Smart home technology is making it easier than ever to control your energy use, but not all devices are created equal. If you're trying to lower your electricity bill or just cut back on waste, you’ve probably seen smart plugs and smart circuits come up in conversation. Both offer control. Both offer data. But which one actually helps you save more?
Let’s take a closer look.
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Smart plugs are small devices that plug into a traditional outlet. Once installed, they let you turn electronics on and off remotely using an app or voice assistant. Many also let you set schedules or track energy use in real time.
They work best for:
Lamps and light fixtures
Coffee makers and countertop appliances
TVs and gaming systems
Chargers that stay plugged in all day
Affordable and easy to install
Great for renters or small homes
Can automate and monitor specific devices
Available with power usage tracking
Only control what’s plugged into them
Can’t handle high-voltage appliances
May take up space or block nearby outlets
Smart plugs are ideal for someone who wants targeted control over a few high-use devices without a major investment.
Smart circuits take a bigger-picture approach. These are part of a smart electrical panel system that monitors and controls electricity use at the circuit level inside your breaker box. With the right setup, you can view real-time usage for your entire home and control appliances—even hardwired ones like your water heater or HVAC system.
They work best for:
Homeowners with central HVAC, water heaters, or electric vehicle chargers
People who want detailed whole-home energy data
Households with solar panels or time-of-use electricity plans
Monitors everything on your panel, not just individual outlets
Can track and control major appliances and systems
Useful for identifying unexpected spikes or phantom loads
Helpful for homes with solar or battery storage
More expensive and requires professional installation
Not all homes are compatible without upgrades
Higher learning curve for setup and use
Smart circuits offer much deeper insight, but they’re better suited for homeowners who are ready to invest in full-home energy management.
The answer depends on how you use electricity and how much control you want.
Smart plugs can help reduce waste from devices that draw power when idle or forgotten—like leaving a TV or game console on overnight. That can add up, especially when you start automating several small devices.
Smart circuits give you visibility into your home’s biggest energy consumers. That means you can catch problems like a failing appliance that’s drawing more power than it should or spot patterns that help you shift usage to off-peak hours. The potential savings here are larger, especially in homes with high loads or more complex energy needs.
Smart plugs save a little, often between 1 to 4 percent on total electricity use
Smart circuits have the potential to save more, especially when paired with time-based electricity plans or solar panels
Both tools offer savings, but their real power is in awareness. When you can see how and when you’re using energy, you’re more likely to make small changes that add up over time. That’s why these tools matter for people trying to cut costs or reduce their environmental impact.
If you already know where your big usage happens, smart plugs might be all you need. If you're not sure—or if you want to build toward a smarter, more flexible energy system—smart circuits can give you the full picture.
If you're looking for easy, affordable energy control on a device-by-device basis, smart plugs are a great starting point. If you want to monitor and manage your whole home, smart circuits are the more powerful (and more expensive) tool.
Both can help you save, and both move you closer to smarter energy habits.
Want to get more from your smart devices? Rhythm customers on time-based plans like Powershift can benefit even more by syncing their habits with pricing windows.
Learn how time-of-use electricity plans work.
