Smart plugs are a very cheap way to upgrade power outlets in your home to provide you with all of the perks that come with a smart home. Often very easy to set up, you can very quickly hook up a device to Google home and be able to control power status using voice commands. This functionality is great but what happens when you leave your home? Do smart plugs work away from home?

There are going to be some rare circumstances where it is not going to be possible but for the vast majority of users, the smart plugs that you purchase will work just fine when you are away from home and outside of your homes wifi network. In fact, if you are using Google Home or Alexa with your smart plugs, the devices are already being accessed “away from home”.

Using Smart Plugs Away From Home

Smart plugs will connect to your home wifi network but this does not always mean the same thing as internet access. These smart plugs will require you to install an app on your phone that provides you with the ability to set up new smart devices and also to control them. This is generally going to be local control over your LAN.

Most of the smart plug manufacturers will also have a cloud-based service that is used to link up with smart devices within your home. Once you log in and connect new smart devices to your home network, under a cloud user account, those smart devices will not be accessible through the cloud service of the plugs manufacturer. This will provide you with the ability to control the smart plugs from outside of the home wifi network.