Amazon Alexa vs. Google Home: Which is the Best Assistant

Get to know all about the several aspects of Amazon Alexa vs Google Home to identify the one which best suits your requirements:

Recently, smart technology has become a hot topic for simplifying your home life. You may wish to add simple security features, such as weather updates and timers, or you may wish to have more sophisticated security features, such as adjusting the lighting.

However, the most challenging part is getting your devices online and ensuring they respond to voice commands.

In this situation, smart home platforms such as Amazon Alexa or Google Home might prove useful.

Compare Alexa Vs. Google Home

You can use your phone or tablet to control smart plugs and appliances using spoken commands. Alexa and Google can perform a wide range of functions on your behalf. For example, Alexa can arm your camera or turn on your reading light, Google can turn on your reading light, and many others.

Amazon Alexa vs. Google Home – which platform interests you the most?

Well, if you are aware of the advantages and disadvantages of each smart device, i.e. Alexa Vs Google Home, then you will be able to make a more informed decision.

Therefore, this article serves to assist you in selecting the option that best suits your needs. We will cover several aspects of Amazon Alexa vs Google Home to gain a better understanding of how they work.

Let’s explore the article on Alexa Vs Google Home in detail!

Google Home

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Google Home was launched more than a decade ago. And since 2016, when Google launched its first smart speaker in the United States, it has been developing and producing smart speakers.

Google Home speakers are voice-activated wireless speakers similar to Amazon Echo devices, allowing users to access Google services using simple voice commands. The product is a voice-activated smart speaker powered by Google Assistant.

As a virtual assistant, Google Assistant is integrated with a wide range of third-party services as well as Google’s products. This enables users to enjoy a seamless, touchless experience.

Google’s smart home hub, Google Home, can control smart products such as Nest thermostats, Chromecasts, and Nest Cams. Essentially, the hub is a personal assistant that responds to your commands. All you need to do is say the word and the hub will take care of the rest.

The hub plays music and can perform routines, control smart home appliances, manage tasks, make phone calls, create recipes, set reminders, and display other features. It can also play music synchronized across multiple speakers.

Pros and Cons Analysis

Pros:

• Design Aesthetics: There is something very pleasing about the design of this speaker since it does not stand out or appear to be a speaker on its own. It is versatile enough to match most home décor styles.
• An Assistant that talks: You can also ask Google Assistant follow-up questions based on context. For example, if you ask about the weather and receive a response, you might ask, “What about tomorrow?” The device responds appropriately.
• Using Google’s Knowledge Graph: One thing that sets Google Home apart from other smart home devices is its access to Google’s Knowledge Graph. It can access millions of facts and answer any query Google can answer on a desktop. Thus, Google’s voice-activated devices and apps have better responses.
• Recognize Different Voices: Google Home recognizes different family members talking, which means that they will be able to get personalized results a lot more often.

Cons:

• No Smart Home Features: Google Home has some smart home functionality, but it is not as compatible with other smart home devices.
• Always need to plug in: You can’t charge the device when it’s not plugged in, so finding a place for it in your house can be tricky.
• Missing control buttons: The device’s top has only a small number of buttons, and a sensor controls the volume, making it a bit difficult to control.

Tips for Using Google Home

#1) Use a wake word

“OK Google” and “Hey Google” are two of the wake words that activate Google. However, these two phrases are not customizable for Google Assistant. You do not have to repeat the wake words repeatedly to continue a conversation with Google Assistant.

#2) Adjust Hey Google’s sensitivity

Adjust Google Home and Nest sensitivity to respond more or less to “Hey Google” wake words. Google Home’s Assistant Settings feature lets you adjust the “Hey Google” sensitivity. Open the app, select the Home tab in the bottom left corner, and tap the profile icon.

#3) Make a Home member

You can have up to six users on Google Home, and each can control anything connected to your Home and train Google to recognize their voices for personalized information, such as work schedules and commute times.

Go to Google Home -> Click on the Home tab in the bottom left of the screen -> Tap the Add icon (top left) -> Tap Add person -> Type the person’s name or email address -> Confirm it.

#4) View your watch and search your history

Click on the profile icon in the upper right corner and tap on My Activity to view your Google Home search and watch history. You can see everything Google Home/Nest has recorded on a website. You can sort Nest/Home devices by date, play them back, or delete them.

#5) Don’t let Google forget you

The next time you ask Google where your keys are, it will remember you left them on the kitchen hook or your passport in the top drawer.

Just say to Google, “Hey, Google, my keys are in the bedroom,” and then ask, “Hey, Google, where are my keys?”

Amazon Alexa

The technological revolution has been sparked by the development of intelligent voice services such as Alexa, changing how people interact with their devices. Amazon’s Alexa is becoming smarter every day, making it an essential part of any smart home.

In the same way as Google Assistant, Alexa serves as your virtual assistant, answering questions and providing you with music. With the Amazon Echo, you can now access Alexa, a voice-activated assistant that can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection.

Most Alexa-enabled devices are powered by Alexa, which recognizes and answers queries in real-time. The Alexa app lets you control your music, stream podcasts, set alarms, listen to audiobooks, get weather updates, and stay on top of traffic, among other things. Therefore, this voice service goes beyond simple tasks.

Alexa’s skills can be customized to suit your preferences and preferences, so you can do whatever you desire. Alexa has something special about her that differentiates her from other virtual assistants. Alexa can assist you with planning dinners, tracking Amazon orders, asking questions over the internet, and controlling other Alexa-enabled devices.

Pros and Cons Analysis

Pros:

• Easy to use: When it comes to Google Nest Vs Alexa, you can use Amazon Alexa anywhere and anytime to make your life easier. You can speak directly to Alexa when searching for something on her, so don’t worry if you cannot type.
• Online shopping with Alexa is awesome: Developed by Amazon, this product makes finding products online easy, sifting through items, and ordering what you want possible. With Amazon Alexa, you can assemble your shopping list whenever and wherever you prefer.
• Music that never stops: With Alexa, you can communicate and listen to music anywhere. Thanks to Alexa, your music selection just got even better. It is not an exaggeration to say that you can use it all day.
• Alarms and timers: Amazon Alexa may appear small, but it can perform these tasks. A timer can be set and used easily with Alexa. Amazon Alexa has this advantage, which is worth mentioning.
• A reminder: Management of To-Do lists is one of the most challenging tasks you face every day. Alexa users consider this to be one of their favorite features. By setting reminders, you can ensure that your to-do list remains current.

Cons:

• Hearing problems: The possibility exists that Alexa may not be able to listen to your command and will substitute something else. In this case, you will be frustrated if you cannot find the necessary information.
• An unexpected drop in connection: Sometimes, you will receive a message saying “I’m sorry, I lost connectivity with your phone.” in response to your request. If you have more than one device using the same WiFi network, this can be a problematic situation. There may also be an intermittent problem with Alexa’s connection to your clock.
• Sometimes Alexa won’t respond: Occasionally, Amazon Alexa cannot recognize your voice due to too much background noise. Please ensure you are away from a noisy environment when communicating with Alexa.

Suggested Reading =>> Fix Alexa not Connecting to Wi-Fi Issues

Tips for Using Alexa

#1) Disable the “Alexa” wake-up command

Whenever you say “Alexa,” Echo listens. Echo listens to you, considers what you say, and responds. If you don’t want Alexa to talk, you can mute her by pressing the top button and pushing it again to unmute her. It’s easy, and it usually glows red when you’re muted.

#2) Create a custom news or flash briefing

Whenever you ask Alexa, “Alexa, what’s new?” or “Alexa, play my flash briefing,” you’ll get a catch-up on the news and weather. The Alexa app lets you easily change services. All you need to do is:

Go to More -> Settings -> News

That’s how you find out where the news is coming from. You can also customize it accordingly. Add more content if you wish to change its appearance.

#3) Follow your commute’s traffic.

Add your work address to More > Settings > Commute, and any stops you make along the way, like school drop off. Make Alexa the first thing you ask when you wake up if you want traffic updates.

#3) Sync your Echo calendar

The Alexa app has a calendar section to view your calendar details. There’s an option to add Google, Microsoft, and Apple. You can ask Alexa what’s on your calendar, your appointments, or what’s happening at a specific time.

#4) Make Echo a security system.

The Alexa Guard feature allows Alexa to monitor your home while you’re away by listening to unwanted sounds. Activate the Guard by navigating to Alexa > More > Settings, then selecting Guard at the bottom.

You’ll see instructions on the screen. Guard Plus from Alexa monitors your home and alerts authorities if anything suspicious happens. It costs $50 per year and is only for US residents.

Digital Assistant Performance comparison of Google Assistant vs Alexa

As per Statista, Digital Assistant Performance comparison conducted in the year 2019, Google Assistant remained on top with near-to-perfect accuracy understanding 100% of the questions correctly and answering 93% correctly. This test consisted of an 800 Qs set.

Alexa vs. Google Assistant: Key Differences

Price

Both Amazon and Google offer smart speakers and digital displays compatible with their respective voice assistants. The smallest smart speakers from each brand are the Echo Dot and Nest Mini, which feature Alexa and Google Assistant.

There are currently three generations of the Amazon Echo Dot. A third-generation model costs $42.37 and a fourth-generation model is priced at $60.43. A Google Nest Mini costs $35.10 less than Alexa’s third-generation speaker.

Moreover, these smart speakers may be purchased at reduced prices throughout the year. For example, Black Friday and Prime Day are two occasions during which the original price was lowered.

Overall, Alexa has more choices and thus more variation in price.

Smart Home Devices

Alexa is believed to support more smart home devices than Google Assistant. Amazon’s Alexa allows you to control many smart home devices, such as security cameras and plugs.

However, adding new devices to Google Assistant is very simple, and the voice assistant works with many famous brands and Google’s own smart home devices.

Both voice assistants can be used together to create automation, including triggering multiple devices simultaneously. For example, your home security camera can turn on smart lights when motion is detected outside your residence.

You can create routines using Alexa or Google Home, although Alexa allows you to customize routines more than Google Assistant. You can automate more tasks by connecting services such as IFTTT and Audible.

Moreover, Alexa Hunch allows Alexa to act proactively by controlling your smart home gadgets based on the actions you have taken previously.

Which one Gives you more Privacy

Unlike other devices, voice assistants always listen for your wake words or phrases. If your speech is not properly processed, potential users will likely be concerned about their privacy.

These factors may prevent some individuals from using voice assistants.

As both Amazon and Google claim to take privacy seriously, they provide supplementary apps or voice assistants with the ability to erase recordings.

Moreover, if you use a smart speaker or display, you can mute it by asking or pressing a button.

Languages

Smart speakers with Google Assistant are available in several languages, including Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish. You can’t get Google Assistant everywhere and some languages only work with smart speakers.

You can ask Google Assistant in two languages simultaneously, but you can’t switch between them. Google Assistant also has an interpreter function that can translate phrases into other languages.

Alexa is available in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Spanish, and some territories offer dual-language support.

For example, voice assistants are available in Hindi and Spanish in the US, which can also be translated for you. However, we found that it could have been smoother and more knowledgeable than Google Assistant.

General Knowledge

Voice assistants can understand and answer general questions with little rephrasing or double-checking. According to general observations, Alexa provides quality answers more quickly than other digital assistants.

While Google Assistant offers quick and accurate answers, it often suggests reading information first or displaying the answer.

Alexa can provide a precise answer regarding when Game of Thrones last season was, whereas Google Assistant will provide an overview. Therefore, Alexa has an edge over Google Assistant regarding general knowledge.

Cooking and Food

You can also use Google Assistant and Alexa in the kitchen. Both voice assistants can find recipes and read them aloud while showing them on a smart display. Both of these devices can also repeat steps and ingredient lists during the cooking process.

If you still use a kitchen timer, set it with a voice assistant, so it does not get dirty. Apart from setting multiple timers for you and naming them for you, Alexa allows you to check and stop them without requiring you to use another smart speaker or smart display, which Google Assistant does not provide.

Google Assistant and Alexa are available in the US, UK, and Australia. Currently, Google’s food ordering service is only available in the US.

Native and Third-Party Devices

Both platforms offer speakers and displays from third-party vendors, but we recommend that you check out the best Amazon Echo and Google Assistant devices. Both companies generally charge similar prices, but Amazon offers better deals during sales.

Google Assistant is compatible with most Android and Wear OS devices, as well as Chrome and Android Auto. On the other hand, Alexa must be activated or installed on non-Amazon devices regularly.

Although Alexa offers a greater range of third-party speakers than Sonos gear, you may switch between Assistant and Sonos gear if you wish. While third-party smart displays are rare, Facebook’s Portal devices support Alexa and Lenovo manufacturer’s Assistant-enabled displays, such as the Smart Clock 2.

Many TV models come with built-in microphones, eliminating the need for a remote or separate speaker. It is recommended to use an add-on streamer with Alexa and Assistant.

Music Streaming

It does not matter whether you have Alexa or Google Home, you can always enjoy better music listening. In the meantime, if you are wondering what Google Home vs Amazon Echo has to offer, you can check out the following list:

Here’s what Alexa will play:

• Podcasts/Apple Music
• Stream music from Amazon
• Spotify
• iHeartRadio
• Tidal
• SiriusXM

If you live in a particular area, you can also listen to music from other services.

With Google Home, you can play:

• YouTube Music
• Apple Music
• Spotify
• iHeartRadio
• TuneIn

You may not be able to access some music services on Google Home, depending on where you live. If you say the right wake word, any device can stream music.

Take the case of having both Amazon Alexa and Google Home installed. Then you can use them seamlessly, mainly through third-party apps.

Alexa vs Google Home: Comparison Chart

Google Vs Alexa: What’s the Difference?

#1) Basics

For Google Nest Vs Amazon Echo, a Google Home speaker is an intelligent wireless speaker that is voice-activated and powered by Google Assistant, Google’s proprietary virtual assistant that integrates with other Google products.

Meanwhile, Alexa, the voice behind millions of Alexa-enabled devices, understands and responds to your questions. With Alexa, Amazon has created a virtual assistant powered by artificial intelligence that revolutionizes how people interact with technology.

#2) Smart hub

Although Google Home and Amazon Echo may look very similar from the surface, the story is quite different, especially regarding smart home devices. There’s no doubt that both are great smart home hubs, but Google Assistant is the winner in mechanics since it comes built into every Android device.

However, Alexa is a market leader in smart home devices and supports a much more comprehensive range of products than Google Assistant.

#3) A routine

Voice commands let you do multiple things with Google Routines. Routines make automating tasks easy, and you can tailor them to your liking and save time by directing your voice assistant accordingly.

You can assign multiple voice commands to a Google task, reducing your daily work. You can also add custom commands to routines with Alexa, but you can only assign one per routine.

#4) The skills

The two virtual assistants, i.e., Amazon Echo Vs Google Home, are both competent, but Amazon has twice the number of skills as Google, and because of their out-of-the-box abilities, they have more skills than actions.

The Alexa skill set is constantly gaining third-party integrations, thereby edging out Google Assistant in popularity. The Alexa skill set includes skills for Games, Business & Finance, Education & Reference, Trivia & Accessories, and Smart Home, based on your preferences and interests. There’s no limit to how much info you can learn.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q #1) Are Google Home and Alexa compatible?

Answer: Perhaps you are wondering, “Can Alexa Vs Google Home work together?” Or, “Can the Echo Dot be added to the Google Home app?” That’s it. Alexa can also work with Google Home and Google Mini too.

Connecting these devices is easier if they’re all under one command center. This way, you can control different features on each device with the voice commands you like.

Q #2) Can Google Home be connected to Alexa?

Answer: You can easily connect all your devices with apps like IFTTT and Yeti. You don’t have to operate each device separately with these apps.

You can still pair Alexa with your Google Home by following these steps:

• You can pair Google Home with Alexa using “Pair Bluetooth” on each device.
• Go to the Alexa app and click Devices.
• Click the Add Device or the plus “+” button in the top-right corner to add a new device.
• Scroll down and select Other Devices. Go to Discover Devices.
• You can connect via Bluetooth if Alexa recognizes your Google Home. This may take a few minutes.

Q #3) How can Google Home outperform Alexa?

Answer: When we talk about Google Home versus Amazon Echo, both share many similarities, but they also differ considerably. Google Home can handle multiple commands and answer questions accurately and systematically, making it superior to Alexa-enabled devices.

Q #4) What is the launch date of Alexa and Google Home?

Answer: As for Alexa Vs Google Home, there was a two-year gap between Google Home and Alexa. The Echo, the first Alexa-enabled device from Amazon, was released in November 2014. Meanwhile, Google Home was released for the first time in November 2016.

Alexa vs. Google Home: Which to Choose

Conclusion

It is no secret that both Alexa and Google Home offer quality voice-enabled personal assistants and are among the top players in the smart home category. However, they do have some differences, particularly when it comes to smart homes.

The truth is that Google Assistant is smarter than any other virtual assistant out there because Google powers it. However, Alexa is still a very useful virtual assistant, and it is the intelligence that powers millions of devices built with Alexa.

The integration of smart home devices with Alexa narrowly edges Google’s because more devices are supported, and thousands of third-party integrations enhance the seamless integration of Alexa.

Further Reading =>> Noteworthy IoT Devices and Smart Products