This $20 smart plug lets you control any power outlet with an app

Smartening up your home these days can be fairly cheap, especially if you know what to pick. One of the best ways to go about things is to get Amazon Smart Plugs because they’re easy to use, seamlessly mesh with Alexa, and they’re on sale for $20 a piece right now.

What’s a smart plug, you might be asking? It’s a tiny little device that plugs into a regular power outlet and turns it into one that you can control via your phone over your home wireless network. Anything you plug into the smart plug can be turned on or off via Alexa, whether that’s through the Alexa app or voice control with an Alexa device.

Picture this. It’s late, you’re heading to bed, you snuggle in and get comfy, only to remember that your living room lamp is still on. Instead of crawling out of bed and losing that cozy feeling, you just say the magic words: “Alexa, turn off the living room lamp.” And it’s done!

Of course, you can use it with more than just lamps. Pretty much any household device that’s essentially just on/off—like fans, coffee makers, or even Christmas lights—can be controlled this way. And if you ask me, for lamps, a smart plug is way better than a smart bulb because bulbs need frequent replacing whereas the plug lasts a long time.

You can also use the Alexa app to set up routines for the smart plug, effectively automating your everyday tasks. For instance, if you say “Goodnight Alexa,” you could tie it to a routine that cuts off all your smart plugs and all your lights with one fell swoop.

Normally, one of these smart plugs goes for $25. Right now, they’re discounted by 20% and available for $20 each. If you want to dip your toes into smart home tech, this is a great way to do that.