Kasa HS220P3 vs Tapo S500: Which Smart Dimmer Switch Fits Your Home

The Kasa HS220P3 and the Tapo S500 sit at the same price and look nearly identical on a shelf, but they do different jobs. The Kasa is a smart dimmer that raises and lowers light level; the Tapo is a smart on/off switch with no dimming. Buyers who want to set a room’s brightness should start with the Kasa, while buyers who only need reliable scheduling and voice control can save the decision and take the Tapo. The comparison below reads the two apart dimension by dimension, and the buying guide at the end settles it fast.

Kasa HS220P3 Smart Dimmer Switch

Type: Smart dimmer switch
Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Voice Assistants: Alexa and Google Home
Certification: UL Certified
Hub Required: No
Wiring: Single pole, needs neutral wire
Color: White

The HS220 is the model that made Kasa a household name in budget smart lighting, and the dimming function is the reason. A dimmer changes how a room feels at 7 a.m. versus 10 p.m., and it does that without anyone touching a phone once the schedules are set. The physical paddle still works as a normal switch, so guests and family members who never open the app are not locked out of the light.

Kasa’s app is the mature part of this package. Scenes, schedules, away modes and grouping live in one place, and the switch slots into routines that already include Kasa plugs and bulbs. The 2.4GHz-only radio is the usual limitation of this price tier, so a network that pushes devices onto a 5GHz band will need a dedicated 2.4GHz SSID during setup.

Trade-off: Dimming only works with dimmable bulbs, and a cheap non-dimmable LED will buzz or flicker at low levels no matter how good the switch is.

Check the current price on Amazon

Tapo S500 Smart Light Switch

Type: Smart light switch (on/off)
Connectivity: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Voice Assistants: Alexa and Google Home
Certification: UL Certified
Hub Required: No
Wiring: Single pole, needs neutral wire
Color: White

The S500 is Tapo’s plain switching counterpart, and its appeal is simplicity. There is no dimming slider to configure, no bulb compatibility list to check, and no low-level flicker to troubleshoot. It turns a circuit on and off from the app, a voice command or the wall paddle, and that is the whole contract.

Tapo’s app has grown into a capable home-control hub over the past few years, and the S500 benefits from schedules, timers and routines that tie into other Tapo devices. The unit is a straightforward single-pole install that needs a neutral wire in the box, which rules out many older homes. Buyers who want a switch that behaves exactly like a switch, only smarter, are the target here.

Trade-off: There is no dimming at all, so a room that wants softer evening light will need dimmable bulbs or a different switch entirely.

Check the current price on Amazon

Side-by-Side Specs

Feature	Kasa HS220P3	Tapo S500
Type	Smart dimmer	Smart on/off switch
Connectivity	2.4GHz Wi-Fi	2.4GHz Wi-Fi
Voice assistants	Alexa, Google Home	Alexa, Google Home
Certification	UL Certified	UL Certified
Hub required	No	No
Wiring	Single pole, neutral wire	Single pole, neutral wire
Dimming	Yes	No
Color	White	White

How the Two Compare

Dimming and Light Control

This is the dimension that decides most purchases. The Kasa HS220P3 can raise and lower brightness from the paddle, the app or a voice command, and that capability changes how a room is used across a day. A dimmed kitchen at breakfast and a dimmed living room at night are the same circuit doing two jobs.

The Tapo S500 cannot dim. It switches a circuit on or off, which is fine for a porch light, a garage, a hallway or any fixture that only ever needs to be fully on or fully off. A buyer who wants a dimmer and buys the S500 will be disappointed on day one.

Verdict: Kasa wins for any room where brightness matters.

Wiring and Installation

Both units are single-pole switches that require a neutral wire in the wall box. That is the single biggest installation constraint on either product, and it affects both equally. Homes wired in the last few decades usually have a neutral at the switch; older homes often do not.

Neither unit needs a hub, so setup is app-based on a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network. Buyers with a mesh system that broadcasts a single SSID should confirm the network can be split or that the router handles 2.4GHz-only devices cleanly.

Verdict: A draw. The wiring requirement is identical.

App and Voice Control

Both products work with Alexa and Google Home, and both offer scheduling, timers and routines through their respective apps. Kasa’s ecosystem is broader and more established, with a long list of plugs, bulbs and cameras that share scenes and automations. Tapo’s ecosystem has closed the gap and now covers the same categories.

For a buyer who already owns Kasa devices, the HS220 slots in without friction. For a buyer starting fresh or already inside Tapo, the S500 is the natural choice. Neither app is a reason to switch ecosystems.

Verdict: A draw on capability, with a slight edge to Kasa for ecosystem depth.

Build and Safety

Both switches are UL Certified, both are white, and both are designed to fit a standard wall plate. The construction on either is the molded plastic and metal bracket typical of the price tier, which is to say adequate rather than premium. Neither is a designer switch.

The safety certification matters more than the finish here, because a switch is a permanent line-voltage device. UL listing on both products means the buyer is not gambling on an uncertified import.

Verdict: A draw.

Price and Value

The two products sit in the same price bracket, so value comes down to what each one does. The Kasa packs dimming into that bracket, which makes it the better value per dollar for most rooms. The Tapo is not overpriced; it is simply a simpler device at the same money.

Buyers who genuinely do not need dimming should not pay for it, but the price parity here means there is little incentive to choose the S500 unless its ecosystem or a specific installation favors it.

Verdict: Kasa offers more capability for the same outlay.

Which Should You Buy?

Choose the Kasa HS220P3 if the room needs dimming, the buyer already uses Kasa devices, or the goal is to set scenes and brightness schedules. It is the more capable switch for the same money and the right pick for bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms and any space where light level changes through the day.

Choose the Tapo S500 if the circuit only needs on and off, the buyer already runs Tapo devices, or the fixture is a porch, garage, hallway or utility light that never dims. It is also the simpler install for someone who does not want to think about bulb compatibility.

Buyers who are unsure should default to the Kasa. Dimming can be ignored; it cannot be added later to the S500.

FAQ

1. Does the Kasa HS220P3 dim any bulb?
   No. It requires dimmable bulbs, and non-dimmable LEDs may flicker or buzz at low levels. The switch is capable, but the bulb has to cooperate.

2. Can the Tapo S500 dim lights through the app?
   No. The S500 is an on/off switch only. Brightness control is not part of its feature set.

3. Do both switches need a neutral wire?
   Yes. Both are single-pole switches that require a neutral wire in the wall box, which rules out some older wiring.

4. Do either of these need a hub?
   Neither needs a hub. Both connect directly to a 2.4GHz Wi-Fi network and are controlled through their own apps.

5. Do both work with Alexa and Google Home?
   Yes. Both are compatible with Alexa and Google Home for voice control.

6. Are both UL Certified?
   Yes. Both products carry UL Certification, which matters for a permanent line-voltage device.

7. Can either switch be used in a three-way circuit?
   Neither is listed as a three-way switch. Both are single-pole devices, so a circuit with two switches controlling one light is not a direct fit.

8. Which is better for a rental or a room where the buyer may move?
   The Tapo S500 is the lower-stakes choice if dimming is not needed, since it is a simpler device doing a simpler job. The Kasa is the better pick if the buyer wants the room to feel finished.

Bottom Line

For most buyers, the Kasa HS220P3 is the stronger pick: it dims, it schedules, it works with Alexa and Google Home, and it costs the same as the Tapo S500. The Tapo is a fine switch for circuits that only need on and off, but at price parity there is little reason to give up dimming. Buyers ready to decide can check the Kasa HS220P3 price on Amazon and confirm the neutral wire before ordering.