Surge Protector vs. Power Strip 

Although surge protectors look very similar to power strips, the two are different.

 

Power Strips

Power strips act only as an expansion of a wall outlet, allowing more devices to reach power. They typically have a small circuit breaker, but power strips are not designed to protect from powerful surges.

 

Surge Protectors

Surge protectors provide the same features as power strips; they still allow users to plug in multiple electronic devices. But surge protectors reduce the chance of power surges and spikes from damaging your electronics. Point-of-use surge protectors generally cost between $20 and $40, with higher-priced models able to absorb higher surges.