Smart plug or smart thermostat? The clear winner for heating control

Display

Neither product is built around a display-heavy experience in the way a phone or tablet would be, but the Meross thermostat has the clear advantage here because it is designed as a dedicated heating controller. In practical use, a thermostat gives you direct temperature feedback and heating-state visibility, which matters far more for underfloor heating than a basic plug status indicator. The Tapo P115 has no meaningful display advantage beyond app-based monitoring. Winner: Meross Smart Thermostat, because heating control benefits from direct temperature readout and thermostat-centric design.

Performance

The Tapo P115 is excellent at what it does: it switches a connected appliance on and off reliably, supports schedules, and tracks energy use. With a 4.7/5 rating from 5,043 reviews, it has the stronger reputation for day-to-day reliability and user satisfaction. But the Meross thermostat is the only product here that can actually control electric underfloor heating properly. If your load is heating, the thermostat is not just better performance — it is the correct type of device. Winner: Meross Smart Thermostat for heating applications; Tapo P115 for general smart switching.

Build quality and design

Tapo’s mini smart plug is compact, simple, and easy to live with. At £43.99, it is the cheaper product and its smaller form factor makes it more versatile for standard plug-in devices without blocking adjacent sockets too much. Meross is a more specialised product, and that usually means a slightly more involved installation and a design focused on wall-mounted heating control rather than portability. The build quality question is close, but Tapo’s wider review base and higher rating suggest stronger confidence in everyday durability. Winner: Tapo P115 for general build confidence and compactness; Meross for purpose-built heating installation.

Battery life

Neither product uses a battery, so this category is not applicable in the usual sense. Both are mains-powered devices, which is exactly what you want for always-on smart home control. For a fair comparison, the relevant factor is power reliability rather than battery endurance, and both depend on stable mains electricity and Wi-Fi. Winner: tie.

Price and value for money

This is where the Tapo P115 clearly wins on raw value. It costs £43.99, which is £16 less than the Meross thermostat at £59.99. For that lower price, you still get energy monitoring, scheduling, Alexa and Google Home support, and a strong 4.7/5 rating from over 5,000 reviews. However, value is not just about price — it’s about suitability. If you need to control electric underfloor heating, the Meross thermostat may save more in the long run by regulating temperature properly rather than simply turning power on and off. For most plug-in appliances, though, the Tapo is the better buy. Winner: Tapo P115 for affordability and broad value; Meross only wins if you specifically need heating control.

Game library/features

This category doesn’t literally apply to these products, but in smart-home terms it translates to features, ecosystem support, and flexibility. The Meross thermostat wins decisively here because it supports Matter, HomeKit, Alexa, Google, and Home Assistant, plus app control and timer functions. That makes it more future-proof and better suited to mixed smart-home ecosystems, especially if you use Apple Home or Home Assistant. The Tapo P115 still offers strong core features — energy monitoring and schedules — but its ecosystem compatibility is narrower, with Alexa and Google Home support listed. Winner: Meross Smart Thermostat.

Overall user experience

For everyday usability, the winner depends on the job. The Tapo P115 is easier to understand, cheaper, and backed by much stronger user ratings and a much larger review count, which usually points to fewer surprises. It’s a plug-and-play solution for lamps, heaters, fans, dehumidifiers, and other socket-powered appliances. The Meross thermostat is the more specialised and ultimately more useful product if you are trying to manage electric underfloor heating efficiently. In the UK, where electricity prices remain high and winter heating demand is significant, proper thermostat control can make a meaningful difference to comfort and consumption. If you’re trying to reduce bills on a seasonal heating system, the Meross is the more serious energy-saving tool. If you just want to monitor and automate a device cheaply and reliably, the Tapo is the better user experience.

Overall summary: the Tapo P115 is the better general-purpose smart home buy because it is cheaper, better rated, and more versatile for everyday appliances. The Meross thermostat is the better specialist choice if your actual goal is controlling electric underfloor heating, especially with Matter and Home Assistant support. In short: buy the Tapo for smart plug duties, buy the Meross for heating control.