The Best Surge Protectors for 2026: Prep for Blackouts

Surge protectors provide crucial defense against blackouts, storms, energy grid concerns, and even nearby construction — meaning most homes need them. Without a surge protector, power surges can fry computers, TVs, and smart gadgets.

Best Surge Protectors of 2026: Quick Picks

What’s the Best Surge Protector Overall?

When testing smart features specifically, one surge protector quickly rose to the top: the Tapo P316M Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip. You’ll see this surge protector on many lists, and for good reason. The Tapo brand is generally reliable, the smart features in its surge protector are excellent — including Apple Home compatibility and energy monitoring — and it’s not prohibitively expensive either.

That said, some people may need a longer cord or a model with a higher Joule rating. Check out my full list of picks above to see the complete range of options.

Detailed Reviews

Tapo P316M Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip — Best Overall

Tapo’s smart surge protector includes a bit of everything, making it my top recommendation for anyone who wants smart surge protector support. The six outlets and three USB ports are Matter-supported, so they work with Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home/Siri. (Apple support is especially hard to find on power strips.)

Setup and connection are straightforward, even when you need to name each plug for the device it’s connected to — I’m using one in my Google Home app right now, so I’m very familiar with the process. Individual and group control is easy, and Tapo includes energy monitoring as well if you want to dig into the data and see what’s drawing the most power.

This is the go-to surge protector if you want the full set of smart features. The main drawback is that the current version of this power strip doesn’t have any USB-C ports, which is a pain when connecting newer devices. Tapo also doesn’t provide specific Joule protection numbers, which is a shame on an otherwise complete model.

Who it’s for: Those who want the full smart bells and whistles, including Apple support and energy monitoring, in one package.

Who shouldn’t buy it: Those who absolutely need USB-C ports on their surge protector, and those who don’t care about having many smart features or app controls.

BN-Link Smart Plug Power Strip — Best USB-C

Despite USB-C’s now-frequent use, it can still be surprisingly hard to find USB-C ports on smart surge protectors. This BN-Link model includes two USB-C ports, with one offering 20W fast charging — something few smart power strips offer. The three indicator lights are also helpful for monitoring device performance and signaling when a replacement is needed.

The smart features also include compatibility with Amazon Alexa and Google Home, although scheduling features seem limited to the outlets only. Also note that the fast-charging USB-C port may not deliver the full 20W if other devices are plugged in at the same time.

Who it’s for: Those who truly want a USB-C port or two on their smart surge protector.

Who shouldn’t buy it: People without many USB-C needs, or those who absolutely need Apple support.

Meross Smart Plug Power Strip — Best Long Cord

Not all surge protectors have long cords, but you’ll want one badly if nearby outlets aren’t available. This Meross smart power strip has one of the longest cords I’ve found at 6 feet. Along with Tapo’s model, it’s also one of the few I’ve found that work with Apple and Siri, alongside Alexa, Google Home, and SmartThings.

This is an otherwise solid power strip, but note that it includes four outlets while most of my other picks have six or more.

Who it’s for: Those who don’t have nearby outlets and need a surge protector with a bit more reach.

Who shouldn’t buy it: Those looking for a power strip with more than four outlets or those who need USB-C.

Wyze Surge Protector — Best Budget

If you want affordability alongside some surge protection, you can’t do much better than this Wyze model, which starts at $10 — and I’ve seen it discounted for even less. Wyze is a reputable maker of budget-level home technology, and this power strip doesn’t disappoint.

The protector is more compact than my other picks, with only three outlets and USB ports, but the price can’t be beat. The downside is the lack of smart surge protector features like app or voice assistant compatibility.

Who it’s for: Those who need some surge protection at an extremely low price.

Who shouldn’t buy it: If you actually want smart features, app controls, and scheduling, this isn’t the power strip for you. Also, the surge protection is fairly low at 268 Joules, so if you get frequent lightning storms or power surges, you should probably get a more robust model.

Trond Surge Protector — Best High-Joule Protection

You won’t find smart features on Trond’s surge protector, but you will get a robust 4,000-Joule protection rating — especially high for a home environment and ideal if you have a large bank of electronics to plug in. The 13 well-spaced outlets help too, along with the three USB-A and one USB-C port.

This model is also wall-mountable, and if you don’t mind paying more, it’s another good option for a long power cord — which can be upgraded up to 15 feet for serious reach. If you need serious protection in your home and have the room, this power strip is hard to beat.

Who it’s for: Those who want a heavy-duty, versatile surge protector for a large setup.

Who shouldn’t buy it: Those who truly want a smart surge protector with app features, or those who don’t have the space or need for this many outlets.

Anker Power Strip Surge Protector — Best Warranty

A connected equipment warranty protects you if surges damage costly hardware like computers while plugged into the surge protector. It’s fairly rare for home surge protectors to offer warranties like these, since they’re difficult to validate and expensive for companies when they do pay out. But Anker is one of the few manufacturers still offering a solid bundle, including a lifetime $200,000 connected equipment warranty.

Pair that with the very healthy 2,100-Joule rating and the included USB-C port, and this is one of the best surge protectors I’ve found when you need protection for all kinds of devices — especially if they’re larger setups that could use a dozen outlets. The only thing it’s missing is smart features.

Who it’s for: Those who want a connected equipment warranty, or those looking for a robust surge protector that offers USB-C.

Who shouldn’t buy it: Those most interested in smart features, or who want a slimmer, smaller surge protector.

Surge Protectors Comparison

Other Surge Protectors We’ve Tested

Accell D080B-051B (Out of stock): This surge protector’s main advantage was that instead of rigid outlets on a flat body like most surge protectors, it has 5 short cables with outlets at the ends. The Accell is rated at a claimed 1,080 Joules and has a cut-off failsafe like many heavy-duty surge protectors. It’s decent, but its unusual shape makes it hard to recommend for typical use.

Belkin SRA007p12tt6: A good-looking 12-outlet surge protector with a matte-white design that would work better on a desk or visible location than many of the bulkier protectors. Six of its outlets are widely spaced, and there are two 2.4-amp USB-A and one 3-amp USB-C outlet (4.5 amps combined max output). The wall plug is conveniently angled at 90 degrees on the end of the 6-foot cable.

Amazon Basics Smart Plug Power Strip: Amazon’s strip is decent if you’re an Alexa user, but it lacked other smart features, and $40 is too high a price for this small surge protector.

Belkin BE112230: This model uses the same flat design as the switched Belkin F7C01008q, just without the switch. It has six widely spaced outlets, a claimed high 3,940 Joules of protection, and a connected equipment warranty.

Belkin BST300bg: A solid travel alternative to the Accell. It has three outlets on the front and two USB ports on the top. The plug swivels so you can orient it in different ways. The Accell is slightly smaller, but this is a good runner-up.

Belkin BSV300ttCW: This wall-mounted model has three outlets and two USB ports, all on the front. Its best design feature is a lipped top surface where you can rest your phone while it’s charging.

Eve Energy Strip: The goal for this power strip may have originally been to deliver an Apple-focused experience if you have an iPhone or iPad (which are required to use the surge protector). The problem is that other models from manufacturers like Tapo now offer Apple compatibility without restrictions and at much lower prices, leaving this power strip far behind.

Surge Protector vs. Power Strip: What’s the Difference?

A power strip and surge protector may look the same, but a power strip will not provide surge protection for equipment and devices plugged into it. Surge protectors work by detecting and diverting a surge. The excess voltage is sent to the outlet’s ground wire — the third prong in standard electrical sockets — and prevented from reaching any devices plugged into that socket. A power strip simply gives you more outlets to plug things in.

The best way to tell the difference between a standard strip and a surge protector is by checking if it has a Joule rating. All surge protectors have one, and it indicates how much of a power surge it can protect against.

What We Updated

Early 2026: It was time for a full list refresh. We tested and looked at the latest models, checked the newest specs to see what was available, and took a look at models that just weren’t keeping up. The result is our updated list, which includes a mix of both very smart surge protectors and less smart (but capable) models when you don’t need an app.

What to Consider When Buying a Surge Protector

A High Joule Rating

Joule ratings indicate how much energy a surge protector can absorb before failing. It’s a measure of how much protection each surge protector offers. Around 1,000 Joules or more is ideal. Be cautious if there are no certifications or Joule ratings listed.

Well-Spaced Outlets

One of the most important features is having enough outlets to fit the bulky power adapters that come with most products. These chunky connectors often take up two or more spaces on standard outlets and power strips. I physically checked each power strip to verify if its outlets were sufficiently spaced to fit multiple adapters.

Number of Outlets

Generally, going one size up from what you think you need gives you room to grow when you add new gear or devices down the road.

Warranties for Connected Devices

Guarantees aren’t as common as they once were, but this warranty applies if your gear is destroyed by a power surge. Will you actually get your money back if your equipment gets zapped? Hard to say. Insurance like this is difficult to collect on, as some companies will only replace connected equipment “at their option.” Having this type of guarantee does offer some peace of mind, however — more than you’d have without it, and it might cover you in ways your homeowners or renters insurance won’t.

Number of Surge Protectors

If you’re connecting enough devices to fill a surge protector, it’s worth considering getting two smaller ones (say, two 8-outlet strips instead of one 12-outlet strip). Spreading out the electrical load is safer. It also allows you to connect to two different outlets. This is especially important if you’re connecting several high-power devices. Of course, this isn’t always possible, but it’s worth considering.

When You Need More Protection

If your area is prone to lightning strikes, you’ll need more protection than just a surge protector. Using a surge protector to defend against lightning is like using a small gate to stop an elephant. A whole-home surge protector is usually a better option in this case.