The 5 Best usage monitors (2023 reviews)

usage monitors
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It is important to have the well suited usage monitor. In the following post, we will help you to select the best usage monitors.

Our review process:

Our Top Picks:

Emporia usage Monitor
Buy: READ REVIEW

Sense Smart Plug
Buy: READ REVIEW

Sense usage Monitor
Buy: READ REVIEW

Neurio usage Monitor
Buy: READ REVIEW

Eyedro usage Monitor
Buy: READ REVIEW

Emporia usage Monitor

Emporia usage Monitor
Buy on Amazon

If you often find yourself scrambling for appropriate and satisfactory monitor, emporia usage monitor should be your first option for buying. This is a great device that gives a real-time plot of power load and an easy-access drill-down into averaged energy usage over various time intervals. The main sensors provide the total of power measured incoming and the breaker sensors provide the detail of each circuit usage. It includes solar monitoring, ev charging, and individual outlet monitoring.

There is a multiplier function in the configuration settings that can be used for most double pole breaker loads such as mini-split air conditioning units because the supply voltage 240V is fed by only two-wires (2 hots) and 1 safety ground wire. This is a very easy way to monitor electrical energy usage. It provides real time and historical energy usage. They just plug in your receptacle and show you that consumption on a seperate line under the main circuits monitored.

Why We Like This:
  • Super accurate power monitor for entire home and circuits
  • Excellent for real-time monitoring and easy export of data
  • Looks well made and is easy to use

Sense Smart Plug

Sense Smart Plug
Buy on Amazon

The sense smart plug is capable of outshining several other monitor featured in this list in overall features in its price range. The Sense does not have capability to isolate individual circuits, so relies on startup and consumption signatures of individual devices to tell when a specific device is running. Follow your instant watts or your average daily usage, it’s extremely intuitive and it is able to detect and identify 3 different refrigerators in the first 2 weeks. Installation is fairly straightforward for anyone with the skills to add a new breaker to their electrical distribution panel.

The Sense app is excellent and the setup is very easy. It works with several mfg of smart plugs. The technology used to recognize the watts used is great. The naming of appliances and other items is fairly accurate.

Why We Like This:
  • Save time, money, effort and maybe even your house
  • Needs to support all 3rd party wifi enabled plugs
  • Great insight into household loads, device detection lacks, support is outstanding
  • Very satisfying watching/knowing how much energy each device uses

Sense usage Monitor

Sense usage Monitor
Buy on Amazon

Next on the list, we've got yet another monitor that manages to win our hearts. It's the sense usage monitor and it's widely considered as one of the best convenient monitor you can buy. Sense saves you energy and money by providing insight into your home's energy use and activity. It monitors all electric draw from the main to your individual appliances and devices, whether they are 120v or 220v. It does a reasonable job on bigger wattage items and a few smaller ones. It can even detect between a small fridge and small freezer both using nearly the same power.

Sense is designed to recognize electrical loads that repeat their “usage signature” in the same pattern time after time such as a vacuum cleaner that turns a motor on and off when used. The speed of the unit, it updates multiple times per second and gives you amazing granularity. This product is far from perfect, and there are other solutions that can do the same thing with varying degrees of accuracy.

Why We Like This:
  • Great product tech tool for home
  • Installation is easy if you have a good knowledge of electricity
  • Saves you money on monthly electricity
  • Nice to have an iot device that is robust and stable

Neurio usage Monitor

Neurio usage Monitor
Buy on Amazon

We know from years of feedback from readers, customers and amazon sellers, what most people want in a convenient and appropriate monitor. The neurio usage monitor is exactly that - it's a simple monitor that hits all the right notes. It is great way to check on whether your utility bill is correct. It is designed for, and it does it very well. They collect and store total power consumed and generated. If you are comfortable with AC and breaker panels the install is pretty straight forward, otherwise one could have an electrician do it just as well.

The phone app shows the graph and info on your iphone. It is compatible with 120/208/240v. It does require manually defining the electricity schedule. It is great system with nice graphics, and customizable to get an idea of consumption costs and savings from solar generation.

Why We Like This:
  • Highly accurate total home monitoring, within 1% – independently verify your energy bills
  • Good investment for long term

Eyedro usage Monitor

Eyedro usage Monitor
Buy on Amazon

Eyedro offers a variety of monitor for personal choice and yet maintaining quality in all the variants. The EYEFI-4-SUB is a WiFi connected solar energy and electricity monitor. It includes a module and a 120vac north american power adapter. The real time measurements are great, where you can see in real time what things are using. The web interface is pretty easy to use and it has a nice net metering screen that gives you details if you are doing solar. They also do power factor and voltage. It is easy to install and to use.

Why We Like This:
  • Delivers what they promise
  • Good brand reputation