Smart Plugs for Christmas Lights: Kasa vs. Feit vs. Govee vs. BN-LINK

A smart plug is the simplest way to put holiday lights on autopilot. Set the roofline string to come on before sunset and shut off at bedtime, and the display runs itself all season. Indoors, the same trick works for the tree, window candles and a lamp in the front room, so the whole house lights up at once without anyone crawling behind furniture.

Not every plug suits every job, though. Outdoor plugs need the right outlet, some dual plugs switch both outlets together, and a few only work in one app. Below are two outdoor picks for the porch and roofline, four indoor picks for the tree and windows, and the checks that matter before buying.

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Quick verdict

• Best outdoor plug overall: the Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug EP40. Two outlets with separate schedules, so roofline lights and porch decor can run on different hours.
• Simplest outdoor plug for one display: the Feit Electric Outdoor Dual Smart Plug. Both outlets switch together, which suits one big light setup on a single schedule.
• Most indoor outlets per wall plate: the Govee Dual Smart Plug (4 Pack). Each plug turns one outlet into two, handy behind a tree with several strings.
• Best budget indoor plug: the BN-LINK Heavy Duty Smart Plug. Low cost, an easy app setup and works with Alexa and Google voice control.
• Easiest setup for Alexa homes: the Amazon Basics Smart Plug. Scan a code in the Alexa app and it's done, but it works with Alexa only.
• Smallest plug for crowded outlets: the Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini EP10 (4 Pack). Two fit side by side in one wall outlet.

The plugs side by side

Plug	Shop	Use	Outlets	Separate control per outlet	Rating	App and voice
Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug EP40	Buy on Amazon	Outdoor (IP64)	2	Yes	15A each	Kasa app, groups with other Kasa devices
Feit Electric Outdoor Dual Smart Plug	Buy on Amazon	Outdoor, covered GFCI outlet	2	No, both switch together	15A	Feit Electric app, Alexa, Google Assistant
Govee Dual Smart Plug (4 Pack)	Buy on Amazon	Indoor	2 per plug	Yes	15A (check the label)	Govee app, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
BN-LINK Heavy Duty Smart Plug	Buy on Amazon	Indoor	1	Not applicable	15A resistive, 10A tungsten	Smart Life app, Alexa, Google
Amazon Basics Smart Plug	Buy on Amazon	Indoor	1	Not applicable	See label	Alexa app only
Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini EP10 (4 Pack)	Buy on Amazon	Indoor	1	Not applicable	15A	Kasa app

Why a smart plug beats a mechanical timer

The old pin-wheel timer still works and costs very little, but it runs in fixed half-hour steps, and changing the schedule means walking outside to push pins in the cold.

A smart plug fixes each of those:

• Sunset schedules. Lights can turn on at sunset or a set time before it, so the schedule follows the shorter days through the season without adjustment.
• Different days, different hours. Lights can stay on later on weekends, when more people are out walking the neighborhood, and shut off earlier on school nights.
• Control from anywhere. Lights can be switched from a phone in the garage, the couch or across town, and by voice through Alexa or Google Assistant on most models.
• Countdown timers and away settings. A countdown shuts the lights off after a set time, and some apps can skip the schedule while the house is empty.
• Independent outlets. On a dual plug with separate control, porch lights and roofline lights, or lights and an inflatable, can each keep their own hours.

Outdoor safety basics

An outdoor smart plug is built to handle weather, but only when it's installed the right way. Use a plug that is rated for outdoor use, and plug it into an outdoor GFCI outlet with a weather-resistant cover. Feit specifies both for its outdoor plug: an outdoor-rated GFCI receptacle and a covered outlet. Let the plug hang with its outlets facing down so rain runs off instead of in, and cap any unused outlet. The Kasa EP40 comes with an attached cover for this.

A few more rules from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's holiday safety guidance: never string together more than three sets of incandescent lights, don't overload outlets, and use flameless candles whenever possible. That last one pairs well with a smart plug in the front window.

What to check before buying

Will the lights turn back on by themselves?

A smart plug only cuts and restores power. Whatever is plugged into it has to come back on when the power returns. Anything with a mechanical switch left in the on position does. Many devices with touch buttons or electronic controls don't; they come back up switched off. This matters for battery-style window candles, lit decor with a push-button mode selector and some lamps. The quick check: turn the item on, unplug it, plug it back in. If it lights up, it will work on a smart plug. If it stays dark, it won't.

Amp rating versus the load

Most smart plugs are rated for 15 amps, the same as a standard household circuit, so anything that runs from a normal outlet will run through them. Not all are, though, so read the label on the back or bottom of the plug and compare it with the total load. Some labels list two ratings. The BN-LINK reads 15A resistive or 10A tungsten: resistive means a steady load, while tungsten refers to incandescent bulbs, which pull a surge of current the moment they switch on. For a big run of old incandescent strings, use the lower number. LED strings draw far less and rarely come close.

2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and setup

Every plug here except the Amazon Basics sets up through its own app on a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. A router that combines both bands under one name usually connects fine; with separate network names, put the phone on the 2.4 GHz network during setup. Setup difficulty varies. The Amazon Basics plug is by far the easiest, the BN-LINK is the easiest of the app-based plugs, and the Govee and Kasa apps take the most steps.

Which app and which voice assistant

Brand apps all handle on, off, schedules and countdowns. With several brands in one house, it's easier to link them all into Alexa or Google Home and build routines there. The Amazon Basics plug is the exception: it works only in the Alexa app, never Google Home. Apple Home generally needs Matter support, which none of these picks lists.

Size and shape

Round plugs often block the second outlet, so a three-prong cord can't go next to them. Rectangular plugs usually leave it free. Two Kasa EP10 minis fit in one wall outlet, and two Govee dual plugs turn one wall outlet into four.

Energy monitoring

Most smart plugs don't track energy use unless the listing says energy monitoring. None of the picks below lists it. The Kasa EP40 app does show how long each outlet has been running and its average hours, which gives a rough idea of how much the lights are on.

The outdoor picks in detail

Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug EP40

This is the outdoor plug to buy for most homes. A heavy-duty cord runs from the outlet to a two-outlet head that hangs with the openings facing down, and a rubber cover seals any outlet not in use. Each outlet is controlled separately by its own button, by the app or by schedule, and each is rated 15A, 1875W. In the Kasa app, an outlet can turn on a set time before sunset and off at a fixed time, with different schedules for different days of the week. There's also a countdown timer, an away setting and a runtime readout. The listing claims Wi-Fi range up to 300 ft and IP64 weather resistance. Beyond holiday lights, it suits inflatables, bistro lights and path lights, and it works indoors too.

Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug EP40Check today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

Feit Electric Outdoor Dual Smart Plug

The Feit plug suits a single display on a single schedule, such as a string around a deck umbrella or along the porch. Setup is simple: install the Feit Electric app, plug into the covered GFCI outlet and add the plug. Once connected, the lights work from the app, by schedule or by voice through Alexa or Google Assistant, and the app can share control with other people in the house. It needs a 2.4 GHz network. Its two outlets switch together rather than separately, so it's the wrong pick for lights that need different hours.

Feit Electric Outdoor Dual Smart PlugCheck today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

The indoor picks in detail

Govee Dual Smart Plug (4 Pack)

The Govee dual plug packs the most outlets into one spot, which makes it a strong fit behind a tree with separate strings for the lights, a topper and a village display. Each plug turns one outlet into two, and two plugs fit in one wall plate. The listing gives a 15A rating with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Ratings vary across Govee's lineup, so check the label on the plug before adding a heavy load. Setup takes more steps than most and needs the phone on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Its app is the least intuitive here, so schedules are easier to build in Alexa or Google Home.

Govee Dual Smart Plug (4 Pack)Check today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

BN-LINK Heavy Duty Smart Plug

The BN-LINK is a low-cost rectangular plug built for everyday use, and its price makes it easy to buy several. It runs on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi through the Smart Life app, which has the most straightforward setup of the app-based plugs here, and it works with Alexa and Google voice control. Its label rating of 15A resistive or 10A tungsten covers tree lights, window candles and lamps with room to spare. It sits slightly off-center in the outlet and sticks out a bit, but leaves the second outlet open.

BN-LINK Heavy Duty Smart PlugCheck today’s price on AmazonBuy on Amazon →

Amazon Basics Smart Plug

For homes built around Echo speakers, no plug sets up faster: scan the code printed on the plug in the Alexa app and the rest happens in the background. It's compact and handles schedules and voice. The trade-off is that it works only with Alexa: no Google Home and no separate brand app. It's sold as a single plug, so it costs more per outlet than the multipacks. Check the current price for the Amazon Basics Smart Plug.

Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini EP10 (4 Pack)

The EP10 is a small 15A plug that fits two to a wall outlet with room to spare, good for window candles in a row of windows or a lamp and tree sharing one outlet. It shares the Kasa app with the outdoor EP40, so indoor and outdoor lights can live in one place. Expect Kasa's longer setup and a 2.4 GHz network. See the Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini EP10 (4 Pack).

Before the lights go up

• Plan the outlets first. Decide which lights share a schedule and which need their own, then pick plugs to match. Pair and name each plug indoors before it goes outside.
• Hang the lights cleanly. For even spacing on gutters and ridges, see shingle tabs vs. ridge clips vs. gutter clips.
• Pick a dry day. See the best time to hang Christmas lights.
• Tired of hanging lights every year? Permanent track lights have their own app and schedules. See Govee vs. Lumary vs. Eufy permanent outdoor lights.

Who should buy which

• Roofline and porch lights on separate schedules: Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug EP40.
• One outdoor display on one schedule: Feit Electric Outdoor Dual Smart Plug.
• Several strings behind the tree: Govee Dual Smart Plug (4 Pack).
• Lots of plugs on a budget, with Alexa or Google: BN-LINK Heavy Duty Smart Plug.
• An all-Alexa home that wants the easiest setup: Amazon Basics Smart Plug.
• Tight outlets and a matching Kasa outdoor plug: Kasa Smart Plug Ultra Mini EP10 (4 Pack).