IKEA’s INSPELNING smart plug tracks energy usage in real-time for under £9, making it one of the cheapest energy-monitoring smart plugs on the market. The device replaces IKEA’s older TRETAKT model, adding a critical feature that was missing: the ability to monitor how much power your appliances actually consume. This matters because most budget smart plugs either cost less but offer no energy tracking, or cost significantly more if they do.
Key Takeaways
- INSPELNING costs under £9 and includes real-time energy monitoring via the IKEA Home app
- Requires a separate DIRIGERA hub for app control and energy tracking functionality
- Matter-compatible and works with Samsung SmartThings hubs as part of IKEA’s 25-device integration
- Replaces the TRETAKT model, which lacked energy monitoring capabilities
- Part of IKEA’s 21 new Matter-compatible smart home gadgets, the company’s largest expansion yet
IKEA Smart Plug Energy Tracking: What You Get for Under £9
The INSPELNING converts ordinary appliances into smart devices while displaying real-time power consumption data. You can control connected lamps, fans, coffee machines, and small appliances remotely via the IKEA Home app or voice commands. The energy monitoring feature is the headline upgrade—it lets you see exactly which devices are draining your power and by how much. This is genuinely useful if you’re trying to cut electricity costs or simply understand your consumption patterns.
The catch? You need an IKEA DIRIGERA hub to unlock full functionality. The hub is a separate purchase, though it serves as the central control point for IKEA’s entire smart home ecosystem. Without it, the plug still works as a basic on-off switch, but energy tracking and app control vanish. That’s a limitation worth considering, especially if you’re just testing the IKEA smart home waters.
How INSPELNING Compares to Rivals Like TP-Link and Tapo
TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim KP115 is the premium reference point—it tracks energy usage and works with Alexa, Google Home, and Bixby. However, it costs substantially more than IKEA’s offering. On the budget end, TP-Link’s Tapo P100 Mini delivers basic smart control without energy monitoring, filling a different niche entirely. Tapo’s P410M outdoor plug, priced around €24.90, includes real-time energy monitoring with bidirectional flow detection and overheat protection, making it feature-rich but nearly three times IKEA’s price.
INSPELNING’s real advantage is simplicity plus affordability. You’re not paying for wireless protocol flexibility (like Kasa’s multi-platform support) or outdoor durability (like Tapo’s P410M). You’re getting a straightforward, cheap energy tracker that integrates cleanly into IKEA’s ecosystem. If you already own a DIRIGERA hub or plan to build an IKEA smart home, the INSPELNING makes immediate sense. If you’re committed to Google Home or Alexa exclusively, TP-Link’s options might feel less locked-in despite higher costs.
IKEA’s Biggest Smart Home Push Yet
The INSPELNING arrives as part of IKEA’s 21 new Matter-compatible smart home gadgets—the company’s largest expansion in this category. Matter support is significant because it means these devices will eventually work across ecosystems without relying solely on IKEA’s proprietary hub. IKEA has also integrated 25 of its devices, including INSPELNING, with Samsung SmartThings hubs, reducing the number of separate hubs you need to buy.
This broader context matters. IKEA isn’t positioning itself as a niche player anymore. The company is building a genuine alternative to Philips Hue, Nanoleaf, and other premium smart home brands—but at fraction-of-the-price positioning. The INSPELNING is a perfect example: it does what expensive plugs do, costs what budget plugs cost, and fits into an expanding ecosystem that’s finally starting to talk to other brands via Matter.
Should You Buy the INSPELNING?
If you own a DIRIGERA hub or are willing to buy one, yes. The INSPELNING delivers energy tracking at a price point that makes it almost impossible to justify buying a plug without monitoring. If you’re building your first smart home and want to avoid vendor lock-in, wait for Matter support to mature further—or pick TP-Link’s Kasa range, which offers broader platform compatibility right now.
The real win here is psychological. IKEA has made energy monitoring affordable enough that it stops feeling like a luxury feature. That’s a shift. Budget smart plugs have always existed, and premium ones with monitoring have always existed, but the gap between them has been huge. INSPELNING collapses that gap. It’s cheap, it tracks power, and it works. In a market crowded with overpriced gadgets, that’s refreshing.
Do I need a DIRIGERA hub to use the INSPELNING?
Yes, a DIRIGERA hub is required for full functionality including app control and energy monitoring. Without it, the plug works as a basic on-off switch but loses all smart features. The hub is sold separately.
Can the INSPELNING work with Samsung SmartThings?
Yes. IKEA has integrated 25 of its devices, including the INSPELNING, with Samsung SmartThings hubs. This means you can control the plug through SmartThings instead of relying solely on IKEA’s app, though you still need either a DIRIGERA or SmartThings hub for connectivity.
How does INSPELNING’s energy monitoring compare to TP-Link’s Tapo plugs?
Both track real-time power consumption, but Tapo’s P410M includes bidirectional flow detection and overheat protection, making it more feature-rich. However, INSPELNING costs significantly less and integrates more naturally into IKEA’s expanding smart home ecosystem if that’s where you’re building.
The INSPELNING proves that affordable smart home tech doesn’t have to be dumb. IKEA has delivered energy tracking at a price that makes skeptics reconsider. It’s not revolutionary—it’s just sensible, which in smart home tech is rarer than it should be.
Where to Buy
This article was written with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
Source: T3
