Softwr

Smart Home · head to head

Meross vs TP-Link Kasa

Meross logo

Meross

Smart Home

Affordable smart home devices with HomeKit support

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
TP-Link Kasa logo

TP-Link Kasa

Smart Home

Affordable smart home devices with easy setup

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TP-Link Kasa has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Meross limited geographic availability with regional variants for US, EU, UK, AU, JP; TP-Link Kasa plus plan only covers one camera per subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Meross covers Apple HomeKit, TP-Link Kasa covers Affordable.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Meross and TP-Link Kasa actually diverge.

Attributes where Meross and TP-Link Kasa differ
AttributeMerossTP-Link Kasa
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsIOS, AndroidIOS, Android, Web
Founded20161996

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Smart Home).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Meross

  • Apple HomeKit
  • No hub required
  • Energy monitoring
  • Schedules
  • Voice control
  • Scene automation
  • Apple HomeKit
  • Amazon Alexa

Only in TP-Link Kasa

  • Affordable
  • No Hub Required
  • Energy Monitoring
  • Scheduling
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • IFTTT
  • Web support

Both cover

  • SmartThings
  • IOS support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Meross

  • Smart plugsnot TP-Link Kasa
  • Lighting controlnot TP-Link Kasa
  • Garage automationnot TP-Link Kasa
  • Energy monitoringnot TP-Link Kasa

TP-Link Kasa

  • Home security camera recording and playbacknot Meross
  • Smart home automation monitoringnot Meross
  • Pet and baby monitoringnot Meross
  • Outdoor property surveillancenot Meross

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Meross

  • Limited geographic availability with regional variants for US, EU, UK, AU, JP
  • Hub dependency for certain sensors like door/window and water leak models
  • Energy monitoring limited to specific plug/switch models only
  • No Thread support on older hub models MSH300HK and MSH400
  • Regional product incompatibility between US and EU thermostat models
  • Firmware stability issues acknowledged as previously affecting connection

TP-Link Kasa

  • Plus plan only covers one camera per subscription
  • No free trial mentioned for paid tiers
  • Premium plan requires annual commitment discount to reach $100/year pricing
  • Video retention limited to 30 days even on paid plans

Pricing, plan by plan

Meross

On request
  • Smart Garage Door Opener Remote$14.99/one-time
    • Remote accessory
  • Smart Plug and Switch$18.99/one-time
    • Wi-Fi plug, surge protector, or in-wall switch
  • Smart Hub$28.99/one-time
    • Meross connectivity hub
  • Smart Thermostat$65.99/one-time
    • Sale price, regular $89.99

TP-Link Kasa

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • Live streaming
    • Push-to-talk
    • Activity zones
  • Plus$3/month
    • 30 days of video history
    • Manual clip recording
    • Video sharing
  • Premium$10/month
    • Covers up to 10 cameras
    • All Plus features
    • Snapshots with alerts

Which should you pick?

Choose Meross if

  • You need apple homekit.
  • You work on IOS, Android.
  • You also want no hub required.
Meross review

Choose TP-Link Kasa if

  • You need affordable.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on IOS, Android, Web.
  • You also want no hub required.
TP-Link Kasa review

Questions people ask

Is Meross or TP-Link Kasa better?
Neither clearly leads. Meross starts at On request and TP-Link Kasa at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Meross or TP-Link Kasa?
TP-Link Kasa has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Meross and Free for TP-Link Kasa.
Does Meross or TP-Link Kasa run on more platforms?
Meross runs on IOS, Android. TP-Link Kasa runs on IOS, Android, Web.
Can I use TP-Link Kasa for free?
Yes. TP-Link Kasa has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Meross starts at On request.
What is Meross best used for?
Meross is most often used for smart plugs, lighting control, garage automation, energy monitoring. Of those, smart plugs and lighting control are not what TP-Link Kasa is typically brought in for.
What can Meross do that TP-Link Kasa cannot?
Meross covers Apple HomeKit, No hub required, Energy monitoring, Schedules. TP-Link Kasa covers Affordable, No Hub Required, Energy Monitoring, Scheduling. Both handle SmartThings, IOS support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Meross: Does Meross have geographic availability limitations?

Yes. The Meross website shows regional product variants for US, EU, UK, AU, and JP markets, indicating not all products are universally available worldwide. Regional thermostat models differ between markets, suggesting firmware or voltage differences prevent cross-region use.

Source
TP-Link Kasa: Does Kasa Care offer a free plan?

Yes, Kasa's free tier includes live streaming, push-to-talk, activity zones, and activity notifications at no cost.

Source
Meross: Do all Meross devices support energy monitoring?

No. Only certain plug and switch models including MSS305, MSS715, and MSS815 include energy monitoring. Basic plugs like MSS110 lack this feature.

Source
TP-Link Kasa: What's the difference between Kasa Plus and Premium?

Plus costs $3/month and provides 30 days of video history per camera. Premium costs $10/month and covers up to 10 cameras with all Plus features. Premium is billed at $100/year vs Plus at $30/year per camera.

Source
Meross: Do Meross sensors require a hub to operate?

Some sensors do require a hub for full functionality. Door/window sensors (MS200H) and water leak sensors (MS405H) appear to require an MSH-series hub for proper operation, limiting standalone capability.

Source
TP-Link Kasa: Can Premium cover all my cameras?

Yes, Kasa Premium covers up to 10 cameras under one $10/month subscription, making it more economical than Plus for multiple devices.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on Meross

More on TP-Link Kasa

Keep looking

Other head to heads