• Amazon’s Echo speakers are some of the most popular Alexa devices on the market, but there are plenty of great Alexa-enabled speakers out there from other manufacturers.
  • Alexa speakers are not all created equal, however, so we did the research to find the best Alexa speakers you can buy that aren’t made by Amazon.
  • We think the Sonos One offers the best cross-section of Alexa intelligence and excellent sound quality.
  • For additional smart speaker recommendations, be sure to read our roundup of the best speaker deals.

The original Amazon Echo was a ground-breaking speaker. It was the first to introduce the world to the concept of a smart speaker, and although many were a little confused about the point of a smart speaker when the Echo first came out, the idea quickly caught on and created a whole new category.

Although the current Amazon Echo is a very smart speaker, it’s not always the best choice for those who want a smart speaker with excellent sound quality – even though it has improved markedly in the past few years.

Luckily, Amazon has partnered with dozens of other companies to put Alexa in third-party speakers. These days, there is a ton of choice when it comes to buying speakers with Amazon’s digital assistant built right in.

There are, of course, a number of things to keep in mind when buying a new smart speaker. For starters, you’ll want to consider the form-factor that you’re looking for. There are plenty of standard-sized smart speakers designed for desktop use, but there are also other speaker form-factors with Alexa, like soundbars, for example. You’ll also want to think about whether or not you want a speaker that can be portable, and if you do, you’ll need to look into battery life.

We’ve done the research for you to find the best Alexa speakers you can buy from a variety of top brands. We’ll continue to add more as Alexa makes her way onto other excellent speakers.

Here are the best third-party Alexa speakers you can buy:

Prices and links are current as of 03/05/2020. Added links to relevant buying guides and speaker deals. Replaced Eufy Genie with Eufy Genie and smart bulb bundle. We're currently in the process of testing new Alexa speakers for consideration in our guide. Updated by Steven Cohen.

The best Alexa speaker overall

The Sonos One is well-designed, super-smart, and sounds awesome - easily making it the best Alexa-enabled speaker that isn't an Amazon Echo.

We've said it before, and we'll say it again: The Sonos One is one of the best smart speakers out there today. The device works with Alexa, to be sure, but it also has Google Assistant support and it works with Apple's AirPlay 2 for users of iOS devices. In other words, while you may buy the speaker for its Alexa support, you'll be getting a ton of other smart features, too.

You can ask Alexa questions, have her play music, set reminders, buy items on Amazon, check your shipments, control your compatible smart home gadgets, and more on the Sonos One. On top of that, you can access third-party services like Spotify.

Smart features aside, the Sonos One is also an excellent-sounding speaker. It boasts plenty of volume without distorting, plus you'll get plenty of bass response for a speaker this size and price, so if bass is important to you, this is the speaker to get. That doesn't mean it does away with the high-end response, either. There's plenty of clarity in the high end, helping things like cymbals shimmer, and vocals cut through a mix.

If you can afford to buy two, you can get an even more balanced and sweet sound with stereo pairing.

The reviews of the Sonos One are pretty great, too. Engadget scored it a 90 out of 100, while TechRadar gave it an editor's choice award.

That doesn't mean it's perfect, though. Disadvantages of the speaker include the fact that there's no Bluetooth or auxiliary port, so it's a closed system that locks you into the Sonos ecosystem. Some users have reported that the Sonos app can be a little buggy, although we've had no major issues. The speaker is also a little more expensive than some of the other speakers on this list.

Pros: Great sound quality, well-designed, Google Assistant support in addition to Alexa, AirPlay 2

Cons: A little expensive, reports of buggy app

The best portable Alexa speaker

Foto: Source: Ultimate Ears

The UE Megablast sounds good and has a nice design, plus it's one of the only portable speakers with Alexa.

If you're looking for something a little more portable, then the UE Megablast speaker is the way to go. The speaker has consistently rated among the best portable speakers out there, and the fact that it boasts Alexa support is really the icing on the cake.

You can ask Alexa questions, have her play music, set reminders, buy items on Amazon, check your shipments, control your compatible smart home gadgets, and more on the UE Megablast.

There are a few things that make this such a great speaker. For starters, it's got a nice design and comes in a range of different colors. On top of that, however, the speaker also sounds great, offering plenty of bass response and a nice, cutting sound to seriously deliver the music no matter where you are.

There's also the fact that the speaker is well-built for portable use. For example, it offers a hefty 12 hours of battery life, plus it's nice and water-resistant with a rating of IP67. That makes it great for taking to the beach without having to worry about it getting too wet.

There are, of course, a few downsides to the speaker. For starters, while the Alexa integration is pretty good, it doesn't work when you're not connected to Wi-Fi, and its Wi-Fi connection isn't always the best. Still, despite the downsides, it's gotten some pretty sweet reviews. Pocket-Lint and PCMag both scored it 4 out of 5.

Pros: Good battery life, nice sound quality, relatively durable

Cons: Some Wi-Fi issues, Alexa needs Wi-Fi to properly function

The best Alexa sound bar

Foto: Source: Amazon

The Sonos Beam boasts that awesome Sonos sound, an excellent design, and Alexa support.

If you want Alexa in the living room, you don't necessarily have to be limited to an Echo-sized device. Instead, you could go for a soundbar, like the Sonos Beam, which offers Alexa support, excellent speakers, and more.

There are plenty of things that make the Sonos Beam a great buy. For starters, like the Sonos One, it supports Amazon's Alexa, Apple's AirPlay 2, and Google Assistant. On top of that, it boasts that awesome Sonos sound quality. There's plenty of low-end and tons of clarity in the high-end, making for a nice, crisp sound.

Of course, nothing's perfect. For starters, the Sonos Beam is pretty pricey, and if you want to add rear speakers or a subwoofer, you'll have to pay even more. Despite that, however, the device has been getting excellent reviews. Our reviewer said "it's worth every penny."

Pros: Excellent sound quality, compact for a soundbar, Google Assistant support, AirPlay 2 capabilities

Cons: Expensive

The best budget Alexa speaker

Foto: Source: Amazon

The Eufy Genie may not offer the best sound quality, but it still has all the smart features you'd expect from Alexa at a very affordable price.

Perhaps you're simply looking to get the smarts of Alexa in your home but don't care all that much about great sound quality because you have other speakers you listen to music on. If that's the case, then the speaker to go for is the Eufy Genie.

In fact, even if you are an audiophile the Eufy Genie might be the way to go. That's because of the fact that it has an aux port built right into it, so you can connect it your favorite great-sounding speakers to get a smart setup that also sounds amazing. Apart from that, you'll enjoy all the benefits Alexa has to offer, including smart home control, music playing, and so on.

So what are the downsides to the device? Well, if you do use it as a standalone device, don't expect it to sound great. On top of that, while it seems as though Eufy's customer service seems to be pretty good, there may be some quality control issues.

Despite the issues, considering the fact that the Eufy Genie is so inexpensive, it's well worth the cost for those who want the intelligence Alexa has to offer.

As of press time, however, the Eufy Genie is only currently in stock as a bundle with two Eufy smart bulbs. Though this does raise the price a bit, the Eufy Genie bundle is still cheaper than any other Alexa-enabled speaker option on our list, and the bulbs could make a great fit for your smart home needs.

Pros: Very inexpensive, all the perks Alexa has to offer, aux port for better speakers

Cons: Sound quality isn't great, possible quality control issues, currently only available as a bundle with smart bulbs

The best Alexa speaker for your bedroom

Foto: Source: iHome

The iHome iAVS16 may not sound as great as more expensive options, but it offers plenty of features for charging your device and showing the time at night.

While most of these speakers could work perfectly fine in your bedroom, if you want something to truly be helpful in the early morning and late evening, then the iHome iAVS16 is the device to buy. Not only does the speaker offer Alexa support, but it also has a digital clock, weather information, and more.

There are plenty of things that make this speaker worth buying. For example, it's a pretty well-designed and stylish speaker, and it has a USB port on the back for charging your phone or another device at night. There's also a series of buttons on the top of the speaker, including one that can activate Alexa.

Apart from the Alexa support, the speaker doesn't sound bad, just don't expect it to really compare to Sonos speakers. On top of that, some buyers have encountered a few bugs and glitches

Pros: Versatile, USB port for charging, inexpensive

Cons: A little buggy, sound-quality doesn't compare to more expensive options

The best stylish Alexa speaker

Foto: Source: Cavalier

The Cavalier Maverick is a portable speaker with Alexa, a super stylish exterior, its own charging base, and a carrying case.

Whether you're looking for an Alexa-enabled speaker to use at home or one that can travel, the Cavalier Maverick delivers on both fronts - and unlike most speakers, this is one that you'll want to show off, thanks to its visually appealing design.

Its hipster vibe is just present enough that you may be convinced to do away with your record player to save a little space, but subtle enough to go with any room's style if hipster isn't your thing. It comes in two different color schemes: black and silver, and indigo and tan, which allows it to mesh well with any space.

I was able to test the Maverick for myself and immediately appreciated the craftsmanship. Genuine wood, distressed leather, metal, and custom knit fabric come together to form a speaker that lives up to the promise of "looking as good as it sounds."

Once I downloaded the Cavalier app, I had the Maverick set up and connected to our Wi-Fi in less than 10 minutes. If you want to take advantage of the Alexa-enabled voice control feature, you'll also need to download the Amazon Alexa app. Both apps are nicely laid out and easy to use.

The Maverick can easily be controlled via the Cavalier app, voice commands issued to Alexa, or with the smart button located on top of the speaker.

My favorite way to control the speaker was with Alexa, and as an Amazon Prime user, I could play songs right from my library. It's also compatible with Pandora, Spotify, and iHeart Radio, in case you don't use Prime Music. Thanks to the Spotify Connect integration, you can also control your music directly through the Spotify app if you so choose.

The Alexa-enabled voice control also came in handy when I wanted to know what the weather was, wanted to set a reminder, or wanted the latest news updates. This speaker is a great alternative to the Amazon Echo if you're looking for something a little more stylish and that can travel with you throughout your home.

I was equally as impressed with the sound quality as I was with the design aesthetics. The sound is crisp and clear and easily filled our large living room. If you're a fan of bass-heavy music, you may find the bass a little lacking, but I personally had no issues with the sound. If you're looking for an even more robust or whole-home sound experience, multiple Maverick speakers can be linked together, but the single speaker served our needs just fine.

As a Bluetooth speaker, the Maverick is also built to travel and comes with a sturdy carrying case for protection when you're on the go. The battery life is decent, with up to nine hours of playing time.

The Maverick is definitely on the expensive side, but in my opinion, extras like the charging base, the carrying case, and the Alexa integration make this a worthwhile investment if you're looking for a speaker that's both extremely functional and pleasing to look at. - Kylie Joyner

Pros: Aesthetically pleasing design, crafted with high-quality materials, clear and crisp sound quality, portable, features Alexa integration with voice control, comes with charging base and carrying case

Cons: Expensive, bass is lacking a bit

Check out our other speaker buying guides

Foto: Source: Amazon

The best speakers

There are many different kinds of speakers to choose from, and certain types will be better for specific performance needs. For instance, home theater buyers will be better off with floorstanding speakers or a soundbar, while those looking for a more affordable and portable music playback solution will want to find a Bluetooth speaker. Through research and testing, we've picked the best speakers you can buy across a range of categories:

The best smart speakers

Smart speakers have become a central fixture in many modern smart homes. This type of speaker includes integrated support for a digital assistant, enabling you to control other smart devices, ask questions, and more through voice commands. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are the two most common platforms used on smart speakers. With different budget and performance needs in mind, we've selected the best smart speakers you can buy:

The best Bluetooth speakers

Bluetooth speakers feature wireless connectivity, allowing you to listen to music without any pesky cables getting in the way. Rechargeable batteries are also included in many models, adding support for portable listening wherever you go. There are a lot of different Bluetooth speakers on the market for many different performance and budget needs. Here are the best Bluetooth speakers you can buy: