Smart Plugs: Kasa vs. Wemo
Hey, so you know how smart plugs are super handy for making your regular stuff smart and even saving a little on your energy bill? There are two really popular ones here in the US that people often talk about: the Kasa HS103 by TP-Link and the Wemo Mini by Belkin. I was looking into them, so let me tell you a bit about what I found to help you pick one.
Okay, first off, there’s the Kasa HS103. It’s like their basic model, really simple and doesn’t cost much. You just plug it in, connect it to your home’s Wi-Fi – the regular kind, 2.4 GHz – and you’re good. No extra box or ‘hub’ needed, which is nice. You control it with the Kasa Smart app on your phone. You can set schedules, like turning a lamp on and off when you’re away to make it look like someone’s home. It’s pretty small too, so it won’t block the other plug next to it. It doesn’t tell you how much power your device is using, but for just basic on/off control, it works really well and is easy to set up.
Then there’s the Wemo Mini. It’s pretty similar, also small, and you don’t need a hub for it either. It also uses that same 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, and you use the Wemo app to control it. A big thing that makes Wemo different, especially the newer ones, is that it works with Apple HomeKit. So if you have a lot of Apple gear and use Siri for everything, this one might be a better fit. Of course, it also works with Alexa and Google Assistant, just like Kasa. Like the Kasa, this one also doesn’t track energy use. It’s mostly about making things easy to control and saving space at your outlet.
Both of these plugs just connect straight to your home Wi-Fi, no extra equipment. Setting up the Kasa HS103 is usually super fast and easy – just a few taps in the app. The Wemo Mini is usually pretty straightforward too, but I’ve heard some people say they had to try a couple of times to get it connected, especially if they had an older version. But once they’re connected, both tend to stay connected really well, which is important for them to actually work when you need them to.
The Kasa app is really well-designed, I think. It’s easy to figure out and very quick to respond. You can do all sorts of things like setting schedules, countdown timers, that ‘away mode’ I mentioned for security, and you can even group devices together or create custom ‘scenes.’ You can also let other people in your house control them easily. The Wemo app has gotten a lot better over time. It does most of the same things – schedules, timers, away mode. It even lets you set up more detailed ‘rules’ for when things happen. Plus, the actual button on the Wemo plug can sometimes be set for ‘long press’ actions, which is a neat extra control. Both apps are pretty good, but Kasa’s often feels a little cleaner and easier to jump into right away.
When it comes to talking to your plugs, both are great. The Kasa HS103 works perfectly with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and even Microsoft Cortana. So you can just tell your lights to turn on. The Wemo Mini also works with Alexa and Google Assistant. But here’s where Wemo really shines for some people: the newer ones work with Apple HomeKit. So if you’re an iPhone person and use Siri a lot, Wemo is probably the better choice for you. That HomeKit feature is a big deal if you’re deep into Apple’s smart home stuff.
Both plugs are made to be small and not get in the way, which is great for US outlets. You know how some plugs are huge and block the other socket? These usually don’t. The Kasa HS103 is especially thin. The Wemo Mini is also compact, maybe just a tiny bit taller than the Kasa, but still not really a problem. And both have a button right on the plug itself, so you can turn them on or off manually if your phone isn’t around.
One important thing to know is that neither the Kasa HS103 nor the Wemo Mini can tell you how much energy your stuff is using. If you just want to turn things on and off remotely, that’s fine. But if you really want to track your energy use to save money, you’d need to look at Kasa’s slightly fancier models, like the HS110 or KP115, or maybe another brand altogether.
Both Kasa and Wemo are pretty well-known brands, and their plugs are generally reliable. Kasa plugs often get praise for being super consistent and staying connected to Wi-Fi without issues. Wemo has a good track record too, though some older versions used to have little hiccups with connecting or the app acting weird. But Belkin, who makes Wemo, has mostly fixed those with updates. For just turning things on and off and setting schedules, both should work really dependably.
When it comes to cost, the Kasa HS103 is usually a bit cheaper than the Wemo Mini. Especially if you buy them in a multi-pack, Kasa often gives you a really good deal. The Wemo Mini, especially if it’s one of those HomeKit-compatible ones, tends to be a bit pricier. So if you’re trying to smarten up a lot of outlets on a budget, Kasa might save you a few bucks.
So, really, both the Kasa HS103 and the Wemo Mini are great options if you just want simple smart control for your everyday stuff, turning things on and off with your phone or voice.
