Alexa+ vs Gemini for Home: which AI assistant suits your home?

Where the two stand in Germany (as of October 2026)

Alexa+ is Amazon's new Alexa with generative AI, meaning an AI that can hold freely worded conversations. It launched in Germany on 7 May 2026 as early access. Amazon says it is switching it on step by step for customers with a compatible Echo device, including when they buy a new one. Business accounts are excluded.

Gemini for Home is Google's successor to Google Assistant on speakers and displays. According to heise, it launched in Germany in early June 2026, also as early access. Google explicitly lists Germany among the early access countries, and German is one of the supported languages. Access comes by invitation in the Google Home app.

Important: in both cases the providers say not every feature is available straight away. What works today may change over the coming months.

What it costs: Prime versus Google Home Premium

Alexa+: during the early access phase Alexa+ is free for everyone, according to Computer Bild. Afterwards, Amazon says it will be a Prime benefit. According to Amazon, Prime costs 8.99 euros a month or 89.90 euros a year. Without Prime, Amazon quotes 22.99 euros a month. Amazon says you will not be charged automatically when early access ends.

Gemini for Home: according to Google, the new voice assistant and the Ask Home feature can be used without a subscription. The conversational mode Gemini Live, automations created from a description and advanced camera features require Google Home Premium. The Google Store lists 10 euros a month or 100 euros a year (Standard) and 18 euros a month or 180 euros a year (Advanced). Google says subscribers to Google AI Pro at 21.99 euros get Home Premium Standard at no extra cost.

Our assessment: if you already have Prime, Alexa+ costs nothing extra. With Google the entry is free, but the best features cost extra.

Devices and abilities

According to Amazon, Alexa+ runs on most Echo devices, except older models such as the first generation of Echo Dot, Echo and Echo Spot and the first and second generation of Echo Show. Selected Fire TV devices and Alexa tablets are also supported. Amazon says speakers from other brands with built-in Alexa are not currently supported.

According to Google, Gemini for Home runs fully on the new Google Home Speaker, Nest Audio, Nest Mini (2nd generation), the Nest Hub displays and Home Mini. Older devices such as Google Home or Home Max get most features but not Gemini Live. heise reports that the Google Home Speaker costs 120 euros and replaces Nest Mini and Nest Audio, which are no longer made.

What both can do, according to the makers: talk more freely, control smart home devices, answer questions and set up routines. Alexa+ is also meant to remember preferences, manage calendars and emails and shop on Amazon. With Premium, Gemini for Home adds conversations via Gemini Live; AI descriptions of camera events and daily summaries are only in the Advanced plan. In its May 2026 test, Computer Bild found Alexa+ helpful but slower and less natural than ChatGPT.

Privacy: what happens to your voice

Alexa+: according to Amazon, a recording of your request is sent to Amazon's cloud and linked to your account. In the Alexa app under Alexa Privacy you can choose to have recordings deleted after processing; text transcripts are then kept for 30 days. Amazon says humans review a very small share of requests to improve recognition.

Gemini for Home: according to its help page, Google only saves audio recordings if you switch on the relevant setting for improving its services. Separate from this is the activity history called Home History, which stores your requests: if it is on, Google auto-deletes older entries after 18 months by default. Even if it is off, Google says your requests stay saved in your account for up to 24 hours. Some data is read by human reviewers, including service providers. Google says video, audio and personal details only go to those reviewers with separate consent. Google states that it does not use personal data to train AI models outside Google Home.

Our assessment: both are the providers' own statements. For both, the microphone listens for the wake word, and the actual processing happens over the internet.

Which assistant suits whom?

The following is an editorial recommendation, not our own test.

Alexa+ fits if you already have Echo devices and a Prime subscription. You then get the new Alexa at no extra cost and can combine it with shopping, calendars and smart home.

Gemini for Home fits if you own Nest speakers or already use a Google account and Android. Getting started costs nothing. If you already pay for Google AI Pro, Home Premium Standard is included.

For older people without prior experience, the same applies to both: buying new devices just for this is hardly worth it during the early access phase. Try it first, then decide.