Best of · Lighting
Best smart outlets for Google Home
Matter plugs that show up in Google Home without a second app you will resent.
Our pick: Matter over Thread if the plug stays in a lamp
Google Home will happily ingest a drawer of random Wi-Fi plugs. It will not happily keep them online. These are the smart outlets we pair on purpose.
Best Thread plug
Eve Energy (Matter/Thread) if you can find current stock. Energy monitoring without a vendor cloud is the feature. You still need a Thread border router — a Nest Hub or a Google TV Streamer with Thread, or any other border router on the same fabric.
Best cheap Matter Wi-Fi plug
TP-Link Kasa / Tapo Matter SKUs. Commission in Google Home, then ignore the extra app unless you need energy graphs. Do not buy the pre-Matter Kasa plugs unless they are already in the junk drawer.
In-wall outlets
Treat in-wall as electrical work. Leviton and TP-Link Matter receptacles are the sane US options. If the box is crowded, use a plug instead of melting a dimmer.
Questions we get
What smart outlets work with Google Home?
Any Matter plug Google Home lists as a certified outlet, plus older Works with Google Wi-Fi plugs. Prefer Matter so you can add Apple Home or Home Assistant later without buying twice.