Plug prices change while you decide
We check the price of every Plug in the catalog daily and email you the drops, whichever one you pick.
No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
| Feature | Amazon Smart Plug | YoLink Mini Plug | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $12.98 | $19.99 | Amazon Smart Plug |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 | Amazon Smart Plug |
| Energy Monitoring | NO | YES | YoLink Mini Plug |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi | None | Amazon Smart Plug |
| Integrations | Alexa | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | YoLink Mini Plug |
| Weather Resistance | NO | NO | Tie |
| Plug Format | Type B | Type B | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Range
The YoLink Mini Plug's LoRa wireless is built to reach basements, detached buildings and large properties well beyond typical Wi-Fi range. The Amazon Smart Plug depends on ordinary 2.4GHz Wi-Fi coverage.
Energy monitoring
The YoLink Mini Plug reports real-time energy use with exportable reports. The Amazon Smart Plug has no energy monitoring at all.
Platform reach
Through its YoLink Local Hub, the YoLink Mini Plug reaches Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings and Matter, on top of native Google Home, Alexa and Home Assistant support. The Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa only.
Hub dependency
The Amazon Smart Plug connects directly to Wi-Fi with no hub. The YoLink Mini Plug has no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth radio of its own and only works through the separate YoLink hub.
Price and rating
The Amazon Smart Plug is the cheaper of the two and carries the higher average owner rating, reflecting how much simpler a job it is built to do.
Which one to buy if
- you want the cheapest, simplest Alexa-only setup
The Amazon Smart Plug connects straight to the Alexa app with no hub or extra hardware.
- the outlet is in a basement, barn or detached building far from Wi-Fi
The YoLink Mini Plug's long-range LoRa wireless is built exactly for that kind of distance.
- you want the plug itself to report energy use
The YoLink Mini Plug includes real-time energy monitoring; the Amazon Smart Plug has none.
- you don't want to buy or manage a separate hub
The Amazon Smart Plug needs nothing beyond a Wi-Fi network and the Alexa app.
- you want a path to Apple Home or SmartThings down the line
The YoLink Mini Plug reaches both through its YoLink Local Hub; the Amazon Smart Plug has no path to either.
- + Price: $12.98
- + Rating: 4.7
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi
- - Energy Monitoring: NO vs YES
- - Integrations: Alexa vs Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter
- + Energy Monitoring: YES
- + Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter
- - Price: $19.99 vs $12.98
- - Rating: 4.6 vs 4.7
What owners say
Amazon Smart Plug owners describe an Echo finding the plug within seconds and schedules that keep running reliably, reconnecting on their own after a power or Wi-Fi outage, with the main gripe being that it does Alexa and nothing else. YoLink Mini Plug owners bought it specifically for range, describing rock-solid connections from basements, barns and buildings hundreds of feet from the house where Wi-Fi plugs had already failed them, and they value the real-time energy monitoring and how easily it drops into Home Assistant automations alongside other YoLink devices. Their main complaint is the added cost of the separate YoLink hub the plug depends on to work at all.
Price history compared
Every price change of both, in the same store, so the gap between the two lines is what one costs more than the other.
- Amazon Smart Plug
- YoLink Mini Plug
Loading price history...
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: the Amazon Smart Plug or the YoLink Mini Plug?
The Amazon Smart Plug wins overall on price, owner rating and connectivity. The YoLink Mini Plug wins on energy monitoring and platform reach.
What is the biggest difference between the Amazon Smart Plug and the YoLink Mini Plug?
Range and metering. The YoLink Mini Plug uses long-range LoRa wireless to reach outlets far from the router and reports energy use, while the Amazon Smart Plug relies on ordinary Wi-Fi and has no energy monitoring.
Which smart home platforms do the Amazon Smart Plug and the YoLink Mini Plug support?
The Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa only. The YoLink Mini Plug works with Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant natively, plus Apple HomeKit, SmartThings and Matter through its YoLink Local Hub.
Does the Amazon Smart Plug need a hub?
No. The Amazon Smart Plug connects directly over 2.4GHz Wi-Fi with no hub at all. The YoLink Mini Plug needs the separate YoLink hub to work.
Who should buy the Amazon Smart Plug?
Alexa users who want a well reviewed, inexpensive plug for lamps and small appliances within normal Wi-Fi range.
Who should buy the YoLink Mini Plug?
Buyers who need reliable control from far outside typical Wi-Fi range, or who want energy readings and reach beyond Alexa alone.
Compare all 36 Plugs side by side
You are looking at two of them. The full table lines up all Plugs in the catalog with the same specs, so you can filter by what you need and sort by price or rating.
- 36 Plugs
- 31 specs compared
- 28 filters
