So Google is killing Google Assistant in March 2026. If you've got Nest speakers, Google Home Minis, or Chromecast-connected routines running your lights and thermostat, you're probably wondering: what do I switch to?
There's no shortage of opinions online. Reddit threads, YouTube videos, blog posts from 2023 that are already outdated. Most of them boil down to "just get Alexa" or "Home Assistant is great but complicated."
We spent weeks testing every major alternative. Here's the honest breakdown, with actual pros and cons, so you can figure out which one fits your situation.
In this guide
Why You Need a Google Home Alternative Now
Google confirmed that Google Assistant will stop working on smart speakers and displays on March 26, 2026. After that date, your Google Home devices will lose their voice control features. Routines stop. Voice commands stop. Your "Hey Google, turn off the lights" becomes "Hey Google, I can't do that anymore."
The devices themselves still work as Bluetooth speakers, but that's about it. If your smart home runs through Google, you need a plan. Read our full shutdown guide here.
Let's look at your actual options.
The open-source smart home platform that works with practically everything. Runs locally on a small computer (like a Raspberry Pi or their own Green/Yellow hardware), so your data stays in your house. Supports over 2,700 integrations.
Pros
- Works with almost every device brand
- Completely local, no cloud dependency
- Free software, no subscriptions
- Automations are incredibly powerful
- Active community of 1M+ users
- Voice control via local Assist pipeline
Cons
- Setup takes time (not plug-and-play)
- Learning curve for advanced features
- Need separate hardware to run it
- Voice assistant isn't as polished as Alexa yet
Home Assistant is the answer for anyone who wants real ownership of their smart home. It's not the easiest option to set up, but once it's running, nothing else comes close in terms of flexibility and reliability.
Cost: Free software. Hardware starts at ~$45 for a Raspberry Pi setup or $99 for the official Home Assistant Green box.
Best for: Anyone who wants full control, privacy-conscious users, tinkerers, and people with mixed-brand devices.
The most popular voice assistant still standing. Good device support, easy setup, and the voice commands work well. But you're just moving from one big tech company to another.
Pros
- Easiest migration from Google Home
- Huge device compatibility
- Voice control is excellent
- Cheap hardware (Echo Dot from $30)
- Skills marketplace for extras
Cons
- 100% cloud dependent
- Privacy concerns (always listening)
- Amazon pushes ads and upsells
- Could face the same fate as Google
- Some features moving behind subscriptions
Alexa is the path of least resistance. Replace your Google Homes with Echo Dots, re-link your accounts, and you're back in business. But you're trading one cloud dependency for another. Amazon has already started putting features behind a paid Alexa Plus subscription. How long before the free tier gets worse?
Cost: $30-$250 per device. Some features require Alexa Plus ($20/month).
Best for: People who just want something that works right now and don't mind staying in the cloud.
If everyone in your house already has an iPhone, HomeKit is a solid choice. Siri isn't perfect, but the Home app is clean and Apple takes privacy seriously.
Pros
- Best privacy of any commercial option
- Processing happens locally on devices
- Clean, simple interface
- Tight integration with iPhone/iPad/Mac
- Matter support built in
Cons
- Requires Apple devices (iPhone needed)
- Siri is... Siri
- Fewer compatible devices than Alexa
- HomePod speakers are expensive ($99-$299)
- Limited automation capabilities
HomeKit makes sense if your household is already all-in on Apple. The privacy story is genuinely good. But if anyone in the family uses Android, or you want more advanced automations, it gets frustrating fast.
Cost: HomePod Mini $99, HomePod $299. Requires at least one Apple device as a hub.
Best for: Apple-only households who want simple, privacy-focused control.
Samsung's smart home hub. Good device support, especially for Zigbee and Z-Wave. Recently moved more processing to local control, which is a plus.
Pros
- Supports Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Matter
- More local processing now
- Good app experience
- Samsung TV integration
Cons
- Still partially cloud-dependent
- Samsung killed the old platform once already
- No built-in voice assistant
- Automation options are limited vs Home Assistant
SmartThings sits in an awkward middle ground. It's easier than Home Assistant but less capable. It's more open than Alexa but still tied to Samsung's cloud. The biggest red flag: Samsung has a track record of killing products. They shut down the original SmartThings platform and forced everyone to migrate. Could happen again.
Cost: SmartThings Station $45, SmartThings Hub $70. Free to use, no subscription.
Best for: People who want something more open than Alexa but don't want the Home Assistant learning curve.
A local-first hub for people who want the reliability of Home Assistant without running their own server. Everything runs on the hub itself.
Pros
- 100% local processing
- No cloud required to function
- Zigbee and Z-Wave built in
- No subscription fees
Cons
- User interface feels dated
- Smaller community than Home Assistant
- Fewer integrations
- Documentation could be better
Hubitat is like the quiet cousin of Home Assistant. It does the local-first thing well, but the community is smaller, the integrations are fewer, and the interface looks like it was designed in 2015. If you're going local anyway, most people are better off with Home Assistant.
Cost: $150 for the hub. No ongoing fees.
Best for: People who want local control but prefer an appliance over running their own software.
Matter is the new universal smart home standard. The idea: buy any Matter device and it works with any Matter controller. In theory, this solves everything. In practice? We're not there yet.
Pros
- Universal standard (no vendor lock-in)
- Local communication by design
- Backed by Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung
- Growing device support
Cons
- Still limited device categories
- Many devices don't support Matter yet
- You still need a controller/hub
- Interoperability bugs are common
Matter is the right idea, but it's too early to build your entire smart home around it. Right now it covers lights, plugs, locks, and thermostats, but cameras, robot vacuums, and many other device types aren't supported yet. Give it another year or two. In the meantime, pick a hub that supports Matter (like Home Assistant or SmartThings) so you're ready when it matures.
Cost: Depends on which controller you use. Matter devices tend to cost $5-$15 more than non-Matter versions.
Best for: People setting up a brand new smart home who want to buy future-proof devices.
A Dutch-designed hub that focuses on making smart home management actually pleasant. Beautiful app, wide protocol support (Zigbee, Z-Wave, WiFi, IR, 433MHz), and local processing.
Pros
- Best app design of any hub
- Multi-protocol (Zigbee, Z-Wave, IR, 433MHz)
- Local processing
- Easy flow-based automations
- Built-in voice via Homey Speakers
Cons
- Expensive ($399 for Homey Pro)
- Smaller integration library than HA
- Some features need Homey Premium sub
- Community apps vary in quality
Homey Pro is genuinely impressive. The app is beautiful, the setup is easy, and it supports protocols most hubs don't touch (like 433MHz for older devices and IR for TVs and ACs). The catch is price: $399 for the hub, plus some features locked behind a subscription. If you value polish over penny-pinching, it's worth a look.
Cost: $399 for Homey Pro. Homey Premium is $3/month for extra features.
Best for: People who want a beautiful, easy-to-use system and don't mind paying more for it.
Quick Comparison: Google Home Alternatives
| Platform | Price | Local? | Voice | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home Assistant | $45-$99 | Yes | Assist (local) | Medium |
| Amazon Alexa | $30-$250 | No | Alexa | Easy |
| Apple HomeKit | $99-$299 | Mostly | Siri | Easy |
| SmartThings | $45-$70 | Partial | Via Alexa/Bixby | Easy |
| Hubitat | $150 | Yes | Via Alexa/Google | Medium |
| Matter-Only | Varies | Yes | Depends on hub | Easy |
| Homey Pro | $399 | Yes | Built-in | Easy |
Which Google Home Alternative Should You Pick?
Here's the quick decision tree:
- "I just want it to work" → Amazon Alexa. Easiest switch. Know that you're trading one cloud for another.
- "I have iPhones everywhere" → Apple HomeKit. If you're already Apple, it makes sense.
- "I want real control and don't mind learning" → Home Assistant. The best long-term choice.
- "I want something nice and I have the budget" → Homey Pro. Beautiful experience, premium price.
- "I want local but I'm not technical" → Hubitat or SmartThings.
Our honest recommendation? Home Assistant. Yes, it takes more work upfront. But it's the only option that puts you in complete control, works with basically everything, and can't be killed by a company deciding to "sunset" your smart home.
The setup used to be really painful, but it's gotten a lot better. And that's exactly why we built HomeShift.
Not sure what's compatible?
Our free scan checks your specific devices against Home Assistant's compatibility database. Takes 3 minutes, no account needed.
What About Google Nest Devices Specifically?
A lot of people search for alternatives to Google Nest because they have Nest thermostats, cameras, or doorbells. Good news: most Nest hardware will keep working with the Google Home app, even after Assistant dies. The Nest Thermostat, Nest Cam, and Nest Doorbell are hardware products that connect to the Google Home app, not Google Assistant specifically.
The stuff that breaks is the voice control layer. Your Nest Thermostat will still heat your house. You just won't be able to say "Hey Google, set the temperature to 21" through a Google Home speaker.
For Nest device owners specifically:
- Nest Thermostat: Works with Home Assistant, Alexa, HomeKit (via Starling Hub), and SmartThings
- Nest Cam/Doorbell: Works with Home Assistant (cloud polling), Google Home app. Limited third-party support.
- Nest Protect: Very limited third-party support. Consider replacing with Matter-compatible smoke detectors.
- Nest Hub/Mini: These become Bluetooth speakers. Replace with Echo, HomePod Mini, or a Home Assistant voice satellite.
The Bottom Line
Google killing Assistant is frustrating, but it's also a wake-up call. Building your entire smart home on a single company's platform is risky. It happened with Google. It could happen with Amazon. It could happen with anyone.
The alternatives that give you the most protection are the ones that run locally and support open standards. That means Home Assistant or Hubitat for most people, with Homey Pro as a premium option.
Whatever you choose, make sure it supports Matter. That way, as the standard matures, your devices become portable between platforms.
Ready to make the switch?
HomeShift gives you a personalized migration plan from Google Home to Home Assistant. Scan your devices, check compatibility, and get step-by-step instructions.