Best Smart Speakers 2025: Complete Guide to Voice Assistants
Smart speakers are the hub of most smart homes, offering voice control, music streaming, smart home automation, and instant access to information. After extensive testing, we've identified the best smart speakers for every budget and use case in 2025.
Quick Picks
- 🏆 Best Overall: Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White Glacier White Echo Dot
- 🎵 Best Budget: Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Charcoal Charcoal Device only
- 🗣️ Best with Screen: Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Deep Sea Blue Deep Sea Blue Device only
- 💰 Best Google Assistant: Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) | Smart display with Alexa and 2 MP camera | Deep Sea Blue
🏆 Best Overall: Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White Glacier White Echo Dot
The Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White Glacier White Echo Dot offers exceptional performance and value for smart home automation.
Key Features:
- Meet the Echo Dot - Our most popular smart speaker with Alexa. The sleek, compact design delivers crisp vocals and balanced bass for full sound.
- Voice control your entertainment - Stream songs from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, SiriusXM, and others. Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts throughout your home with multi-room music.
- Ready to help - Ask Alexa to tell a joke, play music, answer questions, play the news, check the weather, set alarms, and more.
- Control your smart home - Use your voice to turn on lights, adjust thermostats, and lock doors with compatible devices.
- Start Routines with your motion - Turn on compatible lights, play your Flash Briefing, or turn on the coffee maker when you walk into the room.
- Connect with others hands-free - Call friends and family who have the Alexa app or an Echo device. Instantly drop in on other rooms or announce to the whole house that dinner's ready.
Product Details:
- Current Price: Check Amazon for current price
- Customer Rating: 4.7/5
- Reviews: See Amazon customer reviews
Why We Love It: This product delivers outstanding performance with reliable smart home integration and user-friendly features.
Best For:
- Smart home enthusiasts
- Users seeking reliable automation
- Those wanting premium features
- Value-conscious buyers
🎵 Best Budget: Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Charcoal Charcoal Device only
The Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Charcoal Charcoal Device only offers exceptional performance and value for smart home automation.
Key Features:
- Our best sounding Echo Dot yet – Enjoy an improved audio experience compared to any previous Echo Dot with Alexa for clearer vocals, deeper bass and vibrant sound in any room.
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Designed to protect your privacy – Amazon is not in the business of selling your personal information to others. Built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a mic off button.
- Do more with device pairing– Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, create a home theatre system with Fire TV, or extend wifi coverage with a compatible eero network so you can say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering.
Product Details:
- Current Price: Check Amazon for current price
- Customer Rating: 4.6/5
- Reviews: See Amazon customer reviews
Why We Love It: This product delivers outstanding performance with reliable smart home integration and user-friendly features.
Best For:
- Smart home enthusiasts
- Users seeking reliable automation
- Those wanting premium features
- Value-conscious buyers
🗣️ Best with Screen: Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Deep Sea Blue Deep Sea Blue Device only
The Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Deep Sea Blue Deep Sea Blue Device only offers exceptional performance and value for smart home automation.
Key Features:
- Our best sounding Echo Dot yet – Enjoy an improved audio experience compared to any previous Echo Dot with Alexa for clearer vocals, deeper bass and vibrant sound in any room.
- Your favorite music and content – Play music, audiobooks, and podcasts from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and others or via Bluetooth throughout your home.
- Alexa is happy to help – Ask Alexa for weather updates and to set hands-free timers, get answers to your questions and even hear jokes. Need a few extra minutes in the morning? Just tap your Echo Dot to snooze your alarm.
- Keep your home comfortable – Control compatible smart home devices with your voice and routines triggered by built-in motion or indoor temperature sensors. Create routines to automatically turn on lights when you walk into a room, or start a fan if the inside temperature goes above your comfort zone.
- Designed to protect your privacy – Amazon is not in the business of selling your personal information to others. Built with multiple layers of privacy controls, including a mic off button.
- Do more with device pairing– Fill your home with music using compatible Echo devices in different rooms, create a home theatre system with Fire TV, or extend wifi coverage with a compatible eero network so you can say goodbye to drop-offs and buffering.
Product Details:
- Current Price: Check Amazon for current price
- Customer Rating: 4.6/5
- Reviews: See Amazon customer reviews
Why We Love It: This product delivers outstanding performance with reliable smart home integration and user-friendly features.
Best For:
- Smart home enthusiasts
- Users seeking reliable automation
- Those wanting premium features
- Value-conscious buyers
💰 Best Google Assistant: Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) | Smart display with Alexa and 2 MP camera | Deep Sea Blue
The Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) | Smart display with Alexa and 2 MP camera | Deep Sea Blue offers exceptional performance and value for smart home automation.
Key Features:
- See your day clearly with Alexa at the ready - Set alarms and timers, check your calendar or the news, make video calls with the 2 MP camera, and stream music or shows - all with your voice.
- Add Alexa to your nightstand - Ease into the day with a routine that turns compatible lights on gradually. Or wake up to your news update, the weather forecast, and your favorite music.
- Manage your smart home - Look in when you're away with the built-in camera. Control compatible devices like cameras, lights, and more using the interactive display, your voice, or your motion.
- Connect with video calling - Use the 2 MP camera to call friends and family who have the Alexa app or an Echo device with a screen. Make announcements to other compatible devices in your home.
- Be entertained - Ask Alexa to play TV shows and movies via Prime Video, Netflix, and more on the 5.5" screen. Or stream favorites from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, and others. Subscriptions for some services required.
- Put photos on (smart) display - Use Amazon Photos to turn your home screen into a digital frame.
Product Details:
- Current Price: Check Amazon for current price
- Customer Rating: 4.6/5
- Reviews: See Amazon customer reviews
Why We Love It: This product delivers outstanding performance with reliable smart home integration and user-friendly features.
Best For:
- Smart home enthusiasts
- Users seeking reliable automation
- Those wanting premium features
- Value-conscious buyers
Buying Guide
What to Look For
When choosing the best smart speakers, consider these essential factors:
- Compatibility: Ensure the device works with your existing smart home ecosystem
- Features: Look for the specific features that match your needs and budget
- Installation: Consider whether you prefer DIY setup or professional installation
- Connectivity: Check for reliable Wi-Fi connectivity and app support
- Integration: Verify compatibility with voice assistants and smart home platforms
Price Ranges
- Budget Options: Under $50 - Basic smart features with app control
- Mid-Range: $50-$150 - Advanced features with better build quality
- Premium: $150+ - Top-tier features, premium materials, and advanced AI
Installation Tips
- Check compatibility with your existing setup before purchasing
- Read the manual thoroughly before beginning installation
- Test connectivity in your intended location
- Download the app and create an account before starting
- Consider professional installation for complex setups
Final Recommendations
For best overall, the Echo Dot (4th Gen) | Smart speaker with Alexa | Glacier White Glacier White Echo Dot offers excellent smart home control. For best budget, the Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Charcoal Charcoal Device only offers excellent smart home control. For best with screen, the Amazon Echo Dot (newest model), Vibrant sounding Alexa speaker, Great for bedrooms, dining rooms and offices, Deep Sea Blue Deep Sea Blue Device only offers excellent smart home control. For best google assistant, the Echo Show 5 (2nd Gen, 2021 release) | Smart display with Alexa and 2 MP camera | Deep Sea Blue offers excellent smart home control.
Remember to check current prices and availability on Amazon, as deals and promotions change frequently. Consider your specific needs, budget, and existing smart home setup when making your final decision.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. This helps support our site and allows us to continue providing helpful reviews and recommendations.