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Accurate at 2 000 W, and often not at 3

The best plug-in energy meters for 2026

A plug-in meter sits between a socket and an appliance and shows what that appliance costs, and its weakness is at the bottom of its range. Standby loads of one or two watts are exactly what people buy these to find, and many meters are specified with an accuracy percentage that becomes meaningless below ten watts — the honest listings publish a minimum measurable load or a separate low-load accuracy. The maximum current is the other end and is a hard limit: a meter rated 16 A must not be used on a load beyond it, and a heater is close. Displayed values separate the shelf: instantaneous watts, cumulative kilowatt-hours, elapsed time, voltage, power factor, and on the better units the standby consumption over a period. Memory retention decides whether unplugging the meter loses the total — a real annoyance on a week-long measurement — and some keep a backup cell for exactly that. Tariff calculation turns kilowatt-hours into money, which is convenient and only as right as the rate entered. The socket type is country-specific and worth checking on an imported unit. We compare measurement range and low-load accuracy, maximum current, displayed values, memory retention, tariff calculation and socket type.

Every part on this shelf, side by side

  1. REV plug-in energy meter in white with an LCD display

    REV Plug-in meter, 3680 W, raised shock protection, IP20

    A plug-in energy meter for household appliances rated to 3680 W, with an LCD, two buttons, a reset and raised shock protection.

    Measurement range
    Nowhere in the listing
    Low-load accuracy
    Nowhere in the listing
    Maximum current
    Up to 3680 W, fifth bullet
    Displayed values
    Consumption of connected appliances, first bullet; the individual values displayed are not listed
    Memory retention
    A reset button is integrated and stored data is retained, fourth bullet
    Tariff calculation
    Nowhere in the listing
    Socket type
    A standard socket with raised shock protection, indoor use only, IP20, fifth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B00MHNGWDM (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4006341101747
    • Raised shock protection on the outlet, named specifically
    • Reading and programming through two buttons, which is as simple as it gets
    • No measurement range, so the smallest load it will register is unknown

    Best for: Finding out what a fridge or a freezer costs to run.

    ≈ €11
    Check price on Amazon
  2. CSL plug-in energy cost meter in white with a 1.9 inch display

    CSL-Computer Plug-in meter, 0.2–3680 W, ±2 %, 1.9 in LCD

    A plug-in energy cost meter measuring from 0.2 W to 3680 W at ±2 % accuracy, showing consumption, cost, voltage and power on a 1.9 inch reflective LCD.

    Measurement range
    0.2 W to 3680 W, fourth bullet
    Low-load accuracy
    Standby measurement from 0.2 W, from the title; overall accuracy ±2 %, fourth bullet
    Maximum current
    16 A, 3680 W, at 230 V AC 50 Hz, fourth bullet
    Displayed values
    Consumption, cost, mains voltage and power; buttons MODE, UP and RESET, third bullet
    Memory retention
    Nowhere in the listing
    Tariff calculation
    A cost readout is among the displayed values; how the tariff is entered is not described
    Socket type
    Type C/F, with raised shock protection; 109 × 64 × 70 mm, 122 g, third and fifth bullets
    Amazon reference
    B0BH9BZ97M (same reference on 4 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4062861800263
    • A measurement range published at both ends — 0.2 W to 3680 W
    • An accuracy figure with a unit: ±2 %
    • Nothing about what happens to the stored reading in a power cut

    Best for: Hunting standby draw across a house, one socket at a time.

    ≈ €13
    Check price on Amazon
  3. Brennenstuhl Primera-Line PM 231 E plug-in energy meter

    Brennenstuhl Primera-Line PM 231 E, two tariffs, LR44 backup cells

    A plug-in energy meter showing voltage, frequency, current, power factor and power, with two settable tariffs and three LR44 cells for data retention.

    Measurement range
    Nowhere in the listing
    Low-load accuracy
    Nowhere in the listing
    Maximum current
    Nowhere in the listing
    Displayed values
    Voltage, frequency, current, power factor and power, first bullet; the measuring time in hours and minutes, fourth bullet
    Memory retention
    Three LR44 cells included for data retention during a power cut, fifth bullet — the only meter in this family to ship them
    Tariff calculation
    Two individually settable tariffs, day and night, third bullet
    Socket type
    Raised shock protection, second bullet
    Amazon reference
    B007459MH6 (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4007123598083
    • Three backup cells supplied, so a power cut does not erase a week of measurement
    • Two tariffs, which is what a day and night rate actually needs
    • No measurement range, accuracy or maximum current published

    Best for: A long measurement on a day and night tariff that should survive an outage.

    ≈ €13
    Check price on Amazon
  4. PeakTech 9035 energy cost meter with a digital display

    PeakTech 0.1 W resolution, 0.005 A resolution, ±0.5 % base accuracy

    A plug-in energy cost meter with 0.1 W resolution, 0.005 A current resolution and ±0.5 % base accuracy, showing cost, energy, voltage, frequency and power factor.

    Measurement range
    Not published as a range; the power factor is shown from about 1 W, second bullet
    Low-load accuracy
    0.1 W resolution, first bullet, with a base accuracy of ±0.5 %, fifth bullet — THE TIGHTEST ACCURACY FIGURE IN THIS FAMILY
    Maximum current
    Nowhere in the listing; the current resolution is 0.005 A, fourth bullet
    Displayed values
    Energy cost in euros, energy consumption in kWh, mains voltage, mains frequency, load current and power factor, third bullet
    Memory retention
    Nowhere in the listing
    Tariff calculation
    Energy cost is displayed in euros, third bullet; how the rate is entered is not described
    Socket type
    Nowhere in the listing
    Amazon reference
    B00I1GTLWS (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4250569402302
    • ±0.5 % base accuracy, four times tighter than the next figure published here
    • 0.1 W and 0.005 A resolutions both stated
    • No maximum current or power, which every other meter in this family gives

    Best for: Measuring small loads where the difference between one watt and two matters.

    ≈ €11
    Check price on Amazon
  5. Awootsv plug-in energy meter with a backlit display

    Awootsv 11 measurement modes, overload alarm above 13 A, backlight option

    A plug-in energy meter with eleven measurement modes including time, power, cumulative consumption, voltage, frequency and current, with an overload alarm above 13 A.

    Measurement range
    Nowhere in the listing
    Low-load accuracy
    Nowhere in the listing
    Maximum current
    Not published as a rating; an overload alarm sounds when a load above 13 A is connected, fifth bullet
    Displayed values
    Eleven modes including time, power in watts, cumulative consumption in kWh, voltage, frequency and current, second bullet
    Memory retention
    Nowhere in the listing; a pinhole reset is inserted before first use, fourth bullet
    Tariff calculation
    Cost of the connected devices is calculated, first bullet
    Socket type
    Two versions, one with a green backlight and one without, third bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0DLK1Q52X (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    0762949176863
    • An audible overload alarm, which no other meter in this family has
    • Eleven modes, more than any other plug meter here
    • The eleven modes are not all listed, so what six of them show is unknown

    Best for: A socket where the worry is overload as much as consumption.

    ≈ €16
    Check price on Amazon
  6. SCHWAIGER energy and feed-in meter with a backlit display

    SCHWAIGER Consumption AND export metering, 0.3–3680 W, IP44, backlit

    A plug-in meter measuring both consumption and feed-in from 0.3 W to 3680 W, with an adjustable kWh price, a backlit display and an IP44 case.

    Measurement range
    0.3 W to 3680 W, third bullet
    Low-load accuracy
    Described as measuring even the smallest consumption, from 0.3 W, third bullet
    Maximum current
    3680 W, third bullet
    Displayed values
    Current consumption OR the feed-in of generated electricity, cost in euros and voltage in volts, first and third bullets — THE ONLY PLUG METER IN THIS FAMILY THAT MEASURES EXPORT
    Memory retention
    Nowhere in the listing
    Tariff calculation
    An adjustable kWh price calculating the accrued cost live and showing consumption directly in euros, second bullet
    Socket type
    A weather-protected case to IP44 for outdoor use, with a backlit display, fourth bullet
    Amazon reference
    B0F145YP4X (same reference on 6 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4004005044232
    • Measures feed-in as well as consumption, which is what a balcony solar installation needs
    • IP44 and weather-protected, the only outdoor-rated meter in this family
    • Nothing about what happens to the reading in a power cut

    Best for: Measuring what a balcony solar installation actually puts into the house.

    ≈ €20
    Check price on Amazon
  7. Voltcraft SEM6000 Bluetooth energy meter with a coloured LED ring

    Voltcraft Bluetooth, data export, logging, TRMS, three decimal places

    A plug-in energy meter with Bluetooth, data export and logging, true RMS measurement and an LED ring that changes colour with the measured load.

    Measurement range
    Nowhere in the listing
    Low-load accuracy
    Power consumption and power factor measured and displayed to three decimal places, first bullet
    Maximum current
    Nowhere in the listing
    Displayed values
    Power consumption and power factor; an LED ring changes colour with the measured power, from deep green to red, second and fourth bullets
    Memory retention
    A data logger function with export, from the title — the only plug meter in this family that logs
    Tariff calculation
    An electricity tariff setting, from the title
    Socket type
    Bluetooth interface with apps for Android and iOS, from the title and the third bullet; true RMS measurement
    Amazon reference
    B076BX5QG6 (same reference on 5 Amazon marketplaces)
    EAN
    4016139196763
    • It logs and exports, so a week of measurement becomes a file rather than a number on a screen
    • True RMS, which matters on the distorted waveforms electronics and inverters produce
    • No measurement range and no maximum current

    Best for: A week-long measurement that has to end up in a spreadsheet.

    ≈ €26
    Check price on Amazon

A price quoted in the text of a PowerVerdict page dates from the day that page was written; the live figure beside each product is fetched while you read and replaces it.