Smart Plugs / Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) vs SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)
Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) vs SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)
SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)
The cheapest metered plug per unit — but the HomeKit version is a different product.
Wins overall by 1.2 points
Quick Verdict
The SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) takes this by a clear 1.2 points. The cheapest metered plug per unit — but the HomeKit version is a different product. The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) and SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) are both current-generation smart Plug models, and the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) is $18 cheaper than the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) ($11.99 vs $29.99). On Load Headroom, the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads (5.0 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. On Build & Safety, the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads (7.0 vs 4.0/10) — certification, flame-retardant housing, overload protection, recall history and warranty. On Local Control, the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads (5.0 vs 2.5/10) — whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud. Overall, the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores 6.6/10 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) | SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $11.99 | $29.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2022 |
| Max Load | Sources conflict: Emporia's store lists 10A max continuous, 15A peak for up to one hour a day, and separately '1800W @ 120V'. 10A continuous is 1,200W | 15A resistive / 1,875W at 100-125V |
| Motor / Inductive Rating | Not published. Emporia explicitly advises against refrigerators, freezers, medical equipment, pet heat lamps and pumps, and networking gear | Not published by SwitchBot |
| Energy Monitoring | Yes, measured — this is the product's entire purpose | Yes, measured — consumption tracking with CSV export in the SwitchBot app |
| Radio & Protocol | Wi-Fi 2.4GHz to the Emporia cloud. No Matter, no HomeKit, no Zigbee | Wi-Fi 2.4GHz plus Bluetooth LE. No Matter and no HomeKit on this SKU |
| Hub Required | No | No for the SwitchBot app. HomeKit needs the separate 'HomeKit Enabled' Plug Mini; Matter needs a SwitchBot Hub Mini (Matter) |
| Works Without Internet | No documented local API; the app and schedules depend on Emporia's cloud | Partial — Bluetooth control works in range without internet; remote control and voice go through SwitchBot's cloud |
| Switched Outlets | 1 | 1 |
| Pack Size | 1 | 4 |
| Price per Switched Outlet ($) | 11.99 | 7.5✓ |
| Dimensions | Not published by Emporia | 70 x 39 x 59 mm (2.8 x 1.6 x 2.4 in), 70 g each |
| Blocks Second Outlet | Not published by Emporia | Borderline — at 2.4 in tall it is noticeably chunkier than a Kasa or Tapo mini |
| Weather Rating | Indoor only | Indoor only, 5°F to 104°F |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | White | White |
Category Scores
Load Headroom
The SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 5.0 against 2.0 — a 3.0-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 7.5 — a 2.0-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 SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Ecosystem Support
The SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 5.5 against 4.0 — a 1.5-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 SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 5.0 against 2.5 — a 2.5-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 SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 6.5 against 6.0 — a 0.5-point margin on whether it blocks the second outlet on a duplex receptacle, and how it mounts. If that is what you are buying for, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Build & Safety
The SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 7.0 against 4.0 — a 3.0-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 SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-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 SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.5 — a 0.5-point margin on what a switched, metered outlet actually costs once the pack size and any required hub are counted. If that is what you are buying for, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) does not close the gap elsewhere.
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 $18 cheaper.
Choose the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) if…
- • Load Headroom matters most to you — the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores 5.0/10 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).
- • Build & Safety matters most to you — the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores 7.0/10 here (certification, flame-retardant housing, overload protection, recall history and warranty).
- • Local Control matters most to you — the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores 5.0/10 here (whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud).
- • Ecosystem Support matters most to you — the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores 5.5/10 here (matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, SmartThings and Home Assistant coverage).
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
SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)
Pros
- +$7.50 a plug with metering — the lowest per-plug price here
- +Bluetooth LE fallback means it still switches from your phone when the Wi-Fi or internet is down
- +Rated to 5°F, so it tolerates an unheated garage better than most indoor plugs
- +One of the friendliest plugs to ESPHome/Tasmota reflashing if you want it fully local
Cons
- −This SKU has no HomeKit — SwitchBot sells a separate, dearer 'HomeKit Enabled' Plug Mini and buyers routinely order the wrong one
- −No Matter without buying a SwitchBot Hub Mini on top
- −2.4 in tall body crowds the second socket on a duplex receptacle
- −15A is a resistive rating only; SwitchBot publishes no motor or HP figure
- −Remote control and Alexa/Google both depend on SwitchBot's cloud
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) 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 Load Headroom, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)?+
The SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores higher on Load Headroom (5.0/10 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 Build & Safety, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)?+
The SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores higher on Build & Safety (7.0/10 vs 4.0/10) — certification, flame-retardant housing, overload protection, recall history and warranty.
Which is better for Local Control, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)?+
The SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) scores higher on Local Control (5.0/10 vs 2.5/10) — whether switching and schedules survive an internet outage, or depend on a vendor cloud.
Which is better for Energy Monitoring, the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) or the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)?+
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) scores higher on Energy Monitoring (9.5/10 vs 7.5/10) — whether power is genuinely measured, what quantities are reported, and where you can see them.
Is the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) worth the price difference over the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)?+
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) is the cheaper option at $11.99 versus $29.99. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Load Headroom.
What's the warranty on the Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) vs the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack)?+
The Emporia Energy Monitoring Smart Plug (1-Pack) ships with a 12-month warranty; the SwitchBot Plug Mini W1901400 (4-Pack) ships with a 12-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
Kasa Smart Plug Mini EP25 (EP25P4 4-Pack) — $32.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.