Kasa Smart HS100 WiFi Smart Plug, Classic 1-Pack, White

Oh, Alexa, what did I do before I had you? TP-LINK offers this wifi plug that works with Amazons Alexa, and its currently 10 dollars cheaper than the most popular other wifi plug. I now have five of them, and although its only been a few weeks, I am extremely satisfied. I have an apartment with horrific built in lighting, so I have lamps everywhere to keep the mood right. I have known for years that I have a penchant for laziness, but I cannot express the level of satisfaction I have when I sit on my couch and command lamps to turn on or off with my voice. Sometimes I do it just to entertain the cats. There are some pros and cons to the device: Pros: Does not require a hub - these plugs connect directly to your Wifi router. Thats a good thing, but as you keep adding them your router is going to do more work. Relatively easy software setup - if you have an iPhone or Android phone, setup is a snap Reliability - I havent had a failure yet Software - Scheduling is a plus, remote control from outside your home is an even bigger plus. I have a paranoia about my coffee maker burning the house down due to my father, so that plug turns on at 4am every day but it shuts off at 10am (except on weekends!) so I never have to worry about it. If youre on vacation you can setup a lighting schedule, but even if you forget you can just turn the outlets on from your phone wherever you are in the world. Cons: Does not require a hub - customers with cheaper/leased routers may run into a device limit Software - you NEED an iPhone, Android phone, or one of those tablets to set this device up. Apparently programming for an actual computer was too much work for TP-LINK Interference - dont put them near a microwave and expect them to work. Some people may experience less than ideal performance if they have a large house and their wifi router is not nearby. I live in an apartment, so I havent run into any issues with reception. I am very happy with this plug, and if you have to choose this one or the more expensive option, I cannot think of a reason to get the more expensive option. They offer identical services.

April 3 Update. Seldom do I give up. So, after I wrote this review I: - deleted the Kasa App - reset each of my three Smart Plugs to Factory - power on reset of my iphone (6s) - install Kasa App - set up each smart plug per guided instructions - power on reset my iphone And...yes. The Away function works for all three plugs now! The sunrise/sunset still doesnt but thats a documented item so it is a just a bit of discord in the documentation. I can also say that the Away function actually is working, lights are off and on in a good way. Upping a Star. These plugs come beautifully and wastefully packaged. They are very well made, and as attractive as a largish power plug can be. They do hog up outlet space, you can squeeze a three prong grounded plug into the open outlet, but it is right against the Smart Plugs bottom. The LED indicator lights are a nice, visible green but dont light up an entire room at night, good! Installation is easy, the Kasa app walks you thru the process and it worked fine for all three of the plugs I purchased. For me, there was an uncomfortable amount of time from when the installation was complete until the app came back and said things where ready to use, and the first time I tried to cycle each outlet, no communication. After that, immediate on and offs upon command. So good! Integration with the Amazon Echo is easy, and it works reliably and quickly. I named my Smart Plugs Lamp, Lamp 1, Lamp 2 and Alexa wouldnt cycle the plugs with those names, so I changed the names to simpler ones and it now works perfectly. OK, beyond that. The scheduled times, and the countdown timers work fine and are nice features. However, the Away function only starts on one of the plugs. Two of the plugs wont start Away, rather they say unknown error. I deleted and reinstalled the Kasa app, I reset and reinstalled the plugs, same issue. It seems like the Kasa app wont support multiple Away settings on a single account? Other issue: there are instructions online to set up the Away function from Sunset to Sunrise, which would be a nice feature but it also does not work as the Away feature needs to be in the same day...you cant go dusk to dawn with the random Away function. Overall, a good product. It is newer and TP-Link is a good company, so I expect a few software upgrades and theyll work out the issues Ive found so far. I would like to see TP-Link work with Amazon on Frustration Free eco-friendly packaging, really no reason to have as much plastic and paperboard go into protecting this product.

I cant imagine life without this plug. It brings the future and the present together and I live in a world where Benjamin Franklin would be so jealous. I can start off by telling you why I purchase this. The main reasons are because it integrates with Alexa and its smart. Does it work well with Alexa? 95% of the time yes. Is it smart? If I take advantage of the mobile apps capability then yes. This device only works if you can manage to leave the the device you want to plug in always on. For example, leave the switch on for a lamp to be able to control its power with the smart plug. This is a pretty fat plug that is going to cover up two of your regular outlets. One way around this is to purchase a small surge protector and plug this smart plug into one of the surge protectors outlet. This way you can still have a couple of free outlets. Of course after you find an outlet for this smart plug, you also need the mobile application on iOS and Android to set up the plug. Set up is very easy and takes up to a minute. After you finish setting up, prepare for a new beginning to a better life. The plug has an easy to reach button thats fun to click to decide whether to provide power or not to the plug. Its easier to click this button rather than finding the switch on your lamp. Another feature is to be able to turn the power on or off using the mobile app. It only takes a few simple presses to find your smart plug in the app and then click the power button. Theres also a scheduler and a timer to have even more control over the plug using time. The plug can also periodically turn on and off to trick people into thinking youre home. I mean how else are you supposed to sneak away without fooling that crazy friend of yours? I cant talk about the smart plug without talking about its friends, the app and Alexa. The app is very easy to use and designed very nicely. It takes up to a minute to learn where everything is located in the app such as where are the features. And Alexa... She plays well with this plug. Theres a couple of need to know commands and those are turn on device name and turn off device name. Thats it! Easy to use. What do I use it for though? I mostly use it for light control. I have a lamp hooked up to the plug and I dont even bother using my ceiling lights anymore. Thats too much work to get up out of my cozy office chair, walk probably 6 feet, and smack the switch to turn on/off the ceiling lights. Nahhhh this is the 21st century and we need to enjoy it. I use my voice to command my servant if I need light. I use my app to command my servant if I need light. That lamp doesnt own me anymore. I dont go to the lamp and ask it for light. I tell that lamp I want light. I tell it to turn on. I tell it to turn off. This is my house and that lamp works for me! Thats how you use the plug!

What did I do without these? I bought one to try on Prime Day. Thats all it took. Pretty soon I was thinking of all the places it would be convenient to use them. The first one went on the bedroom lamp, because I hated trying to fumble in the dark to try to get light. I was always worried Id tip the lamp over. It became indispensable when my arms were full of baby and I didnt have a free hand to turn the lamp on or off as I carried him to bed. The next one I needed was for the tall living room lamp behind the bookcase, followed by the overhead lamp in the office. Now Im pretty sure I need a few more - one for the nursery lamp, one for the garage ... Id even sort of like one for the Christmas tree. The thing we like the most about these smart plugs is not only can I turn them on and off just by talking to Alexa, I can also use my phone to turn them on and off if Im not home. That means when it gets dark at 5 pm and Im lugging groceries up to a dark house ... I can turn the light on before I even get there. I dont have to open the door and wake the baby to go downstairs if someone is coming home late. I can just turn the light on from my bed. I really, REALLY love these plugs. Ill definitely be buying more in the future.

Here is my honest review of TP-Link Smart Plug: Pros: - Very Quick to respond from both the Kasa app, and Alexa. Have not tested with Google home - Has support for three pronged plugs, not just the two. - Very easy and quick to setup in the Kasa app! - The Kasa app has support to control the device anywhere in the world! Just need any kind of Internet connection or Cellular Service. - Sleek Design. Does not stick out like a sore thumb. Blends pretty well with most atmospheres. - Adds smart home control to any device with a plug! Whether it be a lamp, charger, light, or even a music player. - Very lightweight. Not too important, but thought I would add it just in case. Cons: - Very bulky. Will take up the entire outlet and the one above/below/adjacent to it. It is also very thick. If you are putting it behind a desk or a dresser, you would need to pull it away from the wall quite a bit. Not a compact device. - Makes a noticeable click noise when turned on and off. Not that big of a deal for me, but may bug some people. - The status LED on the device is not that big, so it is very hard to tell what color it is. Most of the time it just looks yellow. Overall Thoughts: I love this product. I have used this product for 10 months and still love it. There are very few cons, and the ones I listed dont bother me too much. They are just mainly me being picky. I think that this product could be used for a HUGE variety of products. It has so many uses. You can attach pretty much anything to it. I personally use it for a Himalayan Salt Lamp, and it works great. Do I recommend this product? Absolutely. Would I buy this product again? Yep! Should you buy this product? If the cons I listed do not bother you, then 100%! Go get this product!

Overall this like the other KASA products are well made, reliable and easy to use. My application was to control a whole house fan with Alexa. Once it was finally all set up, it worked well. Im using a smartthings hub to integrate everything. Using the KASA app on my tablet was simple to do the initial setup. Once that was done an automatic firmware update was done. That took only 5 min. I then had to go into the SmartThings app to get it to discover the new device. A simple process that went smoothly. Getting it into Alexa was a bit of an issue. If you go into the Alexa app and select add a device and select KASA, it will prompt you to install the KASA Skill. DONE DO THAT if you have SmartThings. You will end up with duplicate devices for everything controlled by KASA that in SmartThings. If you select SmartThings, you will be prompted to install the SmartThings skill, even though its already installed. What you have to do is select OTHER and the app will scan for new devices. You will then be prompted to give the device a name, why it doesnt use the same name as is in SmartThings Ill never know. Not very intuitive at all. Overall Im pleased with the KASA product and will definitely order it again if I have a need.

Initially I left a horrible review. Im not ashamed to retract and admit it was my User error. I mixed and matched with Wemo light switch and didnt realize I choose a less expensive TP Link outlet plug. I tried connecting it via Wemo app periodically for 2 days with no sucess. I decided to write a bad review and return it. I began looking for a different brand when I realized the price difference between Wemo and this tp link. It hit me I did pay the lesser of the two, I mixed the two product brands! Duh!!! Immediately I went on YouTube , viewed the directions and set this up in 5 minutes. I linked it to my network and my Alexa. The easiest thing Ive ever done. I purchased this for my young son who was scared to go to the bathroom at night because of the dark. He would wake my wife and I up at night to escort him to the restroom. That started getting old quick. Now he tells Alexa to turn on the lights; no longer afraid and goes on his own. This is an awesome product and made me feel like a great Dad. As a young child I too was afraid of the dark, sometimes still am, lol. My father use to scold me, be a man, there are no monsters. I didnt want to take any chances, so like many kids, I suffered some nights holding it in. As parents, I feel we must be more understanding and not unintentionally traumatize our children by becoming an unsympathetic monster. I am so great full we have this technology. I hope to make my entire house Smart. This is the way of the future, embrace it! I highly recommend this product.

Before we get into what I dont like about this, it should be known that I love this plug. We use it on a bedside lamp combined with an Echo, and Alexa turns our light on and off every morning and evening without fumbling for the pull chain. Its great. I just have seen a few ways it could be better. Software can be a bit finicky - has a tendency to reset with a power loss, but not every power loss. And even then you just need to reintialize - all of the data is still saved about the device name. After initial setup, the next one I use will be much easier (already having an account, having the phone app, etc.). Naming was easy, and the app even comes with little icons to remind you what is plugged into the outlet. Biggest issue, and the only reason were not at 5 stars is the plug covers both wall outlets. The housing is too big on the bottom to allow even an ungrounded connection beneath it. You could get short, grounded extension cables (6 or 12) to overcome this, but it starts to become ridiculous. Fortunately the plug we use only had the lamp on it, but its still annoying. Would also be nice if the plug was actually on one of the sides instead of head-in. Naturally, this unit sticks out from the wall, but then once you have your switched device plugged in, the wires extend pretty far. If the switched device plugged into the side, you could avoid the wires coming out several inches from the wall. Maybe thats another reason to get the short extension cord. So plan for this to be in a hidden location where you only need to have one device plugged in, and its a winner.

Always wanted some home automation system, but in reading the horror stories of the past always made me back off. Happened across this device here at Amazon. For the reduced price, I took the risk and ordered one. WOW -- what a plug. NO special hub needed. This unit connects directly to your home 2.4 Ghz Wi-Fi router and controlled by the Kasa Android/iOS app that programs and controls your switches. More later. Unboxed and set up my plug. You will need to have an Android or iOS device to perform the set up. If you do not have one, there is NO way to properly install or use this plug. There is NO web site to perform this task. I give fair warning to you and you can continue your search for a different type of connection set-up. Downloaded the Kasa app from the Google Play Store to both my Android devices. Proceeded to register for a TP Link remote access account. An email will be sent to the address you provide. After confirming this is really your email account, set up continues. Since I had only one light switch, programming one name was easy. After the app finds your home network (Wi-Fi) enter your security password. Mine is connected to a WPA2-AES Netgear routed network. With the correct password, my router recognized the TP Link plug right off. Once done, I manually changed the plug IP address in my LAN settings to a static address, so the plug will always connect to the same connection address. Less work for the router to do when a reboot happens. Testing this plug further, I played with a light unplugging and replugging the outlet in different wall sockets in the house. All locations were found and connected to my wireless network. Testing, I was able to turn the light on and off at will. Next up was a remote test off premises and away from my Wi-Fi network. Walked down the the end of my street and turned on the light -- failure. What went wrong? Walked down the street again -- the 4G LTE signal took additional time to connect with the TP Link servers via the Kasa app. The first try failed giving me a message of connection failed, please try again later Tried again a couple seconds later -- success. If you have connections issues, try a second time, this should be successful. Dont lose the installation instruction. There is no replacement instructions for this model plug on the TP Link support web site. Both my wife and I are happy with this plug that we just ordered two more for different devices we have here at the house. The ability to control lights and appliances remotely, in town or away is great. I have to play with this plug more and will supplement this review after a brief time to conduct additional testing under varied conditions. Im pleased with the purchase and this product deserves, rightful so, my 5 star rating. ******* 05/12/2016 - Update I now have three (3) of these wall plugs connected to my home Wi-Fi network. All three (3) with static IP addresses on my LAN network. All having reconnected with my network after one power outage and several plug movements from their originating and paring positions. If you want to use these plug remotely (the very reason you buy them), you have to change the identifying name on your router. The default name is HS-100 and they will show up as HS-100, but the router is confused when the Kasa app is opened (even though the MAC addresses are different for each plug). It will allow for only one switch to work remotely and the other two to be under local Wi-Fi network control. When I changed the names on my router and gave them separate static addresses at the same time, all plugs worked remotely. A helpful tip. Unlike other home security items controlled by remote (like IP cameras), NO need to do any fancy port forwarding and router tricks to make them work. They are plug-n-play after you find them on your network through the Kasa app. Manual turn on provision is the easy part. Programmed time works just as will, programming the plug from the Kasa app. You have to program one separate on time and a second separate off time. I understand that up to 50 separate times can be stored per plug. I have not tried it. One reviewer blasted the security, or the lack thereof these plugs. He brings up several points, but overall, someone has to have some pretty sophisticated hardware and programming skills to catch these plugs passing your Wi-Fi password info across the local network. Nothing is absolutely secure. If somebody really wants that info, they will get it -- plain and simple. The statistical chances of your Wi-Fi network being hacked by these plugs are very remote at best. I would far more worried about a smash and grab theft/robbery of your computer hardware, compromising your network directly, or an armed robbery of your cell phone with the Kasa app than a sniffer outside waiting, waiting, waiting to capture your plugs talking with your network. More paranoia than anything else. Use these plugs in good health. I enjoy knowing that they just work, locally and remotely, with the ability to verify that your lights are working properly and at your programmed times. Nuff said. ******* 05/22/2016 - Update I created a monster! My wife plays with these wall plugs all the time with her Android phone. On, off, on, off. Such small things bring that much pleasure cannot be all bad. Hey, if she uses them like this, Im happy and just confirms that I made the right purchase. ******* 06/15/2016 - Update Just returned from a week long trip out-of-state. Put these plugs through a more thorough test while away from home. Viewing and switching remotely, on both Wifi and 4G LTE from my phone, they worked as represented. I was able to verify this remotely with my IP cams in the house. Changing my pre-programed settings remotely worked also. A nice convenience. Thus far, with over a month of use, these plugs just work. I also understand (with the last Kasa app update), TP-Link is rereleasing a wall switch based upon the same technology as these wall plugs. The model will be the HS-200. No release date has been set as of this time. When they come out, I will upgrade several wall switches for my lights with the HS-200 switches. ******** 09/29/2016 - HS200 wall switch installation Discount Coupon time ($5.00 off), picked one up from Amazon as phase two (2) of operation Home Automation w/o a Hub project continues. Came today and just finished installing it. Unboxed the switch. Nicely packed with foam protection surrounding the face plate. Four (4) wires to connect: * Green for ground * White for neutral * Black (2 wires) for line and load (neither one marked for line or load) * Extra wire nuts were included - a nice touch I have mine connected to a 50 watt Track-Light set up with 5 LED BR30 bulbs. Lower wattage, but there are NO issues with flicker on power up/down. The dark side of my installation: Then the fun began. The wall switch cover (one pole/switch cover) is attached to the mounting tangs of the switch with plastic clasp hooks molded onto the face plate. I have two switches at the installed location so the included face plate had to be removed. The back side face plate hooks snap over the plastic mounting tangs on the switch and are very tough to separate. It took some careful prying to separate the faceplate from the switch so as not to break the plastic mounting tangs on the switch. Remember that when you get your switch. A bad design by TP-Link. Further, the mounting tangs on the wall switch are thicker plastic than a regular metal framed switch, so a standard wall plate may or may not fit. Mine barely fits, but there is a gap around the side edge of the wall plate. I will have to buy a deeper clearance wall plate to close the now obvious gap. Also, the switch plate cover mounting screws (the small ones that are exposed) are NOT drilled to accept the switch plate mounting screws. It took some force to get the screws started into the plastic mounting tangs on the switch. Another issue with this switch and TP-Links bad design. This switch also did something I didnt see with the wall plugs. When I went to add the switch to the Kasa app, it took over my cell phone Wi-Fi connection. Once installation was completely configured, the wall switch released my phone Wi-Fi and let it reset to my home router. A minor distraction and why it happened is beyond me. Normal, but some warning should have been given. Now, it was not all bad. Once installed from my cell phone, other Android devices found this switch and automatically entered it into the Kasa program. All devices work remotely without an issue. Like my wall plugs, I configured this switch to a static IP address on my LAN. Reconfiguration was painless and it works just fine. All 4 plugs and switched play nice on the Kasa app. I knocked off one star for the plastic construction of the wall tangs, mounting points and packaging of the wall plate cover. The mounting tangs should have been metal and the wall plate should have rested on top of the switch, not mounted to it. NO note in the box of how to take the wall plate off the switch -- an oversight by some engineer, but not to the end user. I plan to purchase a couple more wall switches. Even with the flaws I described, they work as intended and my wife continues to play with them every day. ******* 01/02/2017 - Update I am now up to two (2) HS-200 wall switches and three (3) HS-100 wall plugs. All are connected to a second Linksys AP router (more in a minute). The switches and wall plugs continue to work flawlessly. I also have an

In my opinion, critical thing here is these are UL certified which is important if you dont want to burn your house down if trying to use with high-current device. I have a space heater in my home office which is in a kinda remote place in my house and I wanted to control it from google home. The heater has 1500 watt capacity which at 120 volts is in the neighborhood of ~12 amps (more to that calculation than I know) so theres not a tremendous amount of wiggle room in order to stay a decent amount below capacity, which I prefer. The UL certification gives me a substantial amount of peace of mind over not being certified and that is why I chose to buy this socket over other ones. On top of all of that, TP-Link has been doing a tremendously good job at integrating all of their devices and improving their user interfaces in ways I havent seen their competitors do in my anecdotal experience. I just coincidentally have a TP-Link mesh wifi network for my house. If TP-Link didnt have a UL certified plug and a competitor did, I would have bought that. But it happened to be TP-Link too. If or when my TP-Link account becomes relevant, I already have it set up. 1 account, all devices, and they are for the (arguably) best consumer (vs prosumer) devices available for sale. Bought to go buy some stock...