Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant are locked in a tug-of-war over who controls the smart speakers in your house. Right now, we prefer Google. Its Assistant answers questions more accurately and has a simpler setup. It connects to a growing number of smart home devices, too (view compatibility here). All of these devices have Google Assistant built-in and take voice commands; you can ask the Assistant to control smart home products like robot vacuums, smart switches, lights, and TVs, or ask it anything you’d search for on Google.
Be sure to check out our handy guide on how to maintain your privacy as much as possible while still enjoying the luxuries of smart assistants. We also have many other buying guides, including the best smart displays, smart speakers and Alexa speakers.
Updated for December 2019: We’ve removed some products and added new entries, like Google’s Nest Mini, Lenovo’s Smart Clock, and the Nest Hub Max.
When you buy something using the links in our stories, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. You can also support our reporting and reviewing by purchasing a 1-year print + digital WIRED subscription for $5 (Discounted).
