The Best Alexa

May 06, 2024

We’ve updated this guide to reflect our current picks.

Imagine walking into your home at night, arms overflowing with groceries. Even if you’ve installed smart lights, you’d need to put the bags down, pull out your phone, unlock it, open the app, find the control for the lights you want, and then tap the icon—might as well just stick with a plain old wired switch. But with an Amazon Echo and Alexa, you simply say, “Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights.” And it’s not just lights; Alexa is capable of controlling everything from basic smart plugs to garage doors.

The fourth-generation Amazon Echo lets you use voice commands to play music, order pizza, and get answers to questions. And it can control popular smart-home devices and 10,000-plus other things.

All three smart-speaker platforms (Alexa, Google Assistant, and to a lesser degree, Siri) can control a variety of smart-home devices and add an extra level of convenience to your smart-home system. We think Amazon’s Alexa has a slight edge over the others because it works with more devices, and the wider family of Amazon Echo products makes it easier to fit them everyplace in your home. However, if you already have a Google Home speaker, the differences aren’t large enough for you to need to switch platforms. We have guides for the best devices to use with Google Assistant and Siri/HomeKit.

The Amazon Echo (or Echo Dot) offers a convenient interface for your smart home and provides functionality that an app on your phone can’t. If you already have some Alexa-compatible devices or one of the three major smart-home hubs (SmartThings, Wink, or Insteon), adding an Echo can make accessing those devices more interesting and convenient. Taking advantage of its near-instantaneous response time and reliable voice-recognition processing is significantly faster than pulling out your phone and opening an app just to turn the lights on or off. Some products, such as Philips Hue lights and Nest thermostats, have native Alexa support, while others require you to enable a third-party Skill. We tested plenty of both varieties to come up with the best-performing and most reliable recommendations, which we’re continually testing to ensure that each new firmware and app update meets our high standards.

Over the past several years, Wirecutter’s editors and writers have tested just about every smart-home device of consequence. As more people end up buying smart speakers and platform support gets more and more important, we wanted to provide one place where you could access all of our picks that are compatible with the devices you already own, across all of our smart-home recommendations. Because these devices receive regular updates with additional compatibility and new features, we are continually testing and reevaluating our picks in our own homes to confirm that they still meet our recommendation standards. We’ll update this guide as we learn new information, but be sure to read the full reviews if you’d like more details and test notes.

If you don’t yet have an Alexa-enabled device, or you want to learn more about what Alexa is and what you can do with these things, check out our full guide to Alexa and Amazon’s Echo line of smart speakers.

Though it’s cheaper than most other smart bulbs, the Wiz emits bold colors, has useful Scenes (presets of color and dimness), and works with Amazon Alexa.

The Philips Wiz Smart Wi-Fi LED Color Bulb is our pick for the best smart light bulb. The Philips Wiz bulb works with Alexa, allowing you to turn multiple lights on and off, dim them, change a bulb’s color, and even create light groups to enable color schemes throughout the house on command. It’s the only Wi-Fi color bulb we’ve tested that provides a Vacation Mode, a preset that randomly turns a bulb (or many bulbs) on and off to make it appear as if you’re home when you’re not. Note that Philips Wiz bulbs aren’t compatible with Philips Hue bulbs, though, so if you’re already using Hue bulbs, stick with them instead.

Our runner-up pick, the Cree Lighting Connected Max Tunable White + Color Bulb, also works with Alexa. It’s about the same price as the Philips and includes a lot of the same features. But it doesn’t have the same color range and isn’t able to dim as low, and we found the app to be a bit confusing.

The least expensive smart plug we’ve ever tested is also compact, reliable, easy to use, and supports Alexa.

The Wyze Plug works reliably, has an app that’s easy to use, and can even track usage of whatever you plug into it, a feature typically found on more expensive smart plugs. You can schedule the plug to go on and off based on the time of day and the day of the week, but it doesn’t offer scheduling based on local sunrise and sunset as some models do. You can still program that option through integration with Amazon Alexa, and, since you get two for the price, you can control two lamps, fans, or whatever else you want to turn smart.

Although pricier than the Wyze, the Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Outdoor Plug (KP400) is built to weather the outdoors, with an operating-temperature range of -4 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s Alexa-compatible and features two outlets that you can control independently using the sound of your voice.

This reliable, affordable dimmer switch communicates via Wi-Fi, so it doesn’t need a hub, and it works with Amazon Alexa.

TP-Link’s Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Light Switch Dimmer HS220 is our top in-wall smart light-switch pick for a reason—it’s reliable, easy to use, and affordable enough that you can reasonably add a bunch of them around the house. This dimmer switch connects directly to your Wi-Fi network and has three buttons to control lighting (on/off and dim), and the easy-to-navigate app allows you to customize the controls, create automated schedules, and control grouped switches simultaneously. The HS220 also integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, so you can tie lights to voice commands and give specific requests like “Alexa, dim the living room to 25%.”

Nest’s most-advanced smart thermostat features a larger, crisper, and more useful display and has wide compatibility with HVAC systems and smart-home platforms like Alexa.

What’s the current temperature setting on your Google Nest Learning Thermostat? Ask Alexa. The voice assistant can also raise and lower temperatures or set our top smart-thermostat pick to Away mode. If you don’t use the Nest’s geofencing features (and many people don’t), the ability to verbally adjust temperature settings can be a favorite feature. Multiple-thermostat owners can also call for specific devices by naming each Nest.

The Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control works with Alexa in the same way as the Nest, and actually has the voice assistant built in, so you have no need for a separate device. You can just say, “Alexa, tell Ecobee I’m hot,” and the assistant will adjust the temperature a few degrees for you. Another big difference between the two smart thermostats is that the Ecobee model includes a sensor that you can place in any room, so you can ask Alexa about the temperature all around your home, and you can connect up to 32 sensors total.

This affordable robot vacuum is quiet, fits under more furniture than any other model we’ve tested, and can be controlled using Alexa.

Few people love vacuuming. Of course, robot vacuums make the chore as easy as pushing a button. However, the Eufy RoboVac 15C ensures that you never even have to lift that one finger, thanks to Alexa integration.

Alexa allows you to bark out orders to command this Wi-Fi–connected robot to start, stop, or resume cleaning. You can even ask Alexa to locate the little bugger if it’s gone rogue and wandered off into another part of the house. This model is a connected version of our pick, the Eufy RoboVac 11S, which you can read more about in our guide to the best robot vacuums.

This indoor security camera allows you to call up 2K peeks at your home using the Echo Show.

Adding Alexa control to Wi-Fi security cameras allows you to arm and disarm cameras as you enter and exit your home, as well as to call up specific cameras located around the house to view live feeds through the Echo Show.

Eufy’s Solo IndoorCam C24 works with the Echo Show, so you can call up live video feeds from different devices around your house.

If you’re looking to get a glimpse outdoors, the Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera captures 2K resolution video and has color night vision. Because it’s battery-powered, it can install almost anywhere. If you don’t mind dealing with a cord, the Wyze Cam v3 is our favorite affordable outdoor security camera, and it can be placed both indoors and outdoors.

This compact, versatile, and quiet smart lock’s top feature is a fast fingerprint reader, and its rubber number keys will please most anyone.

For easy keyless entry to your home via smartphone or keypad, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro (with Bridge) can’t be beat. With the help of the Ultraloq Bridge, you have the ability to use Alexa to check door lock status or lock the door at bedtime. Our favorite Alexa-compatible smart lock includes a handy keypad, making it easy for guests to use.

If you aren’t able to replace your deadbolt, try the Wyze Lock instead. This affordable adapter model attaches to your existing keyway and all its smart bits are tucked into the internal housing. The Wyze Lock can pair with Alexa to let you use voice commands to lock the door, or use Alexa to unlock the door if you program a PIN code.

This affordable smart doorbell packs in a lot of complex features, including a 2K image, person detection, local storage, customizable responses, and a separate wireless chime.

As we describe in our guide to smart doorbell cameras, the Arlo Video Doorbell pairs with the Alexa app to set up Routines or enable notifications.

The iSmartGate Pro offers more features than the competition, including direct camera integration, geofencing, HomeKit compatibility, and local control, but those come at a relatively steep price.

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The iSmartGate Pro is our favorite smart garage-door controller with Alexa support—when you’re carrying groceries, luggage, or children, you can ask Alexa to open and close the door and have it respond accordingly. As our upgrade pick, it can even integrate cameras, so you can view the status of your door from the app.

Rachio’s smart sprinkler, the easiest model we tested, allows you to call up a quick shower for shrubs using Alexa voice commands.

The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller can smarten up yard work with an easy-to-use interface and Alexa support. That means you can ask Alexa to have the system turn on and off, water specific zones, and delay run times. As we mention in our guide, the one drawback is that this system lacks any type of local control, so if your Internet service is down, you won’t be able to make any schedule adjustments.

Roku’s 4K media streamer is the easiest way to incorporate Alexa into channel surfing.

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You can find a lot of devices that allow you to get your Netflix, Amazon Video, Hulu, or other streaming fix—and not just in our guide to the best media streaming devices. However, the Roku Streaming Stick+ packs in support for 4K content and an especially user-friendly interface. Having voice control can save you a lot of time and help you avoid the hassle that comes with navigating tens of thousands of streaming options. You can also use one voice command to fire up Netflix, find episodes of The Good Place, or even compile a collection of rom-coms. In this situation, it may also be helpful that Alexa can also order a pizza, with the right Skill enabled.

One of the smallest and most powerful sous vide options available, this model adds Alexa to the cooking process to tweak temperatures and get extra help in the kitchen.

For the most part, Alexa’s kitchen utility is limited to its timer-setting abilities and basic recipe-reading Skills. But some appliances are beginning to integrate voice controls to varying degrees of success. Web-enabled sous vide circulators are among the earliest adopters thus far.

Cooking sous vide (French for “under vacuum”) allows you to experience restaurant-quality dishes at home by submerging vacuum-sealed food in a water bath. These cookers have been available for home use for a while and recently have become very affordable—and also very high-tech.

Putting an Echo speaker in your kitchen lets you rock out while preparing a meal. Now it can also help you cook. Although our top sous vide pick doesn’t have Alexa capability, our runner-up, the Breville Joule, does, making it the perfect sous chef. You can call out to check the status of a steak, adjust temperatures, and even get a little extra direction.

Rachel Cericola

Rachel Cericola is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter who has been covering smart-home technology since the days of X10. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Wired, Men’s Health, USA Today, and others. She hopes her neighbors read this bio because it would explain why she always has four video doorbells running simultaneously outside her home.

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