What’s the Difference Between Alexa and Echo? All You Need to Know

Do you consider buying a smart speaker for your home but have no idea what Alexa is or Echo is? You’re not alone! Approximately nine in ten consumers have it wrong by this conclusion as they interchangeably use the two terms Alexa and Echo to mean almost the same thing. Not exactly, though. In this article, therefore, we will dissect the difference between Alexa and Echo with the intention of answering a few questions that we believe could help someone or someone who is in a dilemma on which product to buy.

What is Alexa?

For the same, Amazon created Alexa, a virtual assistant. Alexa is a cloud based Artificial Intelligence Virtual Assistant that can perform many tasks to meet users’ needs and provide answer to questions, play music, control smart home devices, make hands free call, etc. It is the smart speaker brain but it is also integrated with the majority of the third-party thermostats, lights, security cameras and so much more.

What is an Echo?

An Echo is another name for the Amazon smart speakers where Alexa is their voice assistant. As it stands, such smart speakers should work perfectly well with Alexa to manage your smart home, play music or even provide you with information without requiring any input from you other than your voice. Echo is available in various models which are, the Dot, Show and Plus, which has its own different features and functions.

Listed below are the key differences between Alexa and Echo;

However, there are couple of significant differences about Alexa and Echo even though they are very complementary pieces.

1. The virtual assistant, in that case, is Alexa, while the hardware is Echo.

It is called Alexa, the voice assistant that operates Echo, but also has applications from Amazon, and devices from other companies that can be used to control it.

2. Echo is a brand of smart speaker: Echo is a brand of smart speaker:

Now Echo is a brand name and smart speaker coming with the help of Alexa Virtual Assistant. The second smart speaker is Sonos One or the Bose Home Speaker 500 as they create Alexa compatibility as well.

3. Alexa is usable with so many devices, whereas Echo is a device

Alexa can be used with so many devices, whereas Echo is just a device: Alexa can connect to even more devices like thermostats, lights, as well as security web cams. Echo is only a kind of an obvious smart speaker that is based only on Alexa.

FAQs

Q: Is it mandatory that I have to own an Echo speaker for me to be able to use Alexa and Echo?

A: Not at all. This means that Alexa can also be accessed with help of not only the application on your phone (iPhone or Android) or tablet, but with help of third-party gadgets which are connected to Alexa.

Q: Are all the Echo speakers Alexa and what about the Echo Xen; Echo Dot; Echo Studio; and the Echo Flex?

A: Yes. Every single Echo speaker uses Alexa as the voice assistant that comes inbuilt in Echo smart speakers

Q: If at all, can Echo speaker come in contact with a virtual assistant that is not Alexa?

A: No. Echo speakers are made specifically to work only with Alexa.

Q: Am I able to control everything at home with Alexa and Echo?

A: Most definitely. With Alexa, one can manage almost all smart home technologies including thermostats, lights, security cameras and many others.

Q: How do I set Alexa to work for me on echo Dot?

A: A breeze. A user simply needs to get the Amazon Alexa application installed on their phones, connect the Echo speaker and the rest of the process of setup is explained in the application interface.

Conclusion

Thus, Alexa and Echo is a virtual assistant developed by the company Amazon while Echo is the specific smart speakers which use Alexa. In general, these terms are interchanged with each other but, so that one will be able to differentiate between Alexa and Echo, one has to understand the basic difference between the two in order to make a wise decision while trying to shop for the right smart speaker system for your home.

As with Alexa and features of Echo speakers explore the fundamental realizations as to the possibilities in the smart homes which, in turn, further help to embrace all the manifestations of the unlimited hands-free living.