Best Energy Monitors for Home Assistant 2026: 6 Picks
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Your electric bill shouldn’t be a monthly mystery, and picking the right energy monitor for Home Assistant is the fastest way to turn it into a graph you can actually act on. The picks below focus on gear that actually works with HA — most of them locally, a couple through the cloud — so you can graph your mains, catch a bad appliance before it costs you, and automate around solar surplus without paying a subscription.
Everything here is on Amazon, works in US panels (240 V split-phase or 3-phase Wye), and has been vetted against the manufacturer’s own spec sheets. Prices accurate at time of writing and subject to change.
Comparison Table
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Price Tier | HA Integration | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly Pro 3EM 3CT 63 | Whole-home 3-phase on DIN rail | 3 x 63A CT, Wi-Fi + LAN | $$ | Native (local) | Check Price on Amazon |
| Emporia Vue 3 | Most-popular UL-listed pick | Up to 16 x 50A branch sensors | $ | Community (cloud-polled) | Check Price on Amazon |
| Shelly EM Gen3 + 50A Clamp | Budget single-circuit with contactor control | 1 x 50A CT + dry-contact relay | $ | Native (local) | Check Price on Amazon |
| Refoss EM16P | Fully-local no-cloud whole-home | 16 x 60A CTs, Open API + MQTT | $$ | Native (local) | Check Price on Amazon |
| Meross Smart Home Energy Monitor | HA-native with 2 mains + 16 branches | 2 x 200A mains + 16 x 60A branch | $$ | Native (local) | Check Price on Amazon |
| Shelly PM Mini Gen3 | Per-appliance plug-level metering | 1 channel, 16A @ 240 VAC | $ | Native (local) | Check Price on Amazon |
Shelly Pro 3EM 3CT 63
The cleanest DIN-rail 3-phase energy monitor for an energy monitor for Home Assistant setup with wired Ethernet.
Why it makes the list
The Shelly Pro 3EM is a professional 3-phase energy meter with both Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity, built to live on a DIN rail inside your panel or sub-panel. For home-lab owners who already have a wired drop near the panel, LAN is huge — your energy data stops caring about Wi-Fi dead zones. The included 63A CT clamps cover each phase, and Shelly’s standard integration path with Home Assistant means it shows up over your local network with no cloud dependency.
Key specs
- 3-phase professional energy meter with Wi-Fi + LAN connectivity
- DIN-rail form factor for panel mounting
- Three CT clamps rated at 63A each
- No hub required
- Photovoltaic / solar monitoring ready
- Backed by Shelly’s 5-year device warranty
Watch out for
Make sure you’ve got the DIN-rail space — not every US panel has one, and you may need a sub-panel or small enclosure to mount it. The 63A-per-CT rating is sized for European-style per-phase monitoring; if you want to monitor each leg of a US 200A split-phase service separately, confirm fit and consider a larger-aperture flexible CT. The companion Pro 3EM Switch Add-On that enables contactor control for PV load shedding — things like diverting excess solar to a water heater or EV charger — is sold separately.
Emporia Vue 3
The default pick if you want UL-listed hardware, a huge user base, and circuit-level visibility on a tight budget.
Why it makes the list
Emporia’s Vue is the energy monitor most people have heard of, and the Gen 3 refresh is UL-listed for North American safety. It clamps into your panel, measures the mains, and lets you add up to sixteen 50A branch sensors to track individual circuits — the AC, the dryer, the EV charger, whatever matters. Accuracy is rated at ±2%, which is more than enough to find phantom loads and spot a dying appliance. The HA community has a well-maintained custom integration, so it’s a real option for Home Assistant users despite not being first-party supported.
Key specs
- UL Listed for North American electrical safety
- Supports single-phase, single-split-phase, and 2-wire systems; 3-phase 4-wire Wye needs an additional 200A sensor (sold separately)
- Up to sixteen 50A branch-circuit sensors (sold separately)
- Requires 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with internet connection
- Sensor accuracy ±2%
- 1-second data retained 3 hours in-app; 1-minute data 7 days; 1-hour data retained indefinitely in Emporia’s cloud
- Solar net metering built in
Watch out for
This is a cloud-first device. It requires 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with an internet connection to function, and the HA integration is a community project that polls Emporia’s cloud API — it’s not truly local. If your HA philosophy is “no cloud, period,” skip to the Refoss, Meross, or Shelly picks. Also: the 50A branch sensors are not included in the base monitor and the Vue 3 sensor packs are exclusive to the Vue 3 — they won’t fit a Vue 2 or Vue 1 if you’re thinking about upgrading an older install.
Shelly EM Gen3 with 50A Clamp
The budget “monitor one circuit and optionally switch it” pick, locally integrated with Home Assistant.
Why it makes the list
The EM Gen3 is a Wi-Fi smart energy meter that ships with a 50A current-transformer clamp and a built-in contactor-control relay. It’s the perfect answer for “I just want to watch one circuit — the solar inverter, the subpanel, the garage” and optionally shed load when consumption spikes. It’s part of Shelly’s Gen3 line, so it’s got the newer chip and more memory than older generations, and it works directly with Home Assistant over your local LAN — no cloud round-trip needed.
Key specs
- Wi-Fi-operated smart energy meter with 50A current-transformer clamp
- Built-in contactor-control relay switch for load shedding
- Works with Alexa, Home Assistant, and Google Home
- Real-time energy tracking
- Part of Shelly’s Gen3 line (ESP Shelly chip, doubled memory, Matter upgradable)
- Backed by Shelly’s 5-year device warranty
Watch out for
A single 50A clamp fits sub-circuits and small split-phase legs — not a 200A whole-home service. If you want whole-home mains monitoring with this family, step up to the Pro 3EM. The relay inside is a dry-contact relay, meaning it signals an external contactor to switch; you’ll need to supply that contactor if you’re trying to switch a serious load like an EV charger or electric water heater.
Refoss EM16P
The no-compromise local-first pick for Home Assistant users who refuse to depend on a cloud.
Why it makes the list
Refoss is actually a sub-brand of Meross, and the EM16P is built from the ground up for local control. It exposes a built-in Web UI, an Open API, and MQTT, so your energy data stays on your network and never touches a vendor cloud if you don’t want it to. Native Home Assistant integration works out of the box — no firmware flashing, no HACS custom components, just plug it in and HA sees it. The ETL certification covers the North American safety side, and solar/net-metering with zero-feed-in automation is baked in.
Key specs
- 16 x 60A circuit sensors for branch-circuit monitoring
- Local control via built-in Web UI, Open API, and MQTT — no cloud required
- Native Home Assistant integration out of the box; no firmware flashing needed
- ETL certified
- Supports solar / net metering with zero-feed-in automations
- Monitors up to 18 circuits in the EM16 variant (16 branch + 2 main); ±1% measurement accuracy
- Records minute/hourly/daily/weekly/monthly/yearly data; daily data stored 5 years with CSV export; no subscription
Watch out for
The 60A clamp aperture is sized for individual branch circuits — if your 200A service-entrance conductors are thick, verify the wire gauge physically fits before buying. Installation inside a live electrical panel is a professional-electrician job in most jurisdictions regardless of how DIY-friendly the device looks. And while local-only is a supported configuration, the Refoss app and Meross cloud are available too — you decide which mode you want, so expect to spend a little time in setup.
Meross Smart Home Energy Monitor (18 Circuit)
The budget-conscious HA-native pick with two mains plus sixteen branch channels in one unit.
Why it makes the list
If the Refoss sounds right but you want a slightly different packaging or stocking situation, the Meross version is essentially the same hardware philosophy from the same parent company. You get two 200A main CTs and sixteen 60A branch CTs in one package — enough to cover a typical US split-phase panel’s main service plus every circuit that matters. ETL certification plus UL 61010 testing standard compliance covers the safety side, data stays local, there’s no subscription, and HA integration is native.
Key specs
- 2 main circuits (200A) + 16 branch circuits (60A) in one unit
- ETL certified; complies with UL 61010 testing standard
- Works with single-phase 2-wire, single-split-phase 3-wire, and 3-phase 4-wire Wye systems (no Delta)
- Natively supports Home Assistant while maintaining the full warranty
- All energy data stays local — no cloud; Open API and Web Control supported
- Up to 5 years of exportable historical data
- Solar PV monitoring with zero-feed-in support via app or Home Assistant automations
- 2-year warranty
Watch out for
Spec-wise this overlaps a lot with the Refoss EM16P because Refoss is a Meross sub-brand — pick based on current price and stock, not a dramatic feature gap. The 60A branch clamps have a tight aperture, so verify the gauge of each circuit you want to monitor fits. And 3-phase Delta systems aren’t supported — commercial installs with Delta service need a different monitor.
Shelly PM Mini Gen3
The smallest, cheapest way to put per-appliance power metering behind an outlet or light fixture.
Why it makes the list
Not every energy question is a whole-home question. Sometimes you just want to know: how much is this one plug-in pulling? The PM Mini Gen3 is a Wi-Fi smart power meter in a form factor small enough (roughly 29 x 34 x 16 mm) to fit inside a standard wall box or junction box behind an outlet. It’s a measurement-only device — one channel, 16A, 240 VAC max — and because it’s part of the Shelly Gen3 line it also doubles as a Bluetooth gateway and Wi-Fi range extender. Home Assistant sees it over local LAN via the official Shelly integration.
Key specs
- Wi-Fi smart power meter, 1 channel, 16A
- Supports up to 16A at 240 VAC
- ESP Shelly Gen3 chip with increased flash memory
- Also functions as a Wi-Fi range extender and Bluetooth gateway
- Compact form factor (~29 x 34 x 16 mm) — fits standard wall boxes
- No hub required; works with Alexa and Google Home
- Gen3 line is Matter upgradable
Watch out for
This is a power meter only — no built-in relay. If you want to switch the load as well as measure it, buy the Shelly 1PM or 2PM instead. The 16A limit at 240 VAC is roughly 3,800 W, which is fine for most outlets and smaller lighting circuits but not enough for electric water heaters, EV chargers, or dryer circuits. And obviously, whole-home measurement needs CT clamps — this device is for a single point of use.
How to pick an energy monitor for Home Assistant
A few concrete things to decide before you buy:
Local vs cloud. If “works when my internet is down” matters to you, pick one of the local-first options — Shelly Pro 3EM, Shelly EM Gen3, Shelly PM Mini Gen3, Refoss EM16P, or Meross. The Emporia Vue 3 is cloud-first and relies on an unofficial, community-maintained HA integration that polls Emporia’s cloud API. That still works, but it’s not local and it’s not first-party.
Service type. Standard US homes have 240 V single-split-phase service. Larger homes, workshops, and small commercial sites may be 3-phase 4-wire Wye. Delta 3-phase is a corner case that most of these monitors (Emporia Vue 3, Meross, Refoss) explicitly do not support. Confirm your panel type before buying.
Channel count. If you only want mains metering, a single-CT device like the Shelly EM Gen3 is cheapest. If you want to break out your consumption by circuit — AC, dryer, EV, server rack, kitchen — you need a 16-channel unit (Emporia Vue 3, Refoss EM16P, Meross).
CT clamp aperture. This bites people. The published amperage rating (50A, 60A, 63A, 200A) matches the current the clamp can measure, but the aperture is what determines whether your actual wire physically fits. 200A service-entrance conductors are thick. If you’re clamping mains, prefer a dedicated main CT (Emporia’s 200A, Meross’s 200A mains, or a flex CT).
Install safety. You’re working inside a live panel. Hire an electrician unless you’ve done this before and your jurisdiction allows homeowner panel work. This isn’t the place to save $200.
Integration method. “Works with Home Assistant” can mean several things: a first-party official integration (best — Shelly line, Refoss EM16P, Meross), a community custom integration (Emporia Vue), or just MQTT publishing. Native integrations are easier to install and more likely to keep working after HA updates. For related networking gear that keeps these devices online, see our our 2.5GbE managed switches for home labs guide guide.
FAQ
Can Home Assistant monitor whole home energy usage?
Yes. Any of the whole-home energy monitor for Home Assistant picks above (Shelly Pro 3EM, Emporia Vue 3, Refoss EM16P, Meross) will feed real-time power, voltage, and energy data into Home Assistant’s Energy Dashboard. The dashboard then calculates kWh totals, cost (if you enter your rate), and shows you a nice breakdown by source and consumption bucket.
Do I need an electrician to install an energy monitor?
Realistically, yes — for anything that clamps around service-entrance conductors. The CT clamps themselves don’t carry mains current, but you’re working inside a live panel to install them, which is a professional-electrician job in most jurisdictions regardless of how DIY-friendly the device’s packaging looks. The one exception: a device like the Shelly PM Mini Gen3 that goes behind an outlet or in a junction box is more approachable, but even that requires killing power at the breaker and knowing which wires are which.
What’s the difference between Shelly EM Gen3 and Shelly Pro 3EM?
The EM Gen3 is a single-channel device with a 50A CT clamp and a built-in dry-contact relay — good for one circuit plus contactor control. The Pro 3EM is a DIN-rail-mounted 3-phase energy meter with three 63A CTs, Wi-Fi and LAN connectivity, and no onboard relay (though the Pro 3EM Switch Add-On adds that if you need it). Pick the EM Gen3 for one circuit or a small split-phase install; pick the Pro 3EM when you want proper 3-phase mains metering on a DIN rail.
Does Emporia Vue 3 work without the cloud?
Not really. The Vue 3 requires 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi with an internet connection to function, and the Home Assistant integration available for it polls Emporia’s cloud API — it is not a first-party local integration. If internet-free operation is a hard requirement, pick a Shelly, Refoss, or Meross unit instead.
Can I use a smart plug as an energy monitor instead?
For individual appliances, yes — a Shelly Smart Plug or any of our favorites from the best Matter smart plugs roundup will report power consumption of whatever is plugged into them. But smart plugs cap out at 15-16A and only monitor what’s downstream of them, so they’re a per-outlet tool, not a whole-home metering solution. A dedicated energy monitor is the right call for mains or circuit-level visibility.
Conclusion
For most Home Assistant users with a typical US panel, the Refoss EM16P or Meross 18-circuit monitor hits the sweet spot: fully local, native HA integration, 16+ branch channels, no subscription, and prices that don’t require a mortgage. If you’re on 3-phase, the Shelly Pro 3EM is the cleaner install thanks to DIN rail and LAN. The Emporia Vue 3 remains the easy entry point energy monitor for Home Assistant if you can live with the cloud dependency and want the biggest user community for troubleshooting. And for a single appliance or outlet, a Shelly EM Gen3 or PM Mini Gen3 does the job for pocket change compared to the whole-home kits.
