Full Answer
What are the alternatives to Alexa and Google Home?
Alexa-powered Google Home Alternatives. 1. Amazon Echo. Echo is a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled smart speaker powered by Amazon’s voice-based intelligent personal assistant, Alexa. It was the very first device from the company to have been launched with Alexa-based voice controls built right in, and remains one of the very best smart speakers ...
What's better Google or Alexa?
Google's voice assistant is better at understanding what you mean without giving a really specific command, while Alexa does more. Aesthetically, both companies put out great looking products, so you can't go wrong.
What smart home devices are compatible with Alexa?
The best Alexa compatible devices you can buy today
- Amazon Fire TV Cube. Weight: 16.4 oz ... ...
- Philips Hue White LED Starter Kit. Wi-Fi bridge required?: There are a lot of smart lights that work with Alexa, but we think the best Alexa compatible devices in ...
- Lifx Mini. ...
- Wemo WiFi Smart Plug. ...
- August WiFi Smart Lock. ...
- Ecobee 5th Generation Thermostat. ...
- Arlo Q. ...
- LG CX OLED TV. ...
- Sonos Beam. ...
- Simplisafe Essentials. ...
What is the difference between Alexa and Google?
Difference Between Google Home and Alexa Google Home is a family of voice-enabled smart home speakers developed and created by Google and powered by the Google Assistant, the company’s AI powered personal virtual assistant. Google Assistant is your personal Google that is always ready to help. Alexa is the Amazon’s answer to Google Assistant and the brain behind the millions of
Which one is better Alexa or Google home?
For a better virtual assistant and smart displays, we think Google's the one to beat, but Alexa dominates in terms of music quality and smart home prowess.
Is Alexa the same as Google Mini?
With advanced Bluetooth audio support, voice control, and a 3.5mm audio jack, the Echo Dot is a low-cost Alexa controller. In contrast, the Google Nest Mini has three far-field microphones for voice detection, as well as a 1.57-inch speaker driver. There's Bluetooth support, but the device lacks an audio port.
Who is better than Alexa or Google Assistant?
Alexa vs Google Assistant FAQs If you're talking entirely about first-party hardware, the answer is Alexa. You can pair a couple of Echo speakers and/or an Echo Sub directly with a Fire TV device. If you use a couple of Echo Studios, you can even get Dolby Atmos.
What is difference Google and Alexa?
So, what is the difference between Google Home and Alexa? The most literal answer to this question is that Google Home is a smart speaker powered by Google Assistant while Alexa is the virtual smart assistant behind Amazon's Echo smart speaker.
Which Alexa Should I buy 2022?
Best Amazon Alexa Devices of 2022Amazon Echo (fourth-gen) Best Alexa device overall (and best smart speaker) See at Amazon.Wyze Cam v3 (2020) Best smart camera. See at Amazon.Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd gen) Best smart display. See at Amazon.August Wi-Fi Smart Lock. Best lock. ... Amazon Smart Thermostat. Best smart thermostat.
Which home assistant is best?
If you're looking for the best smart home hub and assistant, CNET has recognized Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa as two of the leading options. Both support thousands of devices, so you're bound to find an option to fit your needs.
How much is Alexa monthly?
Is there a monthly fee for Amazon Alexa? No, there's no monthly fee charged for Amazon Alexa. All you need is a stable WiFi connection to make your Echo work. However, having an Amazon Prime account gives you various benefits of using the Echo.
Which voice assistant is the best?
The best voice assistantAmazon Alexa. Best for device compatibility. View now.Google Assistant. Best at responding. View now.Apple Siri. Most popular mobile voice assistant. View now.
Does Google Mini work with Alexa?
To put it simply, yes. You can use Alexa and Google Home or Google Mini under the same roof. The most straightforward way to connect these devices is to have them all under the same command center, which we'll mention later.
What is Google's version of Alexa called?
Google AssistantCalled Voice Match (Google Assistant) and Voice Profiles (Alexa), both voice assistants can recognize up to six different people without a hitch so that you can access more personal services.
What does a Google Mini do?
Meet the Nest Mini. The little speaker that's a huge help around the house. Play your go-to music, podcasts and more. Stream your favorite audio content on the improved speaker and create a home audio system with other Nest speakers.
What does an Alexa do?
It is capable of voice interaction, music playback, making to-do lists, setting alarms, streaming podcasts, playing audiobooks, and providing weather, traffic, sports, and other real-time information, such as news. Alexa can also control several smart devices using itself as a home automation system.
What music services can I use with Google Nest Mini?
With Google Nest Mini, there are fewer compatible music services sources, but you can use Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, Deezer, and Google Play music, among other options. Both brands continue to add services. Winner: Amazon Echo Dot.
How many mics does the Nest Mini have?
Although the Nest Mini only has three mics, it does a superior job at picking up voice commands, even from a distance.
Does Echo Dot work with Google Nest Mini?
Google Nest Mini supports microphone muting via a rear switch and features touch-sensitive volume controls on either side of the device, all of which work well.
Is the Echo Dot a low cost controller?
With advanced Bluetooth audio support, voice control, and a 3.5mm audio jack, the Echo Dot is a low-cost Alexa controller. In contrast, the Google Nest Mini has three far-field microphones for voice detection, as well as a 1.57-inch speaker driver. There’s Bluetooth support, but the device lacks an audio port. ...
Is Google a competitor of Amazon?
Google and Amazon are well-matched competitors in the smart speaker space , with both boasting a slew of feature upgrades, device integrations, and a robust hardware lineup for any budget. The Nest Mini, an upgrade of the original Google Home Mini from 2017, is a great companion device that can also act as an independent assistant, with the same Google Assistant controls that larger Nest devices leverage.
Does Amazon Echo support Spotify?
However, Amazon has begun to support more services on Alexa like Spotify Premium, Pandora, iHeartRadio, TuneIn Radio, and even Apple Music.
Does Alexa work with Google Assistant?
Or, they might seemingly work for everyone else except for you. It can be a real frustration with both Amazon and Google services.
What is the difference between Echo Dot and Home Mini?
The biggest difference between the Echo Dot and the Home Mini are the platforms that enable them to work their magic. The Echo Dot runs on Amazon’s Alexa platform, and the Home Mini runs on Google Assistant. If you already own devices that support either platform, the decision is easy: Stick with the platform you already chose, ...
Which is better: Echo Dot or Bluetooth?
Alternatively, if you already have a set of speakers you like, the Echo Dot is the better option because it can connect wirelessly to any Bluetooth speaker. It also has a 3.5 mm output jack to connect to a non-wireless audio system with a cable.
Can you control the Home Mini?
The Home Mini also lets you control it by tapping, but the device has no obvious visible buttons, so you have to know what you’re doing. This may not be important after you’ve lived with the Home Mini for a while, but the knowledge is helpful when guests come over.
Can I cast my JBL speaker to my home mini?
However, if you have a Chromecast speaker, such as the JBL Playlist, or Chromecast Audio dongles connected to a sound system, you can cast the Home Mini’s sound output to that speaker via Wi-Fi. Casting (that is, streaming via Chromecast) is better than nothing, but it’s not as commonplace as using Bluetooth or a cable.
1 Google Assistant vs Alexa – Battle of the voice assistants
Both Alexa and Google assistants are heavyweights in the smart home arena. Choosing the best among the two is a tall order, to say the least. Amazon initially had the advantage of having a head start in the market. However, Google has been covering significant ground countering Amazon’s dominance of the smart assistant/speaker scene.
2 Google speakers
The Google Nest Mini is the first stop for anyone looking to try smart speakers for the first time. As it come with a price tag that’s under $50. And don’t let its price fool you. Despite costing less, it has similar functionality as Google Home Mini. It has better speakers, additional microphones and an in-house learning chip.
3 Google Displays
Its primary use is as a display. Using your voice you can see your photos, ask for help from Google Assistant and virtually control all components in your smart home. It has an ambient light sensor to adjust the display/brightness better.
4 Google Home Security
Nest’s wide range of security products is now compatible with Google Assistant. This is after Google acquired Nest in January 2014. This means you can connect your Nest doorbell, cameras, alarm system, and even thermostat to your Google Home app.
5 Google Home – Smart Home
To set up your Smart Home, you’ll first have to add compatible devices to your Google Home app. Once connected, you can control the lights, temperature using the thermostat settings and ask Google Assistant to cast music or video. You can even get real-time alerts in case of a fire or burglary at your home.
7 Alexa speakers
First released in March 2014, Amazon Echo came out at first as a smart speaker. Over time, it evolved into a sort of smart assistant, smart hub hybrid. The Amazon Echo is a speaker that will play your music, while having the functionality of Alexa. So you can ask Alexa to call someone, ask for an Uber and even order some select items on Amazon.
8 Alexa display
The Eco show was first released in June 2017. It came with a 10-inch touch-responsive screen and better speakers. It features all of Echo home capabilities, with Alexa enabled. You can control your connected smart devices using voice commands or even by touch.
Which is more accurate, Google or Alexa?
Google Assistant is technically more popular (it's installed on most Android phones) and more accurate than Amazon's Alexa voice assistant.
Which is better, Google Nest Mini or Echo Dot?
To break up what would nearly be a tie, it's important to consider the shapes of the devices. The Nest Mini lies flat against whatever surface you put it on, while the Echo Dot stands at attention in a sort of dome shape. If you're looking for a device you can easily camouflage, Google Nest Mini is your best bet. If you're looking for something more bold, an Echo Dot might be the better option.
How much does the Nest Hub Max cost?
As for the larger smart home hubs, the Nest Hub Max costs $229 and the Echo Show 10 costs $249. Amazon, however, regularly drops the prices of its Alexa-enabled devices like the Echo, Echo Dot, and Echo Show.
What colors does Google Nest come in?
It comes in four colors: chalk (a grayish white), charcoal (black), sky (light blue), and coral. Nest Audio, which is basically an extra-large smart speaker, comes in a few additional colors, like sage and sand.
Which is better, Google or Amazon?
The winner: It's a tie. Amazon has a wider array of devices, so it has the upper hand, but Google has better designs and color options for the devices that it does have in its lineup.
Does Alexa answer questions more frequently than Google?
According to an April 2019 report from market research firm Perficient Digital, Alexa answers your questions incorrectly more frequently than Google Assistant. The report found Google Assistant attempted to answer nearly 70 percent of the questions it was asked and responded correctly nearly 90 percent of the time.
Can Alexa play Spotify?
However, Amazon forces users to either subscribe to Prime and use Amazon Music to rock out, or you must connect a Spotify subscription. There's no way to tell Alexa to play something on YouTube or from your music library, unlike Google Home.
Alexa vs Google Home
Alexa is available on smartwatches, phones, tablets, FireTV, and Windows PCs.
Amazon Echo devices with Alexa
Before diving into the differences between the two platforms, we review the devices that Amazon markets with Alexa.
Google Nest devices
Surely, Amazon’s generous variety with its Echo has caught your attention. If you are more inclined toward Google devices, the Google Nest (formerly known as Google Home), you will quickly notice less choice.
Which is better?
After everything analyzed, you may already have a clearer idea of which devices are best suited to your needs. But which one is the best? Next, we analyze some issues you should know to make the best decision.
Design
Both the Google Home Mini and the Amazon Echo Dot are short, puck-shaped speakers, and they're more or less the same size, too. The overall look, however, is slightly different — while the Google Home Mini has a fabric covering over the top of the device, the Amazon Echo Dot has a fabric covering around the side and a simple plastic top.
Set-up process
Setting up the Google Home Mini and the Amazon Echo Dot is a simple process. To set up the Google Home Mini, simply download the Google Home app and plug the speaker in, after which it should pop up for setup right away within the app. Then follow the on-screen instructions to connect it to your Wi-Fi network.
Sound quality
The Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot are speakers, but they both emphasize their smart features a little more than sound quality. After all, if you're truly looking for high-quality sound, then you're probably better off investing in one of the larger smart speakers, like the Google Home or Home Max, or Amazon Echo or Echo Plus.
Smart features
Of course, perhaps the most important thing to consider for either of these speakers is the smart features they have on offer. The Google Home Mini comes with Google Assistant, the digital assistant that Google has been working on for some time now. The Amazon Echo Dot, on the other hand, features Amazon Alexa.
The bottom line
Neither of these two speakers is really better than the other — it just depends on which smart ecosystem you're already using. Generally speaking, the Amazon Echo Dot is probably the better option for most people, but if you use an Android phone and are pretty plugged into Google's ecosystem, then the Google Home Mini may be the better way to go.
What is the best Alexa speaker?
The best Amazon Alexa smart speakers for most people are the fourth-generation Echo and Echo Dot. But if you want more options, we have other favorites for you.
Which is better: Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub?
We like both the Amazon Echo Show (2nd Gen) and Google Nest Hub Max for their large, crisp screens—but like all smart speakers, what you ultimately choose should depend on the apps and smart-home devices you already use. For example, we think the Echo Show does a better job of integrating with smart-home devices and has better video services. The Nest Hub makes more sense for avid home cooks and power users of Google apps like Calendar, Photos, YouTube, and others. You can read our guide to the best smart displays for a more detailed look and help in deciding which display best meets your needs.
How much does an Amazon Echo Dot cost?
The newest version of the Amazon Echo Dot (4th generation) has the same orb-like shape as the new Echo, and at just $50 it’s half the price. But it isn’t as powerful, and it doesn’t include Zigbee wireless support. We’ll update this guide once we’ve had a chance to test it.
Is a smart speaker good?
Smart speakers and displays are good for anyone who wants a digital assistant to play music, answer silly questions, deliver news reports, and turn the lights off, pretty please. We’ve tested the major voice-activated smart speakers and displays, and for most people the only ones worth considering are Alexa and Google Assistant devices. If you’re new to smart speakers, the Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini (2nd Generation) are low-cost yet full-featured devices, making them great for trying out these platforms.
Can Alexa read news?
Alexa will capably give you a weather forecast, read your customized news-flash briefing (choose from more than 2,000 news and information sources ), tell jokes, help out with math problems, add events to your Google or Outlook calendar (and read them back to you on request), and handle a host of other simple requests. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can order products from Amazon directly through Alexa.
Does Alexa work with Spotify?
If you opt for a different type of speaker, both Alexa and Google Assistant will work fine with Apple Music, Pandora, Spotify (though only Google Assistant devices function with the free version ), and TuneIn. If you’re a Google Play or YouTube Premium subscriber, a Google Assistant speaker is the way to go.
Can a Sonos speaker work with Alexa?
This powerful speaker can also work with a Sonos multiroom audio system and be controlled by voice using either Alexa or Google Assistant.
Specifications
Design
- When it comes to aesthetics, the two smart speakers differ in size, but are both covered with fabric and use LED lights to visually communicate. Set next to one another, it’s apparent that the new spherical shape of the Echo Dot (4th Gen) makes it look larger than the Nest Mini — nearly double its height. Despite this, it’s a refreshing design change that we appreciate. The Echo Dot …
Connectivity
- Amazon’s Echo Dot has been around much longer than Google’s Nest Mini, which has given Amazon time to build out a relatively strong ecosystem. Alexa gains more and more features like whisper mode, doorbell concierge, and Blueprints that let you make (and even publish) your own Alexa skills— and Alexa seems to learn new stuff almost every day. Alexa...
Features
- Alongside hardware connectivity, both devices can also access “skills” or “actions” that deliver enhanced features like news reports, recipes, reservation bookings, jokes, quizzes, and more. Again, the Echo Dot leads here, with a plethora of different types of skills available for the device (some of which you may actually wish to use). Google’s offering is certainly smaller at this point …
Ease of Use
- One thing you should know before purchasing either smart speaker is that both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant undergo perpetual changes. This means both devices are regularly enhanced with new features, but you may also find that commands that worked previously no longer work or might require a slightly nuanced voice instruction. Or, they might seemingly work …
Audio Output
- The fourth-generation Echo Dot has a larger driver and the sound is much better than ever before. The Nest Mini has 360-degree sound, a 40mm driver, and proprietary audio tuning software. But how do they stack up? Google Nest Mini delivers clean audio with punchy bass. You can use the equalizer to adjust the treble and bass. sure, it’s a step up from your phone’s speakers, but not a …
Smart Home Routines
- Smart home routines connect a variety of settings for smart devices under a single command. It’s a great way to prepare a smart house for the morning, set the mood for an evening dinner, get the family ready for bed, and a lot more…all you have to do is set them up. Google Assistant and Alexa both offer routine setup, so that’s no problem. Google’s version is a bit more cookie-cutter, helpf…
Shopping Capabilities
- Both the Echo Dot line and the Nest Mini line allow you to use their respective assistants to set up voice shopping capabilities. However, they approach this in significantly different ways. Alexa, via the Dot, can help you shop and add items to your shopping list. It can also make recommendations based on your questions, and help you re-order, using information from your …
Which Should You Buy?
- If you’re already invested in a smart assistant ecosystem, neither Amazon Echo Dot nor Google Nest Mini delivers compelling reasons to switch to the other side. Amazon should be celebrated for creating this compact, smart controller category with the original Amazon Echo Dot, which delivers much of the magic of its big brothers, but at a fraction of the price. It’s clear that Google’…