the smartphone app, as well as an “away mode,” and the smart plugs can also be controlled via voice control through optional Alexa, Google Assistant, or Microsoft Cortana hubs.
You can buy a 1-pack for $10, 2-pack for $15, or 3-pack for $25.
Buy Now: Kasa 12A 2-Pack via Amazon
Buy Now: Kasa 12A 1-Pack via Amazon
Buy Now: Kasa 12A 3-Pack via Amazon
Buy Now: Kasa 15A 3-Pack via Amazon
I put off on buying smart plugs of any kind until I needed scheduling for my plant lights, and a pair of these (I already had power strips) didn’t cost any more than timers would have, but they offer greater flexibility and functionality.
I couldn’t figure out what brand to buy into, but TP-Link is a decent name, and I saw some good feedback about their Kasa-branded smart plugs and other devices. I can’t tell you if this is the best brand out there, but so far I’ve been pleased with my experiences. I wish this was the price I paid back in March, but even at that time the pricing was hard to beat.
$15 for a 2-pack seems like a great deal, although I’m not sure how long it’ll last. The pricing has held at $18 previously, and I was alerted to the price drop via my Amazon shopping cart. This could be “new low” pricing, or a temporary sale, it’s impossible to know for sure.
John
There are so many of these products under different “brand” names whether or not they are actually different companies who knows, it’s all Chinese products but they do work well.
I went with Gosund smart plugs. 4 pack of the 16A units is $27 with an extra 5% off at Amazon. Also have the smaller round 10A units too which are less $. They are great for lights and AC in my workshops. Don’t have to go back to turn things off. Have the ACs turn on early in the morning to get spaces ready before brutal heat we’re having now. Iphone app has worked perfectly.
Stuart
Rather than research which of the numerous unfamiliar brands on Amazon are legit and which are junky, I went with TP-Link Kasa because 1) I know the brand, and 2) these smart plugs are said to be UL-certified.
Chuck
Absolutely agree! The smart plug is only half of the story – the Kasa app is the other half. Excellent as a whole. Highly customizable, ez to configure and reliable. Ditto for TP-Link’s weather resistant, external smart plug dongle (featured here a while ago).
Thanks for the heads-up!!
Matthew
Thanks for the heads up. When I placed my order just now there was an additional 15% of coupon as well. Not sure how long that’ll last.
Stuart
That’s only for Amazon credit card holders. They had it before, this one says valid thru 7/22.
Matthew
I don’t have an Amazon card. It was one of their “clip this coupon” buttons under the price.
Stuart
Thanks! That’s weird, I see a different message. I don’t think I clicked the coupon previously.
“ Get 15% back on amount charged to an Amazon Prime credit card.”
I don’t see the clickable coupon in incongnito mode either.
Jim Felt
I’ve used Leviton’s versions for years. Hardwired (Decora/rocker) switches as well.
Plus all my/our low voltage hardware.
Never once a failure. American engineered (and many of their lines US made) plus great telephone US tech support.
And no I’m not a shareholder. Darn.
Higgo
The 3 pack (HS103P3) just dropped to $20.99.
Plaingrain
I have a power strip that comes with a remote control(small handheld remote). This works great, but it is $20.00 on sale. You sure get a lot more tech with the Kasa app control outlet($15). Can you tell if your house(controlled outlet), has lost power from your phone? You could use it on a gfi outlet for even more protection. They also have plug in GFI products.
GML
I’ve been “invested” in the TP-Link smart plugs, bulbs and switches for a couple years now. Zero problems with them and the app works great for my purposes.
These plugs are great for lamps and Christmas trees.
Tom
My first smart switch was Belkin WEMO. The light switch work well. I bought several of their plugs. After awhile, after firmware updates, all of them were nothing but trouble. They’ve all been replaced by different brands – mostly Wyze, TP Link and Amazon. All have been trouble free.
A sidenote. I have no choice but to have a microwave and a window air conditioner plugged into the same circuit. If I had both on at once, the circuit would break. I’ve set up a smart plug to each one. Then created a routine in Alexa. I say “turn on the air conditioner” and Alexa turns off the microwave and then turns on the air conditioner. If I say “turn on the microwave” it shuts down the air conditioner and then turns on the microwave. I haven’t had a blown circuit in a couple years
Chad
Ive had the Wemo smart plugs for years as well and your right after all the updates they have become useless … mostly dropping the wifi connection and it would not matter if the plugs were 5 ft from the wifi router or 30 ft away they would loose connection … ended up just getting the ge/ce bulbs and some switches to control lighting around the house
I may look into the kasa ones as i have a couple of their cameras and they have been great
Bill
I don’t know if the Kasa 12amp plugs were designed for another market but they seem an odd fit, if not worrisome, for the American market. With most standard American household duplex outlets rated at 15amps or 20amps, why would I want to introduce a weak link into that system? While there are plenty of applications that would not exceed their 12amp rating, there doesn’t look to be any form of overload protection if you do.
Stuart
My computer power supply came with a 10A power cord. Why didn’t they just give me one rated for 15A? Higher current-carrying capacity usually costs more money because you need different components.
Kasa has higher-rated smart plugs, and you can spend more for the 15A version if that’s the capacity you want.
I honestly don’t know what the differences are – maybe just in the relay used? In that case, maybe they were able to negotiate better pricing or source a cheaper component for the 12A capacity vs 15A?
Maybe the 12A capacity allowed for a smaller smart plug that only took up a single outlet space, and the 15A was redesigned later?
Ideally, I’d like mine to be able to support 15A devices. Realistically, I’m okay paying less for the 12A version. At the time of this posting, the 15A smart plug is $15 for one, the 12A is $15 for two.
Aaron
Do these work local only or do they rely on a cloud service? If they only work by connecting to the cloud you are relying on the company continuing to spend money every month to support them. Too many orphaned (and thereby bricked) products recently to consider cloud platforms as anything but disposable.
GML
These connect directly to your WIFI (no hub) and are also integrated with Amazon Alexa.
aaron
yes. some devices connect through wifi and then can be controlled locally. So they don’t bounce the data of a server in the cloud, they just send it on your home wifi. The advantage is that then there is no need for a server in the cloud, so if the manufacturer runs out of money in a couple years the product doesn’t suddenly stop working.
If it uses proprietary software then in addition to needing a different app to control each different brand of thing it becomes a gamble on the long term health of the company and their commitment to the product.
JoeM
I’ve been pondering a bunch of these kinds of devices for around the house. My Mother getting on in years, it would be nice to have her just call out “Alexa! Bedroom Light Off, Living Room Light On!” and have it work for her. We’re talking lamps, nothing fancy. Though, it IS tempting to see if something like this can be jiggered to some LED strips, and stuck to a carpet runner to help see in the dark or something.
The price for everything I’d like to do just adds up, that’s all. You’d think I’d learn not to play with my toys this way, but we’re too late there. Once an idea is in my head, it gets joined by twenty more.
Tom
The plugs are now 3 for $21