• About Us
    • — About Digitized House
    • — Advertise
    • — Editorial Guidelines
  • Policies
    • — Ad Policy
    • — Privacy Policy
    • — Cookie Policy (US)
Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
  • Home
  • Connect Your Home
    • Deals
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
    • Window Coverings
    • Connected Home and Gadget Resources
  • Ecosystems
    • Amazon Alexa
    • Apple HomeKit
    • Google Assistant
    • SmartThings
    • Open Systems
  • Design Your Home
    • Architecture
    • Healthy Home
    • Home Design
    • How-To
    • Green Building
    • Real Estate
    • Sustainable Home
No Result
View All Result
Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
  • Home
  • Connect Your Home
    • Deals
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
    • Window Coverings
    • Connected Home and Gadget Resources
  • Ecosystems
    • Amazon Alexa
    • Apple HomeKit
    • Google Assistant
    • SmartThings
    • Open Systems
  • Design Your Home
    • Architecture
    • Healthy Home
    • Home Design
    • How-To
    • Green Building
    • Real Estate
    • Sustainable Home
No Result
View All Result
Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
No Result
View All Result
Home Amazon Alexa

Amazon Alexa vs. Google Assistant for Smart Home Control

Kayla Matthews by Kayla Matthews
27 February 2019
in Amazon Alexa, Connected Home, Google Assistant, Smart Speakers
Reading Time: 6 mins read
Amazon Echo vs. Google Home Mini Speakers. Image: Digitized House Media.

Amazon Echo vs. Google Home Mini Speakers. Image: Digitized House Media.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Read on Apple News

The soaring popularity of virtual assistants has set the stage for competition. With contributions from Amazon and Google, consumers across the country have to choose between two of the tech industry’s leading brands. Neck and neck, Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and each deliver value with their own unique selling points.

If you’ve found yourself torn between Alexa and Google Assistant, you’re not alone. The tech marketplace is increasingly complicated and difficult to navigate, full of products that are “bigger and better” and “next-gen.” To sort through the claims, you’ll need to know where Alexa and Google Assistant differ in skills and actions.

By “skills” and “actions,” we’re referencing the abilities of these products. When you assess their functionality, you’ll have a clear idea of where these virtual assistants fit within the context of your day-to-day life. Of course, your evaluation shouldn’t end there, and it’s best to begin with an overview of both systems.

More Original Content FromDigitized House

Kohler H2Wise+ Marks Rise of the Water Network

How Smart Tech Drives Sustainable Home Decisions

Smart Housing’s Promise for Rural Development

Healthier Smart Home Air Filtration: Aura Air Review

Smart Tech Helping Build Sustainable Homes

Amazon Alexa

Alexa runs on the entire Amazon Echo speaker line, including these products (left to right): Echo (1st generation), Echo (2nd generation), Echo Dot (3rd generation), and Echo Dot (2nd generation). Image: Digitized House Media.
Alexa runs on the entire Amazon Echo speaker line, including these products (left to right): Echo (1st generation), Echo (2nd generation), Echo Dot (3rd generation), and Echo Dot (2nd generation). Image: Digitized House Media.

While Google Assistant has its appeal, Alexa is just as attractive to consumers searching to integrate their smart home products. Since Amazon’s first smart Echo speaker, they’ve continued to improve upon themselves and expand the functionality of their virtual assistant. Here are several categories to consider.

[1] Wake Words

Alexa has numerous wake word options, which include “Alexa,” “Amazon,” “Echo” and “Computer.” Even with this larger repertoire, Alexa is often inflexible with wording and word sequences. While it’s strong with shopping-related queries, it relies a bit too much on Wikipedia for knowledge-related queries.

[2] Abilities

In terms of basic functionality, Alexa has many of the abilities of its competitor. It allows the user to combine smart home devices into rooms, supports Routines and links to streaming sticks. At the same time, Amazon has struggled with YouTube integration due to its tensions with Google.

[3] Third-Party Skills

Amazon’s virtual assistant shines with its third-party skills, boasting an enormous number of abilities. The Echo can also receive calls from other Echos and take calls from the home phone line with the addition of an Echo Connect box. In terms of multi-user capabilities, the user has to say a command to switch accounts.

Google Assistant

The Google Home speaker runs the Google Assistant. Image: Digitized House Media.
The Google Home speaker runs the Google Assistant. Image: Digitized House Media.

The value of a virtual assistant is easy to assess in three simple categories. In looking at voice control, smart home integration and abilities, you can determine whether Google Assistant has a place in your home or if Alexa is the superior choice. Let’s start with Google Assistant’s proficiency with voice activation. Google Assistant is available as an app, and also runs on all Google Home speakers.

[1] Wake Word

Google Assistant has two “wake word” options, which are essentially the phrases which activates it. You’ll have to say, “Hey Google” or “OK Google” anytime you want to use the device. At the same time, it’s excellent at handling free-form, web-based queries and has a conversational tone with an understanding of multiple languages.

[2] Routines

Google Home connects to anything with Chromecast, though several brands like Blink, Carrier, and Haiku are still inaccessible. It allows the user to combine smart home devices into rooms for convenience and supports “Routines.” These Routines enable multiple actions in one command for quick, effortless control.

[3] Third-Party Actions

Google’s virtual assistant has a variety of third-party “actions” which let you communicate with companies like Uber or Domino’s. It can make outbound voice calls, but can’t receive them. Still, its multi-user functionality is impressive, recognizing up to six separate voices to switch seamlessly between accounts.

Comparing Alexa and Google Assistant

In terms of voice control, Google Assistant is more intelligent and flexible with wording. Alexa has more wake word options, but that’s a meager advantage that doesn’t contribute much to its overall value. 

As for smart home integration, Google Assistant and Alexa are capable of the primary functions you would expect from a virtual assistant. They each enable the grouping of smart devices, as well as Routines—though, as we mentioned earlier, Amazon has had a difficult time securing YouTube integration.

Concerning functionality, Alexa has a greater breadth of abilities, numbering in the tens of thousands. Google Assistant has far fewer “actions,” which might sway a potential buyer toward Amazon. Even with their limitations, Google is catching up, though it might take them a while. 

An Educated Decision

Ultimately, the right choice depends on your personal situation. If you’re searching for functionality, you might prefer Alexa, but if you’re searching for easy voice control, Google Assistant might be a better pick. You’ll also have to consider where Alexa and Google Assistant differ in skills and actions.

When deciding on your next virtual assistant for smart home control, look at more than their capacity for integration. Take a holistic approach as you weigh your options, and when you finally choose, you’ll feel confident you made an educated decision.

More About This Topic:

  • More from Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
  • Sign Up to Get Weekly Digitized House Updates
  • A Closer Look at Google Assistant and Multilingual AI
  • Google Assistant expands with dialect upgrades
  • August Enables More Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, IFTTT Skills
  • Native Amazon Alexa Controls Debut in Bose Smart Speakers
  • iDevices Bridges Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa Worlds
  • Sonos and Amazon Alexa make beautiful music together
Tags: Amazon Echoartificial intelligenceGoogle HomeGoogle Home Minihome automationnon-affiliatesmart speakers
Previous Post

How Much Internet Speed Does Your Smart Home Need?

Next Post

Infographic: Take Control of Your Energy Bills

Kayla Matthews

Kayla Matthews

Kayla Matthews is a technology journalist and productivity blogger. She is a senior writer for MakeUseOf and the owner and editor of her tech productivity blog, Productivity Bytes. You can read more by Kayla at Inc.com, VentureBeat, DMN, and more.

Related Posts

Kohler H2Wise+ Smart Home Water Monitor. Image: Digitized House Media.
Review

Kohler H2Wise+ Marks Rise of the Water Network

9 June 2022

Kohler Company recently expanded its smart home portfolio with the Kohler H2Wise+ water monitor, a system designed to surveil a...

The Google Nest Hub displaying home energy data for a Reliant Energy customer. Image: Digitized House.
Sustainable Home

How Smart Tech Drives Sustainable Home Decisions

18 April 2022

Most people try to do their part to cut down on carbon and help save the planet. From recycling to...

A sunset in rural America, specifically in Driftwood, Texas. Image: Digitized House Media.
Connected Home

Smart Housing’s Promise for Rural Development

7 March 2022

Although we are living in the great age of technology, the so-called digital divide is very real, and it continues...

Next Post
Sense energy monitor and app. Image: Sense.

Infographic: Take Control of Your Energy Bills

KB Home ProjeKt. Image: Builder Magazine.

Smart and Healthy Features Abound in KB Home ProjeKt: Part 2

Image: IKEA.

IKEA Smart Shades Delayed in European Union, Coming Later to U.S.

As an Amazon Associate, Digitized House may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links, ads, or buttons on this page. See our full Affiliate Link, Sponsorship, and Ad Policy.

About Us

Digitized House is the Guide to the Connected Home.

We help global consumers make their 
Connected Homes smarter, healthier, safer, and 
more sustainable through streams of original content. You can see our story here.

Like what you see on this website? You can also read us on our Apple News App Channel.

More Info

  • About Us
    • — About Digitized House
    • — Advertise
    • — Editorial Guidelines
  • Policies
    • — Ad Policy
    • — Privacy Policy
    • — Cookie Policy (US)

Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, Digitized House may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links, ads, or buttons on this page. See our full Affiliate Link, Sponsorship, and Ad Policy.

Recent Content

Kohler H2Wise+ Marks Rise of the Water Network

How Smart Tech Drives Sustainable Home Decisions

6 Steps to Furnishing Your Space Sustainably Without Compromising Aesthetics 

Smart Housing’s Promise for Rural Development

Healthier Smart Home Air Filtration: Aura Air Review

Smart Tech Helping Build Sustainable Homes

© 2015-2022 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Connect Your Home
    • Deals
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
    • Window Coverings
    • Connected Home and Gadget Resources
  • Ecosystems
    • Amazon Alexa
    • Apple HomeKit
    • Google Assistant
    • SmartThings
    • Open Systems
  • Design Your Home
    • Architecture
    • Healthy Home
    • Home Design
    • How-To
    • Green Building
    • Real Estate
    • Sustainable Home
  • About Us + Policies
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Ad Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy (US)

© 2015-2022 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional cookies Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}