Comparison

Voice in a Can vs Smart Speaker Controller

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Voice in a Can

Control your smart home devices, ask questions, manage lists, and set timers using Alexa on your Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad. Enjoy hands-free voice commands without needing to say "Alexa."

Highlights
  • Alexa voice control
  • Smart home device management
  • Shopping list management
  • Timer and alarm setting
  • Siri Shortcut integration
  • Watch complication support
  • Automatic listening on launch
Read full description

The app is now free. You can thank me (the creator of the app) using an optional in-app purchase under Settings, which does not change the behavior of the app. An Apple Watch (standalone, no phone required), iPhone and iPad app for using Alexa. Control your home devices, ask general questions, add and remove items to your shopping list and set timers etc. It is an Alexa implementation. On your wrist. There are nine things you should know before getting this app: 1. The Series 4 watch and newer are supported; 2. Your phone controls installation of the app to the watch, not the app. Put your watch on a charger to speed up install time; 3. Not all audio content can be supported. Amazon don't allow third-party apps such as this app to play music, audio books or some daily-news content, make announcements or drop-in; 4. You can use a Siri Shortcut to launch the app and start speaking, just by raising your wrist on Apple Watch. See the support page on how to configure; 5. All watch complication types are supported, including those really weird ones. Also you can change the complication icon under Settings; 6. The watch app can listen automatically on launch. There is an option under settings to do the same thing on the iPhone; 7. If the weather or time are wrong, ensure you've enabled Location access in the Alexa app to the "Voice in a Can" device, and that you have granted Location permissions to the app on your phone; 8. You don't have to say "Alexa" ... just speak your command when the app is listening; 9. You can change the language that you speak and hear responses in, under "Settings" on the watch and phone. Only languages supported by Alexa are supported. The language should be set automatically. If you have questions or any support issues please don't hesitate to email damian@voiceinacan.com ... you should get a response within 24 hours, and often in minutes. This app was not created or endorsed by Amazon. Amazon, Alexa and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates The EULA is here: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Smart Speaker Controller

Control your smart speakers using your smartphone without needing to speak. This app functions like a TV remote for your smart speakers, offering pre-registered commands and a recording feature for custom voice prompts.

Highlights
  • Control smart speakers via smartphone
  • No speaking required
  • Universal compatibility
  • Pre-registered commands
  • Voice recording function
  • Editable wake-words
Features
Read full description

This is a remote control app that allows you to easily control your smart speakers with your smartphone. When you wake up from sleep and have a hard time speaking, or when you have a sore throat and can't speak, this app allows you to easily control your smart speakers without speaking. You can use this app to control your smart speakers just like a TV remote control. <Functions> Compatible with all smart speakers! It is compatible with all smart speakers. Ready to use! The 15 buttons are registered with frequently used words from the beginning, so you can use them without registration. Recording function You can record your voice and call it out with a single tap. You can record your voice and call out with a single tap. Pre-registered wake-word The wake-word of the smart speaker is already registered, so you can use it just by selecting it. Of course, you can edit the wake-words freely, so please feel free to use them. If there are any features you would like to see added or improved in future updates, please let us know in the review section.

Screenshots

Voice in a Can4 screens
Smart Speaker Controller3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Smart Speaker Controller at none against Voice in a Can's 5. Smart Speaker Controller also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). Voice in a Can's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (220 vs 23). On price and rating there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Voice in a Can sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Smart Speaker Controller asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for Voice in a Can against 3.9 for Smart Speaker Controller. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Voice in a Can has 220 ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Voice in a Can's written reviews are positive against 67% of Smart Speaker Controller's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Voice in a Can ships an update every 2 months, Smart Speaker Controller every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Voice in a Can versus Smart Speaker Controller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVoice in a CanSmart Speaker Controller
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (220 ratings) — better3.9 (23 ratings)
Positive reviews76.2% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings220 — better23
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAtadoreYuki Kubota

Customer experience

Voice in a Can

All ratings218 ratings
Positive70.6%
Neutral6.0%
Negative23.4%
Written reviews151 reviews
Positive76.2%
Neutral2.0%
Negative21.9%

Smart Speaker Controller

All ratings23 ratings
Positive69.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative26.1%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral16.7%
Negative16.7%

Bugs and requests

Voice in a Can

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App freezes or crashes on launch
  • Incompatibility with newer iOS/watchOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to control music playback
  • Improved Apple Watch app design
  • Siri Shortcuts integration
  • Expanded Alexa functionality

Smart Speaker Controller

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Voice in a Can

One-time5
  • Tiny thanks$0.99
  • Small thanks$1.99
  • Thanks$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Big thanks$4.99
  • Massive Thanks$9.99
None

Smart Speaker Controller

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Voice in a Can free?
Voice in a Can is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Smart Speaker Controller free?
Smart Speaker Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Voice in a Can or Smart Speaker Controller?
Voice in a Can is rated higher. Voice in a Can averages 3.9 out of 5 from 220 ratings, while Smart Speaker Controller averages 3.9 from 23 ratings.
Do Voice in a Can or Smart Speaker Controller have ads?
Smart Speaker Controller shows ads; Voice in a Can does not.
Which is updated more often, Voice in a Can or Smart Speaker Controller?
Voice in a Can ships an update every 2 months, and Smart Speaker Controller every 3 weeks. Most recently, Voice in a Can was updated on October 22, 2026 and Smart Speaker Controller on October 24, 2026.

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