Smart speakers put voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, or Siri in our homes, at our hands-free beck and call. Just say their name to get an answer to your question, play music, or control your smart home devices. Regardless of your preferred voice assistant, there are plenty of options across a wide range of prices, and if you’re looking for the best smart speaker for your home, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve been reviewing smart speakers since the first Amazon Echo put Alexa in our homes nearly 10 years ago. Since then, we’ve tested every major smart speaker to come out, putting each one through its paces by analyzing its design, functionality, responsiveness, accuracy, and, of course, audio quality. These are smart speakers, after all, and underneath the friendly voice assistants, their most important aspect is how good they sound. Amazon’s smart speakers still lead the pack, with the fourth-generation Echo earning the top billing on our list for its excellent sound and reasonable price. If you want to pump the volume higher, spend less, or go with a different digital helper, our list of the best smart speakers offers plenty of highly rated models to suit your needs and budget. If you want to learn more about any of them, you can read our full reviews linked below, and be sure to check out our buying guide below our top picks for an explanation of everything smart speakers can do.
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Deeper Dive: Our Top Tested Picks
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Best for Most Alexa Users
Why We Picked ItThe original Amazon Echo started the smart speaker trend and has only improved over time. The current iteration of the Echo is sphere-shaped rather than cylindrical. It features a built-in temperature sensor and a Zigbee smart home hub for compatible devices, and gets surprisingly loud for its size. It’s effectively as powerful as the now-discontinued Amazon Echo Plus, which served as the scaled-up Echo speaker until the Echo Studio solidly assumed that role. That means strong bass in a fairly compact package.We rate the Echo more highly than its Google Assistant counterpart, the Google Nest Audio, because of that stronger bass response and room-filling sound. The temperature sensor is a nice gimmick and the Zigbee hub can be helpful if you have older Zigbee smart home devices, but both Alexa and Google Assistant now have fairly extensive built-in support for home automations. It’s the sound that puts the Echo over the top.Who It’s ForThe Echo is the Goldilocks of Alexa smart speakers. It’s loud enough to comfortably fill a medium-sized room, unlike the tiny Echo Dot, and it’s half the price of the larger Echo Studio. It’s a good anchor smart speaker, something to put in the living room to control lights and play music without taking up a lot of space or costing a lot of money.
PROS
As powerful as the Echo Plus
Strong bass for the size
Built-in smart home hub
CONS
High frequencies don’t get quite as much finesse as they could
Alexa can still be awkward to talk to
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Mono
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
3.5mm
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Learn More
Amazon Echo (4th Gen) Review
Amazon Echo Studio
Most Powerful Echo Speaker
Why We Picked ItThis is the most powerful first-party Alexa speaker and the most technically impressive. The Echo Studio gets far louder than the Echo and has better treble response for crisp, clear sound as well as booming bass. That alone makes it a strong pick.The biggest surprise in the Echo Studio, however, is Dolby Atmos support combined with directional audio. The speaker has five separate drivers that can generate a wide sound field with (if the geometry of the room is suitable for it) accurate imaging from left to right and even above. Amazon promotes the Echo Studio’s ability to play 360-degree music via its Amazon Music HD subscription service, which is not included in Amazon Prime. The speaker also supports optical audio if you simply want to connect it to your TV and use it as your main TV speaker. You have to spend a few extra bucks for a 3.5mm-to-optical adapter, though.Who It’s ForIf you want the best sound available from an Echo speaker, this is the one to get. It’s loud, clear, and can offer precise imaging from its one-piece, mini-keg-shaped body. There are a few other Alexa-compatible speakers that sound even better, and one’s on this list, but they’re much pricier than the Echo Studio.
PROS
Excellent value for the size and power
Loud, clear sound
Compelling directional audio
CONS
Requires Amazon Music HD to listen to fully 3D Ultra HD music
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
5.1
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
3.5mm, Optical
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Learn More
Amazon Echo Studio Review
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (5th Gen)
Best Small Alexa Speaker
Why We Picked ItOn the other end of the Echo lineup is the Echo Dot. There are a few variations available, including the regular Echo Dot (which comes in three colors), the Echo Dot Kids (with your choice of a panda or tiger face), and the Echo Dot With Clock (which integrates a clock). That last entry offers all of the usual Alexa features and solid-if-modest sound in a tiny, inexpensive package. It can serve as a bedside clock, which is already well worth the extra $10 from the regular Echo Dot, but its flexible LED display also lets it show even more information, like song titles and detailed weather forecasts.Who It’s ForIf you want Alexa by your bed or desk and don’t need powerful, room-filling sound, the Echo Dot With Clock is the best pick.
PROS
LED display more useful than previous model
Convenient tap gestures
Well-balanced sound
Can serve as eero mesh network node
CONS
No 3.5mm jack
Limited frequency range
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Mono
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
None
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Learn More
Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (5th Gen) Review
Amazon Echo Pop Kids
Best for Kids
Why We Picked ItThe Echo Pop Kids is, at its heart, an Echo Pop with some kid-friendly extras. It includes a colorful faceplate (with Disney Princesses or Marvel’s Avengers), a protective silicone skin, a two-year warranty, and a six-month subscription to the Amazon Kids+ service. That’s a lot for just $10 more than the regular Echo Pop, especially when you consider that Amazon Kids+ gives you access to kid-friendly audiobooks, ebooks, games, and video content on Amazon’s various Echo and Fire devices, plus all smartphones and tablets.Who It’s ForThis is the best smart speaker for little kids thanks to its protective skin. You can get a full year of Amazon Kids+ with the slightly more expensive Echo Dot Kids, but that speaker is less likely to hold up to being tossed around.
PROS
Plenty of kid-friendly activities and audiobooks available through Alexa
Comes with six-month Amazon Kids+ subscription
Silicone skin helps protect it from bumps
Two-year warranty
CONS
Only available in Disney-licensed designs
Alexa skills are difficult to browse
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
1
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
None
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa
Learn More
Amazon Echo Pop Kids Review
Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023)
Best Big Siri Speaker
Why We Picked ItApple’s second-generation HomePod fixes most of what made the original HomePod a bit unappealing: It costs less and Siri is much more useful. Apple’s largest smart speaker is three times as pricey as the Amazon Echo and the Google Nest Audio, but its Dolby Atmos sound quality and volume output make it far more enjoyable for movies and music. Excellent mic performance, Matter support, and sensors for temperature and humidity round out the package.Who It’s ForIf you want a centerpiece Siri speaker with room-filling sound, this is the HomePod to get. Just know that you can get away with the less powerful HomePod mini if your main goal is to simply add Siri to a room.
PROS
Rich bass response and clear highs
Room-sensing audio
Strong mic clarity
HomeKit and Matter support
Temperature and humidity sensors
CONS
Expensive
No user-customizable EQ
Matter setup issues in testing
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Stereo
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
None
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Apple Siri
Learn More
Apple HomePod (2nd Generation, 2023) Review
Google Nest Audio
Best for Most Google Assistant Users
Why We Picked ItThis is, for all intents and purposes, Google’s version of the Amazon Echo. It’s $100, big-but-not-too-big, and lets you use Google Assistant hands-free without your phone. It surpasses the Echo in higher-frequency response but puts out weaker bass so it won’t sound quite as nice at room-filling volume levels. Its chiclet shape is also a bit more plain and awkward than the friendly Echo sphere. The shape doesn’t matter as much as the sound, though.Who It’s ForIf you want to use Google Assistant instead of Amazon Alexa, and you want some good music performance as well as a helpful voice assistant, the Nest Audio is the best choice. It’s another Goldilocks speaker, not too small or expensive, but versatile enough for wherever you want to put it.
PROS
Balanced sound with strong, detailed highs
Supports Bluetooth and Google Cast
Google Assistant is more useful than ever
CONS
Bass isn’t particularly powerful
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Mono
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
None
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Google Assistant
Learn More
Google Nest Audio Review
Sonos Era 300
Best Sonos Speaker
Why We Picked ItLike the Echo Studio, the Sonos Era 300 offers Alexa voice control and supports Dolby Atmos spatial audio. But unlike the Echo Studio, the Era 300 seamlessly integrates into any Sonos multiroom system. It sounds excellent, too, especially if you pair it with a second speaker for more directional audio. Who It’s ForThis is a centerpiece speaker for any home with other Sonos speakers. It produces loud, detailed sound even by itself and looks more stylish than most other models on this list.
PROS
Room-filling sound with strong bass depth and bright highs
Supports Dolby Atmos
Works with Alexa and Sonos voice commands
Terrific companion app with room analysis and adjustable EQ
Wide support for music streaming services
CONS
Expensive
No Google Assistant or Cast support
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Dolby Atmos (4 tweeters, 2 woofers)
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
USB-C
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa, Sonos Voice Control
Learn More
Sonos Era 300 Review
Apple HomePod mini
Best Small Siri Speaker
Why We Picked ItThe HomePod mini is Apple’s smaller smart speaker option, costing a third as much as the HomePod. It still offers hands-free Siri voice control and solid, if not nearly as powerful, sound, along with Apple AirPlay 2 support. For our taste the Echo still sounds better among $100 smart speakers, though.Who It’s ForThis is the small smart speaker for Apple users, and specifically for Apple users who turn to Siri instead of Alexa or Google Assistant for everything they need. If you have an iPhone and have been careful to make sure all of your smart home devices are HomeKit-compatible, this is ideal. You can also pair it with a second HomePod mini for stereo sound. Of course, if you aren’t already on a first-name basis with Siri, you don’t need to give it or the larger HomePod much thought.
PROS
Solid audio performance with rich bass and bright highs
Multiple speakers can be grouped and used as stereo pairs
Easy Siri voice control
Good Apple Home app integration for smart home controls
CONS
Not the absolute best audio quality for the price
No aux input
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Mono
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
None
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Apple Siri
Learn More
Apple HomePod mini Review
Sonos Move
Best Portable Speaker
Why We Picked ItFew smart speakers are portable, because voice assistants need some kind of internet connection to work. The Sonos Move is an exception. It’s large and powerful, plus sports an internal battery that allows you to carry it around. It’s more suitable for moving between rooms (or from inside to your backyard or deck) than taking on far-flung adventures, but even that flexibility is more than most smart speakers offer. It also has an IP56 rating, which means you can take it to the beach and don’t need to worry about it during a downpour.The Sonos Move also offers a choice between Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Once you set your voice assistant of choice, you can use it just like an Amazon Echo or Nest Audio. And, as a Sonos speaker, it integrates with Sonos’ multiroom audio system. That means you can pair it with your Sonos One, Sonos Beam, or any other Sonos speaker you have around the house.Who It’s ForIf you want a smart speaker you can take around, especially just outside your home for barbecues and parties, the Sonos Move is one of the best. It’s loud, battery-powered, and lets you choose your voice assistant. It’s pricey, but if you want Alexa or Google Assistant out on your deck and enough audio power to get people on their feet, this is your best choice.
PROS
Powerful audio with rich bass depth and bright highs
Portable, dust- and water-resistant build
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control
CONS
Expensive
Heavy
Sculpted, mono sound signature not for everyone
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Mono
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
USB
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Learn More
Sonos Move Review
Google Nest Mini
Best Affordable Google Assistant Speaker
Why We Picked ItThis little puck is the most affordable Google Assistant smart speaker you can get. You can pop it anywhere—even on the wall!—and use Google’s voice assistant easily; it fills the same niche for Google Assistant as the Amazon Echo Dot does for Alexa. It has clean treble but, otherwise, its audio is pretty weak. That said, it’s suitable if you want to listen to music before you sleep or play podcasts to idly distract you during the day.Who It’s ForThe Nest Mini is another speaker for your counter, desk, or nightstand: It’s small and doesn’t cost too much money. Sadly, there isn’t an alternative version with a clock. If you want that functionality, consider the Amazon Echo Dot With Clock (5th Gen).
PROS
Affordable.
Small.
Good high-frequency response.
CONS
No significant changes over Google Home Mini.
Weak bass and midrange.
SPECS
Name
Value
Channels
Mono
Bluetooth
Wi-Fi
Multi-Room
Physical Connections
None
Portable
Water-Resistant
Speakerphone
Built-In Voice Assistant
Google Assistant
Learn More
Google Nest Mini Review
Buying Guide: The Best Smart Speakers for 2024
How to Talk to Your Smart SpeakerEvery smart speaker responds to a wake word, such as “Alexa” for Alexa, “Hey, Google” for Google, and “Siri” for Siri. Once the speaker indicates it is listening, you can ask whatever you want. The question then is how to ask. All three voice assistants are fairly easy to talk to, but they can trip up if you don’t use the proper syntax. You need to speak to Alexa in a certain way to get the best results. This isn’t a problem once you get used to the syntax, but the voice assistant too often gets confused if you use a term it doesn’t know or phrase a command in an unfamiliar way.Google Assistant and Siri are both much better at recognizing natural language and are generally less frustrating to use. Amazon continues to develop Alexa, but for now, Google and Apple have the edge.
Amazon Echo Studio (Credit: Zlata Ivelva)
How to Use a Smart Speaker to Manage Your Smart HomeAlexa, Google Assistant, and Siri can control pretty much any smart home device nowadays. In the Alexa and Google apps, and with the Siri Shortcuts feature, you can set up rooms of multiple devices to control, plus configure multi-step routines, like “I’m leaving the house.” All three smart assistants support most major smart home device brands, with few holes between them.The Amazon Echo and Echo Studio add support for the Zigbee smart home standard, which means they work with more third-party devices (and other Echo speakers in your home, as a result). Most newer smart home devices are Wi-Fi-based and hubless, or otherwise work with Alexa and Google Assistant, so you shouldn’t run into compatibility issues.If you intend to use Siri to control your smart home, make sure the smart home devices you buy are HomeKit-compatible, and you have a HomePod, iPad, or Apple TV to use as a hub. These devices enable you to create rooms, groups, and multistep routines, as well as control your devices remotely—but only from iOS. Apple’s Home app is gorgeous, but you have to be all-in with Apple for it to work well.Matter is an emerging standard worth keeping an eye on, though it isn’t yet widely available for smart home devices.You can also use Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri to control a TV or home entertainment center, with a compatible TV or appropriate hardware add-on (a media streamer like an Amazon Fire TV device for Alexa, a Chromecast or Android TV for Google Assistant, an Apple TV for Siri, or a Roku device for any of them).
Google Nest Mini (Credit: Zlata Ivelva)
Explore Third-Party Smart Speaker SkillsAmazon’s voice assistant ecosystem benefits from tens of thousands of third-party “skills,” and Amazon has a directory of them on its site. These skills let you do everything; for example, you can check your local transit status, look up your credit card balance, find trivia about your favorite college football team, play games, and sing along with songs. However, you have to seek out the skills you want and stick to a very specific syntax. It’s a stunningly powerful system but involves a bit of a learning curve.Google Assistant has fewer skills, a result of its ability to understand more casual syntax and conversational commands. Regardless, you can check out Google’s skills (which it calls “actions”) in its convenient web-based directory.Can You Use Smart Speakers for Phone Calls?All of the voice assistants let you make phone calls from your smart speaker. Alexa and Google make free phone calls directly. Google Assistant can call numbers in the US and Canada, but only to phone numbers in your Google Contacts. Alexa can call anyone in the US, Canada, and Mexico, but not toll-free numbers. You can also use Amazon Drop In to make voice calls to any friends or family with Alexa devices or the Alexa app, including different Echo speakers in your own home. The HomePod works as a speakerphone too, but you have to start the call on your iPhone.
Recommended by Our Editors
How Do Smart Speakers Sound?All smart speakers can play music from your phone but, if you’re relying only on voice commands, you are stuck with cloud services. Alexa and Google Assistant both connect to Apple Music and Spotify Premium accounts, as well as to Pandora, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio for free. Alexa speakers also play Amazon Prime Music, while Google Assistant speakers can access YouTube Music. Siri on the HomePod and HomePod mini can play Apple Music and songs from your Apple Music account. For any of these services, you can just ask the smart speaker to start playing music from them.
Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) (Credit: Tim Gideon)
Most smart speakers also support Bluetooth connections or the Apple AirPlay or Google Cast platforms, so you can stream audio directly from your phone, tablet, or computer. Several feature 3.5mm ports, though some are output-only (for connecting to larger, non-smart speakers).The Google Nest Mini and Amazon Echo Dot have both made big strides in sound quality, but they still can’t really fill a room and aren’t quite good enough to be primary music speakers. As mentioned, you can use them to control better speakers. The Echo, HomePod mini, and Nest Audio sound notably better, as do most smart speakers in the $100 to $200 price range. The best value on this list is currently the $200 Echo Studio, which sounds just as good as speakers that cost twice as much. Above $300, the Sonos Era 300 and the second-gen HomePod also deliver top-notch audio. Ultimately, the best smart speaker for you has the voice assistant you want along with the right power, size, and price for your needs. And if you want video support as well, there are always smart displays, which are basically smart speakers with touch screens.
