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Full written review: TechGadgetsCanada.com

Smart digital assistants are growing in popularity, big time. In Canada, there’s really only two choices right now: Amazon Echo and Google Home.

Each brand has different versions of their assistants, usually a full size and a mini.At their core, these smart speakers/digital assistants operate largely the same no matter which size you choose, so we’ll focus this comparison on the base models; the full size Echo and Home.

Google Home vs Amazon Echo: Who you talking to? Human or Robot?

Each of the home devices has a different Assistant personality:

Google has the Google Assistant, aka “Google”. Amazon has Alexa.

While both have female voices by default, Google Assistant has a more normal and natural sounding voice and delivery. Alexa’s delivery is rather robotic and vaguely European even though I’ve selected Canadian English as her voice.

Will one of those voices please you more than the other? Maybe. At the moment, my preference is for Google Home.

While you have some choice for accent changes with Alexa, for the moment you don’t with Google Home. Here’s how to do it:

To change your Google assistant’s voice:

Go to Google Home Hamburger Menu Settings or More Settings Preferences Assistant Voice.

✅ Voice WINNER: Google Home

So how do you know which of these smart speakers is for you? Here are some of the other choices you’ll have to make when deciding between Google Home and Amazon Echo.

Do Google Home and Amazon Echo do the same tasks?

Yes. By and large these devices perform all the same basic functions:

playing music (Google Play Music, Amazon Music, Spotify)
answering questions
setting timers
controlling Smart Home gadgets like lights, thermostats, door locks and more
telling you about your day; see more below
getting news, weather and traffic info
making conversions: money, measurements, time
make phone calls
look up phone numbers (and call them)
add items to todo lists and create reminders
make calendar appointments; depending on your OS, see below
Want to know how to talk to Google Home and Philips Hue smart lights?

Google Home vs Amazon Echo: Are you Apple or Android?

Both Amazon Echo and and Google Home are compatible with many different smartphone platforms, including Android, Apple and more.google home speaker assistant what why how to

Google Home is definitely made to work closely with its own Pixel line of smartphones, and other Android phones and you may enjoy a more seamless experience if this is the platform you’ve got.

As far as Amazon Echo goes, the device may seem to be geared towards the Android world, but again, there’s a lot you can do with your Apple iPhone.

Can Alexa link to Apple Calendar?

With Echo you can add your calendar to Alexa’s brain. She’ll integrate with Apple Calendar/iCloud, Microsoft Outlook and Office, plus the Gsuite of apps and functions from Google. Want to hear about your day or list of appointments from your Apple calendar? Alexa will tell you.

✅ Compatibility WINNER: Amazon Echo

Google Home vs Amazon Echo: Smart home control

Both Home and Echo can control your smart home devices, and the list is pretty much universal, though if you’re wondering about controlling a specific smart home toy, it’s a good idea to check it. But when it comes to door locks, lights and thermostats, they’re both pretty much the same.

If I noticed any difference its that it’s much much easier to add a single new device to Echo. For example, when I wanted to add a single new LIFX light, with Google Home I need to uninstall and reinstall the whole LIFX lineup of several bulbs, whereas with Echo, I just add the one light and it works great.

Google Home vs Amazon Alexa: Price

Amazon Echo costs $129 CAD. Google Home is $179CAD. Given that Echo has more versatility and functionality, and it costs less, this battle goes to Alexa.

✅ Price WINNER: Amazon Echo

So who’s best? Amazon Echo or Google Home?

All things considered, Amazon Echo does more and is more versatile, speaking to different platforms and devices (not just Android) and it costs less.

If you’re looking for a smart home digital assistant and speaker to start out with Amazon Echo is the winner.

✅ OVERALL WINNER: Amazon Echo

Do you agree or disagree? Have any questions about what these devices can do? Ask in comments .