The best Alexa speakers 2024: top Alexa smart speakers to control your home

best Alexa speakers
(Image credit: Future)

The best Alexa speakers are smart speakers that let you interact with Alexa and control your smart home devices. Considering Amazon's voice assistant is one of the most ubiquitous ones out there, you’ll want one of these speakers if any of your smart home devices work with Alexa. After all, you can pull up the weather or the latest score on a game or even adjust smart devices in your home.

As you’ll notice, a majority of the best options are directly from Amazon. However, some brands like Sonos or JBL offer some fantastic alternatives that are not only among the best smart speakers with Alexa integration, but also bring a higher level of audio quality. 

Between Amazon and the slew of third-party options, there are plenty of sizes and shapes at different price points. There are even some smart displays that add in a screen with the smart speaker functionality – perfect if you have a security camera, video doorbell, or just want to pull up a recipe without breaking out a computer.

Since Alexa can control a whole lot of devices, whether you own smart lights, smart thermostats, smart plugs, and even smart switches, you can do a lot to make your space more comfortable with just your voice. You just need one of the best Alexa speakers for that level of convenience. 

The best Alexa speaker 2024

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The sonos one in white on a white background

(Image credit: Sonos)
The best Alexa speaker on the market

Specifications

Voice assistant: Alexa or Google Assistant
Dimensions: 6.36 x 4.69 x 4.69 inch / 16.15 x 11.97 x 11.97 cm
Speaker: 2 x class-D digital amplifiers, 1 x mid-woofer, 1 x tweeter
Physical controls: Volume up/down, previous/next track, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains

Reasons to buy

+
Rich sound
+
Mic array picks up commands even from a distance
+
Cna be used with Wi-Fi or ethernet

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive compared to the rest of the market

If you're looking for the best Alexa speaker, you'll be hard pushed to do better than Sonos’ debut smart speaker.  Sleek and stylish, this speaker packs a punch when it comes to sound quality, but even though it's not manufactured by Amazon, it still brings the benefits of Alexa. 

On test, we were impressed with the mic array, which ensured our voice was picked up, even from the other side of the room. It laso has both Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port, making it ideal for homes that struggle with a strong wireless internet connection. However, this is an expensive smart speaker when compared to the rest of the market. 

If you're looking for a more portable option, check out the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/sonos-move-review" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Sonos Move, which offers a similar excellent sound quality but also lets you take Alexa on the move. 

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/sonos-one-review" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Sonos One review

the Amazon Echo studio with its LED ring illuminated blue on a white background

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best Alexa speaker for home cinema set-ups

Specifications

Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.9 x 8.1 inch / 17.5 x 17.5 x 20.6 cm
Speaker: 1 x 1 inch tweeter, 3 x 2 inch mid-range speakers, 1 x 5.25 inch woofer
Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive sound quality
+
Pair two together for an affordable home cinema set up
+
Doubles as a Zigbee hub

Reasons to avoid

-
Large size won't suit all
-
Requires subscription for 3D audio

With the ability to pair two Eco Studio's together for stereo sound, and a single output of 330W, this is the best Alexa speaker if you're looking to take your <a href="https://www.techradar.com/best/best-home-theater-system-the-kit-you-need-for-that-perfect-home-cinema" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">home cinema system to the next level.

On test, we were seriously impressed by the sound quality, and the fact it doubles as a Zigbee hub too. However, the large, bulky footprint won't suit everyone and to get the best from the Alexa speaker, you'll need to subscribe to <a href="https://www.techradar.com/news/amazon-music-takes-on-tidal-with-hi-res-audio-streaming" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Music HD to enjoy the 3D immersive sound that Amazon highlights as one of its best features.

That said, it's certainly more affordable than similar speakers from rivals such as Sonos.   

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/amazon-echo-studio-review" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo Studio review

the amazon echo 2020 with its LED ring illuminated blue on a light blue background

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best Alexa speaker for smart homes

Specifications

Dimensions: 5 x 5 x 4.7 inch / 14.4 x 14.4 x 13.3 cm
Speaker: 1 x 3 inch woofer, 2 x 0.8 inch tweeter
Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains

Reasons to buy

+
Futuristic look
+
Improved sound
+
Zigbee hub integration

Reasons to avoid

-
Max volume level isn’t loud enough

Striking the right balance between price and smart home features, the latest Amazon Echo is the best Alexa Speaker for smart home control. The spherical design looks different from any Echo before it and is certainly pleasing to the eye. The audio has been improved too, but the fact that it acts as a Zigbee hub so you can control your smart home devices even when you're not at home, really makes it stand out.

The Echo’s only real issues are that its max volume level is a bit soft, especially compared to larger Alexa speakers such as the Echo Studio (above).

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazon-echo-2020" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo (2020) review

The echo dot with its LED ring illuminated blue on a white background

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best budget Alexa speaker

Specifications

Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inch / 10 x 10 x 8.9cm
Speaker: 1 x 1.6 inch speaker
Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains

Reasons to buy

+
Space-age aesthetic
+
Easy setup and integration
+
Extremely affordable

Reasons to avoid

-
Directional, shallow sound
-
No Zigbee hub inside

If you're on a tight budget, the Amazon Echo Dot is the most affordable way to get your hands on an Alexa speaker. It's ideal for those who aren’t sure about smart home tech and want to take the first step, as it provides room-filling sound and the benefits of Amazon's voice assistant for under $50 / £50 / AU$80 (it can often be found discounted during online sale periods too).

With the same space-age aesthetic as the Amazon Echo (2020) it's better-looking than previous iterations, and on test, we found it extremely easy to set up and use. However, you do comprise the sound quality, with directional and shallow audio, and there's no Zigbee hub inside, unlike its more expensive sibling.

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/audio-visual/hi-fi-and-audio/audio-systems/amazon-echo-dot-1328595/review/reviews/amazon-echo-dot-2020" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo Dot (2020) review

echo dot with clock 2020

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best Alexa speaker for the bedroom

Specifications

Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inch / 10 x 10 x 8.9cm
Speaker: 1 x 1.6 inch speaker
Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains

Reasons to buy

+
Builds on Echo Dot with a clock
+
Space-age aesthetic
+
Easy setup and integration

Reasons to avoid

-
Directional, shallow sound
-
No Zigbee hub inside

If you're looking for the best Alexa speaker for the bedroom, the Echo Dot with Clock (2020), is the ideal choice. It builds on the Echo Dot (above) with an illuminated display feature the current time - ideal if you wake up in the middle of the night and don't want to disturb your partner by asking "Alexa, what's the time".

It sports the same spherical design as the Amazon Echo Dot and Amazon Echo, and the rounded styling certainly fits in with home decor better than previous iterations. As you'd expect, it's also extremely easy to set up and use. However, as we've already mentioned above, as it shares the same speaker as the Echo Dot, the audio is directional and shallow, and it also lacks a Zigbee hub inside

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/amazon-echo-dot-with-clock-reviewhttps://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazon-echo-dot-with-clock-2020-review" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo Dot with Clock (2020) review

The Bose Smart Speaker 500 on a white background

(Image credit: Bose)
The best Alexa speaker for audiophiles

Specifications

Dimensions: 8.67 x 6.7 x 4.3 inch / 20.3 x 17 x 10.9 cm
Speaker: Not provided
Physical controls: Volume up/down, previous/next track, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent sound quality
+
Elegant stylish design
+
Preset buttons for quick access to playlists

Reasons to avoid

-
One of the most expensive smart speakers on the market
-
Hit and miss Wi-Fi setup

The Bose Smart Speaker 500 can certainly give the Sonos One (above) a run for its money when it comes to sound quality - making it our pick as the best Alexa speaker for audiophiles.

Its elegant design is backed up by room-filling sound while Alexa provides the smarts. On test, we were impressed with the eight microphone array, that picked up our commands to Amazon's voice assistant even when the speaker was playing music at a loud volume. We also loved the preset buttons that offer one-touch access to your favorite playlists, radio stations, or albums.

However, it's one of the most expensive smart speakers on the market, and we found setting the speaker up on a Wi-Fi network using the Bose Music app is harder than it should be.  

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/bose-home-speaker-500" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Bose Smart Speaker 500 review

sonos roam

(Image credit: Sonos)
The best portable Alexa speaker

Specifications

Dimensions: 6.61 x 2.44 x 2.36 inch / 16.8 x 6.2 x 6 cm
Speaker: 2 x Class-H digital amplifiers, 1 x tweeter, 1 x mid-woofer
Physical controls: Volume up/down, previous/next track, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Rechargeable battery that lasts 10 hours

Reasons to buy

+
Powerful audio performance
+
Battery lasts up to 10 hours
+
Rugged design

Reasons to avoid

-
Expensive compared to other Alexa speakers
-
Bass can be overwhelming

With a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 hours between charges, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, the Sonos Roam is our pick of the best portable Alexa speaker you can buy right now.

The rugged design is complemented by a bass-heavy audio performance, which makes it ideal for use outdoors, though audiophiles may dislike the overwhelming low frequencies and rhythmic handling. It's also expensive when compared to the other Alexa speaker in this list. However, we think its versatility and powerful sound will make it worth the investment for those that want the ability to use Alexa outside as well as indoors.

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/sonos-roam" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Sonos Roam review

the amazon echo show 10 showing a video call

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best Alexa speaker with a screen

Specifications

Dimensions: 9.9 x 9 x 6.7 inch / 25.1 x 23 x 17.2 cm
Speakers: 2 x 1-inch tweeters, 1 x 3-inch woofer
Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains
Screen size: 10.1-inch
Resolution: 1280 x 800
Camera: 13MP

Reasons to buy

+
Rotating display follows you around the room
+
High-quality camera is great for detailed video calls
+
Excellent voice recognition

Reasons to avoid

-
Speaker is too bassy
-
Expensive compared to the rest of the market

As we've already mentioned, some Alexa smart speakers come with a screen built-in to provide a visual interpretation of the voice assistant's responses. If this is the style of smart speaker you want in your home, then the Echo Show 10 is the best Alexa smart display you can buy right now.

The screen rotates and follows you as you move around a roo, so it's always within your gaze and there's a 13MP camera too, which has since also been added to the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/amazon-echo-show-8-2nd-gen" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Echo Show 8 (2nd generation), that uses the rotating screen to pan and zoom during video calls, so you’re always in the center of the frame. 

On test, we found the microphone array meant Alexa was responsive when it came to recognizing voices. However, we found the speaker was too bassy and its also more expensive than most of the Alexa speakers in this list.

Read our full review: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/amazon-echo-show-10-review" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo Show 10 review

The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) on a white background

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best budget Alexa speaker with a screen

Specifications

Dimensions: 5.8 x 3.4 x 2.9 inch / 14.8 x 8.6 x 7.3cm
Speaker: 1 x 1.6-inch speaker
Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains
Screen size: 5-inch
Resolution: 960 x 480
Camera: 2MP

Reasons to buy

+
Most affordable Alexa smart display with camera on the market
+
Physical camera shutter
+
Doubles as a home security camera

Reasons to avoid

-
No YouTube app
-
Low-resolution video and weak audio

Love the idea of an Alexa speaker with a screen but you're on a budget? The Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation) is worth considering. 

It's the most affordable Alexa smart display on the market right now, and certainly packs a punch when it comes to features. The camera is twice the resolution of the <a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazon-echo-show-5" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo Show 5 (2019), and like its predecessor, it has a physical camera shutter so you can be sure once and for all that you aren't be recorded or watched by accident. Even better, it doubles as a home security camera too. 

There are some compromises to keep the price so affordable -  the resolution of the screen is low, so don't expect a sharp, clear experience when watching video clips, and it lacks YouTube support, but we still think it's worth every penny.   

Read our full review: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/uk/reviews/amazon-echo-show-5-2nd-generation" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo Show 5 (2nd generation)

The Amazon Echo Dot (2020) Kids in Panda design

(Image credit: Amazon)
The best Alexa speaker for Kids

Specifications

Dimensions: 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.5 inch / 10 x 10 x 8.9cm
Speaker: 1 x 1.6 inch speaker
Physical controls: Volume up/down, play/pause, microphone mute
Power: Mains

Reasons to buy

+
Two animal designs to choose from
+
Built-in parental controls
+
Comes with a year’s free Amazon Kids+ access

Reasons to avoid

-
Most features available with any Echo
-
Some Amazon Kids+ content is unavailable

Amazon's most affordable Alexa speaker is also available in a kids edition, which comes with either a Tiger or Panda design. Slightly more expensive than the standard Amazon Echo Dot (2020) it comes bundled with a one-year’s subscription to Amazon Kids+ for unlimited access to a range of age-appropriate audiobooks, radio stations, and skills and games and is worth $99.99 / £79.99. However, some of the Amazon Kids+ content can only be used on a device that has a screen. 

The Alexa speaker also supports Amazon's parental controls so you can set time limits in the Alexa app that restrict when, and for how long, the smart speaker can be used. However, this is the case for all Echo smart speakers so if you have an unused standard version languishing in your home, it will be better value to utilize this rather than buying a brand new speaker.   

Read more: <a href="https://www.techradar.com/reviews/amazon-echo-dot-kids-review" data-link-merchant="techradar.com"">Amazon Echo Dot (2020) Kids review

How we test Alexa speakers

When it comes to putting the best Alexa speakers to the test, we evaluate the sound quality of the speaker and whether the audio is clear when listening to music, podcasts, and even the responses from Alexa. 

We assess each model on its ability to pick up your voice when issuing commands to Alexa, as well as privacy features that help ensure the smart speaker isn’t constantly watching and listening, and how compact and durable the design is.

Best Alexa Speaker FAQs

What to consider when buying an Alexa speaker

There are a number of considerations when it comes to choosing the best Alexa speaker for you. 

Do you want an Alexa speaker that just offers audible responses from Amazon’s voice assistant, or do you want a device with a screen, known as a smart display, that lets you see as well as hear Alexa’s responses? And if so, do you want a larger screen that can be easily seen in a quick glance when ou’re on the other side of the room, or do you want a smaller , more compact device? 

Next, consider where you intend to locate the Alexa speaker. Large devices are best suited to rooms with bigger footprints such as a lounge or dining room, while for bedrooms, you may want a smaller Alexa speaker so it fits neatly on your bedside table. 

If you intend to use the smart speaker as your main listening device, make sure you consider the number of speakers, and the sound output and quality it offers. Those with smaller speakers are best suited to background music, while larger smart speakers will offer a louder, more room-filling sound. Also look for models that can be paired together to create stereo sound if you’re planning to use a smart speaker as part of your home cinema set-up. 

What do Alexa speakers do?

As we’ve already mentioned, Alexa speakers can be used to listen to music but there’s also a host of other things they can do thanks to Amazon’s built-in voice assistant. To start with, they can control the playback of music for you, rather than needing to reach for your smartphone. Just ask Alexa to pause the music, skip tracks, adjust the volume or even play a specific album, track, or playlist. 

Alexa speakers can also offer up a range of information such as a weather report, the latest news headlines, or even sports scores, if you ask for them. The voice assistant can also provide trivia and answer your burning questions such as ‘who is the Queen of England’ or ‘what is the tallest mountain in the world’.

Alexa speakers can be a great way to stay in touch with family and friends by letting you make audio calls, and if you have an Alexa smart display, video calls. It can even be a source of fun by telling jokes and playing games. .  

Finally, Alexa speakers can also be used to control compatible smart home devices; for example, it can dim or brighten any smart lights you have in your home, turn the temperature up or down if you have a smart thermostat, and let you converse with anyone at your doorstep by connecting to your video doorbell. 

Josephine Watson
Managing Editor, Lifestyle

Josephine Watson (@JosieWatson) is TechRadar's Managing Editor - Lifestyle. Josephine has previously written on a variety of topics, from pop culture to gaming and even the energy industry, joining TechRadar to support general site management. She is a smart home nerd, as well as an advocate for internet safety and education, and has also made a point of using her position to fight for progression in the treatment of diversity and inclusion, mental health, and neurodiversity in corporate settings. Generally, you'll find her watching Disney movies, playing on her Switch, or showing people pictures of her cats, Mr. Smith and Heady.

With contributions from