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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Amazon Alexa vs IFTTT

Amazon Alexa logo

Amazon Alexa

IoT & Smart Home

Amazon's voice-controlled smart home ecosystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IFTTT logo

IFTTT

Remote Work

Automate almost anything with IFTTT

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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; IFTTT free plan limited to only 2 applets total
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, IFTTT covers If-then applets.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Amazon Alexa and IFTTT actually diverge.

Attributes where Amazon Alexa and IFTTT differ
AttributeAmazon AlexaIFTTT
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsEcho devices, Fire TV, Android, IOSWeb, iOS, Android
CategoryIoT & Smart HomeRemote Work
Founded19942011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 IFTTT

  • If-then applets
  • Webhooks
  • Smart home integration
  • Social media
  • Email notifications
  • Data logging
  • 650+ services
  • Smart home devices

What people use each for

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

Amazon Alexa

  • Voice-controlled homenot IFTTT
  • Smart shoppingnot IFTTT
  • Entertainmentnot IFTTT
  • Home securitynot IFTTT

IFTTT

  • Casual automation with up to 2 simple applets via free plannot Amazon Alexa
  • Power users requiring 20 applets and multi-action capabilities via Pro plannot Amazon Alexa
  • Advanced automation with unlimited applets and AI services via Pro+ plannot 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

IFTTT

  • Free plan limited to only 2 applets total
  • Free plan applets run at standard speed; fastest speeds require Pro tier
  • Free plan excludes webhooks, multi-action applets, and Twitter integrations
  • Free plan limited to 30-day onboarding support; paid plans offer ongoing customer support

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

IFTTT

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the IFTTT review.

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 IFTTT if

  • You need if-then applets.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want webhooks.
IFTTT review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Alexa or IFTTT better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Alexa starts at Free and IFTTT at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Alexa or IFTTT?
Amazon Alexa starts at Free and IFTTT at Free.
Does Amazon Alexa or IFTTT run on more platforms?
Amazon Alexa runs on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS. IFTTT runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Amazon Alexa for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 IFTTT is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Alexa do that IFTTT cannot?
Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Skills Library, Routines, Multi-Room Audio. IFTTT covers If-then applets, Webhooks, Smart home integration, Social media.
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Related pages

More on Amazon Alexa

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