Oh my... I have neither, and don't plan to get either. I love my stereo, and my cd's... plus I still listen to the radio.

Sherry, I find I do talk to myself these days... but that is ok with me.

Moni

We have Google Home. DH was not a believer, but he does ask her every morning what the temperature is. Is use her while cooking to do measurement conversions and timing. Don't use for lights or anything else like that. Have used for music some, but I prefer my Bose.

Both are easy to set up. However, for music, you either have to play from a streaming service or you have to play from another device via Bluetooth. Do a search on streaming music services to see what's available for free and for a subscription fee.

We got a free Alexa the little round one. I would not have bought it. But since I have had it I definitely would get the Google home instead. Alexa quite frequently doesn't have the answer. I then go to my Google assistant and ask for the same information and I get the information. Alexa is OK for basic use like the weather and easy simple things. She straight up told me one day that she was Not a search engine! OK then! I like the Google assistant on my phone and tablet. If you set up an account with I heart radio and other services you can listen to lots of free music.

Alexa was super easy to set up. Basically just logged in with my Amazon account and set up the settings I wanted.

We have Google Home and I love it. I ask temps, humidity, and when it's going to stop raining. When I'm doing stuff in the kitchen I ask her to play Simon and Garfunkel. She comes back and says you need google play for that but here's this. Then she starts playing S&G plus all the 60's and 70's music of the genre and would go on forever if I didn't tell her to stop. I can ask her something in the middle of the song and she answers and then the song continues. I am amazed at the quality of the sound and I have a Bose radio beside it.

I have a Google Home and a couple of Mini's. It was very easy to set up - almost plug and play. I’ve never used an Alexa, but a friend and my brother both used Alexa at first, but then switched to Google; they both prefer Google for the sound quality, and they say that Google more readily has the answers to their questions.

I mostly use it to stream my local NPR station. I also watch/listen to Netflix if puttering in the kitchen, and it’s easy to do on my Home so I’m not tying up my iPad, which I frequently use for recipes. I don’t use the Home for recipes, mostly due to its location in my kitchen, and I don’t care for using the voice feature for recipes (prefer the visual). I don’t have a music streaming service, so I don’t use it much for music. It has fabulous sound, though, when we do listen to music.

One time I asked for my Home to play NPR and added “please” at the end. It complimented me on my manners!

I use Alexa and would never consider switching to Google Home.

Jasdip, if you have Amazon Prime, Alexa will play Amazon Music, hundreds of thousands of songs, free with Prime. It also plays Spotify, Pandora, etc.

Alexa can do all of what Google does, plus much more.

Hmmm, okay I don't think it's going to do what I thought it would.

I don't pay for any streaming services, I use AccuRadio for streaming music (hook up the laptop to the TV, for better sound).

I listen to the radio all the time, but more and more local channels are changing formats to the new top-40/hits music and alternative which I despise. I was hoping I could ask Google to play "easy listening", "older country" or something and it would, automatically.

We have Alexa and we love her. She plays all kinds of music and keeps shopping lists , sets timers and alarms if you want. She tells us the weather and she can do loads more as well. She was easy to set up and we have three of them in different rooms!

I have the google mini and wondered how I have managed the past without it.

I have my music on it,use it for the alarms & timers-she tells me what day/date it is,the weather current and future,and anything else that I need-and yes,she even makes a remark when I finish with thank you...get one Sherry-you wont regret it-shoppers usually has them at a good price for us.

Sherry....I was wondering the same thing. I don't pay to subscribe to anything.

Was eating dinner @ GF's house, the soothing music was awesome. It was Google Home. When shopping for houses, Google Home was playing. So easy to use... my realtor asked it to play her newest favorite.

Ravens Alexa told her it was "not" a search engine. :0) Too funny, since I thought THAT was exactly what she was.

I was hoping I could ask Google to play "easy listening", "older country" or something and it would, automatically.

You can by using any of the free streaming services available.

As I said earlier, if you have Amazon Prime, Amazon Music (Free) will stream any request you have.

Even Sergeant Preston of the Yukon.:)

Debby, you'll never own any of them but you open FB? (:

Michael, Amazon Prime in Canada doesn't offer tv shows and music like yours.

Debby, I too have my mic off and camera taped over. Mainly because I scared the bejeebers outta myself one day when all of I sudden I was on the laptop screen.

I use FB Purity so I don't see any ads whatsoever on FB.

I stand corrected. Our Amazon does offer shows, but they suck. Nothing like what the States receives, just like our Netflix. I'd never buy our Netflix.

I don't pay for music but I am able to listen music on Alexa through the free ones like I heart radio and a few others. I ask her to play zydeco for example and she will find some from one of the free services and play it. I am sure Google will do it too, my assistant does on the tablet.

You do have to be careful because she has been triggered by tv and you tube videos. If I am watching a you tube about how to use Alexa I make sure to turn off the mic. One of them was showing how to order dog food using the Alexa and in the comments section several people said they had dog food delivered to their house lol. It is connected to your Amazon account!

Last night we were watching TV and suddenly Alexa started talking about offices. I have no idea what that was about.

I pay nothing for the music Google Home plays for me in very high-quality sound which sounds just like my Bose. If I ever need a timer for anything now, just ask. I can ask for recipes and she gives them. Rarely does she not know. My daughter has Alexa and my son has Google home and we like ours better. I don't know why anyone would pay for a streaming music service when I can get any music I want free. She says I need Google play to play S&G and the next second she's playing their songs plus everything I like from that perod. I'm sure if I said I wanted Beethoven or Vivaldi, I'd get an afternoon of continuous classical music. I like it much better than my Sirius radio. I change stations there. Here in the odd time I don't like the music, I say Hey Google , skip to the next one. I don't know how I lived without this convenience.

If I got one of those things, I'd want it to play music from what I already have. Yes I am fine with listening to some new stuff, but i am mostly fine with the eclectic and extensive stuff I've accumulated over the years.

Is this possible??

Artemis_ma, both Alexa and Google can act as bluetooth speakers to play your music from an auxiliary device. So, as long as your music resides on a bluetooth-enabled device of some sort, you can connect it to Alexa or Google Home.

I'm waiting for them to do the dishes and clean up the kitchen then I'll get one :-). I mostly listen to CBC radio or flip between channels for my music. And I use Netflix for watching shows

CBC Radio is available on Alexa.

Lily, you are telling me what I'm interested in. Are you saying that you just plugged Google Home in, then asked it to play 'such and such" music? And it did??

That's what she's saying. And after a few times, Alexa and Google Home will memorize your preferences.

You'll need a smart phone to set up. After the initial set up, you're all set.

There are actually a few easy steps that need to take place for the initial set-up of either device. It’s easy and fast.

This for google home

1. Plug in your Google Home. ...
2. Tap the setup icon in the upper right-hand corner. ...
3. Link your music service. ...
4. Step through the tutorial. ...
5. Tap the left-hand menu button, then More Settings. ...
6. Change your news and My Day settings. ...
7. Change what the Google Home calls you. ...
8. Enter your commute locations.

Yep, I just plug Google Home in and ask it to play certain music. She usually says it's only available on Google play but then plays what I want and then scatters other artists of that type of music. With this request, I get all the folk music from the 60/70's Mamas and the Papas, John Denver, Beatles, Joan Collins. All different and it plays till I tell it to stop. My playlist is not on there but most things on it appear. .

Just saw this article.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/google-home-mini-vs-amazon-echo-dot/

Thanks Raven, digital trends pretty much nails it.

I just checked my phone and it's not compatible with the Google Home App. My phone is about 4-5 years old, a Huawei Android. I hardly ever use my phone, yet I've been toying about getting a newer one. Why, I don't know, but this might clinch it.

I received a phone call from my son via Alexa last evening. He lives in Canada and the call was crystal clear with no drops. Just another feature of personal servants.

I love Alexa, have absolutely no problem getting answers from her. I use it to stream my amazon music, update me on my amazon orders, give me reminders, timers, weather, jokes, games, etc. It's more useful than I thought it would be. I haven't used Google Home, so can't comment on that.

And when Amazon offers the $10 credit on any reorder via Alexa, I'm on it.

https://venturebeat.com/2019/04/05/10-ways-amazons-alexa-stands-to-improve/

Another interesting article.

My brother has a Sonos which runs off his phone and the sound is amazing. While they were here on Good Friday we were discussing it, and I found a Sonos One for sale on an online group. It has a built-in Alexa.

I bought it and tried to hook it up using my computer. Apparently this was able to do, until just a couple of months ago. Now the company only do setup using a phone. I tried downloading the app and it won't install.

I put it up for sale and a buyer is coming later today.

This is becoming more frustrating than it's worth just to listen to music. Obviously I need to upgrade my phone, which I still might do, as long as I get the Google Home or Mini at a great price to offset the cost of the phone.

Jasdip, how old is your phone? Android or iPhone?

Is the OS up to date? Sometimes an updated OS is that's all it takes to make things work.

Michael it's Android, about 5 years old.

I don't know, how do I update the OS?

I have the Echo and the dot. The Echo has a better speaker. We set it up with an I-pad. I was without it for a couple of weeks after getting a new modem and didn't realize how much we used it. Really missed it. I use the timer daily for different things like to remind myself to take a pill or take something out of the dryer, or to check something in the oven, etc. and the first thing every morning ask Alexa what the weather for the day is going to be so I know how to dress. Love it but don't know anything about the Google.

I love my Home google and wouldn't be without it now.

Jasdip, I see brand new Google Home and Mini all the time on Facebook Marketplace for a lot less than they are sold for in stores. The are probably also on whatever other online sale site you have where you live.

Jasdip a quick search showed how to update OS. Find one for your phone and see if you are comfortable. It does appear very easy.

I deleted Google Music and Google Books and updated Google. I then was able to download the Sonos App. Still problems, it doesn't have a 'set up a new system' option, only to connect to an existing account. I tried that to see if it would automatically find my wi-fi, but it didn't. Uninstalled, re-installed, etc. I do have it for sale on Kijijji and someone is interested. I'm not dinking around with it anymore. I have absolutely no patience for this kind of aggravation.