Last Updated: 2026-07-23

Sense vs Emporia Vue vs Refoss: 90-Day Whole-Home Monitor Test

For a baseline before any project, see our 30-day test of the best home energy monitors.

We installed Sense, Emporia Vue 3, and Refoss EM16 in the same home, on the same electrical panel, for 90 days. Here's what the kWh data actually showed — and which one we'd buy.

The Test Setup

All three monitors were installed on a 200-amp residential electrical panel in a 2,400 sq ft single-family home (climate zone 5, gas heat, central AC). Each monitor was connected to the main service feeds and to 8 individual branch circuits (kitchen, dryer, HVAC, water heater, etc.).

Utility meter readings were collected daily. Each monitor's reported total kWh was compared against the utility meter. Per-circuit accuracy was checked against a calibrated clamp meter.

Accuracy Results

Monitor Price Total kWh accuracy Per-circuit accuracy
Sense$299±2.8%N/A (no per-circuit)
Emporia Vue 3$199±1.1%±2.3%
Refoss EM16$99±1.4%±2.8%

Sense doesn't provide per-circuit monitoring — it uses machine learning to detect devices from the aggregate signal. This means you can't see which specific circuit is using the most energy, only which individual devices (kitchen fridge, TV, etc.) it has learned to recognize. After 90 days of training, Sense correctly identified 60-70% of our devices.

Emporia Vue 3 won on per-circuit accuracy and total accuracy both. The Vue app is straightforward, with real-time and historical views for each circuit.

Refoss EM16 matched Emporia for accuracy within 0.3%, at nearly half the price. The app is less polished but functional.

Feature Comparison

Which One Should You Buy?

Buy Sense ($299) if: You're curious about specific device consumption, don't mind waiting for ML to learn your devices, and want the most polished app experience.

Buy Emporia Vue 3 ($199) if: You want to know which circuits use the most energy (kitchen vs HVAC vs dryer), want excellent accuracy, and don't want to pay a subscription.

Buy Refoss EM16 ($99) if: You want per-circuit monitoring on a budget and don't care about app polish.

For most homeowners, the Emporia Vue is the best choice. It hits the sweet spot of accuracy, features, and price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is Sense better than Emporia Vue?
A: Depends on what you need. Sense provides device-level detection via ML. Emporia Vue provides circuit-level monitoring at lower cost. For most homeowners, Emporia offers better value.

Q: How accurate is Sense?
A: Within 2-3% of utility meter for total consumption. Device-level accuracy is 60-70% after 90 days of training.

Q: Is Emporia Vue worth it?
A: Yes. At $169-199 for 16 circuits, it's the best value in whole-home energy monitoring. No subscription required.

Q: What's the best budget whole-home monitor?
A: Refoss EM16 at $99. Comparable accuracy to Emporia Vue, less polished app.

Q: Do I need an electrician?
A: Yes. All three require work inside your electrical panel. Installation typically costs $150-300.

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