EcoGuide · Energy Monitoring · Updated 2026-10-01 · 1,200 words
Best Home Energy Monitor in 2026
The Short Answer
| Pick | Best for | What it measures | Works without the cloud? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia Vue 3 | Most homes | Mains plus up to 16 individual circuits, 1-second data | No (cloud only, per Emporia) |
| Refoss (EM16P) | Home Assistant and privacy | Mains plus up to 16 circuits (up to 18 total) | Yes (local API, MQTT, native Home Assistant) |
| Eyedro Home | Whole-home total only | Mains only (two 200A sensors), 1-second resolution | Partly (local web server) |
| Plug-in meter | One appliance at a time | Whatever is plugged into it | Yes |
Sense and Curb are gone. Sense says it stopped selling in-panel monitors on December 31, 2025 (support continues for owners), and Curb’s website no longer offers a way to buy one. Both Amazon listings now show as unavailable, so they are not on this list.
How we chose: manufacturer specifications, manuals and support pages, linked below. We do not test products in-house, and no manufacturer publishes independent accuracy tests, so we do not rank on accuracy. Prices move often, so check the current price on each listing.
First: Do You Need a Panel Monitor at All?
A panel monitor clamps sensors around the cables inside your electrical panel and sees everything, including hard-wired loads like the heat pump, water heater, oven and EV charger — usually where most of the money goes. It needs work inside a live panel.
A plug-in meter or energy-monitoring smart plug sees only what is plugged into it. If your question is “what does my TV setup draw on standby?”, that is all you need, for a fraction of the price. See the best energy-monitoring smart plugs.
1. Emporia Vue 3: Best for Most Homes
- Coverage: up to 3 × 200A mains and up to 16 × 50A branch-circuit sensors, with 1-second data. Solar and net metering are supported.
- Connection: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi or Ethernet.
- Safety listing: Emporia lists UL 61010 and UL 2808 certification.
- Cost of ownership: Emporia states no subscription. It is sold as mains only, with 8 circuit sensors, or with 16; check which kit a listing includes.
- The catch: Emporia says local device access is not available on any Vue; all data goes through its cloud, and Home Assistant is not officially supported.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Products are chosen on published specifications; we do not test them in-house (how we choose).
Emporia Vue 3 Energy Monitor
Mains plus up to 16 circuits, 1-second data, no subscription. Check which sensor kit the listing includes.
View on Amazon2. Refoss (EM16P): Best for Home Assistant and Privacy
- Coverage: up to 18 circuits; the Amazon listing below includes 16 branch-circuit sensors rated 60A.
- Local control: Refoss says it natively supports Home Assistant with no flashing and can operate offline, without cloud services, an app or registration, with local web access, an open API and MQTT.
- Safety listing: ETL certified to the UL 61010 standard.
- Solar: supports solar PV monitoring. Refoss quotes ±2% accuracy (a manufacturer figure).
- The catch: a smaller company than Emporia, with less documentation.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Products are chosen on published specifications; we do not test them in-house (how we choose).
Refoss Smart Home Energy Monitor (16 circuit sensors)
Local control with native Home Assistant, open API and MQTT; solar monitoring.
View on AmazonWe compare these two in detail in Emporia Vue 3 vs Refoss.
3. Eyedro Home Energy Monitor: Best for Whole-Home Totals
- Coverage: two directional 200A sensors on the mains, so you see whole-home use and solar export, not individual circuits.
- Data: 1-second measurement resolution; data uploads every 30 seconds (every second while you are logged in).
- Cost of ownership: the MyEyedro cloud tools are free; advanced features need a paid Pro licence.
- Safety listing: UL 2808 and UL 61010-1. Eyedro recommends installation by a licensed electrician.
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no extra cost to you. Products are chosen on published specifications; we do not test them in-house (how we choose).
Eyedro Smart Home Energy Monitor
Two 200A mains sensors, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, free web dashboard.
View on AmazonFor Single Appliances: A Plug-In Meter
No panel work and no app required. Plug the appliance into the meter and read its watts and cumulative kWh. It is the fastest way to find which devices draw power all night.
P3 Kill A Watt P4400 Electricity Usage Monitor
Plug-in meter that shows watts and kWh for one device.
View on Amazon
Kasa KP125M Energy-Monitoring Smart Plug
Tracks a device’s use in the app and switches it off on a schedule.
View on AmazonInstallation: Budget for an Electrician
All three panel monitors install inside your service panel, where the incoming cables stay live even with the main breaker off. Emporia says an electrician is not required in most cases but that some jurisdictions require a licensed electrician for any work inside a panel; Eyedro recommends one outright. If you have not worked in a panel before, have it done.
Before buying, check your panel has room for the sensors and a spare breaker space or outlet for the monitor’s power, and match clamp ratings to the circuits you want to monitor (an EV charger or heat pump circuit may exceed a 50A clamp).
Already Own a Sense or Curb?
Keep using it. Sense says support continues as usual for existing owners and that it charges no subscription to use the app. Curb still has a support page. If either stops working, the Emporia Vue 3 is the closest replacement for circuit-level data.
Free: Home Energy Audit Checklist (PDF)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best home energy monitor in 2026?
For most homes, the Emporia Vue 3: it monitors the mains and up to 16 circuits with 1-second data and no subscription. If you want local control or Home Assistant, choose Refoss. If you only need the whole-home total, Eyedro.
Is Sense still sold?
No. Sense says it stopped selling in-panel home monitors on December 31, 2025, although support continues for existing owners.
Do home energy monitors need a subscription?
Emporia states there is no subscription. Eyedro’s basic cloud tools are free, with a paid Pro licence for advanced features. Refoss can run entirely locally.
Can I install a home energy monitor myself?
It involves working inside a live electrical panel. Some jurisdictions require a licensed electrician for any panel work, and Eyedro recommends one. If you have not done panel work before, hire an electrician.
Which energy monitor works with Home Assistant?
Refoss says its EM16P supports Home Assistant natively with no flashing. Emporia says Home Assistant is not officially supported and its monitors are cloud-only.
Related Guides
- Emporia Vue 3 vs Refoss (vs Sense) — the head-to-head
- Best energy-monitoring smart plugs — for single devices
- What is vampire power? — finding standby loads
