Pros
- Compact, sturdy design
- Included remote control so you don’t have to use an app
- Full Matter support for easy home controls
- Setup takes seconds
- Automations and scheduling are easy to set up
- Available for only $8
Cons
- You’ll need a Matter hub from one of the big creators (or Ikea’s own) to benefit from these savings
- No energy-monitoring features
After swinging for the fences with a new smart security system and the coziest smart lamp ever, Ikea is rounding off its smart home takeover in 2026 with a new smart plug. So far, everything I’ve tested from Ikea has impressed me this year, either as incredibly affordable ways to start up your smart home or particularly clever product designs.
Now the Swedish meatball and furniture company has returned with the tiny Grillplats plug, equipped to give any ordinary American outlet smart powers. It also offers full Matter compatibility, which means you can use it with your Apple Home, Google Home, SmartThings or Alexa app — with a couple caveats.
At under $8, this is the cheapest smart plug I’ve tested. It currently controls my Wi-Fi router, making it easy to reboot — a common part of smart home testing — but there’s plenty more the plug can do. Here’s what I thought of it.
What’s in the plug? Ikea sticks to the basics
Today’s smart plugs are compact, inexpensive and can turn a wide variety of household appliances on or off with remote app control. Ikea’s version leans into these advantages, but also includes a small remote for on/off activation if you don’t like using apps, a handy add-on I’ve never before seen with a smart plug.
While Ikea’s model isn’t the smallest I’ve tested, it’s compact enough to fit on a standard outlet without getting in the way, which is the most important part of smart plug design.
Otherwise, the basic plug doesn’t have many bells and whistles, just a small LED indicator light and a side button to power it on or off. That’s one of the nice things about most smart plugs: There’s no learning curve, you can start using them immediately.
I do like smart plugs with extra features, such as dual outlets, but those tend to cost more, and Ikea is clearly aiming at the low-cost end of the market. That’s why it’s reassuring that this plug doesn’t have any noticeable design issues or flimsiness.
I have a full guide on some of our favorite ways to use a smart plug, but your options will depend on what devices you have around your home. Lamps, heaters, fountains, fans and even coffee makers are common choices for smart upgrades.
Speedy setup and effortless controls
One of my favorite aspects about this new crop of Ikea smart devices is how easy they are to set up. All they require is a quick scan of a QR code or the input of the Matter PIN, and the smart plug connects in a few seconds to your platform of choice.
But there is one catch. You’ll need a Matter hub for this connectivity to work. Ikea offers its own Dirigera hub, but at over $100, it’s an expensive investment. This plug works far better if you already have a hub in your home, such as a HomePod, Apple TV, newer Amazon Echo device, SmartThings hub or a Nest Hub. That gives you plenty of options. If you don’t have one of these, Ikea’s plug suddenly becomes a much more expensive investment.
I chose Apple Home for my testing platform, as I like its streamlined interface. Here, another advantage of the Grillplats plug surfaces: It’s easy to both set schedules and connect with other smart devices on the same platform. For example, you could connect the smart plug to a lamp, then link it to an Ikea motion sensor so the lamp automatically turns on when motion is detected in the room.
Small tricks like that give you room to experiment with Ikea’s plug. However, you won’t find energy management options on this plug like you would with a model such as Emporia’s, so it’s not much use for tracking your electricity.
Final thoughts on the Ikea Grillplats smart plug
Ikea delivers once again with a super-affordable smart plug that has the easiest setup process I’ve ever seen for a device like this. Of course, you’ll need a Matter hub to make everything work, so you better have a device that has hub features from Amazon, Apple, Google or Samsung — or be willing to buy Ikea’s own.
This issue aside, the Ikea plug is worth considering for anyone who wants to expand their smart home. The included remote control is a unique touch for those who don’t like using app controls, and automations are worth setting up if you have extras such as motion detectors.
It would have been nice to see energy tracking options for this plug, but even without those, Ikea’s plug stands out as a well-made option available for only around $8, a price you can’t beat for a device like this.
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