GoKawiilThere are three big players when it comes to finding the best smart speaker: Amazon, Google, and Apple's voice assistant-powered devices. But each system has its own benefits and limitations, and finding the right smart speaker for you requires considering several factors.
You likely already have a favorite ecosystem. Maybe it's the one that works with your phone, as an Apple or Android user, or maybe it's Amazon's Alexa, in the event you already own one of the dozens of speakers the company has launched in the 12 years since the first Amazon Echo speaker arrived in 2014. Amazon's ecosystem, in particular, is vast, often seeing multiple new models every year, while the options get much narrower between Google and Apple. Google's new smart speaker is due out sometime soon, but there's still no timeline on when that will be.
Below you will find the best smart speakers for each ecosystem, which I've found after trying nearly every single smart speaker that's come out in the last decade. You can also check out my guides to the Best Alexa Speakers, Best Google Speakers, and Best Smart Displays if you want more insight into each category.
Updated June 2026: I reorganized this entire guide, reordering the picks and updating details about Google's speaker offerings. I also ensured up-to-date links and prices.
Best Smart Speaker for Alexa Users (and Overall)
Photograph: Nena Farrell
Photograph: Nena Farrell Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Amazon Echo Dot Max $100 Amazon WIRED/TIRED AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron WIRED Impressive, room-filling sound, especially for its small size
Compatible with Alexa and Alexa+, and good at hearing requests, even with loud music playing
Has a built-in smart home hub TIRED Expensive for such a small speaker
Most of the smart speakers I spot in friends' homes come from the Amazon Echo line. Options are aplenty, and many that I see are older models, like the puck-shaped Echo Dot. Such dated speakers are still fairly well-supported, though not all of them can gain access to Alexa+, Amazon's newer AI-powered voice assistant. Even if your smart speaker can use Alexa+, it's only worth the upgrade if you have Amazon Prime. Without a Prime subscription, you'd have to pay $20 a month for Alexa+ on its own. It's literally cheaper to get Amazon Prime ($15 a month for most plans), which comes with a wider range of benefits, which is likely intentional.
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