TP-Link's Kasa and Tapo lines are some of the most popular smart home devices on the planet. Affordable plugs, reliable switches, decent bulbs. The good news: Home Assistant has a native integration that controls them locally, no cloud required. This guide covers every TP-Link device that works with HA, how to set them up, and the automations that make them actually useful.
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TP-Link sells smart home gear under two brands, and it confuses everyone. Here is the simple breakdown.
The original TP-Link smart home brand. Been around since 2016. Rock-solid Home Assistant support because the protocol has been reverse-engineered for years. TP-Link is slowly phasing it out in favor of Tapo, but existing devices still get updates.
TP-Link's current focus. Cheaper, wider product range (cameras, robot vacuums, sensors, hubs). Home Assistant support improved massively in 2024/2025 when the tplink integration added Tapo protocol support. Some newer devices need a one-time cloud setup.
Bottom line: For new purchases, buy Tapo. It is cheaper and getting all the new features. For Home Assistant, both work through the same native integration. If you already have Kasa devices, they will keep working just fine.
The good news: this is one of the easiest integrations to set up. Home Assistant auto-discovers TP-Link devices on your network.
Install the Kasa or Tapo app on your phone. Add each device and connect it to your Wi-Fi. For Kasa devices, you can skip creating a cloud account. For newer Tapo devices, you may need to create an account for the initial setup.
Home Assistant should auto-discover your TP-Link devices. Check Settings → Devices & Services → look for a notification about discovered TP-Link devices. Click Configure to add them.
Go to Settings → Devices & Services → Add Integration → search "TP-Link". Enter the device IP address. For Tapo devices, you will also need to enter your Tapo cloud credentials (used only for initial authentication, control stays local).
This is important. TP-Link devices use local communication, so if the IP changes, Home Assistant loses contact. Set DHCP reservations in your router for each device. This takes five minutes and saves hours of debugging later.
Firmware warning: TP-Link occasionally pushes firmware updates that temporarily break Home Assistant compatibility. If things stop working after a firmware update, check the Home Assistant GitHub issues for the tplink integration. Fixes usually come within a few weeks. You can also disable automatic firmware updates in the Kasa/Tapo app to avoid surprises.
Not every TP-Link device is worth buying for a Home Assistant setup. Here are the ones that work reliably and provide real value.
This is where TP-Link shines. Their smart plugs are affordable, reliable, and several models include energy monitoring.
~$12-15 | Energy monitoring
The go-to plug with energy monitoring. Tracks watts, voltage, and kWh. Perfect for monitoring appliance power usage. The KP125 is Kasa, the P110 is the Tapo equivalent. Both work great.
~$14-18 | Matter + Energy
The newer models with Matter support. If you want future-proof plugs that work with Home Assistant, Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa natively, these are the ones to get.
~$20 | Outdoor, 2 outlets
Weatherproof with two individually controllable outlets. Great for holiday lights, landscape lighting, or outdoor pumps. Each outlet appears as a separate switch in HA.
~$45-55 | Power strip, 6 outlets
Six individually controllable outlets plus USB ports. Per-outlet energy monitoring on the Kasa version. Perfect for entertainment centers or desk setups where you want granular control.
~$15-20 | Single-pole switch
Basic on/off smart switch. Requires a neutral wire (most modern homes have one). The physical switch still works normally, so it never confuses guests.
~$20-25 | Dimmer switch
Dimmer with physical slider. Home Assistant gets brightness control as a light entity. Works with most dimmable LEDs. Great for living rooms and bedrooms.
~$30-35 | 3-way switch kit
For hallways and staircases where two switches control the same light. Comes as a pair. Both switches report state to Home Assistant.
~$10 | Color bulb
Full RGB color bulb at a great price. 1,000 lumens, 16 million colors. Works well with HA light entities, supports brightness, color temp, and RGB. Not as color-accurate as Hue, but at a quarter of the price.
~$25 | LED light strip, 5m
Multicolor LED strip with 50 individually addressable zones. Cheaper than Govee or Hue, and Home Assistant controls brightness, color, and effects. Good for under-cabinet or TV backlighting.
~$8 | Dimmable white bulb
Simple, cheap, dimmable. No color, no frills. Perfect for lamps and fixtures where you just want on/off and brightness control from HA. Buy a 4-pack for under $30.
Tapo cameras (C200, C210, C320WS, C520WS) work with Home Assistant through the Tapo camera integration or by enabling the built-in RTSP stream. Most models support ONVIF. The C320WS and C520WS are popular outdoor choices. For more on cameras, check our camera guide.
Energy monitoring plugs are one of the best reasons to buy TP-Link for Home Assistant. Stick one on any appliance, and you get real-time power data flowing into your Energy Dashboard.
Real-time Watts
See exactly how much power an appliance uses right now
Cumulative kWh
Track total energy consumption over days, weeks, months
Voltage & Current
Monitor voltage drops and identify wiring issues
Cost Tracking
Energy Dashboard calculates costs with your electricity rate
🖥️ Desktop Computer
Know if it is truly off or just sleeping. Auto-detect when you start gaming (power spikes). Turn off monitors and peripherals when the PC shuts down.
🧺 Washing Machine / Dryer
Detect when a cycle finishes (power drops below 5W). Send a notification so you do not forget wet laundry in the machine. Classic Home Assistant automation.
🍽️ Dishwasher
Same idea as the washing machine. Know when the cycle is done, track monthly energy costs. Helps you decide if running it half-full is wasteful.
📺 Entertainment Center
TVs, receivers, consoles, and streaming boxes pull phantom power even when "off." Use a power strip plug to see the total draw and kill standby waste.
Pro tip: Add your energy monitoring plugs to Home Assistant's Energy Dashboard (Settings → Dashboards → Energy). Set your electricity price per kWh, and HA will automatically calculate what each appliance costs you per day, week, and month. For more on whole-home energy tracking, see our energy monitoring guide.
How does TP-Link compare to other popular brands you will find recommended for Home Assistant?
| Feature | TP-Link Kasa/Tapo | Shelly | Zigbee Devices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protocol | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi | Zigbee (needs coordinator) |
| Local Control | Yes (native) | Yes (native + MQTT) | Yes (always local) |
| Energy Monitoring | Select models | Most models | Some plugs |
| Price Range | $ (Budget) | $$ (Mid) | $ to $$ |
| Wi-Fi Load | 1 device per IP | 1 device per IP | None (separate mesh) |
| Best For | Budget plugs, bulbs, switches | Relays, behind-switch installs | Sensors, large deployments |
Here are automations that really make TP-Link devices earn their keep. Each one uses features specific to how Kasa/Tapo devices integrate with Home Assistant.
Uses a KP125/P110 energy monitoring plug. When the washing machine power drops below 5W for 3 minutes, it means the cycle is done. Send a notification to your phone.
automation:
- alias: "Washing machine finished"
trigger:
- platform: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.washing_machine_plug_current_consumption
below: 5
for:
minutes: 3
condition:
- condition: state
entity_id: switch.washing_machine_plug
state: "on"
action:
- service: notify.mobile_app_your_phone
data:
title: "Laundry done!"
message: "The washing machine finished its cycle."Entertainment systems pull 20-40W of phantom power in standby. Use a smart plug to cut power to the entire setup when the TV has been off for 15 minutes.
automation:
- alias: "Kill TV standby power"
trigger:
- platform: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.tv_plug_current_consumption
below: 10
for:
minutes: 15
action:
- service: switch.turn_off
target:
entity_id: switch.tv_plugTurn on Tapo bulbs at sunset with a warm color temperature, then gradually dim them through the evening.
automation:
- alias: "Sunset living room lights"
trigger:
- platform: sun
event: sunset
offset: "-00:30:00"
action:
- service: light.turn_on
target:
entity_id: light.living_room_tapo_bulbs
data:
brightness_pct: 80
color_temp_kelvin: 2700
- delay:
hours: 2
- service: light.turn_on
target:
entity_id: light.living_room_tapo_bulbs
data:
brightness_pct: 40
color_temp_kelvin: 2200
transition: 900Detect when your gaming PC draws more than 200W (meaning you are gaming, not just browsing). Activate a scene with Tapo LED strips behind the monitor.
automation:
- alias: "PC gaming mode lights"
trigger:
- platform: numeric_state
entity_id: sensor.pc_plug_current_consumption
above: 200
for:
minutes: 2
action:
- service: light.turn_on
target:
entity_id: light.desk_led_strip
data:
effect: "Aurora"
brightness_pct: 60When nobody is home, randomly toggle Kasa/Tapo lights to make it look occupied. Great for vacations.
automation:
- alias: "Away mode random lights"
trigger:
- platform: time_pattern
minutes: "/30"
condition:
- condition: state
entity_id: input_boolean.away_mode
state: "on"
- condition: sun
after: sunset
before: sunrise
action:
- service: light.toggle
target:
entity_id: >
{{ ['light.living_room', 'light.bedroom',
'light.kitchen'] | random }}For more automation inspiration, check our 30 best automations guide.
TP-Link devices are generally reliable, but there are a few common issues people run into.
TP-Link changes their local communication protocol with firmware updates more often than most brands. Fix: Update Home Assistant to the latest version. The tplink integration maintainers usually patch compatibility within a few weeks. To prevent this, disable auto-updates in the Kasa/Tapo app.
TP-Link uses UDP broadcast for discovery, which does not cross network boundaries. Fix: Make sure Home Assistant and your TP-Link devices are on the same VLAN/subnet. If you use VLANs intentionally, add devices manually by IP address instead. Also check that mDNS/broadcast is not blocked by your router or firewall.
Some Tapo devices need your TP-Link cloud account email and password for initial authentication. Fix: Make sure you use the same email address you registered in the Tapo app. The password is case-sensitive. If you have 2FA enabled on your TP-Link account, you may need to generate an app password.
Fix: Make sure your plug model actually supports energy monitoring (not all do). The KP115, KP125, EP25, P110, and P125M have energy monitoring. The basic KP100, KP105, and HS105 do not. Also, energy entities sometimes take a few minutes to populate after first setup.
Fix: This is almost always a Wi-Fi issue. TP-Link smart home devices use 2.4 GHz only. Make sure your router's 2.4 GHz band is enabled and not too congested. Assign static IPs. If you have 20+ Wi-Fi smart devices, consider upgrading your router or adding a Wi-Fi access point. A mesh system like TP-Link Deco works well (ironic but true).
Here is a practical starting point based on your budget.
Budget Starter
Monitor your washing machine and a high-draw appliance. Automate two lamps. A weekend afternoon project.
Recommended
Energy monitoring, color ambiance, and a proper wall switch. Covers living room, bedroom, and kitchen basics.
Full House
Full energy tracking, smart lighting in every room, and wall switches for daily use. Consider mixing with Zigbee sensors for motion and door/window detection.
Yes. Home Assistant has a native TP-Link integration (called "tplink") that supports Kasa and Tapo devices. It auto-discovers devices on your network and provides local control without any cloud dependency. Smart plugs, bulbs, switches, light strips, and power strips all work out of the box.
Both are made by TP-Link. Kasa is the older, more established line with proven Home Assistant support. Tapo is the newer, budget-friendly line. Since late 2023, the Home Assistant tplink integration supports both Kasa and Tapo devices through the same integration. Tapo devices tend to be cheaper but have the same core functionality.
No. The Home Assistant integration communicates with Kasa and Tapo devices entirely over your local network. No cloud account is needed for most devices. Some newer Tapo devices require a one-time cloud login for initial setup in the Kasa/Tapo app, but after that, Home Assistant controls them locally.
Yes, if you have a Kasa or Tapo plug with energy monitoring (like the KP115, KP125, EP25, or P110). Home Assistant reads real-time power (watts), voltage, current, and cumulative energy (kWh) from these plugs. The data feeds directly into the Energy Dashboard for tracking costs and usage patterns.
The most common causes: 1) Your devices got a firmware update that changed the communication protocol. Update Home Assistant to the latest version. 2) Devices are on a different VLAN or subnet. 3) The device IP changed. Assign static IPs or DHCP reservations. 4) Your router's 2.4 GHz band is overloaded or disabled.
It depends on what you need. Kasa/Tapo plugs, switches, and bulbs are great for Wi-Fi based setups with under 30 devices. Zigbee is better for large deployments (50+ devices) and battery-powered sensors that Kasa does not make. Many people use both: TP-Link for plugs and switches, Zigbee for sensors and buttons. See our Zigbee guide for more.
Yes. Most Tapo cameras support ONVIF and/or RTSP streaming, which Home Assistant can use directly. There is also a dedicated Tapo camera integration available through HACS. Popular models like the C200, C210, C320WS, and C520WS all work. See our camera guide for the full setup.
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