SMART PLUGS

Find the lowest prices at: t3.com/bestplug

TP-LINK KASA MINI KP115

£21, kasasmart.com

A reliable smart plug that doesn’t include energy monitoring, but it’s happy to work with Alexa, Google Home and Bixby. The TPLink Kasa app is also much improved on recent generations.

HIVE ACTIVE PLUG

£39, hivehome.com

Similar to Belkin, Hive’s plug can turn sockets on/off via your phone, and create schedules. It also works with Alexa. You need a Hive Hub (£80) to use the Active Plug, though.

TP-LINK KASA SMART WI-FI POWER STRIP KP303

£30, kasasmart.com

With three smart outlets, each with independent control, as well as a pair of USB ports for charging and power, the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip KP303 delivers plenty of flexibility.

AMAZON SMART PLUG

£25, amazon.co.uk

Designed to be used with Alexa, this plug can be controlled using voice commands or through the Alexa app. If you use the Google Assistant, or if you have Apple HomeKit, you’ll want to look elsewhere.