The Ultimate Guide to Amazon Echo and Alexa Compatible Devices

Amazon Alexa has taken the smart home to a whole new level since launching the Echo smart speaker a little over four years ago. As she keeps expanding her skills and features, the AI-based personal assistant is consistently extending her reach further into your life.

Currently, she powers a vast range of compatible devices thanks to native and third-party integrations. Keeping up with the steadily growing list of ‘Works with Alexa’ devices is doubtless a challenge. But with this comprehensive guide, we have got you covered. Take a look at the devices you need to make your home really intelligent.

Controlling and connecting your smart home via Alexa has never been easier than it is today. A wide range of devices, both from Amazon and third parties, natively support the AI assistant. Let us take a look at some of them.

Amazon’s flagship smart home speaker, Echo, uses Bluetooth and Wi-Fi to offer smart home control. It features Dolby audio with far-field microphone capability and interchangeable cases to match your décor. Use your Amazon App to customize the range of Alexa skills accessible through the speaker.

As the first smart speaker in the Amazon line to feature a screen, the Echo show allows you to tap commands instead of using your voice. You can also make calls, watch videos and security cam footage and even access Amazon Prime TV on the 10.1” screen.

Just as its name suggests, the Dot is the smallest smart speaker in the Amazon Alexa range. Its key advantage is the budget-friendly price point. However, the audio quality is slightly lower than the Echo.

A blend of the Echo Dot and Show, the Spot is a small smart speaker with a display screen. Its default screen is a clock face, making it convenient for bedside use. You can use it to set alarms and timers, view news briefings and make video calls.

Use Alexa skills to enhance your sense of style and fashion. It takes photos and videos of your outfits and uses AI to make personal recommendations about the best outfit choice.

As a more premium smart speaker than the Echo, the Echo plus features all Alexa skills plus temperature control. It also has a more decent sound system with 30 volume levels and a visually attractive design.

With the Fire TV, you can access all Alexa smart home control features and navigate with greater ease between apps. Speak to her using the remote control and get personalized recommendations on TV shows and series.

Use voice control on the go with the portable Bluetooth speaker Tap. It has the majority of Echo features but is battery powered and hence portable. Choose between hands-free mode and the use of a microphone button to access Alexa.

Echo buttons are great for playing trivia games with friends and family. Since they communicate with Echo devices, all you have to do is ask Alexa for game recommendations.

Want to use Alexa to make calls using your existing number and service provider? Echo Connect can turn any device into a landline allowing you to make and receive calls smartly.

This smart speaker blends access to Alexa skills and high-quality audio. Use multiple Sonos One speakers to create surround sound or sync the audio experience across your smart home.

Access Alexa functionality on this smart speaker at a low price point. It offers the same range of functions as the Echo but with considerably lower audio quality.

Fire HD tablets which come in 8” and 10” screens now have Alexa built-in. With either of them, you can stream movies and TV, play games, read Kindle books and get countless apps. Use Alexa to personalize the experience using recommendations.

Fire TV Sticks now come with the Alexa Voice Remote, letting you control your TV as well as other smart home devices. Press a button to get the personal assistant to help you find movies and shows.

The smart home hub functions as the heart of your ecosystem, around which all Alexa-compatible devices revolve. It acts as the middleman through whom you can communicate with devices and use Alexa to get them running.

Boost Alexa’s capabilities with this innovative hub. It can act as the center of your smart home ecosystem, allowing you to connect and control every smart thing on its network.

With this integration-friendly hub, you can connect numerous smart devices with Alexa functionality and create a robust smart home ecosystem. Its range of compatible devices is however not as extensive as SmartThings’.

This professionally installed hub provides an impressive voice control system over your smart devices. Unlike most others though, it includes a monthly monitoring fee as it includes security support.

Wink Hub lets your diverse smart devices communicate using a single app. It has an extensive range of integrations and offers Bluetooth connectivity. The device also has a high-speed processor.

The highly functional Almond system combines a smart home hub and Wi-Fi router capability. Notably too, the router has a built-in security system. And you can control it using a smartphone app.

Though this device has its focus on home theater and AV control, it can control other smart gadgets too. Among its top highlights is its ability to support plenty of customizations.

For the automation geek, HomeSeer offers at least six different hubs for voice control. They feature a high-tech system that allows them to continue working even when your internet connection goes down.

ISY hubs are compatible with the Insteon series of smart gadgets. When you set up their Alexa integration, they can control your smart home, handling changes on multiple devices simultaneously.

This is a home automation hub that facilitates communication between smart devices and supports Alexa voice control. It uses an Ethernet or cellular network and allows for remote control of gadgets via a smartphone app.

Smart LEDs are one of the simplest entry points for creating your smart home. In fact, the Amazon line of smart devices started with lighting solutions. Over the years, the range has expanded extensively and includes the following bulbs and LEDs:

The Philips Hue range of smart lighting solutions has become a household name. They come in a variety of colors for mood and ambiance lighting. To control the devices under this range using Alexa, you will likely require a Hue Bridge.

This is a compelling range of lighting solutions that offers an alternative to Philips. Its key advantage is that the devices don’t require a bridge to function with Alexa. Rather, they work over Wi-Fi and are easy to integrate.

These bulbs are among the most versatile in the market. They work with virtually every smart home hub and are thus great for building a comprehensive ecosystem of smart devices.

Under the TP-Link umbrella, you get access to four main types of smart bulbs in varying colors and functionality. They are compatible with the smartest hubs and are thus flexible enough to match your needs.

With this all-inclusive solution, you get access to all the features of Alexa. Additionally, it offers five light settings to choose from as well as clock and timer functionality.

Though they do not have color-changing capability, Osram Lightify bulbs feature adjustable color temperature. They are considerably cost-effective but require the Wink or SmartThings Hub for control.

As one of the most innovative smart lighting solutions, Nanoleaf Aurora offers users a fun lightscape experience. It features color-changing light panels that you place in different arrangements for different effects.

These are a highly versatile lighting solution as they do not require a hub to function. Though they are not exactly fancy, they offer a great variety of color and ambiance options.

Offering a highly competitive price point, the Sengled Element is easy to implement all over your smart home. They work with any smart hub to offer Alexa voice control and monitoring.

Checking air quality, heating and cooling your smart home just got a whole lot easier thanks to Alexa-enabled devices. Depending on your needs, the range of options here is impressive. Dive in:

As far as customization goes, this is one of the most advanced smart thermostats yet. It learns from the choices you make to automate temperature setting in your smart home.

One of the top Ecobee4 highlights is that it comes with sensors to monitor temperature in different rooms. Since it integrates directly with Alexa, it does not require the use of a hub.

Honeywell Lyric works with Alexa via SmartThings. Using smartphone location to determine whether you are home or not, it automatically adjusts temperature. This way, it saves energy when you are not home and ensures comfort when you are.

The main difference between Total Connect Comfort and Lyric is the former’s focus on scheduling. It also sends you email alerts when humidity or temperature is too high or low, letting you adjust remotely.

Sensi integrates directly with Alexa to offer convenient voice control over indoor temperature settings. And though its design is not exactly fancy, it incorporates internet connectivity and scheduling capability.

Address the temperature needs of every room independently using Keen Home Smart Vents. Thanks to a high-tech design, it automatically adjusts airflow into every room to maintain optimum conditions.

Enjoy having your ceiling fans under Alexa’s control with the Haiku smart home fans. In addition to controlling the fans, it has the ability to control the lighting system as well.

One of the most unique aspects of this system is its top-level control. This means that you do not have to go through Alexa to tell Hive what to do. It also comes with a special Alexa skill, letting you add an hour of heating before automatic switch-off.

This product works with AC units via remote control, but thanks to Alexa, lets you ask for adjustments with ease. It has a diverse set of capabilities and works seamlessly with the AI assistant.

Using smart switches and plugs brings a whole new level of versatility in your smart home. It offers control over countless devices and adds a ton of convenience. Let us see how.

Add voice control to any outlet in your smart home with this plug. You can also use it to schedule fans, appliances and lights to automatically turn on and off. Compact design means it does not block neighboring outlets.

With this switch you can connect to Alexa via Wi-Fi, eliminating the need for a hub. It is a simple light smart light switch, aimed at replacing the dumb one. While you’re away from home it can turn lights on and off randomly for security purposes.

Connect the SmartThings Outlet to a hub to automate your home using a smartphone app. Alexa voice control lets you monitor and control appliances connected to the outlet from anywhere.

Get in on the smart home hype with this pocket-friendly plug which offers control over smart lighting. You will however need a hub to connect the plugs to Alexa.

Use this device to get remote access to your home’s lighting and electrical outlet system. Though it has Wi-Fi capability, it requires a hub to work with Alexa.

These smart plugs work directly with Alexa over Wi-Fi to deliver top-notch functionality. Choose the energy monitoring option to cut down your electricity consumption and bill.

Ecobee was the very first light switch to feature built-in Alexa capability. Beyond letting you switch the lights on and off, it can also play music and offer voice control for other devices in your ecosystem.

Insteon has a comprehensive range of electrical devices, all of which have Echo integration. As such, all of them can work with Alexa voice control.

One of the most important applications of smart home technology is on the home security front. Various gadgets work together and independently to control access to your house, offer surveillance and automate locks among other things. Here is a look at some of the best products in the range.

This is one of the best outdoor security cameras with Alexa integration. Connect it to the Echo Show to view security camera footage or even access live feeds.

Yale works with Alexa to lock as well as unlock your door using voice command. Depending on the setup of your smart home, you can choose between keypad entry and a variety of other available options.

Just like Yale, Schlage too offers lock and unlock functionality via Alexa using a PIN code. It works together with a Schlage Sense Wi-Fi adapter which you can purchase separately.

As the only pure security system which connects to Alexa, this device uses a vast repository of commands to automate home security. Use it to arm and disarm your alarm system and even call for help.

The August smart lock allows you to lock and unlock your door using voice command. To do this, you need a special PIN code. And while you are away, you can ask Alexa whether the door is locked or not.

With this doorbell camera, you can always answer your door, whether you are home or not. Two-way audio and an HD camera allow you this convenience, constantly monitoring your doorway.

The Amazon Cloud Cam sends you notifications any time there is activity on your doorstep. It has excellent night vision facilitating round the clock monitoring. Simply ask Alexa to show you what’s going on whenever you need to catch up.

Logitech Circle 2

When it comes to versatility, few smart home security cams can match up to this one. Apart from sporting a solid design, it records excellent quality video footage. It also has weatherproofing, making it ideal for both indoor and outdoor use.

View live feeds from your doorstep from the Ring Video Doorbell using Echo Show or your smartphone. It has two-way audio and adjustable motion sensors. It works together with Alexa to notify you whenever someone’s at the door.

Keep your smart home safe even when you are in the office with this smart camera. It monitors activity and sends notifications for anything suspicious. You get to hear and see what’s going on and also make your voice heard when necessary.

Get high-quality video and audio footage from your doorstep day and night courtesy of the Nest Hello. Some of its excellent performance features include a continuous recording of video footage and face recognition.

The Ring Stick Up Cam works just as well both indoors and outdoors and you can mount it or place it on a surface. It has a wide field of view, is extremely user-friendly and can either use Micro USB or power over Ethernet.

Thanks to a rechargeable battery, the Arlo Pro 2 can operate without wiring. It is weather-resistant and therefore works effectively both indoors and outdoors. Clear video quality makes it easy to identify intruders.

The Ford Sync infotainment system offers Alexa integration into Ford vehicles. It combines the core features of Echo with others related to driving to make your driving experience smarter than it is.

Bring Alexa functionalities into your car to operate hands-free while you drive. Sync the dash cam to your smartphone and use it to get directions and check the weather, stream music, set reminders among other things.

Ford is no longer the only vehicle with Alexa integrations as BMW and MINI added the AI assistant to their onboard computers in 2018. With her extensive voice control services, drivers will never again have to take their eyes off the road.

With this small device, you can now converse with your car to get important details via Alexa. It connects to vehicles’ diagnostic ports and beams data on fuel level and other things to your smartphone over Bluetooth.

Ask Alexa to open or close garage doors remotely using this small device. Depending on the model, you can get control over as many as three doors using either your phone or an Echo device.

Keep Alexa and all her cool functions by your bedside with this speaker. Ask her to play music, start coffee, switch off the lights and do virtually anything in her scope from the comfort of your bed.

Make calls, receive 911 alerts and do so much more with this home phone system which works with Alexa using smart devices like Echo. You can port your own number or pick a new one for free and enjoy great call quality using VoIP.

With this smart hub, you can now control your garden’s irrigation from anywhere and save on outdoor water consumption. It bases its control of irrigation on current weather conditions and forecasts.

Enjoy premium audio quality and Alexa features on this Bluetooth speaker system. Get access to internet radio stations, make calls over VoIP and send texts using voice control.

Take your cooking experience to the next level with the ever-helpful Alexa using ChefSteps Joule. You will need an Alexa hub to use voice control on your Joule and keep track of your dinner in style as it cooks.