{"id":97523,"date":"2018-02-27T11:43:55","date_gmt":"2018-02-27T11:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sftarticles.wpenginepowered.com\/en\/?p=97523"},"modified":"2025-07-01T23:38:34","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T06:38:34","slug":"5-things-alexa-does-better-than-google-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/5-things-alexa-does-better-than-google-home\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things Alexa does better than Google Home"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amazon has dominated the e-commerce sector for years, but they\u2019ve always been looking for opportunities to innovate within the tech space.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Enter the Amazon Echo. Back in November 2014, Amazon was the first company to release a dedicated smart speaker, the Amazon Echo, voiced by an AI called Alexa.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align:center; width:100%; margin:12px 0;\">\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n  google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-8132844949421936\";\r\n  var google_ad_slot = '9677578764';\r\n  if (window.innerWidth <= 470) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 300;\r\n    google_ad_height = 50;\r\n  }\r\n  else if (window.innerWidth < 1360) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 468;\r\n    google_ad_height = 60;\r\n  }\r\n  else {\r\n    google_ad_width = 728;\r\n    google_ad_height = 90;\r\n  }\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\r\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since then, Amazon has faced stiff competition from fellow Silicon Valley cohabitants, with their main rival being tech behemoth Google, which released its own smart speaker \u2013 the Google Home \u2013 in 2016.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amazon and Google now seem locked in a perpetual feature war, and while features from one device usually make their way to the other, Alexa still has some unique features setting it apart from Google&#8217;s offering.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-affiliation\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__content\">\r\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" class=\"sc-card-affiliation__badge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">15%<\/a>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__image\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\r\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71iVHuI-TeL._SL1000_.jpg\">\r\n            <\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__body\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__text\">\r\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" class=\"sc-card-affiliation__title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-affiliation__supplier\">\r\n          From: <strong>Amazon<\/strong>\r\n        <\/p>\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-affiliation__price\">\r\n          $84.99 <strike>$99.99<\/strike>\r\n        <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__cta\">\r\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-card-affiliation__button\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Buy Now<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What Alexa can do that Google Home can\u2019t<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><b>1. Amazon Integration<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alexa is the gateway to the world\u2019s biggest e-commerce site. Not only can you order directly with Alexa, but she can track your packages and even tell you when the delivery driver is en route.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>2. Audible Integration <\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Before Alexa, Amazon changed the way we interact with books with the Kindle store. While Google has recently started offering audiobooks via the Play Store, Amazon has a much more extensive selection, and Alexa lets you easily control your listening experience using your voice alone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align:center; width:100%; margin:12px 0;\">\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n  google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-8132844949421936\";\r\n  var google_ad_slot = '9677578764';\r\n  if (window.innerWidth <= 470) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 300;\r\n    google_ad_height = 50;\r\n  }\r\n  else if (window.innerWidth < 1360) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 468;\r\n    google_ad_height = 60;\r\n  }\r\n  else {\r\n    google_ad_width = 728;\r\n    google_ad_height = 90;\r\n  }\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\r\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3><b>3. Smart Connectivity<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alexa integrates with many smart home devices, including Philips, Samsung, and Nest. However, the new Echo Plus takes this one step further by incorporating\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zigbee\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Zigbee<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> connectivity. This allows Alexa to function as a smart hub that can control all your connected devices, something Google Home can\u2019t compete with. Zigbee lists just over 1,200 compatible intelligent devices on their website.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/c\/cc\/Amazon_Alexa_App_Logo.png\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">Alexa's cool new updates<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/amazons-alexa-is-getting-some-cool-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Check them out now<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/amazons-alexa-is-getting-some-cool-updates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3><b>4. Voice remote<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">While it&#8217;s convenient to ask Alexa to do things for you, what happens when you\u2019re out of range? Both Alexa and Google Home use far field microphone technology, but there are limits to how far away you can be. With Alexa, you can interact well outside of voice range by using an Alexa remote. With Google Home, you would need to buy another Google Home.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align:center; width:100%; margin:12px 0;\">\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n  google_ad_client = \"ca-pub-8132844949421936\";\r\n  var google_ad_slot = '9677578764';\r\n  if (window.innerWidth <= 470) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 300;\r\n    google_ad_height = 50;\r\n  }\r\n  else if (window.innerWidth < 1360) {\r\n    google_ad_width = 468;\r\n    google_ad_height = 60;\r\n  }\r\n  else {\r\n    google_ad_width = 728;\r\n    google_ad_height = 90;\r\n  }\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\"\r\nsrc=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/show_ads.js\">\r\n<\/script>\r\n<\/div>\n<h3><b>Skills<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Amazon Skills are the programs that Alexa uses to perform tasks. With Google Home, you get what they decide to give you, but Alexa is entirely open to third-party developers. There are thousands of applications, of varying use. We\u2019ve talked about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/solutions.softonic.com\/what-are-the-best-alexa-skills\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">our favorites here<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Alexa is the original smart speaker on the block and has the broadest range of smart connectivity, backed up by third-party app development. It\u2019s a product that\u2019s here to stay, with the backing of the most significant online retailer in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-card-affiliation\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__content\">\r\n    <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" class=\"sc-card-affiliation__badge\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">15%<\/a>\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__image\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">\r\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com\/images\/I\/71iVHuI-TeL._SL1000_.jpg\">\r\n            <\/a>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__body\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__text\">\r\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" class=\"sc-card-affiliation__title\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Amazon Echo<\/a>\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-affiliation__supplier\">\r\n          From: <strong>Amazon<\/strong>\r\n        <\/p>\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-affiliation__price\">\r\n          $84.99 <strike>$99.99<\/strike>\r\n        <\/p>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-affiliation__cta\">\r\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/geni.us\/XIh41B\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"sc-card-affiliation__button\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Buy Now<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc-card-starred-link\">\r\n  <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__body\">\r\n    <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__row clearfix\">\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-logo\">\r\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sc-card-starred-link__img\" src=\"https:\/\/articles-img.sftcdn.net\/sft\/articles\/auto-mapping-folder\/sites\/3\/2017\/08\/updates-192.jpg\" width=\"100px\" height=\"100px\">\r\n      <\/div>\r\n      <div class=\"sc-card-starred-link__col-title\">\r\n        <p class=\"sc-card-starred-link__title\">All the Best Free Software for your PC<\/p>\r\n        <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__button\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/all-the-best-free-software-for-your-pc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\">Click Here<\/a>\r\n      <\/div>\r\n    <\/div>\r\n    <a class=\"sc-card-starred-link__link\" href=\"https:\/\/en.softonic.com\/articles\/all-the-best-free-software-for-your-pc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer sponsored\"><\/a>\r\n  <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Amazon has dominated the e-commerce sector for years, but they\u2019ve always been looking for opportunities to innovate within the tech space.\u00a0 Enter the Amazon Echo. Back in November 2014, Amazon was the first company to release a dedicated smart speaker, the Amazon Echo, voiced by an AI called Alexa.\u00a0 Since then, Amazon has faced stiff &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/5-things-alexa-does-better-than-google-home\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;5 things Alexa does better than Google Home&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9103,"featured_media":96473,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":0},"categories":[],"tags":[2340],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-97523","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-app-subdomain-redirectiongoogle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97523","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97523"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":328240,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97523\/revisions\/328240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97523"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=97523"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=97523"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=97523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}