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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Amazon Alexa vs Shelly

Amazon Alexa logo

Amazon Alexa

IoT & Smart Home

Amazon's voice-controlled smart home ecosystem

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shelly logo

Shelly

IoT & Smart Home

Powerful WiFi smart home devices with local control

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; Shelly premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • They diverge on capability: Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Shelly covers Local Control.

Where they differ

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

Attributes where Amazon Alexa and Shelly differ
AttributeAmazon AlexaShelly
Pricing modelfreeUnknown
PlatformsEcho devices, Fire TV, Android, IOSWeb, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network
Founded19942016

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (IoT & Smart Home).

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 Shelly

  • Local Control
  • Open API
  • MQTT Support
  • Energy Monitoring
  • Home Assistant
  • Alexa
  • Google Home
  • SmartThings

Both cover

  • Android support
  • IOS support

What people use each for

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

Amazon Alexa

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

Shelly

  • Smart home automation and controlnot Amazon Alexa
  • Energy monitoring and managementnot Amazon Alexa
  • WiFi/Bluetooth/Matter device integrationnot 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

Shelly

  • Premium features limited to cloud-based functionality; local control requires separate setup
  • Device-specific capabilities vary; not all features available across entire product range

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

Shelly

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Shelly 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 Shelly if

  • You need local control.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
  • You also want open api.
Shelly review

Questions people ask

Is Amazon Alexa or Shelly better?
Neither clearly leads. Amazon Alexa starts at Free and Shelly at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Alexa or Shelly?
Amazon Alexa starts at Free and Shelly at Free.
Does Amazon Alexa or Shelly run on more platforms?
Amazon Alexa runs on Echo devices, Fire TV, Android, IOS. Shelly runs on Web, Mobile app, Cloud, Local network.
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 Shelly is typically brought in for.
What can Amazon Alexa do that Shelly cannot?
Amazon Alexa covers Voice Control, Skills Library, Routines, Multi-Room Audio. Shelly covers Local Control, Open API, MQTT Support, Energy Monitoring. Both handle Android support, IOS support.
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