Head-to-head · Smart home
TP-Link Tapo P100 Smart Plug (4-pack) vs Ring Battery Doorbell Plus
A smart plug kit and a video doorbell are not substitutes, so this comparison is really about where a first smart-home budget should go. The Tapo P100 four-pack is cheap, flexible and immediately useful. The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is a bigger purchase with an ongoing subscription if you want recordings.
TP-Link
TP-Link Tapo P100 Smart Plug (4-pack)
The Tapo P100 is the least glamorous product on this site and one of the most useful.
Read the full review
Ring
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is a video doorbell for people who cannot or will not wire a doorbell.
Read the full reviewSpecs side by side
| Specification | TP-Link Tapo P100 Smart Plug (4-pack) | Ring Battery Doorbell Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Typical price | £30–£45 | £120–£160 |
| Editorial score | 8.5/10 | 8.2/10 |
| Best for | Renters who want smart control without rewiring | Renters who cannot wire a doorbell |
| Main drawback | 13A socket only; no energy monitoring | Subscription needed for recorded video history |
| Connectivity | 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | — |
| Energy monitoring | No | — |
| Hub required | No | — |
| Max load | 13 A | — |
| Pack size | 4 | — |
| Voice assistants | Alexa, Google Home | — |
| Field of view | — | Head-to-toe |
| Power | — | Battery |
| Resolution | — | 1536p HD |
| Subscription | — | Ring Home Plan for recordings |
| Two-way talk | — | Yes |
| Works with | — | Alexa |
Our verdict
Start with the Tapo P100 kit if you want to automate lamps and small appliances cheaply and without a hub. Choose the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus if your priority is seeing and speaking to visitors, and you accept that recorded video history depends on a subscription. If you can only buy one first, the plugs deliver more everyday utility for less money.
Choose the TP-Link Tapo P100 Smart Plug (4-pack) if…
- Renters who want smart control without rewiring
- Anyone automating lamps and small appliances
- Alexa or Google Home households
Choose the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus if…
- Renters who cannot wire a doorbell
- Alexa households that want a simple camera
- Front doors with a good Wi-Fi signal
Read the full reviews
Smart home
TP-Link Tapo P100 Smart Plug (4-pack)
The Tapo P100 is the least glamorous product on this site and one of the most useful.
Read the reviewSmart home
Ring Battery Doorbell Plus
The Ring Battery Doorbell Plus is a video doorbell for people who cannot or will not wire a doorbell.
Read the review