Price unavailable right now
Updated November 2026
Data from the official Shelly and YoLink sites.
2026 verdict
For an outlet that has to work outdoors or far from the router, the YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug is the better pick of these two.
It carries an IP63 weather rating, runs on long-range LoRa through the YoLink hub and adds an automatic thermal shutoff, while still matching the Shelly Smart Plug (US) on 1800W and 15A, energy monitoring, overheat and overload protection and Alexa and Google Home. The Shelly Smart Plug (US) is the stronger indoor choice: it connects straight to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with no hub, and its open API, WebSocket and MQTT support make it the plug to script. Choose the YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug for pumps, fountains and outdoor lighting at range, and the Shelly Smart Plug (US) for a hub-free indoor plug built for automation.
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| Feature | Shelly Smart Plug (US) | YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.6 | YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug |
| Weather Resistance | NO | IP63 | YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth | None | Shelly Smart Plug (US) |
| Integrations | Google Home, Alexa, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant | Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter | YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug |
| Plug Format | Type B | Type B | Tie |
| Maximum Load Power | 1800W | 1800W | Tie |
| Overheat/Overload Protection | YES | YES | Tie |
| Energy Monitoring | YES | YES | Tie |
| On/Off Button | YES | YES | Tie |
| Zigbee Router | NO | NO | Tie |
What the differences mean
Weather resistance
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug is IP63 rated against dust and splashing water, so it can live on a patio or beside a pool. The Shelly Smart Plug (US) has no weather rating and is indoors only, so an outdoor outlet is out of the question for it.
Radio and range
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug uses long-range LoRa through the YoLink hub, which reaches detached garages, yards and distant outlets. The Shelly Smart Plug (US) uses 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with no hub, which is simpler indoors but limited to what the Wi-Fi reaches.
Hub requirement
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug has no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee or Z-Wave radio, so the YoLink hub is mandatory to use it at all. The Shelly Smart Plug (US) needs nothing extra: it joins Wi-Fi directly and can run local schedules.
Automation depth
The Shelly Smart Plug (US) exposes an open API, WebSocket and MQTT with a built-in countdown timer, which is what makes it a favourite for scripting and Home Assistant. The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug offers schedules and timers through the YoLink hub and app, which owners describe as more basic, with no dusk to dawn automation.
Ecosystems
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug reaches Google Home, Alexa, IFTTT and Home Assistant, and Apple Home, SmartThings and Matter through the YoLink Local Hub. The Shelly Smart Plug (US) covers Google Home, Alexa, SmartThings and Home Assistant but has no Apple Home or Matter path at all.
Readings and heavy loads
Both plugs monitor energy and handle 1800W at 15A on a Type B outlet. Owners of the Shelly Smart Plug (US) warn its readings can drift above a meter's, and owners of the YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug note that a heavy load in direct sun can trip its thermal shutoff, which is the safety feature working.
Which one to buy if
- the plug has to sit outside in the weather
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug is IP63 rated, while the Shelly Smart Plug (US) is for indoor use only.
- the outlet is far from the house router
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug uses long-range LoRa through its hub, which reaches detached structures that Wi-Fi smart plugs miss.
- you want a plug with no hub at all
The Shelly Smart Plug (US) joins 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi directly, where the YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug always needs the YoLink hub.
- you want to script it or run it in Home Assistant
The Shelly Smart Plug (US) offers an open API, WebSocket and MQTT plus a countdown timer, which owners use for custom automation.
- you already run a YoLink home
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug slots into the hub and app you already have, and adds weather resistance and range to the setup.
Price unavailable right now
- + Connectivity: 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
- - Rating: 4.5 vs 4.6
- - Weather Resistance: NO vs IP63
Winner
15% OFF
$27.99
$32.98
- + Rating: 4.6
- + Weather Resistance: IP63
- + Integrations: Google Home, Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Home Assistant, Matter
- - Connectivity: None vs 2.4 GHz WiFi, Bluetooth
What owners say
Owners of both plugs are after the same thing, energy insight on a specific appliance, and both groups use them to watch power draw and cut waste. Shelly Smart Plug (US) owners praise reliability under sustained heavy loads, the countdown timer and the open API, WebSocket and MQTT support that lets them script pool pumps, grow lights and router reboots, with warnings that readings can run higher than a meter and that the plug can lose local reachability when the internet route is down. YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug owners focus on the connection at distance, describing rock-solid control of pumps and lighting from detached structures and outdoor areas, and they value the real-time monitoring and the thermal shutoff that one owner saw trip on a pool pump in direct sun; a couple note the scheduling is more basic than they would like.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better overall: Shelly Smart Plug (US) or YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug?
The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug is better for outdoor or long-range use because it is IP63 rated and runs on LoRa through its hub, with an automatic thermal shutoff. The Shelly Smart Plug (US) is the better indoor plug, needing no hub and offering an open API for automation.
What is the biggest difference between the Shelly Smart Plug (US) and the YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug?
Weatherproofing and how it connects. The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug is IP63 rated and uses long-range LoRa through the YoLink hub, while the Shelly Smart Plug (US) is indoor only and connects straight to 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth with no hub.
Can the Shelly Smart Plug (US) be used outside?
No. The Shelly Smart Plug (US) has no weather rating and is for indoor use. The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug is the one rated IP63 for dust and splashing water, which suits pumps, fountains and garden lighting.
Do the Shelly Smart Plug (US) and the YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug need a hub?
The Shelly Smart Plug (US) does not need a hub: it connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth directly. The YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug requires the YoLink hub, since it has no Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee or Z-Wave radio, and Apple Home, SmartThings and Matter need the YoLink Local Hub.
Who should buy the Shelly Smart Plug (US)?
Home Assistant and home-lab users who want an indoor plug with an open API, WebSocket and MQTT, no hub, and reliable control of high-wattage appliances like pool pumps and grow lights.
Who should buy the YoLink Smart Outdoor Energy Plug?
Owners who need weatherproof power control for outdoor equipment at range, already use or plan to add the YoLink hub, and want energy monitoring with an automatic thermal shutoff.
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