The only other smart plugs and switches I have currently are all Z-wave based (about 20) and I've never had issues with any of them and have them all programmed on schedules and various alerts as well as manual control. However, obtaining Z-wave based products are getting harder and harder because it seems the market is flooded with so many off-brand plugs and switches tied to a variety of ecosystems.
My preference has always been for Z-wave because those devices operate on their own wireless band outside of my 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless networks and instead communicate only to a hub that is connected to the internet. I'm still not sold on switching out my smart devices for devices that need persistent internet access and consume wireless bandwidth but do like that this device is very easy to setup and use.
I currently have this in my kids' room connected to a Vornado fan that they can call upon if they want some airflow in their room and not affect anyone else. I've used a Z-wave switch for this in the past and have controlled it for them or set it on a schedule because I didn't want them to have access to the SmartThings app to be able to control that device and others.
Setup and adoption were easy, maybe a little easier than SmartThings. Calling out to Alexa to control the device is intuitive and works well to set timers and basic on/off.
However, now that the device is on my wifi network, I see that it uploads and downloads 1-5KB of data twice an hour starting at about 9 minutes after the hour and again 5 minutes later with an Amazon server with "device-metrics" in the hostname. Not sure what it's doing exactly, my guess would be exchanging telemetry data or phoning home.
Overall, it's a a good smart plug that's easy to use and can be trusted to some extent if you're already using Amazon devices in your home rather than tie yourself into some other ecosystem that sends data to a foreign country.
Amazon Smart Plug (newest model), Works with Alexa, Simple setup, endless possibilities
4.7 | 566,713 ratings
Price: 24.99
Last update: 01-10-2025
About this item
Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa to add voice control to any outlet.
Schedule lights, fans, and appliances to turn on and off automatically, or control them remotely when you’re away.
Simple to set up and use—plug in, open the Alexa app, and get started in minutes.
Compact design keeps your second outlet free.
No smart home hub required—set up routines and schedules through the Alexa app.
Schedule lights, fans, and appliances to turn on and off automatically, or control them remotely when you’re away.
Simple to set up and use—plug in, open the Alexa app, and get started in minutes.
Compact design keeps your second outlet free.
No smart home hub required—set up routines and schedules through the Alexa app.
Top reviews from the United States
Dada
Pretty impressed on the ease of setup but still prefer Z-wave devices
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2024
Jh
Seamless Control and Convenience: Amazon Alexa WiFi Smart Plug
Reviewed in the United States on August 20, 2023