Smart Plugs / Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) vs Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M
Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) vs Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M
Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M
The best-built outdoor Matter plug, and the one TP-Link refuses to give energy monitoring.
Wins overall by 1.6 points
Quick Verdict
A 1.6-point gap makes the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M the straightforward choice here. The best-built outdoor Matter plug, and the one TP-Link refuses to give energy monitoring.
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) and Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M are both closely matched smart Plug models, and the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) is $14 cheaper than the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M ($11.99 vs $25.99). On Energy Monitoring, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) leads (9.5 vs 0.0/10) — whether power is genuinely measured, what quantities are reported, and where you can see them. On Local Control, the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M leads (8.5 vs 2.5/10) — whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud. On Load Headroom, the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M leads (7.5 vs 2.0/10) — how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by. Overall, the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores 7.0/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 5.4/10 for the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) | Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11.99 | $25.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2024 |
| Max Load | Sources conflict: Emporia's store lists 10A max continuous, 15A peak for up to one hour a day, and separately '1800W @ 120V'. 10A continuous is 1,200W | 15A / 1,875W total, shared across both outlets |
| Motor / Inductive Rating | Not published. Emporia explicitly advises against refrigerators, freezers, medical equipment, pet heat lamps and pumps, and networking gear | 1/2 HP |
| Energy Monitoring | Yes, measured — this is the product's entire purpose | No — TP-Link staff confirmed on its own forum that it cannot be added by firmware and closed the request as Declined |
| Radio & Protocol | Wi-Fi 2.4GHz to the Emporia cloud. No Matter, no HomeKit, no Zigbee | Matter over Wi-Fi (2.4GHz), Bluetooth for commissioning |
| Hub Required | No | No for the Kasa app; a Matter controller is required for Apple/Google/SmartThings |
| Works Without Internet | No documented local API; the app and schedules depend on Emporia's cloud | Yes — Matter control is local and Kasa keeps LAN control |
| Switched Outlets | 1 | 2✓ |
| Pack Size | 1 | 1 |
| Price per Switched Outlet ($) | 11.99✓ | 13 |
| Dimensions | Not published by Emporia | 110 x 39 x 81 mm (4.33 x 1.54 x 3.19 in) |
| Blocks Second Outlet | Not published by Emporia | Not applicable — mounts on its own clamp rather than sitting on a duplex receptacle |
| Weather Rating | Indoor only | IP64, ETL certified, -4°F to 122°F. The IP64 figure covers the sealed body; TP-Link publishes no rating for a socket with a cord inserted and the sockets are meant to face down |
| Warranty | 12 months | 24 months |
| Colors | White | Black |
Category Scores
Load Headroom
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M leads clearly here, 7.5 against 2.0 — a 5.5-point margin on how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by. If that is what you are buying for, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Energy Monitoring
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 0.0 — a 9.5-point margin on whether power is genuinely measured, what quantities are reported, and where you can see them. If that is what you are buying for, the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ecosystem Support
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M leads clearly here, 9.0 against 4.0 — a 5.0-point margin on matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage. If that is what you are buying for, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Local Control
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M leads clearly here, 8.5 against 2.5 — a 6.0-point margin on whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud. If that is what you are buying for, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Size & Fit
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) and Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M are level here, at 6.0/10 each. whether it blocks the second outlet on a duplex receptacle, and how it mounts is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Build & Safety
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M leads clearly here, 8.5 against 4.0 — a 4.5-point margin on certification, flame-retardant housing, overload protection, recall history and warranty. If that is what you are buying for, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
App & Automation
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.0 — a 1.0-point margin on scheduling, away modes, sunrise/sunset triggers and how good the controlling app is. If that is what you are buying for, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) and Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M are level here, at 8.5/10 each. what a switched, metered outlet actually costs once the pack size and any required hub are counted is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Best For
Choose the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) if…
- • Energy Monitoring matters most to you — the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) scores 9.5/10 here (whether power is genuinely measured, what quantities are reported, and where you can see them).
- • You want to spend less — it's $14 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is indoor-mini or energy-monitoring.
Choose the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M if…
- • Local Control matters most to you — the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores 8.5/10 here (whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud).
- • Load Headroom matters most to you — the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores 7.5/10 here (how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by).
- • Ecosystem Support matters most to you — the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores 9.0/10 here (matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage).
- • Build & Safety matters most to you — the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores 8.5/10 here (certification, flame-retardant housing, overload protection, recall history and warranty).
- • Your main use case is outdoor or matter.
Pros & Cons
Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack)
Pros
- +The metering is the product, and it slots straight into Emporia's whole-home energy dashboard
- +$11.99 single or $34.99 for four direct from Emporia — the cheapest per-plug metering in the category
- +Emporia is unusually honest about its limits, publishing a continuous rating and a do-not-use list
Cons
- −10A continuous, not 15A — the 15A figure is a peak good for one hour a day, so the real ceiling is about 1,200W
- −Emporia's own store tells you not to plug in a fridge, freezer, pump, heat lamp or router
- −Roughly 80,000 North America Smart Plugs sold July 2022 to May 2023 were recalled by CPSC in September 2023 for inadequate grounding (electric shock hazard); check what you receive
- −Alexa and Google only — no HomeKit, no Matter, no local control, no Home Assistant path
- −Emporia publishes no dimensions, so you cannot tell in advance whether it blocks the second socket
Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M
Pros
- +1/2 HP motor rating — three times the EP25's, which matters for pond pumps and inflatables
- +Two outlets you can schedule separately, so lights and a pump are not tied together
- +Matter multi-admin plus a wide -4°F to 122°F operating range for real winter use
- +2-year warranty, unusual for outdoor gear at this price
Cons
- −No energy monitoring at all, and TP-Link has publicly refused to add it — the cheaper indoor Kasa plugs meter, this does not
- −IP64 is splash resistance, not immersion; a plug sitting in standing water or snowdrift is outside the rating
- −15A is the total for the pair, not per outlet — two 1,000W devices will trip it
- −Needs a Matter controller for Apple, Google or SmartThings; only the Kasa app works standalone
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Energy Monitoring, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M?+
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) scores higher on Energy Monitoring (9.5/10 vs 0.0/10) — whether power is genuinely measured, what quantities are reported, and where you can see them.
Which is better for Local Control, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M?+
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores higher on Local Control (8.5/10 vs 2.5/10) — whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud.
Which is better for Load Headroom, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M?+
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores higher on Load Headroom (7.5/10 vs 2.0/10) — how much of the nameplate 15A you can actually use continuously, and what the plug is rated to do with motors, compressors and heaters — the spec buyers most often get caught by.
Which is better for Ecosystem Support, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M?+
The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M scores higher on Ecosystem Support (9.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage.
Is the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) worth the price difference over the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M?+
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) is the cheaper option at $11.99 versus $25.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Energy Monitoring.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) is the better fit if you mainly care about indoor-mini or energy-monitoring. The Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M is the better fit for outdoor or matter.
What's the warranty on the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) vs the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M?+
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) ships with a 12-month warranty; the Kasa Matter Smart Outdoor Plug EP40M ships with a 24-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Premium Option
Wyze Plug Outdoor (WLPPO1-1) — $29.98
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.