Short version: The Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug lets you control your devices and monitor their power use directly from Home Assistant. It connects using Zigbee, a common wireless technology for smart homes, meaning it needs a Zigbee coordinator connected to Home Assistant. This plug offers reliable local control and can help strengthen your Zigbee network.
Updated November 2026.
What the Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug is
The Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug is a device that plugs into a standard US wall outlet. You then plug another appliance, like a lamp or a fan, into the smart plug. This lets you turn that appliance on or off using your smart home system. A key feature of this plug is its ability to monitor power consumption, showing you how much electricity the connected device is using. This can be helpful for tracking energy use or identifying power-hungry appliances.
This smart plug uses Zigbee for communication. Zigbee is a low-power wireless technology that creates a mesh network, allowing devices to talk to each other and extend the signal range. This plug also acts as a Zigbee router, which means it helps pass messages between other Zigbee devices and your Home Assistant system, making your whole network stronger. The listing also mentions it is Matter compatible. Matter is a newer smart home standard designed to make devices from different brands work together more easily, often using Thread, another low-power mesh network technology. Since it is mains-powered, it does not require batteries.
Home Assistant compatibility
The Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug is designed to work well with Home Assistant, offering local control without relying on cloud services. This means your smart home automations will continue to function even if your internet connection goes down.
| Option | Works? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ZHA | Yes | Supported by Home Assistant’s built-in Zigbee integration, ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation). |
| Zigbee2MQTT | Yes | Supported by Zigbee2MQTT, a popular add-on for Home Assistant that provides advanced control over Zigbee devices. |
| Tuya (cloud integration) | No | This is a Shelly device, not a Tuya device, so the Tuya cloud integration is not applicable. |
| Matter | Likely | The listing states “Matter Compatible”. Matter over Thread support is still evolving in Home Assistant, but Shelly is generally good about updates. |
| Local or cloud | Local | Shelly devices are known for offering robust local control, which is a major benefit for Home Assistant users. |
Who it is for
This smart plug is ideal for Home Assistant users who want reliable local control over their appliances. If you are building a smart home with a strong emphasis on privacy and local processing, this plug fits right in. It is also great if you need to monitor the power consumption of specific devices, helping you understand and manage your energy use. Furthermore, if you are looking to expand your Zigbee mesh network, this plug can act as a router, improving signal strength for other Zigbee devices in your home. Early adopters interested in Matter over Thread capabilities will also find this plug appealing as a way to prepare for future smart home standards.
You might want to skip this plug if you do not already have a Zigbee coordinator connected to Home Assistant. If you prefer simpler Wi-Fi devices that connect directly to your router, or if you are on a very tight budget and do not need power monitoring or Zigbee routing, there are cheaper basic smart plugs available. Also, if you are hesitant about adopting newer standards like Matter over Thread while they are still maturing, you might wait for broader ecosystem support.
How to set it up in Home Assistant
Setting up the Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug in Home Assistant is straightforward, especially if you are using ZHA, Home Assistant’s built-in Zigbee integration. Here are the steps:
- First, make sure you have a Zigbee coordinator connected and configured in your Home Assistant setup. A Zigbee coordinator is typically a USB stick that allows Home Assistant to communicate with your Zigbee devices.
- Plug the Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug into a wall outlet.
- Put the smart plug into pairing mode. For most Shelly Zigbee devices, you achieve this by pressing and holding the button on the plug for about 10 seconds until an indicator light starts flashing. Check the device’s manual or Shelly’s website for the exact pairing procedure if you are unsure.
- In Home Assistant, navigate to Settings > Devices & Services.
- Find your ZHA integration card and click on the Configure button.
- On the ZHA integration page, look for an option like Add device or Permit join. Click this to tell your Zigbee network to start looking for new devices.
- Home Assistant should now discover your Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug. This process might take a minute or two.
- Once discovered, you can give the device a name and assign it to an area in your home. Home Assistant will automatically create entities for its on/off control and power monitoring.
Common issues and variants to avoid
- Zigbee vs. Wi-Fi Confusion: Shelly manufactures both Zigbee and Wi-Fi versions of their smart plugs. The product title on some listings might be confusing, mentioning both
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug work with Home Assistant without the cloud?
Yes, the Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug is designed for local control with Home Assistant. It connects via Zigbee, allowing your automations and device control to work even without an internet connection. This provides greater privacy and reliability for your smart home.
Do I need a hub for the Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug?
Yes, you need a Zigbee coordinator, often referred to as a hub or gateway, to connect the Shelly Plug US Zigbee smart plug to Home Assistant. This is typically a USB stick that plugs into your Home Assistant server, allowing it to communicate with Zigbee devices. It does not require a separate Shelly hub.
Should I choose the Zigbee or Wi-Fi version of the Shelly Plug US?
For Home Assistant users, the Zigbee version is generally preferred due to its local control capabilities and the benefits of a mesh network. Zigbee devices often consume less power and create a more robust network for smart home sensors. The Wi-Fi version might be simpler for those without a Zigbee coordinator but often relies on cloud services.