Buying Guide
The Best Power Strips with Individual Switches: Our Picks
We looked at 5 power strips with individual switches side by side, with the trade-offs that separate them and who each one suits.
By Jamie Cole, Lead Product Researcher
8 min read5 products evaluated
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Individual switches control power delivery per outlet, but this doesn't necessarily indicate independent internal circuits, some budget models group two outlets per switch despite implying full independence, verify against the actual wiring rather than the visual presence of multiple switches.
Switched outlets still draw standby power for the strip's own indicator LEDs and any always-on surge-protection circuitry, individual switches don't fully eliminate phantom load for the whole unit, a nuance rarely explained in energy-saving marketing.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Best Individual Control Pick Overall
POWSAV 6 Ft WiFi Surge Protector - 8 Outlet Extension Cord with 4 Smart & 4 Always On Outlets, 4 USB Ports, Alexa & Google Home Compatible, Black
Buyers who want individual control for some devices while keeping others always powered
Our take Check price for POWSAV 6 Ft WiFi Surge Protector - 8 Outlet Extension Cord with 4 Smart & 4 Always On Outlets, 4 USB Ports, Alexa & Google Home Compatible, Black (opens in a new tab)
Best Fully Independent Switch Pick
kasa smart Plug Power Strip KP303, Surge Protector with 3 Individually Controlled Smart Outlets and 2 USB Ports, Works with Alexa & Google Home, No Hub Required, White
Buyers who want verified fully independent per-outlet control
Our take Check price for kasa smart Plug Power Strip KP303, Surge Protector with 3 Individually Controlled Smart Outlets and 2 USB Ports, Works with Alexa & Google Home, No Hub Required, White (opens in a new tab)
Best 6-Outlet Independent Switch Pick
Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip with 6 Individually Controlled Outlets and 3 USB Ports (2 USB-A and 1 USB-C), WiFi, Works with Alexa Only, 2.4 GHz, No Hub Required, White
Buyers who want the most individually controlled outlets in an Alexa-focused household
Our take Check price for Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip with 6 Individually Controlled Outlets and 3 USB Ports (2 USB-A and 1 USB-C), WiFi, Works with Alexa Only, 2.4 GHz, No Hub Required, White (opens in a new tab)
Best Multi-Ecosystem Switch Pick
TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Outlet Extender, Surge Protector, 18W Fast Charging, 3 Individual Smart Outlets, 1x USB-C & 2X USB-A, Smart Night Light, Works w/Apple HomeKit, Alexa & Google Home, Tapo P306
Buyers with a mixed smart home ecosystem who want individual outlet control
Our take Check price for TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Outlet Extender, Surge Protector, 18W Fast Charging, 3 Individual Smart Outlets, 1x USB-C & 2X USB-A, Smart Night Light, Works w/Apple HomeKit, Alexa & Google Home, Tapo P306 (opens in a new tab)
Best Matter-Compatible Switch Pick
Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip - Matter Compatible, Energy Monitoring, Surge Protection, 6 Individually Controlled Outlets & 3 USB Ports, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri & Bixby - Tapo P316M
Buyers who want individual outlet control with Matter compatibility and monitoring
Our take Check price for Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip - Matter Compatible, Energy Monitoring, Surge Protection, 6 Individually Controlled Outlets & 3 USB Ports, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri & Bixby - Tapo P316M (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Best Individual Control Pick Overall1 of 5
POWSAV 6 Ft WiFi Surge Protector - 8 Outlet Extension Cord with 4 Smart & 4 Always On Outlets, 4 USB Ports, Alexa & Google Home Compatible, Black on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
4 individually smart-controlled outlets alongside 4 always-on outlets, useful for turning off specific devices without cutting power to everything, like a router you want always powered.
Best for
- Buyers who want individual control for some devices while keeping others always powered
Why we like it
Works with Alexa and Google Home.
Genuine mix of individually controlled and always-on outlets. On price, it's actually priced above kasa smart Plug Power Strip KP303, which is worth weighing if cost is your deciding factor between the two.
Key dimensions & specs
- 4 individually controlled outlets, 4 always-on
- 4 USB ports
- Alexa and Google Home compatible
- 8 outlets total
Pros
- Genuine mix of individually controlled and always-on outlets
- Works with Alexa and Google Home
- 8 total outlets plus 4 USB ports
- Reasonable price for the feature set
Cons
- Only half the outlets have individual control
- WiFi circuitry itself draws some standby power
Best Fully Independent Switch Pick2 of 5
kasa smart Plug Power Strip KP303, Surge Protector with 3 Individually Controlled Smart Outlets and 2 USB Ports, Works with Alexa & Google Home, No Hub Required, White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Works with Alexa and Google Home without a separate hub.
Best for
- Buyers who want verified fully independent per-outlet control
Why we like it
On the other side, No USB-C port.
Key dimensions & specs
- 3 fully independent smart outlets
- 2 USB ports
- Works with Alexa and Google Home, no hub
Pros
- No separate smart home hub required
- Surge protector included
- Established, reliable design
Cons
- Only 3 outlets, fewer than some alternatives
- Smart circuitry draws minor standby power regardless
- No USB-C port
Best 6-Outlet Independent Switch Pick3 of 5
Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip with 6 Individually Controlled Outlets and 3 USB Ports (2 USB-A and 1 USB-C), WiFi, Works with Alexa Only, 2.4 GHz, No Hub Required, White on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
6 individually controlled outlets, more than the 3-outlet alternatives, from an established brand.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most individually controlled outlets in an Alexa-focused household
Why we like it
Includes a USB-C port among 3 total USB ports.
On the other side, Standby power for smart circuitry persists regardless of switch states.
Key dimensions & specs
- 6 individually controlled outlets
- 3 USB ports (incl. 1 USB-C)
- Alexa only, WiFi 2.4GHz
- Amazon Basics brand
Pros
- 6 individually controlled outlets, more than the 3-outlet alternatives
- Includes a USB-C port
- Established Amazon Basics brand
- No hub required
Cons
- Alexa-only compatibility
- Lower rating than the top picks
- Standby power for smart circuitry persists regardless of switch states
Best Multi-Ecosystem Switch Pick4 of 5
TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Outlet Extender, Surge Protector, 18W Fast Charging, 3 Individual Smart Outlets, 1x USB-C & 2X USB-A, Smart Night Light, Works w/Apple HomeKit, Alexa & Google Home, Tapo P306 on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
3 individually controlled smart outlets with broad compatibility across Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home, useful if your household uses a mix of ecosystems.
Best for
- Buyers with a mixed smart home ecosystem who want individual outlet control
Why we like it
18W fast USB-C charging included.
The real tradeoff against that pick: Fewer outlets than the 6-outlet alternatives.
On the other side, Standby power still draws for smart circuitry.
Key dimensions & specs
- 3 individual smart outlets
- 18W fast USB-C charging
- Works with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google Home
- Smart night light feature
Pros
- Compatible with Apple HomeKit, Alexa, and Google Home
- 18W fast USB-C charging
- Individual outlet control
- Compact form factor
Cons
- Fewer outlets than the 6-outlet alternatives
- Standby power still draws for smart circuitry
Best Matter-Compatible Switch Pick5 of 5
Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip - Matter Compatible, Energy Monitoring, Surge Protection, 6 Individually Controlled Outlets & 3 USB Ports, Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri & Bixby - Tapo P316M on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
6 individually controlled outlets with Matter compatibility, future-proofing your individual switch control across multiple smart home ecosystems.
Best for
- Buyers who want individual outlet control with Matter compatibility and monitoring
Why we like it
Energy monitoring lets you see draw per switched outlet.
On the other side, Standby power for smart circuitry persists regardless.
Key dimensions & specs
- 6 individually controlled outlets
- Matter compatible, energy monitoring
- 3 USB ports, surge protection
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri, Bixby
Pros
- 6 individually controlled outlets with Matter compatibility
- Energy monitoring per switched outlet
- Broad smart home ecosystem support
- Surge protection included
Cons
- Highest price in this guide
- Standby power for smart circuitry persists regardless
How We Chose These Power Strips with Individual Switches
Each pick was assessed across 3 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- Verified independent per-outlet switching, not grouped pairs
- Checked whether each pick's individual switches control independent outlets rather than budget designs that group two outlets per switch despite implying full independence.
- Standby phantom power disclosed for the strip's own circuitry
- Noted that switched outlets still draw standby power for the strip's own indicator LEDs and any always-on smart or surge-protection circuitry, individual switches don't fully eliminate phantom load for the whole unit.
- Outlet count and smart ecosystem compatibility compared together
- Weighed the number of individually controlled outlets against smart home ecosystem compatibility, since buyers have different priorities between maximum control granularity and ecosystem breadth.
What to Look for in a Power Strip with Individual Switches
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Understand that a power strip and a surge protector are not automatically the same thing
A basic power strip simply splits one wall outlet into several without any electrical protection built in, while a genuine surge protector includes internal components (commonly metal oxide varistors) that absorb and redirect a sudden voltage spike before it reaches your connected electronics, and a joule rating, when stated, quantifies roughly how much total surge energy those components can absorb before needing replacement.
This distinction matters because these two product types are frequently sold side by side with visually similar designs, and a strip without stated surge protection provides zero defense against the kind of voltage spike that can damage a laptop charger, a monitor, or other sensitive electronics during a storm or grid fluctuation.
Check the listing specifically for a stated joule rating and the words "surge protector," not just "power strip," if protecting connected electronics is part of why you're buying one.
Confirm your specific mounting method's compatible dimensions before assuming it fits your setup
Power strips designed to mount rather than simply sit on a surface, clamp-on models that grip a desk edge, wall-mount models secured with screws, and under-desk models that attach to the underside of a desk, each have documented compatible dimension ranges (desk edge thickness for clamps, screw spacing for wall mounts) that don't universally fit every desk or wall, so a mounting design being the right general category doesn't guarantee it fits your specific setup.
This is an easy detail to overlook when focused on outlet count and features, but a clamp rated for a specific edge thickness range that doesn't match your desk, or wall-mount screw spacing that doesn't align with your available wall studs, means the mounting mechanism simply won't work regardless of how good the strip itself is.
Measure your actual desk edge, wall spacing, or under-desk clearance and compare it directly against the product's stated compatible range before ordering.
Check combined USB wattage and port count against how many devices you actually charge at once
USB charging ports on a power strip vary meaningfully in both count and total combined wattage output, and this total wattage gets shared or allocated across all connected devices simultaneously, meaning a strip advertising a high total wattage figure with many ports can still deliver notably less power to any single device if several are charging at the same time compared to a strip with fewer ports but the same total wattage.
USB-C ports supporting Power Delivery (PD) can charge laptops and other higher-power devices meaningfully faster than basic USB-A ports, which are typically limited to lower wattage output regardless of what's plugged in.
Count how many devices you'll realistically charge simultaneously and check both the per-port and total combined wattage figures, not just the raw port count, especially if laptop charging via USB-C is part of your actual use case.
Check outlet spacing if you regularly plug in bulky wall adapters
Standard AC outlet spacing on a power strip assumes typical plug sizes, but bulky wall-wart style adapters (common for routers, some monitors, and certain chargers) can be wide enough to block one or even two adjacent outlets entirely, a real practical problem that a strip's total outlet count doesn't reflect if several of your devices use oversized plugs.
Some strips specifically design wider outlet spacing or offset outlet positioning to accommodate this, a detail worth checking if your actual device mix includes multiple bulky adapters rather than assuming raw outlet count translates directly to usable outlet count.
Count how many of your actual devices use oversized wall-wart adapters, and check listing photos or reviews specifically mentioning outlet spacing if that describes your setup.
Weigh review volume against star rating, since safety-critical categories deserve extra scrutiny
Power strips and surge protectors are electrical safety products, not just convenience accessories, and a listing with a strong rating built on a large, genuine review history provides meaningfully more confidence in consistent manufacturing quality and long-term reliability than a similar-looking product with only a handful of reviews, particularly relevant here since a failure mode in this category (a short, an internal fire risk) has real consequences beyond simple product disappointment.
This doesn't mean every lesser-reviewed product is unsafe, but it does mean the safety and durability claims on a thin-review listing carry less independently verified weight for a category where that verification matters.
Check for independent safety certification (UL or ETL listing) as a baseline requirement regardless of review count, and additionally weigh review depth more heavily here than you might for a lower-stakes product category.
How to Choose a Power Strip with Individual Switches
Outlet count isn't consistently confirmed across every pick in this comparison; check each listing's product details directly.
| Kasa smart Plug Power Strip KP303 | |
| TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Outlet Extender | |
| No firm budget ceiling, prioritizing outlets or surge protection | Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip |
USB-C PD Charging vs Outlets Only
- Charges laptops and higher-power devices faster directly from the strip, without a separate charging brick. In this comparison: Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip with 6 Individually Controlled Outlets and 3 USB Ports, TP-Link Tapo Smart Plug Outlet Extender.
- Simpler design focused purely on outlet count, pair with your own chargers as needed. In this comparison: POWSAV 6 Ft WiFi Surge Protector, kasa smart Plug Power Strip KP303, Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip.
| Check each listing's stated joule rating directly | Surge protection level isn't consistently confirmed here |
|---|
For Bulky Wall-Wart Adapters Specifically
- Wide or offset outlet spacing explicitly mentioned in the listing or shown in product photos, not just a high raw outlet count.
- Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip fits this specifically: 6 individually controlled outlets with Matter compatibility.
- You want what Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip offers: 6 individually controlled outlets with Matter compatibility. That's a real functional upgrade over the budget picks here, not just a brand markup.
- The main thing you'd be paying extra for elsewhere in this list is capacity or charging speed you may not need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do individual switches on a power strip control fully independent outlets?
Some budget models group two outlets per switch despite implying full independence, verify the specific product's wiring rather than assuming from the visual presence of multiple switches.
Does turning off an individually switched outlet eliminate all standby power?
The strip's own indicator LEDs and any always-on smart or surge-protection circuitry still draw minimal standby power regardless of individual outlet switch states.
Are power strip individual switches reliable long-term?
It varies by build quality.
Does a switched-off outlet still have surge protection?
It depends on the design. Some strips maintain surge protection on a switched-off outlet, others cut protection along with power, verify this distinction if you plan to leave sensitive equipment plugged into a switched-off outlet.
Bottom Line
Best overall: POWSAV 6 Ft WiFi Surge Protector - 8 Outlet Extension Cord with 4 Smart & 4 Always On Outlets, 4 USB Ports, Alexa & Google Home Compatible, Black — best individual control pick overall pick in this roundup. See the full verdicts above for every pick, with pros, cons and who each one suits.
Browse all power strips with individual switches on Amazon — Prime-eligible options with current pricing.