The best outdoor light timers

Outdoor lights come in two kinds: ones that plug into an outdoor outlet - string lights, landscape transformers, plug-in path kits - and ones wired to a wall switch, like most porch lights. Plug-in lights take a plug-in timer; wired lights need an in-wall timer or a dusk-to-dawn bulb.

Within that, the choice is how the timer knows when it is dark: a photocell that sees dusk, an astronomic clock that calculates it, or an app schedule set to sunset. The bulb-based alternative is in best dusk-to-dawn light bulbs.

BN-LINK U129R - the pick for plug-in lights. Three grounded outlets on a photocell that switches on at dusk and runs until dawn or for 2, 4, 6 or 8 hours, with a remote. No app, no Wi-Fi, nothing to set each season.
Cons: the incandescent (tungsten) rating is only 5A; all outlets switch together; it must hang at least 1 ft off the ground to stay waterproof.

Kasa EP40 - for app and voice control. Two IP64 outdoor outlets, controlled together or separately, with schedules, countdowns and Away Mode in the Kasa app and Alexa or Google voice control - no hub. TP-Link documents sunrise and sunset scheduling with an offset for Kasa plugs.
Cons: 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only, so it needs signal at the outlet; the 15A limit is shared across both outlets.

Intermatic ST01K - for hardwired porch lights. An astronomic in-wall timer that adjusts itself to sunrise, sunset and daylight saving time, with up to 20 on/off events, a battery backup and no neutral wire required.
Cons: electrical work, and not an option for renters; the wall plate is sold separately; no app or voice control published.

Plug-in lights: photocell or smart plug. A photocell needs no setup and follows the seasons on its own. A smart plug adds app and voice control, and separate control of two outlets.

Wired porch lights: astronomic or a bulb. An astronomic in-wall timer is set once and correct all year. If you rent, a dusk-to-dawn bulb does a similar job with no wiring.

Mount plug-in timers off the ground. BN-LINK specifies at least 1 ft above ground to stay waterproof - hang it on a hook, not in the grass.

Check Wi-Fi at the outlet. A smart plug on the far side of the yard may not reach the router. For indoor lamp schedules, see best smart plugs for lamps.