Best Home Energy Monitor (2026)

You can’t reduce what you can’t see. Energy monitors fall into two classes: whole-house (panel-mounted, sees every circuit) and plug-in (one appliance at a time). Here are the best in each.

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#1

Sense Home Energy Monitor

Why: Best whole-house — machine-learning identifies devices

Whole-house, machine-learns which device is which. ~$300, identifies hidden loads automatically.

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#2

Emporia Vue Energy Monitor

Why: Best whole-house value (~$150)

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#3

P3 Kill-A-Watt Electricity Usage Monitor

Why: Best plug-in — the original Kill-A-Watt

The original plug-in kWh meter. ~$25, measures any appliance's real draw.

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#4

TP-Link Kasa Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring (HS300)

Why: Best multi-outlet (HS300 6-outlet strip)

6-outlet smart power strip with per-outlet energy monitoring. ~$70.

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The bottom line

Want to know the cost of a specific appliance? Try our state-by-state calculators.

How we pick

Selections are based on a combination of (1) third-party efficiency certifications (ENERGY STAR, AHRI, CEE), (2) verified-purchase review patterns on Amazon and manufacturer sites, and (3) practical fit for typical U.S. household installation. We disclose all affiliate relationships and never accept payment for placement.

For full transparency on how we compute the cost numbers throughout this site, see our methodology.