Most “smart home” gadgets are convenience dressed up as an investment. Here’s what we’d buy with our own money, in the three categories we said pay for themselves last time.

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Smart plugs

Our pick: Leviton Decora Smart Wi-Fi Plug-in Switch. Matter-compatible, so it isn’t locked into one ecosystem, and the slim body doesn’t block the second outlet on a two-gang plate the way bulkier smart plugs do. No energy monitoring, but that’s not what you’re paying for here. Check price on Amazon →

Budget pick: Wyze Plug (2-Pack). No Matter support and a noticeably bulkier body, but it works with Alexa and Google Assistant out of the box and costs less per plug than most single-unit options. Check price on Amazon →

Update (Sept 11, 2026): Not one of our picks above, but a genuine deal this week — the Kasa Matter Smart Plug (4-Pack) is on sale right now, and it’s Matter-compatible like our top pick. Details in our Weekly Deals Roundup.

Leak sensors

Our pick: Moen Smart Leak Detector. Connects straight to your Wi-Fi, no separate hub required, and pushes an alert the moment it detects moisture — the whole point of a leak sensor is that it never needs charging or fiddling with right when you need it. Check price on Amazon →

Budget pick: GoveeLife Smart Water Leak Detector (3-Pack). Needs a plug-in Wi-Fi gateway to talk to its three sensors, which is one more thing to set up, but three sensors for the price of one Moen means you can cover the water heater, the washing machine, and under the kitchen sink instead of picking just one. Check price on Amazon →

Smart thermostats

Our pick: Google Nest Thermostat. Not the pricier Learning model — this one you program yourself, which is the more honest way to save money anyway, since “learning” your schedule takes the Learning Thermostat weeks of guessing to catch up to what you could just tell it on day one. Check price on Amazon →

Budget pick: Amazon Smart Thermostat. Requires a C-wire like most smart thermostats, and the app is noticeably less polished than Nest’s, but the temperature control and Alexa integration work just as well for meaningfully less money. Check price on Amazon →

No sponsorships went into any of these picks — every product here was chosen on its own merits. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases made through the links above, at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability are set by Amazon and may change at any time.