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Shelly vs TP-Link Kasa

Shelly logo

Shelly

Smart Home

Powerful WiFi smart home devices with local control

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Shelly premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup; TP-Link Kasa plus plan only covers one camera per subscription
  • They diverge on capability: Shelly covers Local Control, TP-Link Kasa covers Affordable.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Shelly and TP-Link Kasa differ
AttributeShellyTP-Link Kasa
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWeb, Mobile app, Cloud, Local networkIOS, Android, Web
Founded20161996

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Shelly

  • Local Control
  • Open API
  • MQTT Support
  • Home Assistant
  • Local API support

Only in TP-Link Kasa

  • Affordable
  • No Hub Required
  • Scheduling
  • IFTTT

Both cover

  • Energy Monitoring
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings
  • IOS support
  • Android support
  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Shelly

  • Smart home automation and controlnot TP-Link Kasa
  • Energy monitoring and managementnot TP-Link Kasa
  • WiFi/Bluetooth/Matter device integrationnot TP-Link Kasa

TP-Link Kasa

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

Where each one falls short

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

Shelly

  • Premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • Device-specific capabilities vary; not all features available across entire product range

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

Shelly

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Shelly review.

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 Shelly if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
  • You also want open api.
Shelly 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 Shelly or TP-Link Kasa better?
Neither clearly leads. Shelly starts at Free and TP-Link Kasa at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Shelly or TP-Link Kasa?
Shelly starts at Free and TP-Link Kasa at Free.
Does Shelly or TP-Link Kasa run on more platforms?
Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network. TP-Link Kasa runs on IOS, Android, Web.
Can I use Shelly for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Shelly best used for?
Shelly is most often used for smart home automation and control, energy monitoring and management, wifi/bluetooth/matter device integration. Of those, smart home automation and control and energy monitoring and management are not what TP-Link Kasa is typically brought in for.
What can Shelly do that TP-Link Kasa cannot?
Shelly covers Local Control, Open API, MQTT Support, Home Assistant. TP-Link Kasa covers Affordable, No Hub Required, Scheduling, IFTTT. Both handle Energy Monitoring, Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Shelly: Does Shelly offer a free tier or paid premium service?

Shelly offers a free service with an option to upgrade. The site mentions Go Premium in the Shelly app, which provides more automation and control capabilities. A Shelly Cloud Premium Voucher is available for purchase.

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
Shelly: What is the difference between free Shelly and Shelly Cloud Premium?

The free version provides basic functionality, while Premium unlocks more automation options and additional control features. Specific pricing for Premium is not disclosed on the homepage.

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
Shelly: Can I purchase Shelly Cloud Premium directly?

Yes. Shelly Cloud Premium Vouchers are available for purchase through the Shelly shop. Pricing details are available on the product shop page.

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
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