Defiant Smart Hubspace Wi

Jul 15, 2023

The Home Depot’s exclusive smart home platform, dubbed Hubspace, is designed to work with the company’s proprietary brands including Commercial Electrical, Defiant, EcoSmart, and Hampton Bay. Don’t let the name fool you, as Hubspace-compatible devices don't require a hub. Instead, they use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to the Hubspace mobile app where they can be controlled with an Android or iOS device (or with your voice via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant). We tested the Defiant 15-Amp 120-Volt Smart Hubspace Wi-Fi Bluetooth Plug, a single-outlet smart plug for indoor use. It works as advertised and is affordably priced at $9.97, but you can get more features and versatility with our Editors’ Choice for smart plugs, the $12.50 TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim.

At 1.4 by 2.6 by 1.4 inches (HWD), the Defiant plug is roughly the same size and shape as the Wyze Plug (1.5 by 2.7 by 1.2 inches) and is small enough that it won’t block the second outlet of a two-outlet wall receptacle. It’s white and sports a single three-prong outlet on the front and a three-prong plug on the back. On the right side are a power button and an LED indicator that blinks orange and green when Wi-Fi is not connected, glows solid green when the plug is on, and turns solid red when Wi-Fi is disconnected.

The plug is intended for indoor use and has a 15-amp output rating. It uses an internal 2.4GHz Wi-Fi radio to connect to your network so you can control it with the Hubspace app and with Alexa and Google voice commands. It also works with Alexa and Google routines, but doesn't support Apple HomeKit or IFTTT applets that allow it to work with numerous third-party smart devices. You can add the plug to groups in the Hubspace app and turn all of the devices in the group on and off with the touch of a button, but you can’t create triggers to have it interact with other Hubspace devices.

By way of comparison, both the TP-Link Kasa and Wyze plugs work with other devices installed in their respective apps. Moreover, the Defiant plug doesn’t offer energy reports like the Emporia Smart Plug.

The plug gets its own panel on the Hubspace app’s home screen. The panel displays the name of the plug and has a button for turning it on or off. Tap the panel to create an on/off schedule or set an auto-off timer and to access the plug’s settings, which let you edit its name and location, assign it to a room, configure Wi-Fi settings, and update firmware.

Back at the bottom of the home screen are Home, Rooms, Schedule, and Integrations buttons. The Home button returns you to the home screen from anywhere in the app, while the Rooms button opens a screen where you can create groups that allow you to turn on all of the devices in the room with a single tap. Use the Schedules button to create on and off schedules based on the time and day or have the plug turn on and off at sunrise and sunset. The Integrations button opens a screen where you can link your Hubspace account and devices to your Alexa and Google accounts.

The Defiant plug is easy to install. I downloaded the Hubspace app, created an account, and tapped “Add a product to Hubspace” on the home screen. I used my phone’s camera to scan the QR code on the back of the plug, gave the plug a name, and selected my Wi-Fi SSID when prompted. I entered my Wi-Fi password, and after a few seconds the plug was connected to the app and the installation was complete.

The Defiant Smart Plug worked well in testing. It responded instantly to app and voice commands and followed my schedules to a tee. I created an Alexa routine to have the plug turn on when a Ring Floodlight Cam detected motion and it worked like a charm. Alexa voice commands to turn the plug on and off also worked as intended.

The Defiant 15-Amp 120-Volt Smart Hubspace Wi-Fi Bluetooth Plug is a solid choice as a standalone smart plug or as an addition to homes that are currently using other Hubspace smart devices. At under $10 it’s very affordable, installs in minutes, and works with Alexa and Google voice commands. However, integrations with other smart devices are limited. If you require a plug that works with lots of other connected devices and supports Apple’s HomeKit platform, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim is your best bet. It’s only available in a pack of four, but the price per plug is only a bit more than Defiant and it offers greater third-party connectivity as well as energy usage reports. As such, it remains our Editors’ Choice winner for smart plugs.

The Defiant Smart Hubspace Plug is an affordable single-outlet smart plug that you can control with your voice and with your phone, though it doesn't offer much beyond that.

Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.

Your subscription has been confirmed. Keep an eye on your inbox!