Aesthetic Appeal
One of the major deciding points for people isn’t the functionality, but how good a system will look installed in their home. After all, if you install smart assistants in every room, you want them to look good and fit with the rest of the decor. On that front, neither company has a lead. Ultimately, the aesthetic appeal of the devices comes down to personal preference.
Budget
Another major factor is how much you are willing to spend. The good news is that there are smart assistants available at virtually all price points, but they are not all created equal. You have to decide what type of assistant you want. Do you want something geared towards sound, or something with a display? Do you need a small assistant that fits in a room without drawing attention, or are you looking for a balance? The prices for both are competitive, and so close that there is no clear winner in this category.
Functionality
While Google Assistant doesn’t have an easy to use Skill system, that doesn’t mean it isn’t powerful. Google Assistant is capable of doing quite a bit through Google Actions. The Google Actions system is the answer to Alexa Skills, but it isn’t as robust, expansive, or user-friendly as its counterpart. Google has a few additional features that Alexa does not, particularly on the hardware front. The Nest Home Hub Max, for example, has a Nest Camera built-in. This means your smart display can double as a home security camera. Alexa tends to be more powerful on the software front (although this isn’t true in every case), while Google Home tends to have the stronger hardware. Which one looks better to you? Since aesthetic appeal does play a large role in choosing a smart assistant, pick the one you prefer most. Finally, what is your budget? The two devices are so close in price that budget is hardly a deciding factor. The miniature, standard, and display versions of both smart assistant platforms are similarly priced. It is only when you reach the high-end of the two that prices vary, and even then it isn’t by much.
