Energy monitors show your whole-home usage live, so you can spot the appliances quietly pushing up your bill. They're the best first purchase if you want to understand your usage before spending on anything else.
Why energy monitors matter
You can't cut what you can't measure. A clip-on or in-home display monitor turns abstract kWh into visible, actionable numbers — and simply seeing usage typically nudges households to cut 5-15%.
Recommended products
Filter our reviews to match your home and priorities.
TP-Link
Tapo P110 (4-Pack) Smart Plug with Energy Monitoring
A compact 4-pack of Wi-Fi smart plugs designed to monitor power consumption and automate household appliances via a smartphone app.
Granular energy tracking for individual appliances combined with Matter-ready smart home integration.
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Emporia Energy
Smart Home Energy Monitor with 16 50A Circuit Level Sensors (Gen 2/3)
A professional-grade monitoring system that tracks energy consumption across 16 individual circuits in real-time.
Granular circuit-level visibility to identify specific 'energy hog' appliances.
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Mecheer
Power Meter Electricity Usage Monitor
An entry-level plug-in energy monitor designed to identify energy-hungry appliances and track real-time electricity costs.
Identifies hidden energy-drains for less than £12.
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Antela
ANTELA Smart Plug + Energy Monitoring (4 Pack)
An affordable entry point into home automation that combines remote control with basic energy usage tracking for up to four appliances.
Granular energy monitoring at a budget-friendly per-unit price.
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Mecheer
Electricity Usage Monitor Power Meter Plug
An affordable, plug-and-play solution for identifying energy-hungry appliances around the UK home. It provides real-time data on wattage, cost, and consumption to help users trim their electricity bills.
Identify hidden energy vampires in your home instantly.
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Energenie
Energenie ENER007 Energy Saving Power Meter
An entry-level plug-in monitor designed to identify energy-hungry appliances and reveal hidden vampire power costs.
Identify high-drain appliances in real-time
Read ReviewBuying advice
Clip-on vs smart-meter display
Clip-on CT monitors work on any home; if you have a smart meter, its free in-home display may already cover the basics.
Look for per-appliance insight
Some monitors disaggregate usage by appliance — far more useful than a single whole-home figure.
Check data access
App history and export make it easier to track progress over weeks and months.
Frequently asked questions
Do energy monitors actually save money on energy bills?
They can, when they solve a real problem in your home. Our reviews focus on the products that make a measurable difference rather than novelty gadgets, and each one explains when the savings justify the cost — and when they don't.
Does PowerGuardian sell energy monitors?
No. PowerGuardian is an independent UK energy information service. Some links are Amazon affiliate links and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, but our reviews and ratings always stay advice-led and independent.
How does PowerGuardian rate energy monitors?
Every review is scored across six dimensions — Energy Saving, Ease of Use, Value, Features, Installation and Reliability — which combine into an overall PowerGuardian Rating out of 5. See our methodology for full detail.