Unbiased Reviews on Amazon Eco Show and Google and Jbl

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Google Dwelling vs. Alexa: Which Assistant is All-time?

We scoured other reviews to cover their gaps. Our verdict: Google dominates visuals while Amazon's audio excels.

All-time smart displays
Excellent video service selection
Intuitive smart home controls

Best smart speakers
Excellent music service selection
Best smart home compatibility

*Amazon.com cost as of post engagement. Read total disclaimer.

Staff Author, Security & Smart Home

Google Home vs. Amazon Alexa

Pros and cons

Google Home

Pros

Best smart displays

Excellent video service selection

Intuitive in-app smart home controls

Google account integration

Real-fourth dimension language translation

Multi-tasking

Cons

Fewer smart home options than Alexa

Simplistic smart abode routines

Amazon Alexa

Pros

Best smart speakers

First-class music service pick

Improve smart home compatibility than Google

Dynamic smart home routines

Location triggers

Dynamic vocalization tones

Cons

Limited support for video services

Clunky in-app smart home controls

Compare Google Habitation and Amazon Alexa devices

*Amazon.com list price as of mail service date. Read full disclaimer.

Differences: Google Home vs. Amazon Alexa

Much like early on Android and iOS smartphones were worlds apart merely now practically mirror each other in features, yous can expect the gap between Alexa and Google Help to narrow over time as they mature.

For now, the differences between Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa boil down to how each system deals with specific tasks like smart home routines, shopping lists, and how they blueprint their mobile apps.

First, we'll cover which brand wins in categories they tin both compete in:

Best smart displays: Google Assistant
Best smart speakers: Amazon Alexa
Best smart home compatibility: Amazon Alexa
Best mobile app: Google Assistant
All-time shopping list: Google Banana
Best smart domicile routines: Amazon Alexa
Best real-time language translation: Google Banana

Then, we'll cover unique features from the brands:

Multitasking: Google Assistant
Location triggers: Amazon Alexa
Dynamic voice tones: Amazon Alexa

All-time smart displays: Google Dwelling

Google's smart displays are pleasant to use, specially with how many video streaming services they support. It's not a perfect feature merely is more capable than what we experienced with Alexa.

Another feature we like is the option to show curated photos from Google Earth and artwork when the screen's non in use. This is in improver to cartoon from your Google Photos drove.

Google Nest Hub (second gen) (nearly $100): This smart brandish is Google'due south more than affordable model due to a smaller 7-inch screen and no congenital-in camera. Nosotros call back information technology works great as an alarm clock for adults or a tiny TV culling for the kids' playroom.
Google Nest Hub Max (about $230): The Google Nest Hub Max has a big 10-inch screen—about the size of an iPad. It besides has bigger speakers and a built-in security camera, making it great for video calls over Google Duo. The large size is perfect for recipes in the kitchen simply works just every bit well for watching TV shows in the background of most medium and big rooms.

Amazon Alexa smart display

During our research, information technology was surprising that Alexa's authorization with music services didn't interpret into similar performance for video services on smart displays.

While Alexa has competent devices, we ultimately preferred Google's approach (and more massive video service choice) as an easier product to use. Just they practise have one reward over Google smart displays: every model includes a camera for video calls.

Repeat Evidence v (2d gen) (about $85): The smallest Amazon Repeat Show targets a lower price than Google'southward cheapest smart display, and the minuscule 5-inch screen makes a ameliorate warning clock.
Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) (virtually $130): This device competes direct with the Google Nest Hub but narrowly wins because it has a congenital-in camera. It'south corking for offices and kitchens because it doesn't take up much infinite.
Echo Show 10 (well-nigh $250): The Echo Show 10 doesn't agree up besides to Google as other Amazon Echo smart displays but is a solid selection thanks to built-in Zigbee device compatibility. As a bonus, the screen can follow you lot around a room for optimal audio and video.
Repeat Show fifteen (about $250): This massive 15.6-inch animate being is Amazon's biggest smart brandish. The Evidence 15 has a strong focus on helping organize your schedule and is the simply model congenital for wall mounting in both landscape and portrait modes.
Fire Idiot box Cube (most $120): It doesn't have a built-in screen, merely this smart speaker connects directly to your Boob tube for stunning 4K movies and Television receiver shows. Information technology even links to other Echo smart speakers for a better Tv experience than Google offers.

Best smart speakers: Amazon Alexa

Amazon's Echo smart speakers created the pattern that most online reviewers use to judge all other smart speakers. They deliver big in terms of audio quality but at a price that'due south more affordable than the industry-topping Sonos wireless speakers.

Google perfects a few devices for specific scenarios, while Amazon seems content to experiment with every bit many Echo smart speakers equally possible:

Repeat Flex (about $25): The Echo Flex plugs straight into a wall outlet and is a cheap option to add Alexa in hallways or small rooms.
Echo Dot (4th gen) (well-nigh $50): While the Flex adds a basic smart speaker to near rooms, the Repeat Dot is your starting identify for amend music quality.
Repeat (4th gen) (about $100): As the smart speaker market place grows, the Amazon Echo doesn't feel as groundbreaking as the original 2014 version. Merely information technology's still a worthwhile addition to the smart dwelling house with better music quality than most competitors in this price range. Plus, it can control Zigbee smart devices without a hub. This powerful feature is platonic for smart homes with tons of sensors.
Echo Studio (nearly $200): The Echo Studio is Amazon'southward thunderous reply to folks that desire the loud, vibrant music you might find in a stereo organization. Information technology fifty-fifty has Dolby Atmos surround audio, which pairs bully with blockbuster movies on a Fire Television set streaming device.

On top of a full range of traditional smart speakers and smart displays, Amazon's playful experimentation results in some nontraditional Echo devices:

Echo Buds (2nd gen) and Echo Frames (2nd gen) for personal sound
Echo Automobile for cars
Repeat Link for controlling stereo systems

Google Dwelling house smart speakers

Google has a smaller selection of smart speakers than Amazon. These speakers hold their own in terms of sound quality only overall aren't as skillful equally Echo speakers.

Google Nest Mini (2nd gen) (about $50): This is an upgraded version of the Google Home Mini. It comes with better audio quality and a wall-mounting option to save infinite on shelves and tables.
Google Nest Sound (near $100): The Google Nest Sound has great sound quality compared to its tiny counterpart. Information technology'southward groovy for most living rooms and larger bedrooms.
Google Habitation Max (discontinued): Google brought the crush with its largest smart speaker but stopped selling information technology in 2020. This leaves Google without a competitor to the Repeat Studio.

Google'southward most radical smart speakers already serve some other purpose, and Google Assistant is simply a bonus characteristic:

Google Nest Wi-Fi router
Nest Cam IQ Indoor security camera

All-time smart home compatibility: Amazon Alexa

The offset Echo device with Alexa voice services hit the market in 2014—two full years before the Google Domicile speaker landed. Because of this caput showtime, Alexa supports more smart dwelling devices than Google. Still, nearly major smart home device makers like Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings support both.

Simply Alexa has another advantage over Google: it can directly control Zigbee devices using the Echo, Echo Studio, and Echo Testify x. This compatibility makes Alexa a better choice overall if you want tons of smart home gear.

Google's not completely helpless with smart dwelling house integration: Google Nest Hub (2nd gen), Google Nest Hub Max, and Nest Wifi all take built-in Thread radios (which work similar to Zigbee) that offer more growth in the futurity. But Google's not currently using this tech. We expect this to change once the manufacture-wide Matter smart dwelling standard launches.

Best mobile app: Google Home

For times you don't want a song answer or yous want to manage settings, you'll employ the mobile app. We think Google Dwelling's app is superior since it grants you quick access to control your smart home devices.

It places all of your devices on the app's abode screen so you can apace navigate to the one you want to control. You can also create groups of devices specific to the rooms in your dwelling to make information technology easier to turn off the lights.

Google Home app smart device list

Smart device listing in the Google Home app
Screenshot: John Carlsen, SafeWise

Amazon Alexa app smart device list

Smart device list in the Amazon Alexa app

Alexa doesn't identify your devices on a single screen like Google—it uses buckets to categorize your smart devices. This is a bit clunkier than Google Abode, since y'all need to select a category beginning before controlling an private device. For faster admission, you can grouping devices or add them to your favorites, which places them in an easily accessible spot on the devices tab of the Alexa app.

One recent add-on to the Amazon Alexa app we'd similar to run across in Google Home is the Free energy Dashboard. It tracks how long your devices run and estimates your energy usage. The energy interpretation isn't always accurate so you might need to set the correct wattage for your devices (the Alexa app guesses at first), but it'southward still a absurd tool for learning nearly your energy footprint.

Best smart domicile routines: Amazon Alexa

Alexa has a more robust approach to smart home functionality than Google Banana:

Alexa tin can trigger deportment and react to conditions in your smart home.
Google Assistant only triggers deportment. It tin can't react to well-nigh smart home devices.

Let's attempt creating a routine using the Alexa app. When you lot select the pick to create a routine, you'll encounter a screen with bones options:

Amazon Alexa new routine, step 1

Creating a new Alexa routine
Screenshot: John Carlsen, SafeWise

Y'all have the pick to proper noun the routine, fix a trigger condition ("When this happens"), and set an activeness dictating how Alexa reacts to that action ("Add action"). In the second option, "When this happens," you tin can choose from diverse triggers, including phonation commands, specific dates and times, smart home devices, location, alarms, Repeat Buttons, audio detection, and Alexa Guard.

Amazon Alexa new routine, step 2

Alexa routine triggers
Screenshot: John Carlsen, SafeWise

I of the best examples of Alexa'southward superiority with routines is the simple option to have it play a sound or bulletin whenever a sensor triggers on the front door. Alexa tin can and then say the front door is open. This is something Google Assistant simply can't practice.

In dissimilarity, Google's routines are too simplistic. The only trigger options information technology gives you are when yous say a specific voice command, dismiss an alarm, or at a particular time each day.

Google Assistant new routine, step 1

Google Assistant routine triggers
Screenshot: John Carlsen, SafeWise

Alexa'south flexibility with routines is akin to what you lot find in a smart abode system like Samsung SmartThings, making information technology much more effective and easier to use.

Best shopping list: Google Banana

Google Assistant shopping list

Google Banana shopping list
Screenshot: John Carlsen, SafeWise

Amazon Alexa shopping list

Amazon Alexa shopping list
Screenshot: John Carlsen, SafeWise

While Alexa's lists are easier to access, Google'southward images are accented perfection for finding a specific item quickly. This is especially great if you lot help someone with their shopping or have someone shop for you. Google used to allow you to wait up specific items with a picture of the actual production, simply now it just shows a generic epitome.

Both Alexa and Google let y'all to create shopping lists using vocalism commands: "Add X to the shopping list." But Alexa has a more intuitive shopping list feature than Google Banana because it stores your lists in the Alexa app. But select Lists & Notes from the popup carte du jour to access them.

By default—instead of placing your list in the Google Dwelling app, or even sending it to Google Proceed (a great app for shopping lists)—Google Assistant stores its shopping lists on a website: shoppinglist.google.com . This is an odd selection that isn't as intuitive. It requires you to leave the Google Domicile app or add items using vocalization commands.

But Google shopping lists are like shooting fish in a barrel enough to employ in one case you're on the website. We particularly like that you can choose specific items on Google Shopping Listing and go a helpful photo. It's a strong visual reminder, something Alexa only does with sponsored items or in the suggestions section.

Using Google Go on with Google Banana

It's possible to add shopping listing items to Google Keep with voice commands if you create a list in the app and give a specific name. It works equally long as you don't have the same list names on the Google shopping list site. Information technology doesn't have the helpful photos or categories, but doesn't require the website.

You can view all of your Google Assistant lists and notes at assistant.google.com/lists/mainview.

All-time existent-time linguistic communication translation: Google Banana

In terms of sheer wow factor, Google Banana's ability to translate conversations betwixt ii languages is hard to top.

You lot simply enquire Google to aid y'all speak a detail language or to turn on interpreter mode, and it does the balance. It's not as fluid equally actually speaking the other language since people need to break between phrases to allow Google time to translate, just it'due south incredible to accept this feature.

While interpreter manner supports many languages , at that place'southward still room to grow. This feature works on smartphones (48 languages) and smart speakers (32 languages).

Unique capabilities

Multitasking: Google Assistant

Google Assistant can handle upward to three deportment in a single voice control. All yous have to practise is say "and" between each request. Saying "Hey Google, turn off the lamp and lock the door" is much faster than making carve up requests similar on Alexa.

Location triggers: Amazon Alexa

Alexa routines tin can trigger based on a location. This helps control all kinds of devices and services, similar starting a Spotify playlist when you go habitation from work. Yous tin can also get reminders near picking upwardly tomatoes at your preferred grocery store.

You lot tin can add as many locations equally you similar by using the settings menu in the Alexa app. This is bully for helping Alexa know where to bound into activeness when you lot want to do something.

Dynamic voice tones: Amazon Alexa

Alexa recently gained the ability to adopt different vocal tones to match the emotions in news articles and user interactions. It tin can tell if you're happy or sad and reacts accordingly.

Our experience was a mixed bag. Alexa sounds more than sympathetic than Google, but not as confident. Still, we suppose emotional sensitivity is better than the jerky confidence backside Google Assistant'southward voice.

Similarities: Google Banana vs. Amazon Alexa

Google Assistant and Alexa are both great options for a phonation banana—specially for practical tasks similar setting timers, smart dwelling controls, listening to music, and checking the weather condition. Here are categories where they're neck to neck.

Vocalization controls

Vocalisation controls are the chief selling signal of virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa, Samsung'due south Bixby, Google Assistant, and Apple tree's Siri. Entire swathes of the internet are abuzz nearly which system answers questions better and what skills they have.

Yet, there's an unspoken dismissal of the core things most folks apply virtual assistants for:

Timers, reminders, and alarms
News and weather
Smart home controls
Music

In practice, there'due south very little brand differentiation for the things you'll do near often with voice controls.

The but real difference is how voice search answers questions, with Alexa usually offering briefer answers and Google providing more detail. Fifty-fifty and then, you'll likely go a satisfactory respond on most questions as long equally you're not earthworks too deep into specifics.

For example, both Google Banana and Alexa know who stole the most career bases in Major League Baseball (Rickey Henderson), simply they can't tell you who did it in 2017 (Dee Gordon).

Why does this happen? It'south considering vox assistants accept to cull one answer within a few seconds. That quick turnaround doesn't allow time to browse every single website on a topic, even with the processing powerhouse involved. In these cases, yous're better off whipping out your smartphone to find the best information.

Nonetheless, wait this to change as voice assistants get smarter and faster. Who knows what they'll be capable of in five years?

Timers, reminders, and alarms

You tin can ask Google and Alexa to set reminders, timers, and alarms quite easily:

"Remind me to selection up the domestic dog from the groomer."
"Set a timer for 5 minutes."
"Set an alert for 7:00 a.m."

Want to brand reservations at a restaurant or order food for pickup? This is possible too, though you might have to set a preferred service like Grubhub or DoorDash.

Entertainment

Well-nigh popular music and video services work with both platforms, though at that place are some pocket-size differences in the option of brands. Honestly, if you prefer Amazon Music or YouTube Music, so you should choose the vocalization banana that works with information technology.

Check out our breakdown of compatible amusement services to learn what works with each banana.

	Google Assistant	Amazon Alexa
Music services	YouTube Music Apple Music Deezer (paid just) iHeartRadio Pandora SiriusXM Spotify TuneIn	Amazon Music Apple tree Music Deezer iHeartRadio JioSaavn Pandora SiriusXM Spotify Tidal TuneIn Vevo
Video services	Google TV YouTube Disney+ HBO Max Hulu Netflix Paramount+ Starz Sling TV Tubi TV Viki	Prime Video Burn Boob tube HBO Max (Burn down Boob tube but) Hulu NBC Netflix Tubi Television

While looking through Alexa's video skills, we didn't find native support for as many popular streaming services if you're using an Repeat Show. Information technology seems the best way to watch other services using Alexa is to get a Fire Idiot box streaming device for your Television set, which offers more streaming integrations than Google.

It took a few years, but Google Assistant finally supports Netflix on Google Nest Hub smart displays. Previously, it was simply possible to stream Netflix on a Chromecast device.

Multiple accounts

Alexa and Google Home each support up to vi user accounts, though Google handles its accounts much ameliorate than Alexa. For Google, you can add anyone to your home for free every bit long equally they have a Google account. This includes supervised accounts that y'all create for children using Google Family Link.

For Amazon, you can add i other adult with an Amazon account to your Alexa household and up to four accounts for children. Unfortunately, information technology costs extra to get Amazon accounts for children because you need to subscribe to Amazon FreeTime Unlimited.

To be off-white, neither voice assistant requires more than one user business relationship to start answering questions and controlling smart home devices. But you miss out on things similar personalized reminders and access to your meticulously-curated Spotify playlists when you don't link multiple accounts.

Calls

Y'all can make free phone calls using Alexa and Google Assistant to anyone in your contacts list, a business, or past speaking the phone number directly. Calling also works on smart speakers and displays using Drop In (Alexa) and Google Duo.

If you have a smart brandish with a camera, and so Alexa uses Skype for video calls, while Google Duo is the equivalent on Nest Hub Max.

Intercoms

Yous can use smart speakers and displays as intercoms for Google and Alexa. The bones intercom command for both systems is "announce" or "broadcast," though Google has actress options like "shout" and "tell everyone." Now yous can tell the kids to come down for dinner or let everyone know yous're running late.

Winner: Google Assistant

There are plenty of differences between Google Assistant and Alexa, but they ultimately accomplish like operation when it comes to tasks you'll use every day.

Still, Google Banana's smart displays and access to Google'southward treasure trove of information get in a better digital assistant. Only Amazon Alexa steals the spotlight on speaker quality and smart abode integration.

If yous're interested, nosotros have a lot more to say about these companies. Check out our related manufactures below to explore what they can do and meet our favorite devices for each.

How we decided: Google Domicile vs. Amazon Alexa

Before comparing Amazon Alexa and Google Banana direct, we looked at over a dozen reviews covering this subject and asked what was missing.

We institute plenty of articles that summarize what each platform tin can (or can't) do, but many skimmed over how well each does basic tasks. Nosotros besides didn't see very much data about how these platforms leverage their smartphone apps. As a result, our review takes a different arroyo.

We tested over a dozen features to make certain they work using a Google Nest Hub and an Amazon Echo Show. We chose these two devices because they cover the gamut of what each brand can practice. If you desire to find out more near our review process, head over to our testing methodology .

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