The best Alexa speakers combine rich sound performance with snappy voice command speeds. Which one you should buy depends on your needs. Amazon and other audio manufacturers (like Sonos) offer a wide range of Alexa-compatible smart speakers and displays. From budget minispheres to booming towers, there are speakers for all types of listeners.
Each of the best Alexa speakers can perform a wide variety of tasks using just your voice. Whether you’re looking to stream music from Spotify, control the best Alexa-compatible devices, change the channel on your smart TV, or create a home communication hub, Amazon’s voice assistant can help.
Once you learn how to use Alexa to its fullest, having a smart speaker (or three) will allow you to take advantage of Alexa’s best skills and features. But not all the best smart speakers are created equal; That’s why we’ve spent hundreds of hours testing dozens of options to determine which ones are worth purchasing.
The quick list
The best Alexa speakers you can buy today
Better overall
Of all the best Alexa speakers, the fourth-generation Amazon Echo is the best for most people. The new sphere-shaped design is a big visual statement, but look inside and you’ll find a sizable 3-inch woofer and a pair of powerful front-facing tweeters that give the Echo rich sound performance. For under $100, this entry-level Echo balances price, performance, and features to serve as the best overall Alexa smart speaker.
Compared to the third-generation Amazon Echo, this one not only has improved audio, but also a host of other features that make it one of the most compelling smart home devices out there. The inclusion of a Zigbee hub allows this Echo to lay the foundation for the rest of your connected products. So if you’re looking for a smart speaker that not only plays tunes but also acts as a smart home hub, the fourth-generation Echo is the best option.
Read our full Amazon Echo (4th Generation) Review.
Best budget
The device’s spherical shape and larger speaker not only improve the fullness of the Echo Dot’s sound compared to the previous model, but the screen has added functionality. More than just the time, the Echo Dot with Clock display shows the current temperature, song titles, and answers to math equations. It also works as a timer.
Plus, it has a temperature sensor and a built-in Eero mesh, pushing the envelope in terms of smart home connectivity and Alexa routines. In fact, we wish more smart home companies would follow Amazon’s lead and make minor but effective improvements to already great devices. This balance between sleek design and practical functionality is why the Echo Dot with Clock is also our pick for the best overall smart home device.
Read our full Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (5th Gen) Review.
The best sound quality
That’s how it is. The best Alexa speaker in terms of audio is not made by Amazon. Sonos Era delivers exceptional sound in a uniquely shaped package. And, among all the Alexa-enabled speakers, this is the only one that can play Dolby Atmos spatial audio tracks, making it sound like music is coming from everywhere.
As with other Sonos speakers, you can pair two Era 300s for even more immersive sound, use them as rear channels if you have a Sonos soundbar, and group multiple devices together for whole-home audio.
But what also makes Sonos products great is their ability to stream audio from hundreds of sources in the company’s library: not just Spotify and TuneIn, but also SiriusXM, MLB, and much, much more. And you can control it all using Alexa. However, unlike the old Sonos One, the Era 300 doesn’t work with Google Assistant, making this speaker even more versatile.
Read our full Sonos Era 300 Review.
The best smart screen
The display on the newest Echo Show 10 is the same size and resolution (1280 x 800) as previous models, but it has a new trick. The screen rests on a motorized base that rotates to keep you at the center of its attention. This way, when you make video calls with the 13MP camera or need to jump around the kitchen while following Alexa recipes, the screen remains in your line of sight.
This may sound a little creepy, but our experience was more intuitive than we expected. It doesn’t follow you all the time, only when you use your assistant’s wake word. The large screen also acts as a hub for your collection of smart home devices, so you can easily control them in a single interface. Currently, this is the best smart display you can get for Alexa.
Read our full Amazon Echo Show 10 (3rd Generation) Review.
Best value
Although the Echo Show 10 might be the best Alexa display we’ve tested, it costs $249. For half the price, the Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd generation) now has the same camera and Alexa features. Its compact design also makes it easier to use.
The Echo Show 8 offers much better pictures and audio than its price suggests. And, for the same price as the first version, the new Echo Show 8 has an improved 13-megapixel camera for higher quality video conferencing. It also adopted the digital pan and zoom capabilities of the Show 10. While the screen can’t physically rotate to keep you in frame, the new wide-angle lens can center you like the Google Nest Hub Max and the Facebook Portalcan.
Read our full Amazon Echo Show 8 (2nd Generation) Review.
better bass
The burgeoning Echo Studio is Amazon’s first premium audio hardware product in a never-before-seen package. While it’s a notch below the Sonos One in terms of sound quality, it’s one of the best Alexa devices for audiophiles that lets you use Alexa calling. It’s designed to be compatible with Amazon HD Unlimited, Amazon’s 3D audio platform, and even has a bass boost to ensure the fullest sound possible.
One thing the Echo Studio has that the Sonos One lacks is a 3.5mm audio input port. So, for example, you can connect a turntable directly to the Echo Studio to elevate its sound. It may not be the best entry-level Echo, but we found it to be worth the $200 price tag if you’re looking for a great speaker that takes advantage of all of Alexa’s features..
Read our full Amazon Echo Studio Review.
Best mini speaker
Amazon is committed to bringing Alexa to as many homes as possible, which means finding ways to make the best Alexa speakers even cheaper than they are. This challenge led to the creation of the $39 Amazon Echo Pop, which is currently the most affordable smart speaker the company offers.
Amazon has had to remove some features from the Echo Dot, mainly some smart home features. The Echo Dot has built-in temperature and motion sensors, so you can use them as part of your Alexa smart home routines, making it a more feature-packed smart speaker. The Echo Pop lacks these features, but good sound for the size still gives it enough features to make it worth recommending.
Read our full Amazon Echo Pop Review.
The best compact screen
Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is a small smart display that you can use to make calls and video chat, search for recipes, watch videos using the visual abilities of NBC and Prime Video, check your security camera feeds, dim the lights and more. on its 5-inch screen.
However, due to its small size, it looks more like a watch than a full-size smart display. If you fall in love with the Echo Show 5’s adorably compact design and like the idea of being able to call your loved ones before you go to sleep, the smart display is worth considering. Not to mention, the Kids Edition is a great sell and offers an alternative to the stationary Amazon Fire tablet that doesn’t need to be recharged all the time. And that version comes with a warranty.
Read our full Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd Generation) Review.
How to choose the best Alexa speaker for you
The key decision you’ll have to make when purchasing one of the best Alexa speakers is whether you’re looking for a standard speaker with a grill or a speaker with a display. If this is your first smart home purchase, you’ll want to opt for the fourth-generation Echo, Echo Dot, or Sonos One. They are all easy to set up and lay the foundation for connecting your other devices.
If you have a large family or spend a lot of time in the kitchen or other shared space, a smart speaker with a display is a better option. You can control your security cameras and video doorbells, get recipe tips, and make calls. However, video calls can only be made with Echo Show 8, Echo Show 2nd generation, or Echo Show 5.
Check out our smart home guide for more tips on finding the right Alexa speaker for you.
How we tested the best Alexa speakers
When reviewing any of the best Alexa speakers (or any of the best smart home devices, for that matter), we consider several different factors before assigning it a final rating. Here are some things we look for, after spending hours testing the purchasing options available:
Ease of setup: How easy is it to install the device? Can anyone, even a first-time smart speaker owner, set it up themselves?
Characteristics: What features does the device have compared to others in its price range?
Performance:Does it really work as advertised? Is your app easy to use and sensibly designed?
Price: How expensive is it compared to similar devices? While this is not the most critical criterion, it is a factor in your final grade.
- The best smart plugs, ranked
- The best home security cameras we’ve reviewed
