In the Tapo vs Kasa smart plug choice, the app no longer decides it: get the Kasa KP125M for power readings and the Tapo P125M for a smaller plug. Both carry the same 15-amp load, but only the KP125M reports what a plugged-in device draws.
| Smart plug | Energy readings | Size | Sets up in | In the box |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapo P125M Mini Smart Wi-Fi Plug (3-pack) | None listed | 60 x 38 x 33 mm | Tapo app, or a Matter app and its controller | 3 plugs |
| Kasa KP125M Smart Plug Slim with Energy Monitoring (2-pack) | Real-time and past use, bill estimates | 66.5 x 38 x 40 mm | Kasa app, or a Matter app and its controller | 2 plugs |
Tapo vs Kasa app: one app can now run both brands
You can run both brands from one app now. TP-Link’s Tapo App 3.0 update puts Kasa and Tapo devices in one place. You need Tapo app 3.0 or later, and both accounts should use the same TP-Link ID. Then open Me in the Tapo app, tap Link Tapo with Kasa, and finish with Authorize Now. Supported Kasa devices then show up there, beside your Tapo gear.
Setup has more routes. For the KP125M, Bluetooth pairing happens in the Kasa app. The P125M sets up in the Tapo app, also over Bluetooth, which it uses for setup only. You can also add a new Kasa device from inside the Tapo app: tap +, choose Kasa, then pick the category and model. TP-Link says only selected Kasa devices can be linked or added this way, though, and it doesn’t publish a full list. If the KP125M isn’t offered there, set it up in the Kasa app and try linking the accounts afterward.
Both plugs are Matter-certified. So either one can also join Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa, as long as you have a Matter-supported controller and the smart home app from the same ecosystem. That makes the app side of Kasa vs Tapo a setup-day question more than a daily one. Our Zigbee vs WiFi vs Matter guide sets out what each of those apps needs before it accepts a Matter device.
Kasa and Tapo are both TP-Link brands, but their US lineups differ. Kasa’s site lists security cameras, light switches, lighting and plugs. Tapo’s menu adds door locks, robot vacuums, smart hubs, sensors and buttons. If a TP-Link lock or robot vacuum is on your list, you’ll end up in the Tapo app anyway.
Energy readings: what the Kasa plug adds
The KP125M shows a connected device’s power use live and over time. Type in your electricity rate, either a single rate or time-of-use pricing, and it turns that use into an estimated bill. Kasa’s product page also promises an automatic shut-off once usage passes a threshold you set. Bill estimates arrived with KP125M firmware 1.1.0 in 2023, so update an older plug before you look for them.
Matter apps are catching up. KP125M firmware 1.4.1, released August 3, 2026, brings Matter 1.3 and lets Matter-enabled apps track live and historical energy use. TP-Link warns that not every Matter app fully supports it yet. It names two as verified, though still evolving: SmartThings and Home Assistant. Apple Home is the exception on record, because Kasa’s 2023 datasheet says it doesn’t support the plug’s energy monitoring. So if you control the plug from Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa, expect to open the Kasa app for the numbers.
Tapo lists no energy monitoring for the P125M on its spec sheet or datasheet. That’s no loss for a lamp on a dusk timer, since you’d never open the readings. It’s the wrong plug if you want to see what a TV and soundbar pull on standby.
Tapo P125M vs Kasa KP125M on size, load and Wi-Fi
The P125M measures 60 x 38 x 33 mm, against 66.5 x 38 x 40 mm for the KP125M. The Tapo is the smaller plug. Work it out and the gaps are 6.5 mm and 7 mm, about a quarter inch each. The 38 mm figure is the same on both. Both makers describe their plug as built not to block the neighboring outlet.
The headline load ratings match. Each handles 15 amps and 1,800 watts of general or resistive load, plus a 1/6 HP motor. Tapo also gives the P125M an 8-amp limit for incandescent bulbs, a figure Kasa doesn’t publish for the KP125M. If you’re unsure whether a coffee maker or a fan is safe on either one, start with what can you plug into a smart plug.
Neither plug uses 5GHz. Each runs on 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi at 2.4GHz, and Tapo’s support FAQ says Kasa products only support 2.4GHz connections. Keep both inside, too. Tapo’s datasheet says not to use the P125M outdoors or in damp places, and its listing gives it no water protection at all (IP00). TP-Link’s Kasa FAQ limits outdoor use to Kasa products rated for it, such as the KP400. Each plug’s operating range runs from 32°F to 104°F.
On paperwork, the two are close. UL, FCC and RoHS appear on both datasheets, and each comes with a two-year limited warranty.
Kasa KP125M vs Tapo P125M by the app on your phone
Pick the plug that matches the app you already open daily. That’s where it’ll live. If you’re torn on which smart plug wins in Tapo vs Kasa, let that app break the tie:
- Kasa app with other Kasa gear in it: the KP125M. It lands beside your other Kasa plugs and adds power readings to the mix.
- Tapo app, say for a Tapo camera: the P125M, since it sets up there directly. A KP125M can join it too, if it’s among the Kasa models the Tapo app supports.
- Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa through Matter: the P125M. Choose the KP125M only if you’ll also open the Kasa app for power numbers.
- SmartThings or Home Assistant, with power numbers wanted: the KP125M on firmware 1.4.1 or later, whose energy data both apps can read over Matter.
- Three lamps on schedules: the P125M three-pack. The Kasa two-pack leaves you one plug short.
Pack size can tip Tapo P125M vs Kasa KP125M too, because the packs linked here hold three plugs and two.
Tapo vs Kasa smart plug questions
Can the Kasa app control a Tapo plug?
TP-Link doesn’t describe the Kasa app controlling Tapo plugs. Its instructions only cover Kasa devices joining the Tapo app. So a home with both brands is best run from the Tapo app, with the Kasa app kept for any Kasa model the Tapo app can’t add.
Can I set up the Kasa KP125M without the Kasa app?
Yes, through Matter. Kasa says you can add the KP125M by scanning its included code in any Matter-compatible app, such as Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa. Its datasheet still lists a Kasa Smart app and account among the requirements, and the full energy readings and bill estimates live there, so install it anyway.
Where is the Tapo P125M’s Matter code if the sticker is gone?
The Tapo app can show the Tapo P125M’s Matter setup code. Firmware 1.0.7 added a way to check that code inside the app. If the printed code is lost, set the plug up in the Tapo app first, update its firmware, and look up the code there before adding it elsewhere.