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Energy & Utilities · head to head

ABB Ability vs Google Home

ABB Ability logo

ABB Ability

Energy & Utilities

Digital solutions for energy and automation

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Google Home logo

Google Home

IoT & Smart Home

Google's smart home platform with Google Assistant

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Google Home has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: ABB Ability the Internet Archive's capture of ABB Ability's page on 19 December 2021 showed it is sold only through a 'Find Your Sales Partner' channel across industry verticals (Automotive, Buildings, Data Centers, EV Charging, Manufacturing, Mining, Oil & Gas, Power, and others), with no price list published.; Google Home web version (home.google.com) has limited controls compared to the mobile app
  • They diverge on capability: ABB Ability covers Asset health monitoring, Google Home covers Google Assistant.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ABB Ability and Google Home actually diverge.

Attributes where ABB Ability and Google Home differ
AttributeABB AbilityGoogle Home
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, Mobile, ApiiOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS
CategoryEnergy & UtilitiesIoT & Smart Home
Founded19882016

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in ABB Ability

  • Asset health monitoring
  • Predictive maintenance
  • Performance optimization
  • Energy management
  • Grid automation
  • Remote diagnostics
  • Advanced analytics
  • Digital twin technology

Only in Google Home

  • Google Assistant
  • Voice Control
  • Routines
  • Multi-Room Audio
  • 10,000+ devices
  • Nest products
  • Chromecast
  • Third-party apps

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

ABB Ability

  • Asset performance managementnot Google Home
  • Predictive maintenancenot Google Home
  • Grid optimizationnot Google Home
  • Energy efficiencynot Google Home

Google Home

  • Controlling and automating smart home devicesnot ABB Ability
  • Viewing Nest camera feedsnot ABB Ability
  • Creating automation routinesnot ABB Ability
  • Managing household device settingsnot ABB Ability
  • Voice control via Google Assistantnot ABB Ability

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

ABB Ability

  • The Internet Archive's capture of ABB Ability's page on 19 December 2021 showed it is sold only through a 'Find Your Sales Partner' channel across industry verticals (Automotive, Buildings, Data Centers, EV Charging, Manufacturing, Mining, Oil & Gas, Power, and others), with no price list published.

Google Home

  • Web version (home.google.com) has limited controls compared to the mobile app
  • Battery-camera live streams on the web app auto-stop after 5 minutes
  • Requires compatible Google/Nest or third-party smart-home hardware - it is a control app, not a standalone product

Pricing, plan by plan

ABB Ability

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the ABB Ability review.

Google Home

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Home review.

Which should you pick?

Choose ABB Ability if

  • You need asset health monitoring.
  • You work on Web, Mobile, Api.
  • You also want predictive maintenance.
ABB Ability review

Choose Google Home if

  • You need google assistant.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS.
  • You also want voice control.
Google Home review

Questions people ask

Is ABB Ability or Google Home better?
Neither clearly leads. ABB Ability starts at On request and Google Home at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ABB Ability or Google Home?
Google Home has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for ABB Ability and Free for Google Home.
Does ABB Ability or Google Home run on more platforms?
ABB Ability runs on Web, Mobile, Api. Google Home runs on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS.
Can I use Google Home for free?
Yes. Google Home has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ABB Ability starts at On request.
What is ABB Ability best used for?
ABB Ability is most often used for asset performance management, predictive maintenance, grid optimization, energy efficiency. Of those, asset performance management and predictive maintenance are not what Google Home is typically brought in for.
What can ABB Ability do that Google Home cannot?
ABB Ability covers Asset health monitoring, Predictive maintenance, Performance optimization, Energy management. Google Home covers Google Assistant, Voice Control, Routines, Multi-Room Audio.
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