Written by: The Voice Assistant Advisor
You’ve probably heard your kids or grandkids talking to their smart speakers – “Alexa, what’s the weather?” or “Hey Google, set a timer for 10 minutes.” Maybe you’ve seen these devices in their homes and wondered if one would be helpful for you too. But then the questions start piling up: Which one is better? What’s the difference? Are they hard to use? Do you really need one?
Here’s the truth: both Amazon Alexa and Google Home are excellent voice assistants that can genuinely make your daily life easier. They can call people for you, remind you to take medication, answer questions, play music, control your smart home devices, and so much more – all without you having to touch anything. For seniors specifically, voice assistants offer incredible benefits for independence and safety.
But Alexa and Google Home aren’t identical. They have different strengths, different interfaces, and work better in different situations. The good news? Once you understand what each one does well, choosing the right one for your needs becomes pretty straightforward.
Don’t want to read all this? Contact Teach Me Tech OC for personal, in-home help in Orange County. We’ll help you choose between Alexa and Google Home based on your specific needs, set up whichever one makes sense for you, teach you all the helpful voice commands, and make sure it’s working perfectly before we leave. Visit us at teachmetechoc.com or give us a call – we’re here to help!
Quick Overview: Choosing Between Alexa and Google Home for Seniors
In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll cover everything you need to know about Alexa and Google Home, including:
- What Alexa and Google Home actually are and how they work
- The key differences between these two voice assistants
- Which one is easier for seniors to use
- Voice command comparisons for common tasks
- Smart home compatibility and integration
- Privacy and security considerations
- Device options and pricing for each platform
- Real-world scenarios where one works better than the other
- How to make your final decision
By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly which voice assistant is right for your situation, and you’ll feel confident about bringing one into your home.
Understanding What These Devices Actually Are
Let’s start with the basics. Both Alexa and Google Home are voice assistants – software that listens to your voice commands and responds by answering questions, performing tasks, or controlling other devices. They live inside physical speakers that you place around your home.
Amazon Alexa runs on devices called Echo speakers. When you say “Alexa” followed by a command, the device wakes up and listens. Alexa was the first major voice assistant to hit the market back in 2014, so it’s had more time to develop and integrate with other products.
Google Home (now technically called Google Assistant, but most people still say Google Home) runs on devices called Nest speakers or Google Home speakers. You wake it up by saying “Hey Google” or “OK Google” followed by your command. Google launched their assistant in 2016, building on Google’s massive search engine and knowledge base.
Both assistants work the same basic way: you speak to them, they process your voice in the cloud (over your WiFi), and they respond either with spoken information or by performing an action like playing music or turning on a smart light.
The physical speakers come in different sizes and prices. Small bedside speakers cost around $50, mid-sized room speakers cost around $100, and premium speakers with better sound quality cost $200-300. Both companies also make smart displays – speakers with screens – which cost a bit more but show visual information along with speaking to you.
The Biggest Differences Between Alexa and Google Home
While both assistants can do many of the same things, there are meaningful differences that affect which one might be better for you.
Search and Knowledge:
Google Home has a significant advantage here because it’s connected to Google’s search engine – the same one you use on your computer. When you ask Google Home a factual question, it pulls from that enormous knowledge base and usually gives very accurate, detailed answers.
Alexa uses multiple sources including Bing and Wikipedia for factual questions. It’s generally accurate but sometimes gives less complete answers than Google Home, or occasionally says “I don’t know” when Google would have an answer.
For seniors who enjoy learning new things or asking lots of questions, Google Home’s superior knowledge base is a real benefit.
Shopping and Integration:
Alexa wins this category because Amazon owns it. You can easily add items to your Amazon shopping cart, reorder products you buy regularly, and even make purchases using just your voice. If you already shop on Amazon frequently, this integration is seamless and convenient.
Google Home can help with shopping through Google Shopping, but it’s not as developed or easy to use as Alexa’s Amazon integration.
For seniors who order household items or groceries online regularly, Alexa’s Amazon integration is incredibly convenient.
Natural Conversation:
Google Home generally understands natural language better than Alexa. You can speak more casually, use different phrasings, and Google usually figures out what you mean. You can also ask follow-up questions without repeating the wake word.
Alexa has improved significantly in understanding natural speech, but it can still be a bit more literal. Sometimes you need to phrase things in specific ways for Alexa to understand.
For seniors who might struggle with remembering exact command phrases, Google Home’s flexibility is helpful.
Skills vs Actions:
Alexa calls its third-party integrations “Skills” – there are over 100,000 Skills available that extend what Alexa can do. These range from meditation guides to trivia games to specific smart home device controls. You browse the Alexa app to enable skills you want.
Google calls similar capabilities “Actions” and has fewer of them than Alexa (around 10,000), but Google’s Actions tend to work more automatically without needing separate activation.
For seniors who want lots of specific capabilities and don’t mind enabling them individually, Alexa’s larger skill library is advantageous.
Calling Features:
Both can make calls, but they work differently. Alexa can call any phone number in the US and Canada for free, and can also call other Alexa devices (your daughter’s Echo, for example). Google Home can also call any US and Canadian number for free and call other Google devices.
The difference: Alexa’s calling interface is generally simpler and more reliable for calling regular phone numbers. Google Home’s calling uses Google Duo for device-to-device video calls, which works great but requires the other person to have Google Duo set up.
For seniors who primarily want to call family members on their regular phones, both work fine, but Alexa’s implementation is slightly more straightforward.
Which Voice Assistant Is Actually Easier for Seniors to Use?
This is the question we get asked most often in Orange County homes. The honest answer: both are quite easy to use for basic functions, but Google Home has a slight edge in overall ease of use for seniors.
Why Google Home might be easier:
The wake phrase “Hey Google” or “OK Google” feels more natural to most people than saying “Alexa.” You’re literally talking to Google like you’d talk to a person asking for help.
Google is more forgiving with command phrasing. If you say something slightly wrong or use different words than expected, Google usually figures out what you meant. Alexa sometimes requires more precise phrasing.
Google Home’s app is simpler and cleaner. The Google Home app (used to set up and control your device) has a straightforward interface that’s easier to navigate than Alexa’s more complex app.
Why Alexa might be easier:
The wake word “Alexa” is short and distinct, making it less likely to accidentally trigger. Google Home sometimes activates when it hears similar-sounding words in conversation or on TV.
Alexa’s voice is very clear and speaks at a good pace. Some seniors find Google’s voice slightly too fast or harder to understand.
Alexa’s routines (automated sequences of actions) are easier to set up and modify in the app. If you want morning automation like news, weather, and lights turning on, Alexa makes this more intuitive.
The bottom line: Try saying both wake phrases out loud right now. Which feels more comfortable? That’s often the best indicator of which you’ll enjoy using more.
Voice Commands: Side-by-Side Comparison
Let’s look at how you’d accomplish common tasks with each assistant. You’ll notice they’re very similar – once you learn one, you could easily use the other.
Playing Music:
- Alexa: “Alexa, play oldies music” or “Alexa, play Frank Sinatra”
- Google: “Hey Google, play oldies music” or “Hey Google, play Frank Sinatra”
Both work with multiple music services (Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, etc.). Amazon Music works best with Alexa, YouTube Music works best with Google Home.
Setting Reminders:
- Alexa: “Alexa, remind me to take my medication at 8 AM every day”
- Google: “Hey Google, remind me to take my medication at 8 AM every day”
Both will alert you with a sound and spoken reminder at the scheduled time. Google shows reminders in Google Calendar and on your Android phone if you have one. Alexa shows them in the Alexa app.
Making Phone Calls:
- Alexa: “Alexa, call Susan” or “Alexa, call 949-555-0123”
- Google: “Hey Google, call Susan” or “Hey Google, call 949-555-0123”
Both require you to have contacts set up in their respective apps first. Both can call landlines and cell phones.
Getting Weather Information:
- Alexa: “Alexa, what’s the weather today?”
- Google: “Hey Google, what’s the weather today?”
Both give current conditions and forecast. Google tends to give more detailed forecasts by default.
Controlling Smart Home Devices:
- Alexa: “Alexa, turn on the living room lights” or “Alexa, set thermostat to 72”
- Google: “Hey Google, turn on the living room lights” or “Hey Google, set thermostat to 72”
Both work with most major smart home brands. Alexa has broader compatibility overall, but Google works with all the major ones that matter.
Asking Questions:
- Alexa: “Alexa, how many ounces are in a cup?” or “Alexa, who was the 32nd president?”
- Google: “Hey Google, how many ounces are in a cup?” or “Hey Google, who was the 32nd president?”
Google usually provides more comprehensive answers to factual questions. Alexa is fine for basic questions but sometimes struggles with more complex or nuanced queries.
Getting News:
- Alexa: “Alexa, what’s the news?” or “Alexa, play NPR news”
- Google: “Hey Google, what’s the news?” or “Hey Google, play NPR news”
Both let you customize which news sources you want to hear. Alexa’s news briefing feature is slightly more polished.
Smart Home Integration: Which Works Better?
If you have or plan to get smart home devices (smart lights, thermostats, locks, etc.), compatibility matters.
Alexa’s Smart Home Advantages:
Alexa works with more devices overall – over 100,000 compatible smart home products. If you have an obscure or older smart home device, it’s more likely to work with Alexa than Google Home.
Alexa’s smart home grouping and routines are more flexible. You can create complex automations easily – like “when I say goodnight, turn off all lights, lock the front door, set the thermostat to 68, and play sleep sounds.”
Ring devices (doorbells, cameras) are owned by Amazon and integrate seamlessly with Alexa. If you have Ring products, Alexa is the natural choice.
Google Home’s Smart Home Advantages:
Nest products (thermostats, cameras, doorbells, smoke detectors) are made by Google and integrate perfectly with Google Home. If you have Nest products, Google is the obvious choice.
Google Home’s voice control for smart home devices feels more natural and conversational. You can say things like “make it cooler” instead of exact temperature commands.
Google Home can control multiple devices with better context understanding. If you say “turn on the lights” from the bedroom, it knows you probably mean bedroom lights, not the whole house.
The reality for most Orange County seniors: Both platforms work great with major smart home brands like Philips Hue lights, Ecobee thermostats, August locks, and Samsung SmartThings. Unless you’re heavily invested in Ring (choose Alexa) or Nest (choose Google), either will work fine.
Privacy and Security Considerations
This is an important topic, especially for seniors who are rightfully cautious about technology and privacy.
How Both Assistants Handle Privacy:
Both Alexa and Google Home only listen for their wake word. They’re not recording everything you say all day long. The device listens locally for “Alexa” or “Hey Google,” and only when it hears that does it actually start recording and sending audio to the cloud for processing.
That said, mistakes happen. Both devices sometimes wake up accidentally when they mishear something on TV or in conversation as their wake word. When this happens, they might record a few seconds of audio before realizing their error.
Both companies allow you to review and delete your voice recordings through their apps. You can see what the device heard and delete any recordings you don’t want stored.
Both have physical mute buttons. Press the button on top of the device and the microphone turns completely off – the device can’t hear anything. A red light indicates the microphone is muted.
Which Is More Privacy-Focused?
Google has faced more scrutiny over privacy practices because of its search engine and ad business. However, Google has implemented strong privacy controls for Home devices, including the ability to auto-delete recordings after a set time period.
Amazon has also had privacy concerns, particularly around how many employees review voice recordings to improve the service. However, you can opt out of having your recordings reviewed by humans in the Alexa privacy settings.
Our recommendation for privacy-conscious seniors: Either device is fine if you use the privacy controls available. Set recordings to auto-delete after 3 months, review privacy settings during setup, and use the mute button when having sensitive conversations. We help all our Orange County clients configure these privacy settings during installation.
Device Options and What to Buy
Both Amazon and Google make several different devices at various price points. Here’s what makes sense for seniors:
For Alexa:
Echo Dot (around $50): Small, affordable, decent sound for a bedroom or small room. Great starter device to see if you like using Alexa.
Echo (around $100): Better sound quality, good for living rooms or kitchens. This is the “standard” Echo and what most people choose.
Echo Show 5 or 8 (around $90-130): Echo with a screen. The screen shows information visually, displays lyrics when playing music, and allows video calling. Many seniors love having the visual component.
Echo Show 10 (around $250): Larger screen that rotates to follow you around the room. More expensive but great for video calling with grandkids.
For Google Home:
Nest Mini (around $50): Small, affordable, Google’s version of the Echo Dot. Perfect for bedrooms or small spaces.
Nest Audio (around $100): Better sound, good room coverage. The standard choice for most people.
Nest Hub (around $100): Google’s device with a screen. Shows visual information, photos, recipes, video calling. Very popular with seniors.
Nest Hub Max (around $230): Larger screen with a camera for video calling. The camera can also monitor your home for security.
Our recommendation: Start with one mid-range device with a screen (Echo Show 8 or Nest Hub). The screen makes everything easier to understand, especially when you’re learning. You can always add cheaper screen-free devices in other rooms later if you like it.
Real Scenarios: Which One Wins?
Let’s walk through some specific situations to see which assistant works better:
Scenario 1: You want to video call your grandkids regularly
Winner: Slight edge to Google Home with Nest Hub Max. Google Duo video calling works really well, and the larger screen on the Max is great for seeing grandkids clearly. However, Alexa with Echo Show also does this well, so either works fine.
Scenario 2: You order household items from Amazon regularly
Winner: Alexa, hands down. “Alexa, order more paper towels” is incredibly convenient when you’re already an Amazon customer.
Scenario 3: You ask lots of questions about history, nature, or other topics
Winner: Google Home. Its connection to Google’s search engine means more accurate, detailed answers to factual questions.
Scenario 4: You have a Ring video doorbell
Winner: Alexa. “Alexa, show me the front door” on an Echo Show displays your Ring doorbell camera feed perfectly.
Scenario 5: You have a Nest thermostat
Winner: Google Home. Native integration means better voice control and more natural commands.
Scenario 6: You want simple medication reminders
Winner: Tie. Both handle reminders equally well.
Scenario 7: You’re hard of hearing and need clear, loud responses
Winner: Slight edge to Alexa. Most people find Alexa’s voice clearer and easier to understand, and Echo devices tend to have slightly better speakers than similar-priced Google devices.
Scenario 8: You frequently forget exactly how to phrase commands
Winner: Google Home. Its better natural language processing means you can say things in various ways and it usually understands.
The Decision Framework: How to Choose
Here’s a simple way to decide between Alexa and Google Home:
Choose Alexa if:
- You shop on Amazon regularly and want voice ordering
- You have Ring security devices
- You want the largest selection of skills and third-party integrations
- You prefer a shorter, simpler wake word
- Your family members use Alexa (easier to call between devices)
- You want more flexibility in setting up routines and automations
Choose Google Home if:
- You have an Android phone and use Google services (Gmail, Calendar, Maps)
- You have Nest products (thermostat, doorbell, cameras)
- You ask a lot of factual questions and want detailed answers
- You prefer more natural, conversational interactions
- You have YouTube TV or YouTube Premium and want easy voice control
- Your family uses Google Assistant
Choose either one (both are great) if:
- You primarily want help with basic tasks like reminders, timers, and weather
- You want to make hands-free phone calls
- You want to play music or audiobooks
- You need medication reminders
- You want to control mainstream smart home devices like Philips Hue lights
What Our Orange County Clients Choose
We’ve set up dozens of voice assistants for seniors throughout Orange County, and here’s what we’ve noticed:
Seniors who are already comfortable with technology tend to prefer Google Home because they appreciate its smarter responses and natural conversation ability.
Seniors who are newer to technology often prefer Alexa because the wake word is easier to remember and say consistently, and the Alexa app feels less overwhelming.
Seniors who live near family members often choose whichever assistant their kids or grandkids use, making it easier for family to help troubleshoot remotely and for device-to-device calling.
Seniors in smart homes with Ring security choose Alexa. Seniors in smart homes with Nest products choose Google Home. Those with neither choose based on other factors.
Cost is rarely the deciding factor – both have affordable options, and the difference between similar devices is usually only $10-20.
The truth is, we’ve never had a client express serious regret about their choice. Both assistants are good enough that once you start using one and it becomes part of your routine, you’re happy with it.
Getting Started: Setup and Learning
Whichever assistant you choose, the initial setup process is similar and straightforward:
Basic setup steps for both (just 6 simple steps):
- Plug in your device and wait for it to light up and speak to you
- Download the app (Alexa app or Google Home app) on your phone or tablet
- Follow the in-app setup instructions to connect the device to your WiFi
- Add your contacts so you can make calls by saying people’s names
- Set your location so weather and local information is accurate
- Try basic commands to get comfortable with how it works
After setup, start simple. Use your voice assistant for just a few things at first – checking weather, setting timers, playing music. As you get comfortable, gradually explore more features.
Most voice assistants can announce what they can do if you ask. Say “Alexa, what can you do?” or “Hey Google, what are your features?” to hear suggestions.
The learning curve is genuinely gentle. Within a week of regular use, most seniors feel completely comfortable with basic commands. Within a month, they’re using features they never imagined they’d understand.
We’ve set up voice assistants for seniors in their 90s who’d never used much technology beyond a basic cell phone, and they took to it beautifully. The voice interface feels more natural than tapping buttons or navigating apps.
Common Concerns and Misconceptions
“I’ll feel silly talking to a robot.”
This feeling is normal at first but fades quickly. Within days, talking to your assistant feels as natural as talking to anyone else. Nobody else can hear you, and the device doesn’t judge you, so there’s really nothing to feel self-conscious about.
“It’ll be listening to all my conversations.”
Not really. It only actively listens and records after hearing the wake word. Yes, it’s technically always “listening” for that wake word, but this happens locally on the device without any recording or transmission until the wake word is detected.
“I won’t remember all the commands.”
You don’t need to memorize anything. Start with a few basics, and expand naturally over time. Both devices understand variations of commands, so you don’t have to say things exactly right. If you forget how to do something, just ask: “Alexa, how do I set a reminder?” or “Hey Google, help me make a phone call.”
“What if I get the wrong one?”
Honestly, you can’t really go wrong. Both are excellent. And if you genuinely dislike your choice after a few weeks (which rarely happens), you can return it or just buy the other one – they’re not expensive enough to stress about getting it “perfect.”
“My privacy will be compromised.”
Both Amazon and Google take privacy seriously, and both provide controls to protect your information. Use the mute button when needed, review privacy settings, and set recordings to auto-delete. Your risk from a voice assistant is minimal compared to the privacy you’ve already given up by using smartphones, computers, and the internet.
We’ll Help You Choose and Set Up the Perfect Voice Assistant
If you’re interested in getting a voice assistant but aren’t sure which one to choose or how to set it up, that’s exactly what we help with.
What we’ll do:
- Come to your home anywhere in Orange County (or help via video call)
- Discuss your specific needs and tech comfort level
- Recommend either Alexa or Google Home based on your situation
- Help you choose which specific device makes sense (with or without screen, which size)
- Order the device for you if needed, or work with one you’ve already purchased
- Unbox and set up the device completely
- Connect it to your WiFi network
- Download and set up the mobile app on your phone or tablet
- Add all your important contacts for calling
- Configure privacy settings according to your preferences
- Teach you the most useful voice commands for your needs
- Set up medication reminders or other recurring alerts
- Connect any smart home devices you have
- Practice making calls, asking questions, and using key features
- Create a personalized cheat sheet of commands you’ll use most
- Check back in a week to answer any new questions
Cities we serve:
- Irvine, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Dana Point
- Aliso Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, Rancho Santa Margarita
- Lake Forest, Laguna Niguel, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa
- San Clemente, Tustin, Foothill Ranch, Laguna Beach
- And everywhere else in Orange County
Don’t spend another day wondering which voice assistant is right for you or feeling intimidated by the setup process. Reach out to us at Teach Me Tech OC, and let’s get you talking to Alexa or Google and enjoying all the convenience and independence a voice assistant provides.