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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Amazon Alexa vs Aurora Solar

Amazon Alexa logo

Amazon Alexa

IoT & Smart Home

Amazon's voice-controlled smart home ecosystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Aurora Solar logo

Aurora Solar

Energy & Utilities

The leading solar design and sales platform

From
$250/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Amazon Alexa has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Amazon Alexa amazon Alexa is a free consumer app (per Apple App Store listing under AMZN Mobile LLC) with no subscription required for core voice assistant functionality; premium content and some skills route through separate Amazon subscriptions such as Prime and Amazon Music; Aurora Solar both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Alexa and Aurora Solar actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Alexa and Aurora Solar differ
AttributeAmazon AlexaAurora Solar
Starting priceFree$250/month
Pricing modelfreesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsEcho devices, Fire TV, Android, IOSWeb, Api
CategoryIoT & Smart HomeEnergy & Utilities
Founded19942013

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 Amazon Alexa

  • Voice Control
  • Skills Library
  • Routines
  • Multi-Room Audio
  • 100,000+ skills
  • Ring
  • Blink
  • Fire TV

Only in Aurora Solar

  • 3D solar design
  • Shade analysis
  • LIDAR integration
  • Performance simulation
  • Sales proposals
  • Financing options
  • Permit packages
  • NEC code compliance

What people use each for

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

Amazon Alexa

  • Voice-controlled homenot Aurora Solar
  • Smart shoppingnot Aurora Solar
  • Entertainmentnot Aurora Solar
  • Home securitynot Aurora Solar

Aurora Solar

  • Designing and simulating residential and commercial solar installationsnot Amazon Alexa
  • Producing shade analysis and sales proposals for solar projectsnot Amazon Alexa

Where each one falls short

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

Amazon Alexa

  • Amazon Alexa is a free consumer app (per Apple App Store listing under AMZN Mobile LLC) with no subscription required for core voice assistant functionality; premium content and some skills route through separate Amazon subscriptions such as Prime and Amazon Music

Aurora Solar

  • Both published plans are single user, so a second designer means a second licence
  • Projects are capped at 50 a month on both Basic and Premium, so the tiers differ on features rather than volume
  • LIDAR assisted modelling, shade reports and battery storage modelling all require Premium at $259 a month
  • API access and integrations are Enterprise only, which is priced per project rather than per month
  • Paying monthly rather than annually costs $288 more a year on Basic and $468 on Premium

Pricing, plan by plan

Amazon Alexa

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Voice control
    • Skills
    • Smart home control
  • Alexa Guard Plus$4.99/month
    • Emergency response
    • Hands-free calling
    • Enhanced alerts

Aurora Solar

$250/month
  • Starter$250/month
    • Basic design tools
    • Sales mode
    • Shade analysis
  • Pro$500/month
    • Advanced LIDAR integration
    • Performance simulation
    • Custom branding
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Unlimited users
    • Advanced analytics
    • Custom integrations

Which should you pick?

Choose Amazon Alexa if

  • You need voice control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS.
  • You also want skills library.
Amazon Alexa review

Choose Aurora Solar if

  • You need 3d solar design.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want shade analysis.
Aurora Solar review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Alexa or Aurora Solar better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Alexa starts at Free and Aurora Solar at $250/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Alexa or Aurora Solar?
Amazon Alexa has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Amazon Alexa and $250/month for Aurora Solar.
Does Amazon Alexa or Aurora Solar run on more platforms?
Amazon Alexa runs on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS. Aurora Solar runs on Web, Api.
Can I use Amazon Alexa for free?
Yes. Amazon Alexa has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Aurora Solar starts at $250/month.
What is Amazon Alexa best used for?
Amazon Alexa is most often used for voice-controlled home, smart shopping, entertainment, home security. Of those, voice-controlled home and smart shopping are not what Aurora Solar is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Alexa do that Aurora Solar cannot?
Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Skills Library, Routines, Multi-Room Audio. Aurora Solar covers 3D solar design, Shade analysis, LIDAR integration, Performance simulation.
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