IKEA GRILLPLATS Smart Plug

The IKEA GRILLPLATS is one of the best-value smart plugs we’ve tested for a short-term rental.

For a remarkably low-cost device, it gives you Matter over Thread, energy monitoring, fast response times, broad smart-home compatibility, and a permanently powered Thread device that can help strengthen the network throughout the property.

So far, it has also performed extremely well in our testing with SmartThings.

That’s the good news.

The less-good news is that IKEA made a couple of surprisingly basic mistakes that make the GRILLPLATS feel less polished than our favorite smart plug, the Eve Energy.

The biggest one is almost comical:

The Matter QR code is printed on the back of the plug.

Once you plug it into the wall, you can’t scan it.

There are also some SmartThings configuration quirks around power-restoration behavior that took more effort than we expected.

Neither issue is enough to stop us from recommending the GRILLPLATS as an excellent alternative.

But they explain why this inexpensive IKEA plug hasn’t quite replaced the Eve Energy as our top choice.

Our Experience With the IKEA GRILLPLATS

We’ve been testing the GRILLPLATS with SmartThings, and from an operational standpoint it has been excellent.

Pairing works.

Commands are fast.

The plug stays connected.

Power monitoring works.

And the device has responded reliably every time we’ve used it.

That’s ultimately what matters most.

A smart plug installed in a rental property shouldn’t require constant attention. We don’t want to reset it, re-pair it, or wonder whether an automation actually reached the device.

So far, the GRILLPLATS has given us no concerns in that area.

It feels responsive, stable, and surprisingly capable for such an inexpensive smart-home device.

Matter Over Thread Is a Major Strength

The GRILLPLATS communicates using Matter over Thread, which is a major reason we’re interested in IKEA’s newest smart-home lineup.

We’ve used Z-Wave devices in rental properties for years and still think Z-Wave is an excellent protocol.

But the Thread devices we’ve been testing recently have been impressively fast.

The GRILLPLATS is no exception.

Commands through SmartThings feel almost immediate.

We’re not claiming that Thread will universally outperform every Z-Wave device in every installation. Network design, hubs, routing, firmware, and individual hardware all affect performance.

But based on our own testing, the response time from devices like the GRILLPLATS and Eve Energy has been excellent.

For equipment such as lighting, plugs, and switches, that responsiveness makes a difference.

IKEA Put the Matter QR Code in the Worst Possible Place

This is our biggest complaint with the GRILLPLATS.

IKEA put the Matter QR code on the back of the device.

That’s the side facing the electrical outlet.

The problem becomes immediately obvious when you try to commission the plug.

The plug needs power while you’re adding it to your Matter network.

But once you plug it into a standard wall outlet, the QR code is hidden against the wall.

Fortunately, IKEA also puts the same Matter information on the packaging, so initial setup is easy if you still have the box.

That’s how we recommend setting it up.

But what happens six months or two years later when you’ve thrown the box away?

If you reset the plug, move it to another property, change smart-home platforms, or otherwise need to recommission it, accessing the QR code becomes unnecessarily difficult.

You may end up powering the plug through an extension cord or another outlet arrangement just so you can see the back of it while it’s powered.

This is such a basic design detail that we’re surprised IKEA missed it.

SmartThings Setup Has Another Small Quirk

We ran into another issue while configuring the GRILLPLATS with SmartThings.

We wanted the plug to behave predictably after a power failure.

Depending on the device being controlled, you might want the smart plug to turn back on automatically, remain off, or restore its previous state after power is lost and restored.

In our SmartThings setup, getting the power-restoration behavior we wanted required making sure the correct Edge driver and configuration were being used.

Once everything was configured properly, the plug behaved as expected.

But it took more effort than we think it should have.

This is another small example of the difference between GRILLPLATS and Eve Energy.

The IKEA plug works extremely well.

It just has a few more rough edges around the experience.

That’s Really the Theme of This Device

The more we use the GRILLPLATS, the more we think this is the best way to describe it:

Excellent hardware and functionality at an incredible price, with a few inexpensive-product quirks around the edges.

That’s not necessarily a criticism.

IKEA has managed to deliver a Matter-over-Thread smart plug with power monitoring for dramatically less money than many premium competitors.

Something has to give somewhere.

Fortunately, IKEA hasn’t compromised on the things we care most about.

The plug works.

It’s fast.

It’s reliable so far.

It stays connected.

And it integrates nicely into a Thread smart-home network.

Most of our complaints are about setup and refinement rather than actual performance.

That’s a tradeoff we’re much more willing to accept.

GRILLPLATS vs. Eve Energy

This is the comparison that matters most.

Functionally, these devices are remarkably similar.

Both give us Matter over Thread, fast local control, power monitoring, and a permanently powered Thread device that helps strengthen the network.

The GRILLPLATS wins easily on value.

The Eve Energy wins on refinement and construction quality.

Eve feels substantially more premium in the hand, and the setup experience has fewer little annoyances. After roughly a year of STR testing, our Eve plugs have also been flawless.

The GRILLPLATS has performed extremely well too, but the QR-code placement and SmartThings configuration quirks are reminders that you’re buying a much less expensive product.

If we needed a large number of plugs across several properties, we’d have no hesitation using GRILLPLATS.

If we’re choosing the plug we like the most regardless of price, we still choose Eve Energy.

That’s why Eve remains our Recommended smart plug and GRILLPLATS is one of our strongest Alternatives.

Which One Would We Buy?

This depends heavily on the application.

If we were buying one or two smart plugs and wanted the best product we’ve tested regardless of price, we’d still choose the Eve Energy.

If we needed a large number of smart plugs across multiple rental properties, the GRILLPLATS becomes extremely difficult to ignore.

The functionality-to-price ratio is outstanding.

There are also plenty of applications where premium build quality simply isn’t necessary.

A plug hidden behind a piece of furniture controlling landscape lighting doesn’t necessarily need to be the nicest smart plug on the market.

In that situation, GRILLPLATS makes a lot of sense.

That’s why we think both devices deserve a place in our recommended rental automation stack.

We simply put them into different categories.

Eve Energy is our top Recommended smart plug.

IKEA GRILLPLATS is our favorite lower-cost Alternative.

One Limitation Applies to Every Smart Plug

There is one rental-property limitation worth mentioning that has nothing specifically to do with IKEA.

Guests can unplug smart plugs.

They can move them.

They can unplug the equipment connected to them.

Or they can remove the entire device because they want access to the wall outlet.

That’s why we don’t like relying on removable smart plugs for truly mission-critical automation.

If losing power to the device could create a major operational problem, property damage, or another serious consequence, we would rather use a hardwired smart outlet, relay, or switch.

For less critical applications, smart plugs are fantastic.

The GRILLPLATS is particularly attractive because you can deploy them throughout the property without spending a fortune.

IKEA’s New Smart-Home Lineup Is Getting Interesting

GRILLPLATS also reinforces something we’ve noticed while testing IKEA’s newer smart-home products:

IKEA is becoming a serious smart-home hardware option.

Products like the GRILLPLATS, KLIPPBOK leak sensor, MYGGSPRAY motion sensor, and MYGGBETT contact sensor offer Matter-over-Thread connectivity at extremely aggressive prices.

They’re not always as refined as products costing several times more.

But many of them work surprisingly well.

That’s important for rental properties because automation can require a lot of devices.

The difference between a $10–$15 device and a $30–$50 device becomes substantial when you’re outfitting multiple rooms across multiple properties.

We’re going to continue testing IKEA’s lineup closely.

So far, the value proposition is difficult to ignore.

Who Should Buy the IKEA GRILLPLATS?

We recommend considering GRILLPLATS if:

• You want an affordable Matter-over-Thread smart plug
• You already have a compatible Thread Border Router
• You use SmartThings or another Matter platform
• You want built-in energy monitoring
• You need several smart plugs across a property
• You want permanently powered Thread devices throughout the home
• You’re comfortable with a few setup quirks
• Value matters more than premium construction

If you’re looking for the most polished smart plug we’ve tested, we still prefer Eve Energy.

If you’re trying to maximize capability per dollar, IKEA has made the decision much harder.