Virtual assistants and smart speakers are spreading to more homes thanks to easy voice controls and useful smart home compatibility. But as much as Google Assistant^? and Amazon's Alexa try to differentiate themselves from their rivals, they're getting more similar with every update.

Based on our research and testing, we think that Google Assistant and Alexa are both excellent options for a voice assistant, at least for most practical tasks like setting timers, smart home controls, listening to music, and checking the weather.

But each platform has its strengths. 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. Despite these strengths, the one you choose ultimately boils down to personal preference.

We dive into our reasoning below and break down the key similarities and differences to help you choose an assistant that best fits your lifestyle.

Before comparing Alexa and Google Assistant directly, we looked at over a dozen reviews covering this very subject and asked what was missing.

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

We tested over a dozen features to make sure 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 do. If you want to find out more about our review process, head over to our testing methodology.

Google Assistant is for folks who want a dynamite personal assistant.

It's true that Alexa boasts more third-party skills than Google Assistant. But we think that Google's emphasis on productivity makes for better core skills to help you through your day, especially if you already have a Google account. As a bonus, we really like Google Nest smart displays and Google's more substantial selection of video streaming services.

• Ultimate Guide to Google Assistant and Google Nest Products
• Outfitting Your Smart Home: Google Assistant Devices

Google has a smaller selection of smart speakers than Amazon. These speakers hold their own in terms of audio quality but overall aren't as good as Echo speakers.

• Google Nest Mini (about $50): This is an upgraded version of the Google Home Mini. It comes with better sound quality and a wall-mounting option to save space on shelves and tables.
• Google Home (about $100): The Google Home has great sound quality compared to its tiny counterpart. It's great for most living rooms and larger bedrooms.
• Google Home Max (about $300): Google brings the beat with its largest smart speaker so you can get powerful music in large family rooms where loud music thrives. But it's pricier than the comparable Echo Studio.

Google's smart displays are pleasant to use, particularly with how many video streaming services they support. It's not a perfect feature (where are you, Netflix?) but 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 not in use. This is in addition to drawing from your Google Photos collection.

• Google Nest Hub (about $130): This smart display is Google's more affordable model due to a smaller 7-inch screen and no built-in camera. We think it works great as an alarm clock for adults or a tiny TV alternative for the kids' playroom.
• Google Nest Hub Max (about $230): The Google Nest Hub Max has a large 10-inch screen—about the size of an iPad. It also 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 but works just as well for watching TV shows in the background of most medium and large rooms.

In terms of sheer wow factor, Google Assistant's ability to translate conversations between two languages is hard to top. You simply ask Google to help you speak a particular language or to turn on interpreter mode, and it does the rest. It's not as fluid as actually speaking the other language since people need to pause between phrases to allow Google time to translate, but it's incredible to have this feature.

While interpreter mode , there's still room to grow. This feature works on smartphones and smart speakers but is much more capable on a smartphone.

Google Assistant can handle up to three actions in a single voice command. All you have to do is say "and" between each request. Saying "Hey Google, turn off the lamp and lock the door" is much faster than making separate requests like on Alexa.

Amazon Alexa is for you if you want a house full of the latest smart home devices.

While we don't think that Alexa can match Google's productivity, there's no denying that it's better for building a smart home. Amazon's drive to experiment with so many devices ultimately results in more innovation.

Think about it this way: Amazon has such a large manufacturing scale that it can afford to make Alexa-enabled and without fundamentally changing its business. In contrast, Google is still a small-scale electronics manufacturer compared to what Amazon can do.

Another of Alexa's advantages is that Echo smart speakers sound so good. They generally have better audio quality and music service selection than Google speakers. Considering music is one of the most popular features of smart speaker devices, it's hard to ignore the superior sound quality.

• Ultimate Guide to Alexa and the Amazon Echo Family
• Outfitting Your Smart Home: Amazon Alexa Devices

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's more affordable than the industry-topping Sonos wireless speakers.

• (about $25): The Echo Flex plugs directly into a wall outlet and is a cheap option to add Alexa in hallways or small rooms.
• (about $50): While the Flex adds a basic smart speaker to most rooms, the Echo Dot is your starting place for better music quality.
• (about $100): As the smart speaker market grows, the Amazon Echo doesn't feel as groundbreaking as the original 2014 version. But it's still a worthwhile addition to the smart home with better music quality than most competitors in this price range.
• (about $150): The Echo Plus isn't much different than the standard Echo, except that it can control Zigbee smart devices without a hub. This powerful feature is ideal for smart homes with tons of sensors.
• (about $200): The Echo Studio is Amazon's thunderous reply to folks that want the loud, vibrant music you might find in a stereo system. It even has Dolby Atmos surround sound, which pairs great with blockbuster movies on a Fire TV streaming device.

During our research, it was surprising that Alexa's dominance with music services didn't translate into similar performance for video services on smart displays.

While these are competent devices, we ultimately preferred Google's approach (and more massive video service selection) as an easier product to use. They do have one advantage over Google smart displays: every model includes a camera for video calls.

• (about $90): The smallest Echo Show targets a lower price than Google's cheapest smart display, and the minuscule 5-inch screen makes a better alarm clock.
• (about $130): This device competes directly with the Google Nest Hub but narrowly wins because it has a built-in camera. It's great for offices and kitchens because it doesn't take up much space.
• (about $230): The Echo Show doesn't hold up as well to Google as other Echo smart displays but is a solid option thanks to built-in Zigbee device compatibility.
• (about $120): It doesn't have a built-in screen, but this smart speaker connects directly to your TV for stunning 4K movies and TV shows. It even links to other Echo smart speakers for a better TV experience than Google offers.

There are tons of similarities between Google Assistant and Alexa that make them interchangeable in many situations. Here are some examples.

Voice controls are the main selling point of virtual assistants like Amazon's Alexa, Samsung's Bixby, Google Assistant, and Apple's Siri. Entire swathes of the internet are abuzz about which system answers questions better and what skills they have.

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

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

We're not saying that you'll never do any other tasks or have an identical experience on both Google Assistant and Alexa. But in practice, there's very little difference for the things you'll do most often with voice controls.

The only real difference is how voice search answers questions, with Alexa usually offering briefer answers and Google providing more detail. Even then, you'll likely get a satisfactory answer on most questions as long as you're not digging too deep into specifics.

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

Why does this happen? It's because voice assistants have to choose one reply within a few seconds. That quick turnaround doesn't allow time to browse every single website on a topic, even with the insane processing power involved. In these cases, you're better off whipping out your smartphone to find the best information.

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

You can make free phone calls using Alexa and Google Assistant to anyone in your 亚洲区欧洲区，亚洲欧洲2017无码中文s list, a business, or by 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 display with a camera, then Alexa uses Skype for video calls, while Google Duo is the equivalent on Nest Hub Max.

The first Echo device with Alexa voice services hit the market in 2014—two full years before the Google Home speaker landed. Because of this head start, Alexa supports more smart home devices than Google. Still, most major smart home device makers like Philips Hue and Samsung SmartThings support both.

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

You'll probably use voice commands to control smart home devices more than the mobile apps from each 亚洲区欧洲区，亚洲欧洲2017无码中文. But the mobile app is best for managing settings and for quieter times when you don't want a vocal reply.

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

Still, Google Assistant's smart displays and access to Google's treasure trove of information make it a better digital assistant. But Alexa steals the spotlight on speaker quality and smart home integration.

If you're interested, we have a lot more to say about these companies. Check out our related articles below to explore what they can do and see our favorite devices for each.

• Ultimate Guide to Google Assistant and Google Nest Products
• Ultimate Guide to Alexa and the Amazon Echo Family
• Outfitting Your Smart Home: Google Assistant Devices
• Outfitting Your Smart Home: Amazon Alexa Devices
• Best Smart Home Automation Systems