Comparison

Amazon Alexa vs SmartHome (MSmartHome)

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

Head to head
About

Amazon Alexa

Manage your smart home devices, control music, and organize your day with voice commands. This app allows you to set up and interact with compatible devices, discover new skills, and stay connected with others. It learns your preferences for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Manage Alexa-enabled devices
  • Control music playback
  • View and edit lists
  • Set reminders and timers
  • Discover and enable skills
  • Connect with other devices
Currently charting
Read full description

Use the Amazon Alexa app to manage Alexa-enabled devices, control music playback, view shopping lists on the go, keep track of upcoming reminders, check on active timers and much more. When you enable hands-free with Alexa, you can talk to Alexa by simply saying “Alexa” when the app is on your screen. The more you use Alexa, the more she adapts to your voice, vocabulary and personal preferences. DISCOVER MORE • Get more out of your Echo device through personalized feature recommendations from Alexa • Discover and enable recommended Alexa skills • Pick up where you left off directly from the home feed with lists, shopping, or recently played Music and Books MANAGE YOUR DEVICES • Set up your Alexa-enabled devices, control or check status of your compatible smart lights, locks and thermostats at home or on the go • Create routines to automate your smart home devices MUSIC & BOOKS • Connect to music services like Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. Choose a song or playlist and listen on your Alexa-enabled devices • Create speaker groups to play music across your compatible Echo devices for multi-room music ORGANIZE YOUR DAY • View and edit shopping and to-do lists on the go, get weather and news updates, manage timers and alarms, and more STAY CONNECTED • Use Drop In from your app to connect instantly with your compatible Echo devices, like a two-way intercom • Call or message supported Alexa-enabled devices, at no additional cost. By using this app, you agree to Amazon’s Conditions of Use (www.amazon.com/conditionsofuse), Privacy Notice (www.amazon.com/privacy), and all of the terms found here (www.amazon.com/alexaterms).

About

SmartHome (MSmartHome)

Control and monitor smart home appliances from various brands remotely and with voice commands. Receive important notifications and set up helpful automations to simplify daily tasks. Customize your device controls for quick access.

Highlights
  • Remote app control
  • Voice control integration
  • Appliance status monitoring
  • Helpful automations
  • Customizable device cards
  • Timely notifications
Features
Read full description

==The Red Dot Award 2023 Winner== SmartHome allows you to connect, monitor, and control smart appliances from Midea, Pelonis, Comfee, Master Kitchen, Artic King, and MDV. SmartHome replaces the MSmartHome and Midea Air apps, providing a brand-new look and improved experience. KEY FEATURES: REMOTE APP CONTROL: Easily control your smart appliance anytime, from anywhere using your smart phone. For example, cool down your room before you arrive home. VOICE CONTROL: Enjoy hands-free control of select appliances with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. NOTIFICATIONS: Never miss an important update or alert from your smart appliances. Receive timely notifications to alert you that the fridge door is open, or your oven has finished cooking dinner. APPLIANCE STATUS: Monitor your smart appliances anytime, from anywhere. Check how much time is left on your laundry cycle or when your dishwasher will have the silverware ready for dinner. HELPFUL AUTOMATIONS: Make everyday life a little easier. Enable your air conditioner to automatically turn on when it is hot outside. Set a schedule for your dehumidifier to turn off at bedtime. CUSTOMIZABLE DEVICE CARDS: Quick access to your most used devices and controls from the app home page. SmartHome supports home appliances including air conditioners, vacuum cleaners, dehumidifiers, fans, ovens, washers & dryers, dishwashers, and more. Access Permissions: The following access permissions are required for the SmartHome (formerly MSmartHome) app to provide necessary services. If you do not allow them, you can still use the app except for the related services. - Bluetooth: Find and connect to nearby devices via Bluetooth or BLE. - Location: Detect home WLAN network information to add device. Check your location to automate actions when location changes. Search for local weather information in "Scene" function. - Camera: Scan QR codes to add device. Upload photo to report a repair or feedback. - Album: Scan saved QR codes. Edit your profile photo. Upload a photo to report a repair or feedback. ※The availability of products and services may vary depending on the models you own or the region/country you reside in.

Screenshots

Amazon Alexa4 screens
SmartHome (MSmartHome)4 screens

Verdict

The call

Amazon Alexa and SmartHome (MSmartHome) both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 69% of SmartHome (MSmartHome)'s written reviews are positive against 20% of Amazon Alexa's. SmartHome (MSmartHome) also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). Amazon Alexa's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (5.9M vs 20K). On price, rating, ads and device support 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. Amazon Alexa sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. SmartHome (MSmartHome) asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SmartHome (MSmartHome) holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amazon Alexa has 5.9M ratings behind it against 20K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 20% of Amazon Alexa's written reviews are positive against 69% of SmartHome (MSmartHome)'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Amazon Alexa ships an update weekly, SmartHome (MSmartHome) every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Amazon Alexa versus SmartHome (MSmartHome): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmazon AlexaSmartHome (MSmartHome)
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (5.9M ratings)4.7 (20K ratings) — better
Positive reviews20.3% of reviews69.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings5.9M — better20K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#16 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size508 MB233 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperAMZN Mobile LLCShenZhen Shuzhi Scene Positioning Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Amazon Alexa

All ratings5,922,855 ratings
Positive88.4%
Neutral3.3%
Negative8.2%
Written reviews9,264 reviews
Positive20.3%
Neutral7.4%
Negative72.3%

SmartHome (MSmartHome)

All ratings20,021 ratings
Positive94.5%
Neutral1.9%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews2,404 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral6.5%
Negative24.3%

User reviews

Amazon Alexa

From 5.9M App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Convenient for controlling smart devices
  • 🚀 Helpful for managing reminders and playing music
  • 👍 Alexa is a great companion
  • 👍 Alexa is funny, nice, and kind
  • 👍 Alexa is a lifesaver for the elderly

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🐛 Inconsistent voice recognition
  • 🐛 Cluttered and unintuitive interface
  • 🐛 Slow and unresponsive app
  • 🐛 Alexa sometimes ignores commands or gives irrelevant responses

SmartHome (MSmartHome)

From 20K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Easy to use
  • 👍 Convenient remote control
  • 👍 Helpful scheduling features
  • 🚀 Straightforward setup
  • 👍 User-friendly interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Connectivity issues
  • 🐛 Frequent disconnections
  • 🐛 Inconsistent performance
  • 🐛 Buggy app
  • 🐛 Unreliable app

Bugs and requests

Amazon Alexa

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Alexa unable to link to Apple Music account
  • Alexa unable to properly control smart plugs and lights
  • Alexa unable to maintain connection with Bluetooth speakers
  • Alexa unable to consistently set alarms and timers
  • Alexa app crashing or becoming unresponsive
Show 1 more
  • Alexa unable to recognize routines and commands

Requested features

7 requests
  • More customization options for routines
  • Better integration with third-party apps
  • Ability to control Alexa devices without voice commands
  • Option to set custom sounds/music for alarms and timers
  • Improved music playback controls in the app
Show 2 more
  • Ability to easily manage and organize smart home devices
  • More advanced features for the elderly and disabled users

SmartHome (MSmartHome)

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • App crashes on startup
  • Frequent disconnections from devices
  • Inability to control devices remotely
  • Scheduled tasks not working as expected
  • Inaccurate device status reporting
Show 2 more
  • Mapping features not functioning properly
  • Alexa integration not working reliably

Requested features

9 requests
  • Add energy usage/consumption tracking
  • Improve Alexa integration
  • Add option to disable beeping sounds
  • Allow multiple users to access the same account
  • Provide more detailed usage data and analytics
Show 4 more
  • Improve scheduling and timer functionality
  • Add support for 5GHz WiFi networks
  • Improve map editing and virtual barrier features
  • Provide more customization options

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Amazon Alexa

Subscriptions2
  • Amazon Kids+1 Month trial$6.991 Month
  • Alexa+ Standard Monthly1 Month trial$19.991 Month
None

SmartHome (MSmartHome)

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Amazon Alexa free?
Amazon Alexa is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SmartHome (MSmartHome) free?
SmartHome (MSmartHome) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Amazon Alexa or SmartHome (MSmartHome)?
SmartHome (MSmartHome) is rated higher. Amazon Alexa averages 4.5 out of 5 from 5.9M ratings, while SmartHome (MSmartHome) averages 4.7 from 20K ratings.
Do Amazon Alexa or SmartHome (MSmartHome) have ads?
Neither Amazon Alexa nor SmartHome (MSmartHome) shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Amazon Alexa or SmartHome (MSmartHome)?
Amazon Alexa ships an update weekly, and SmartHome (MSmartHome) every 2 months. Most recently, Amazon Alexa was updated on October 24, 2026 and SmartHome (MSmartHome) on October 24, 2026.

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