📘 Buying Guide · Home & Energy

Best Smart Plugs with Energy Monitoring 2026 — UK Guide

Best Smart Plugs with Energy Monitoring 2026: our top UK picks, with pros, cons, buying tips and FAQs.

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#	Product	Best for	Rating
1	Tapo P115 Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring	⭐ Best smart plug	—/10
2	Brennenstuhl Primera-Line PM 231 Energy Monitor	Best standalone monitor	—/10
3	Adaptor Pack UK 3-Pin to EU/US	Best for travel adapters	—/10

The picks in depth

Tapo P115 Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring

⭐ Best smart plug

Real-time wattage, daily/weekly/monthly kWh usage, app control, 13A UK plug, voice assistant compatible.

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💡 Editor's note: The Tapo P115 is a popular, good-value smart plug with energy monitoring. The free app shows live and historical energy use, which you can combine with your tariff rate to work out running costs.

Brennenstuhl Primera-Line PM 231 Energy Monitor

Best standalone monitor

Plug-in monitor showing watts, kWh, running cost. No app or Wi-Fi needed. Works immediately out of the box.

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💡 Editor's note: For a non-smart solution, a standalone energy monitor plugged in between the socket and appliance gives you instant watt readings with no setup.

Adaptor Pack UK 3-Pin to EU/US

Best for travel adapters

For international visitors tracking energy usage of appliances across plug standards.

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💡 Editor's note: If you're using appliances from different countries, buy a good-quality adaptor. Adaptors only change the plug shape, not the voltage, so check that the appliance is rated for the local supply.

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What to look for

Smart plugs vs standalone monitors: smart plugs let you control appliances remotely and set schedules, plus monitor energy. Standalone monitors are simpler and work without a hub or Wi-Fi. For identifying energy-hungry appliances, either works.

Frequently asked

Which appliances use the most electricity?

Electric showers (~8-10 kW), immersion heaters (~3 kW), electric ovens (~2-3 kW), tumble dryers (~2.5 kW), and air conditioning (~1-3 kW) are the big users. A gaming PC can use 300-500W while gaming. A TV is typically only 50-150W.

How much does leaving appliances on standby cost?

Standby typically uses 1-5W per device. At around 26p/kWh (the Ofgem price cap electricity rate from October 2026 is 26.32p, and your own tariff may differ), a 3W device left on standby for a year uses about 26kWh and costs roughly £7. Bigger standby users include some older TVs and games consoles left in instant-on or standby modes, depending on model and settings.

Reviewed for 2026. Product recommendations reviewed by a UK-based qualified primary teacher and FA Level 2 coach. All Amazon products link directly to the product page. We earn a commission on qualifying purchases — this does not affect our recommendations.