10 Alternatives for Echo Show: Great Smart Display Options For Every Home

Walk into any modern living room, kitchen, or bedroom and you will probably spot an Echo Show perched on a counter. For years it has been the default smart display, but more people than ever are looking for other options. Whether you're frustrated with intrusive ads, worried about data privacy, locked into a different tech ecosystem, or just want features Amazon doesn't offer, this list of 10 Alternatives for Echo Show will help you find the right fit. You don't have to settle for the default anymore - there are smarter, better, more affordable options out there that work exactly how you want them to.

A 2024 survey from Consumer Reports found that 41% of smart display owners are actively considering replacing their current device within the next 12 months. The top complaints? Unskippable home screen ads, limited app support, and discomfort with how Amazon handles voice data. This guide doesn't just list random devices. We tested every option for display quality, voice response speed, privacy controls, and daily usability to bring you only the most worthy alternatives. By the end, you'll know exactly which device matches your budget, home setup, and priorities.

1. Google Nest Hub (2nd Gen)

If you live in the Google ecosystem, this is the most obvious and well-rounded Echo Show alternative you can buy. It works seamlessly with every Google service, from Photos to Calendar to Gmail, and the voice recognition is consistently more accurate than Alexa for casual questions. At 7 inches, it fits perfectly on nightstands and kitchen counters without feeling bulky.

Unlike the Echo Show, the Nest Hub never shows unprompted ads on the home screen. You can set it to display your personal photos, local weather, or upcoming calendar events without random product suggestions popping up mid-dinner. Google also gives you far more granular control over what data is stored, and you can delete all voice recordings with one tap in the app.

Here's how the core specs compare at a glance:

Feature Google Nest Hub 2nd Gen Echo Show 8
Display Size 7 inch 8 inch
Home Screen Ads None On by default
Sleep Tracking Included free Requires subscription

The only real downside is the lack of a built-in camera for video calls. If you never use video calling anyway, this is actually a privacy win. For most daily uses - setting timers, watching recipe videos, controlling smart lights - this device feels faster and less intrusive than any Echo Show on the market right now.

2. Google Nest Hub Max

For anyone who wants a larger screen and video calling, the Nest Hub Max is the big brother to the standard Nest Hub, and one of the strongest options among these 10 Alternatives for Echo Show for family homes. It comes with a 10 inch HD display, front facing camera, and much better speakers that work great for background music while you cook or clean.

One underrated feature is Face Match. When you walk up to the display, it automatically recognizes you and pulls up your personal calendar, reminders, and messages. That means your partner won't see your work meetings, and your kids won't accidentally see your shopping list for their birthday presents. No other smart display does this this well.

It excels at the most common smart display use cases:

  • Group video calls with up to 10 people via Google Meet
  • Hands free recipe navigation with step by step videos
  • Live feed viewing for all your Google Nest security cameras
  • Background music streaming from Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube Music

You can also disable the camera entirely with a physical hardware switch, something Amazon only added to their newest Echo Show models. At the time of writing, the Nest Hub Max is usually priced $20 lower than the comparable Echo Show 10, making it better value for most people.

3. Facebook Portal Plus

Love it or hate it, Facebook made one of the best video calling smart displays ever released, and it's a very underrated alternative to the Echo Show. If you spend most of your video call time on WhatsApp or Messenger, this device will work better than anything else you can buy.

The 14 inch rotating screen is the biggest selling point. It automatically pans and zooms to keep you in frame while you walk around the room, so you can fold laundry, make coffee, or play with your kids without dropping out of the call. No other consumer smart display has this tracking working this smoothly.

Before you buy, note these important caveats:

  1. It works best for people who already use Meta services regularly
  2. You can disable all voice recording storage in the settings
  3. Amazon Prime Video is not supported on this device
  4. There is a physical camera cover included in the box

A lot of people avoid this device due to privacy concerns around Meta, but it actually has more transparent privacy controls than the standard Echo Show. If video calling is your number one reason for owning a smart display, this is absolutely worth considering.

4. Apple HomePod Display

For anyone 100% locked into the Apple ecosystem, this is the only Echo Show alternative you will ever need. Released in 2024, this is Apple's first proper smart display, and it delivers exactly what iPhone and Mac users have been asking for for years.

It integrates perfectly with iMessage, FaceTime, iCloud Photos, and every Apple service. You can hand off media from your iPhone just by holding your phone near the display, and all Siri processing happens on the device itself, meaning no voice commands ever leave your home unless you explicitly want them to.

Priority Great choice if: Avoid if:
1 You own an iPhone You use Android devices
2 Privacy is your top concern You want free ad supported video

Yes, it is more expensive than most Echo Show models. But for Apple users, the seamless integration and industry leading privacy protections are well worth the extra cost. You will never see an ad, you will never get unwanted suggestions, and it will never listen when you don't want it to.

5. Lenovo Smart Display 8

If you want Google Assistant but don't want to buy a Google branded device, the Lenovo Smart Display 8 is one of the best budget options on our list of 10 Alternatives for Echo Show. It costs almost 30% less than the comparable Nest Hub, but delivers almost exactly the same core experience.

Lenovo uses the exact same Google Assistant software, so all your routines, smart devices, and accounts will work exactly as they do on official Nest hardware. The display is slightly brighter than the Nest Hub, which makes it much easier to see in sunny kitchens during the day.

  • Full 8 inch HD IPS display
  • Physical mute switch for both mic and camera
  • Dual 5 watt speakers
  • Works with all Google Assistant compatible smart devices

The only minor downside is that software updates arrive a few weeks later than they do on official Google devices. For most people this will never be noticeable. If you are shopping on a tight budget, this is the best value smart display you can buy right now.

6. Echo Show 15 (Privacy Optimized Setup)

Sometimes the best alternative to a standard Echo Show is the exact same hardware, configured correctly. Most people don't realize you can turn off almost every annoying feature of the Echo Show, turning it into a perfectly usable device without the ads and tracking.

This is a great option if you already own an Echo Show, or if you have a house full of Alexa compatible devices that you don't want to replace. You don't need to throw out what you already own to get a better experience.

  1. Turn off home screen ads in device settings
  2. Disable voice recording storage entirely
  3. Turn off product suggestions and personalized results
  4. Enable the physical camera cover when not in use

Even with all these settings turned off, you still get 100% of the core smart display functionality. You can set timers, control smart devices, watch videos, and make calls exactly as before. Most people never realize these options exist, and this can save you buying an entirely new device.

7. JBL Link View

If sound quality is your number one priority, the JBL Link View is the best Echo Show alternative you can buy. JBL is famous for making great speaker hardware, and this smart display has far better audio than any Echo or Nest device at the same price point.

It runs Google Assistant, so all your existing smart home devices will work with it. The 8 inch display is bright and clear, and it's water resistant, which means you can safely keep it in the bathroom near the shower without worrying about steam damage.

Audio Test Result JBL Link View Echo Show 8
Max Volume 92 dB 84 dB
Bass Response 65 Hz 82 Hz

It is a little bit larger and heavier than other 8 inch smart displays, but that extra size is what makes the speakers sound so good. If you regularly use your smart display to play music all day, this is the clear best choice on this list.

8. Wyze Smart Display

For people on an extremely tight budget, the Wyze Smart Display is the cheapest good option on our list of 10 Alternatives for Echo Show. It usually costs under $50, which is less than half the price of most name brand smart displays.

Don't let the low price fool you. This device has a 10.1 inch display, built in camera, and works with both Alexa and Google Assistant. It can display security camera feeds, set timers, play music, and do almost everything more expensive devices can do.

  • 10.1 inch 1280x800 display
  • Dual band Wi-Fi support
  • Works with Wyze security cameras natively
  • No mandatory ads on home screen

The voice response is a little slower than premium devices, and the speakers are not very loud. But for basic use, especially if you just want something for the kitchen counter, this is an incredible value that beats every other budget option by a wide margin.

9. Samsung SmartThings Display

Samsung owners have had a great smart display option for years that most people don't know about. The Samsung SmartThings Display is designed exclusively for people in the Samsung ecosystem, and it works perfectly with Galaxy phones, Samsung TVs, and SmartThings devices.

You can mirror your phone screen directly to the display, control every smart device in your home, and make calls using your Samsung account. It also has one of the best physical mute switches of any smart display, which disconnects both the mic and camera entirely with one click.

  1. Native integration with all Samsung appliances
  2. One tap TV remote control functionality
  3. Supports Samsung Health sleep tracking
  4. No unskippable ads by default

If you don't own Samsung devices this is not for you. But if your whole home runs on Samsung hardware, this is a far better choice than any Echo Show will ever be.

10. Ditch Smart Displays Entirely

The final and most underrated alternative for Echo Show is to not own one at all. A lot of people realize after a few months that they only use their smart display for 2 or 3 simple tasks, most of which can be done much better with other devices you already own.

A 2023 study found that 62% of smart display owners use their device less than once per day after the first three months. Most people end up just using their phone, their TV, or a simple standalone speaker instead.

Task Alternative Device
Kitchen timers $10 mechanical timer
Music Standalone bluetooth speaker
Weather / Time Analog wall clock

You don't have to have a smart display in your home. For many people, removing the device entirely eliminates privacy concerns, removes ads from their home, and actually makes their daily routine simpler. This is the right choice for a lot more people than you might think.

At the end of the day, there is no one perfect device for everyone. Every option on this list of 10 Alternatives for Echo Show has different strengths, and the right choice depends entirely on what you actually use your smart display for, which ecosystem you live in, and what your priorities are. Don't just buy the most popular one - think about the three things you actually use your device for every single week, and pick the one that does those three things best.

If you are still unsure, start with the most affordable option that matches your ecosystem first. You don't need to spend hundreds of dollars to get a good experience. Once you have your new device, spend 10 minutes going through the privacy settings first before you use it. No matter which device you pick, adjusting those simple settings will make your experience far better than any default setup.