WeMo Insight vs Edimax SP-2101W

IFTTT (if this then that) allows you to set up conditional automations. So you can turn on or off devices attached to the switch based on conditions like time of day, your location or any trigger from 300+ services.

The installation instructions are fairly basic - just connect to the switch's Wi-Fi, go into the WeMo app, make the connection, and then swap over to your regular Wi-Fi (if it works the first time).

You can set up the Insight to send you app notifications when the switch is turned on or off based on set rules. So you can, for example, get notified only between 9am and 5pm while you are at work, and turn off notifications while you are at home.

The WeMo app is simple to use, and provides quite a bit of information at a glance as well. There's a large power button to open/close the switch, as well as a timer which indicates how long the switch has been on for. It also shows data such as average on time each day, average cost and more.

You can get on demand reports of energy usage as well as set up Insight to email daily, weekly or monthly reports of energy usage.

Scheduling can be done on either a weekly basis (same schedule for the whole week) or you can configure each day individually (e.g., the weekend can have a different schedule than the weekdays).

Through Amazon's virtual assistant Alexa (found on the Amazon Echo ling of products) you can control the switch via voice.

WeMo is one of the leading Internet of Things ecosystems, and can integrate with a wide variety of other products that also support the WeMo standard.

Rules determine when your lights are on and off (think of it like scheduling for events instead of times).

With apps for both Android and iOS available, the vast majority of users in any house will be able to control this switch. This is an essential feature for households that have both Android and iOS users.

The app can require a password, which means that if the TV is plugged into one of these switches that your kids can't install the app and extend the auto-turn-off-time. This could also be a benefit if plugging in a basic home security system - plugging the security system into this switch isn't any less secure than plugging it straight into the wall.

This device senses the amount of power which is drawn from it while it is in use. You can configure the switch to turn off when a certain power limit has been reached (can be based on a daily, weekly, or monthly figure). Upon hitting this limit, it will notify you with an email.

You can also view past power requirements ranging from a day to a month to see when it draws the most power. this data can be displayed as the true power (measured in watts) or approximate cost.

You can schedule the switch to turn off when you leave for work or go to bed, and to turn on when you get home from work or wake up. If you use a portable heater or air conditioner, this can be especially useful to pre-heat or cool your house just before you get home. This ensures your house is at the right temperature whenever you're home, but saves on power when you don't need it.

The power data will be kept for 12 months, allowing for long term comparison between multiple seasons.