Smart plugs are where the smart home starts for most people. They're cheap, they work in any outlet, and they make any dumb appliance smart. But a year ago, Matter support was basically non-existent in this category. Now in 2025, you've got real choices.
Matter changes everything about smart plugs. It means local control, cross-platform compatibility, and future-proofing. No more getting locked into one ecosystem.
Here are the four Matter plugs worth buying this year.
1. Eve Energy | Best for Apple Home Users
~$40
If HomeKit is your home automation platform, Eve Energy is the obvious pick. It's from a company that actually understands how HomeKit works—they built EVE, the best HomeKit dashboard app before Apple finally made a decent Home app.
The plug itself is compact without being impossibly tiny. You won't block two outlets with one plugged in. It's got energy monitoring built in, which is the main reason to pick this over TP-Link's cheaper option. You can see watt usage in real-time, historical graphs, and set up automations based on power draw. "Turn off the coffee maker if it's been running for four hours" kind of stuff.
Thread support means if you have a HomePod mini or other Thread border router, this plug becomes part of your mesh network. That's genuinely useful for reliability.
Energy monitoring is the premium feature here. If you want to track what's actually costing you money on your power bill, Eve Energy gets the job done. Pair it with a few of these and you'll start seeing your energy use differently.
Best for: HomeKit users, anyone who wants energy monitoring, people who already have Thread routers.
Skip if: You're on a tight budget (TP-Link is cheaper) or you don't care about energy data.
2. TP-Link Tapo P125M | The Budget Pick
~$15
This is absurd value. TP-Link makes the Tapo line specifically to undercut everyone else on price, and they've done it here without completely sacrificing features. Matter support, Wi-Fi connection, basic on/off control, and scheduling.
What you don't get: energy monitoring. For $15, that's a fair tradeoff. The plug is slightly larger than Eve Energy, but still reasonable. Reliability is solid—TP-Link makes networking equipment for a living.
The real win here is that at $15, you can buy four of these and scatter them around your house to test what smart outlet control actually means for you. That's the beauty of cheap smart plugs. You're not making a $40 commitment per outlet.
Matter support means this cheap plug works with Apple Home, Alexa, Google Home, and anything else that supports the standard. That's the whole point of Matter—expensive hardware companies can't lock you into their ecosystem anymore.
Best for: Budget-conscious builders, people just getting into smart home, testing locations before committing more.
Skip if: You want energy monitoring or you need the most reliable thread-enabled option.
3. Meross MSS315 | The Middle Ground
~$20
Meross occupies the sweet spot between Eve and TP-Link. You get energy monitoring like Eve, but closer to TP-Link's price. That makes it the most practical choice for most people.
The plug is compact, the design is clean, and the matter integration is straightforward. Meross has their own app, but with Matter support you really don't need to use it. Set it up in HomeKit or Google Home and leave it there.
Build quality feels solid. Nothing fancy, but it won't feel cheap in your hand. This is the plug I'd buy if I wasn't specifically choosing for one ecosystem.
Energy monitoring on a $20 plug is where I think smart power outlets actually become valuable. You stop treating them as just on/off switches and start using them as actual tools for managing your home.
Best for: Cross-platform users, anyone who wants energy monitoring at a reasonable price, most people.
Skip if: You're already committed to Thread (Eve is better) or you genuinely don't care about energy data (TP-Link is cheaper).
4. ThirdReality Matter Smart Plug | Smallest Form Factor
~$13
If your outlet situation is tight—you've got outlets next to each other or plugged in between other plugs—ThirdReality is the answer. This thing is genuinely the smallest Matter plug available. You could probably stack two of them side by side.
The tradeoff is features. No energy monitoring. No Wi-Fi—it's Thread-only, which means you need a Thread border router (HomePod mini, Apple TV 4K, or others). If you don't have one, this plug doesn't work.
But if you do have Thread, this plug extends your mesh. And the price is hard to beat. For outlets where you just need basic remote control and space is at a premium, ThirdReality wins.
Best for: Space-constrained outlets, people building out Thread networks, budget maximalists.
Skip if: You don't have a Thread border router or you need energy monitoring.
Comparison Table
| Plug | Price | Energy Monitor | Thread | Wi-Fi | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eve Energy | $40 | Yes | Yes | No | HomeKit, energy tracking |
| TP-Link Tapo P125M | $15 | No | No | Yes | Budget, multi-platform |
| Meross MSS315 | $20 | Yes | No | Yes | Cross-platform, balanced |
| ThirdReality | $13 | No | Yes | No | Compact, Thread networks |
Why Matter Matters
Two years ago, I'd have to tell you to pick a platform and live with it. Buy Nanoleaf for HomeKit, LIFX for Alexa, or Wyze for Google Home. That was annoying.
Matter fixes this. A Matter plug works equally well in HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home, or a self-hosted Home Assistant setup. You buy the plug for its features and price, not for which ecosystem it supports.
Local control is another huge win. These plugs communicate directly with your home network, not through the cloud. Faster response time, works even if your internet goes down, and honestly feels more private.
Thread Bonus: Network Extension
If you pick a Thread-enabled plug, it doesn't just work for you—it strengthens your entire Thread network. Thread uses mesh networking. Each device extends the range for other Thread devices. After installing a few plugs with Thread, your Home Assistant network becomes way more reliable.
This is why I didn't put Thread in the "essential" category. It's a bonus that becomes genuinely valuable once you have multiple Thread devices.
My Recommendation
Most people: Get Meross MSS315. You're not overpaying, you get energy monitoring, and it works everywhere.
HomeKit purists: Eve Energy is worth the extra $20 for the design and the network effects of Thread.
Budget-first builders: Start with TP-Link at $15 and see what smart outlet control means to you before committing more money.
Minimalists with Thread: ThirdReality if you have the infrastructure.
The beautiful thing about Matter is that you don't need to overthink this anymore. Pick a plug based on price and features, not which corporate ecosystem owns your home. That's progress.
Buy Eve Energy on Amazon | Buy TP-Link Tapo P125M on Amazon | Buy Meross MSS315 on Amazon
Smart plugs are the gateway drug to home automation. At these prices and with Matter support, there's no reason not to start building.
