Alexa vs Google Home vs Apple Home: Which to Start With

The short answer

• Your household uses iPhones: Apple Home.
• Your household uses Android: Google Home.
• You already own Echo speakers, or want the widest choice of cheap devices: Alexa.

Whichever you pick, buy devices with the Matter logo where you can. They work with all three, so the choice is not permanent.

Side by side

Where they differ

Phones and setup

Apple Home needs an iPhone or iPad to set up and works best when everyone in the home uses Apple devices. Google Home and Alexa have apps for both iPhone and Android.

Devices

Alexa has the longest list of compatible devices. Google Home is close behind. Apple Home has fewer, but Matter has narrowed the gap: a Matter device works with all three.

Voice assistants

All three are changing fast. Amazon has introduced Alexa+, a newer version of Alexa. Google is moving its speakers to Gemini, and has said its most in-depth Gemini home features need a paid Google Home Premium plan. Apple's Siri runs Apple Home. Check the current terms before you buy, as features and subscriptions change.

Hubs

Many current Echo, Google and Apple speakers can act as a Matter controller, and some as a Thread border router, which battery-powered Thread devices need. The HomePod mini acts as an Apple Home hub. Check the specific model before relying on it.

Privacy

Every system has always-listening microphones on its speakers and stores some data. Each lets you review and delete voice recordings and mute microphones. Look at the settings on day one.

The picks in detail

How Matter changes the decision

Matter is a shared standard run by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, whose members include Amazon, Apple, Google and Samsung. A Matter device can be added to more than one system, so a smart plug bought for Alexa today can move to Apple Home later. What is Matter and do you need it? explains how it works.

Mistakes to avoid

• Mixing systems in one household so nobody can control everything.
• Buying a speaker for a system nobody uses because it was on offer.
• Ignoring subscriptions for features you assumed were free.
• Skipping two-factor sign-in.

Which phone do you use?

This is the deciding question for most people. Apple Home works best with an iPhone and needs an Apple device as a home hub for remote control and automations. Google Home works on both Android and iPhone and suits people who use Google's services. Alexa works on both and has the widest range of compatible devices and cheapest speakers.

Can you mix them?

Yes. Many devices work with more than one system, and Matter devices work with all three. You can also run two voice assistants side by side, though it is simpler to choose one as the main system and add devices to it.

What a renter should check

All three let you start with plug-in devices that need no wiring: smart plugs, bulbs and speakers. Everything comes with you when you move. Before leaving, remove the devices from your account so the next tenant cannot control them and you are not left with orphaned devices.

Privacy

Each assistant has settings to review and delete voice recordings and a button to mute the microphone. Check them when you set up, not later.

Which should you choose?

Match your phones, buy Matter devices, and start small. The smart home starter guide sets out the order, beginning with a smart plug.

How we chose

These are research-based recommendations: we compared published specifications, maker documentation and the features that matter in a small home. We have not tested them hands-on. The speakers are listed as ranges because each brand sells several models, so the buttons open the retailer's results; compare a few listings before you buy, in your own country's store.