Best Google Home compatible devices 2023: Google Assistant smart devices

Smart light starter kit

Philips is one of the leading manufacturers of connected lighting solutions for good reason. Philips Hue products are easy to set up and work like magic with custom voice controls using Google Assistant. This pack of multi-color bulbs is a good starting point, which comes with the necessary Philips Hue Bridge if you want more advanced controls. Once the Bridge is set up, it acts as a hub for connecting up to 50 of the best Philips Hue lights.

Take movie night to the next level

LED strips offer an excellent way to liven up any home theater or desk space with customizable color light shows. But when you add in the impressive dual-camera setup for the Govee Envisual TV Backlight T2 system, your television-watching experience becomes even more immersive. Attach the LED light strip to the back of your TV, place the camera on top of the television, and after a quick setup in the Govee app, everything that happens on your TV will shine on your walls, expanding your watching experience.

Affordable Hue alternative

GE Cync offers a complete line of excellent smart home devices that make setting them up very easy. Once the device is powered on, Google Assistant can recognize it and begin the setup process. You get vibrant colors and tunable whites from the bulbs that are controllable by voice, the Google Home app, or the Cync app.

Take the party outside

Not everyone realizes that you can bring the functionality of Philips Hue lights to the outside of your house. One of our favorite devices for this is the Philips Hue Lily Outdoor Spot Light. Not only can it brightly illuminate your yard to ward off unwanted intruders, but you can set millions of colors to make light shows for backyard barbecues and dance parties with Google Assistant.

Add illumination to your walls

There are a lot of terrific Nanoleaf lights that come in many different shapes and sizes. But the Nanoleaf Shapes lights are some of the most unique because they come in four different options that can be mixed to create highly custom wall lighting designs by sticking them directly to any flat surface. They offer impressive color transitions and are more all controllable with Google Assistant of the Nanoleaf app.

No hub required

LIFX bulbs are some of our favorites because they look great and integrate directly with Google Assistant without a hub. They can show 16 million colors in various shades and touches of warmth and are built to last. LIFX claims these bulbs should last you for over 23 years, so they definitely pay for themselves.

Keep your cool

You will notice a pattern of us picking many first-party Google and Nest products, but that's because they work incredibly well with Google Assistant. For example, Nest popularized the category of smart thermostats, and the Nest Thermostat is our pick for the best Google Assistant home automation device. With Google's AI smarts and Google Assistant looking after you, keeping cool or staying hawt has never been easier. You can save a few bucks with the Nest Thermostat E and get many of the same features.

Temperature balance

There are a ton of smart thermostats on the market, but if you are looking for a Nest alternative that works with Google Assistant, and after reviewing the ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium — it's clear this is worth a look. This model includes a smart sensor to monitor spaces away from the thermostat itself, which can help regulate your home's temperature more efficiently. The large display makes using the improved interface a breeze. Plus, it can even monitor the air quality in your home. 

Smart sprinklers

Speaking of efficient and effective use of your home utilities, water usage is one of the areas we're perhaps least efficient at. When it comes to keeping on top of sprinklers that may be on automatic settings, that can be even more of a challenge. However, the Rachio 3 system claims that its smarts can help you save up to 50% on your monthly water bill.

Catch that leak

If you've ever experienced a flood in your home, you know how important it can be to do everything you can to avoid it from happening again. Flume 2 does this with a unique system that immediately detects and alerts you. You can get notifications in the app or check on and control the system with Google Assistant. While it isn't able to shut off your water, you'll have the information ASAP so you can take steps to stop the water.

Make any lamp smart

This smart plug, available in a two-pack, is handy because its design saves room for another plug above or below it (depending on which you plug it into). It's great for using Google Assistant to turn off a pair of lamps at a time. Best of all, it's literally plug and play, with no hub required.

Garage control

This smart home garage hub from Chamberlain brings the ability to control most garage door openers with Google Assistant or your smartphone. The system can also send you real-time alerts, create schedules, and allow you to check the status of your garage door from anywhere.

Skip the scut work

After washing dishes, vacuuming might be the most mundane of household chores. But when you get one of the best robot vacuums like this one from DreameTech, you can tell the Google Assistant to and then go about your merry way doing something else productive (or not). Not only will this device vacuum, but it will also mop with spinning brushes — and empty the debris and dirty water automatically!

The perfect pour

This connected coffee maker can be controlled by your phone or by your voice through Google Assistant. You can program it to brew at specified times, or if everything is set, you could say, "Hey Google, brew coffee." You can even ask Google Assistant to change the brew strength and turn on/off your coffee maker. It's also eco-friendly as it comes with a reusable filter.

Cool down

SMAAIR smart fans work with Google Assistant to ensure that you save as much energy as possible while keeping your rooms cool and the air moving. These smart fans can even be adjusted during the winter to push warm air down, making life easier for the heating system in your home and keeping you warmer.

Who's there?

The Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd-gen) impressed us in our review as it's a great video doorbell based on specs alone, plus it has the ability to continuously record 24/7. You get special Google extras like person, vehicle, package notifications, and activity zones for free. Even a 3-hour event history to check out what's happened at your door. But if you want Familiar Face alerts, longer event history, and that 24/7 recording you'll have to pay for a Nest Aware subscription.

Smart lock

Yale is one of the most trusted names in home security and has been making quality locks for generations. This smart version allows you to control access to your home from anywhere, either in the app or with Google Assistant. Worried that you forgot to lock the door? Just ask Google Assistant to do it for you.

Outdoor eyes

This weatherproof smart video camera can stream and record at 1080p HD, see a vast 130 degrees for a large coverage area, and operates outside, rain or shine. Connect it to your Nest Hub, and ask Google Assistant to "show me the backyard," and the smart detection impressed us during our review, where you can get alerts when the camera detects motion or suspicious sounds.

Indoor eyes

This petite camera is more than it appears. Its magnetic stand lets you affix it to something metallic or just place it on a flat surface. With a Nest Aware subscription, you can get personal alerts sent directly to you. Of course, you can also ask Google Assistant to show you a live feed at any point on your phone or Nest Hub.

Affordable Nest Cam alternative

If spending hundreds of dollars is a little steep for you, but you still want Google Assistant integration, the TP-Link Kasa Spot Indoor Camera is an excellent alternative. It features 1080p HD video, a 130-degree field of view, and night vision. You can set activity zones and communicate through two-way audio. Plus, you can ask Google Assistant to show you what it sees.

Smart security system

In addition to keeping your home safe, the SimpliSafe Home Security System also knows when you leave, so it can automatically adjust your Nest Thermostat. You can ask Google Assistant to arm your system or check its status at any time. Plus, you don't have to deal with unnecessary contracts to keep your home secure and safe from the bad guys.

Maximum touchscreen

Control your smart home, watch YouTube cooking tutorials, see your latest photos, or call Grandma with Google Duo on one of the best smart displays on the market — the Nest Hub Max. Its 10-inch touchscreen is vibrant and easy to use, but it's even easier to use your voice to navigate the interface or access your entertainment with Google Assistant.

Sidetable smart display

Lenovo makes some of the most useful and attractive screened devices with Google Assistant support. The small screen size is perfect for your nightstand or desk corner. We loved the dock during our review, thanks to the nightlight and wireless charging pad, helping to reduce clutter on the bedside table.

Mid-sized marvel

The Nest Audio is the newest smart speaker made by Google, and in our estimation, it just might be the best yet. It sounds and looks much better than the original Google Home smart speaker that it replaced. 70% or more of the fabric cover is made from post-consumer recycled water bottles!

Convenient Assistant access

The second-generation Nest Mini is a great, affordable device that you can put in practically any space for instant Google Assistant access. Google improved the machine learning chip and added another microphone to this version, which allows for speedier and more accurate responses from the Assistant.

Best non-Nest

Sonos is one of the best brands in the connected speaker space, and the second-generation Sonos One is one of our favorite devices for several reasons. It has excellent sound, it's compact and well-built, and you can set Google Assistant as your default voice assistant.

Make any TV smart

The all-new Chromecast with Google TV 4K is Google's best streaming dongle to date and arguably the best streaming device available. All the most popular streaming services are supported, including Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu, and because Google makes it, you can be sure that it works with Google Assistant and via the app on your phone. If 4K resolution isn't a key feature, you can save a few bucks and pick up the Chromecast with Google TV HD.

Android TV's best

This handy, discreet tube provides everything you need to have a great streaming and gaming experience. The NVIDIA Shield TV (2019) is arguably the best Android TV device, and it has Google Assistant baked right in. The automatic AI upscaling helps to turn the content you're watching from blah to WOW all on the fly, making this a great option for your home entertainment system.

Smart TV with Assistant inside

This smart TV from Hisense has the Android TV platform and Google Assistant built-in, so all you have to do is press a button on the remote to summon your favorite voice assistant for quick access to entertainment. During our review, we were really impressed with how easily can not only manage what you're watching but also control your smart home devices and access just about all of the Google Assistant functionality you love through the TV and remote.

Natively Google

Google launched its first smartwatch, and the Pixel Watch is fantastic. The watch has a gorgeous design and helpful features like built-in NFC and GPS, a heart rate monitor, and more with Fitbit integration. Of course, there's also a speaker and microphone so that you can converse with Google Assistant.

The successor to Google Play Music

What better service to use with Google Assistant than one of Google's own? Plus, you can seamlessly switch between audio and video playlists with a Nest Hub or screened device. YouTube Music is now the default music provider for Google Home and Nest speakers right out of the box for quick-play music stations — although you'll need to subscribe for $10 a month for more full-fledged features and no ads.

The most popular music streaming service

Spotify is massively popular, and if you aren't already using it, you probably know many people who do. With Google Assistant, simply say "OK Google," followed by your favorite artist, album, song, or playlist, and your music will almost instantly start playing through your smart speaker. This is perfect for playing music in the kitchen when your hands are too messy to handle a phone or for setting the right mood at a party.

Music streaming for all

Pandora is a customizable internet radio streaming service that allows you to curate your streams. It uses complex algorithms to recommend new music it knows you'll love based on your musical tastes and how you've rated other music. Google Assistant lets you throw on your favorite Pandora station using just your voice. Pandora offers an ad-supported free version or paid options that give you more control over the music and no ads.

Original streamer

Believe it or not, Deezer was one of the first streaming music services, and it remains popular around the world to this day. You can ask Google Assistant to play music by artist, genre, album, or Flow (what Deezer calls their personalized soundtracks), and it can also manage the playback and volume controls.

So many options for music

iHeartRadio is another excellent option for those that prefer to listen to the radio instead of newer streaming services. iHeartRadio is a free, ad-supported radio platform that connects users with over 850 radio stations from across the U.S. and Canada. The service also includes thousands of podcasts if you don't want to strictly listen to music, with premium subscriptions available that give you unlimited song skips and offline listening.

Actually, video didn't quite kill the radio star

Believe it or not, some people prefer to listen to the radio over streaming services, and TuneIn is absolutely the go-to app for them. Even with the free version, you get access to over 100,000 radio stations from around the world, along with over five million podcasts as well. If you decide to upgrade to the premium subscription ($10/month), you'll also get access to live NFL and MLB play-by-play, along with a vast library of audiobooks.

Most popular platform

This one is obvious, but honestly, it's the service we spend most of our time on. You can ask Google Assistant to search and play any video on the platform on your phone, Chromecast device, Nest Hub, Lenovo Smart Display, and many smart TVs.

Better than TV

YouTube TV is an online streaming TV service that delivers over 70 live and premium channels to virtually any screened device. You can subscribe to additional premium channels like HBO and Disney+ through the service, and of course, you can navigate the service with Google Assistant.

Originals and live TV

Hulu is one of the most popular streaming services, with original content like The Handmaid's Tale and access to shows from NBC, FX, and Fox. There are various tiers available, including a live TV service similar to Sling or YouTube TV. You can ask Google Assistant to tune in to specific shows through supported smart speakers and devices.

Wanna binge watch something?

Some days you just want to lounge on the couch and watch Netflix for hours. Other days you can't even be bothered to find the remote. Fortunately, you can use Google Assistant to cast your favorite Netflix show or movie to your Chromecast-enabled TV. All you need to do is say something like "Play Arrested Development on Netflix."

You probably have it for Star Trek Discovery

Paramount+ is another service that added Google Assistant support. Paramount+ features all the content from CBS's stable of popular shows, including The Big Bang Theory, Survivor, and Star Trek: Discovery. So all you have to do is say, "OK Google, play Star Trek: Discovery in the living room," and away you go.

There's still Barry and Westworld, folks

If you decided to keep your HBO subscription after Game of Thrones ended, you're in luck. The HBO app is fully compatible with Google Assistant. So all you need to do is ask Google Assistant to play your favorite HBO show, and it will intelligently find the show using the app. Of course, you will need an HBO subscription, but with so much great content on HBO, why wouldn't you have one?