The comparisons

Both smart speakers have a similar repertoire of features and capabilities. However, a significant difference is that the Amazon Echo® is a few years older than the Google Home®, which means it currently has a longer list of features and partners. It’s important to read up on each devices and the services that each speaker supports (such as smart thermostats, lighting, Spotify®, YouTube®, Uber® and Netflix®) - to see which brand offers the features that you want and are most likely to use.

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Of course, each smart speaker supports its own platforms, making the choice easy if you are already team Amazon® or team Google®. For instance, those obsessed with Amazon Prime® may lean toward the Echo while those who are already using Google Play Music® and Chromecast® may head in the direction of the Home.

Smart speakers aren’t visually works of art, but each brand does offer a selection of colors and finishes to meet your design and interior decor preferences. As far as price goes, the Google Home® is slightly more expensive than the Amazon Echo®.

The offerings

Both brands offer a family of smart speakers. Amazon® has the original, plus a smaller Amazon Echo Dot® and the more advanced Amazon Echo Plus®. Google® has versions called the Mini and the Max. New Amazon Echo® offerings also include the Spot, Show and Look, which have screens to accompany the speaker.

While the smaller smart speakers are comparable in price, the Google Home Max® is far more expensive than the Amazon Echo Plus®. The reasoning is that the Max can do everything the original can do, but it has far superior speaker quality. It’s designed for music lovers who want high audio quality with the bonus of smart features.

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The decision

Remember: one smart speaker does not fit all. That's why the best buying advice we can give you is to make your choice based on the features that are most important to you. Think about how you envision yourself using a smart speaker on a daily basis, and go for the one that best lends itself to your expectations. If you're a die-hard fan of either Amazon® or Google®, then your brand allegiance might make the decision easy for you.

You can also lean on tech experts to help sway your decision based on their insider knowledge. For example, Business Insider favors the Amazon Echo® when it comes to capability, services and security, but they give the Google Home® the win for voice recognition and search. The speakers tied on design and sound quality. While the tech experts at Wirecutter had good things to say about both smart speaker brands, but the Amazon Echo® earned the top slot. Consumer Reports offered a more unbiased perspective, highlighting them as two of the best smart speakers on the market. (And while you’re in research mode, consider these top smart home automation solutions.)