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IoT & Smart Home · head to head

Arduino Cloud vs Google Home

Arduino Cloud logo

Arduino Cloud

IoT & Smart Home

Cloud platform for Arduino IoT devices and applications

From
Free
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

  • Each has a real cost: Arduino Cloud the free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention; Google Home web version (home.google.com) has limited controls compared to the mobile app
  • They diverge on capability: Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Google Home covers Google Assistant.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arduino Cloud and Google Home actually diverge.

Attributes where Arduino Cloud and Google Home differ
AttributeArduino CloudGoogle Home
Pricing modelsubscriptionUnknown
PlatformsArduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboardiOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS
Founded20052016

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 Arduino Cloud

  • Device Connectivity
  • Cloud Storage
  • Real-Time Sync
  • Security
  • Arduino IDE
  • Mobile app
  • REST API
  • Integration services

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.

Arduino Cloud

  • Connecting Arduino boards to a cloud dashboardnot Google Home
  • Over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devicesnot Google Home
  • Logging sensor data and charting it over timenot Google Home
  • Triggering notifications from device thresholdsnot Google Home
  • Classroom IoT projects on the School plannot Google Home

Google Home

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

Where each one falls short

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

Arduino Cloud

  • The free plan allows 2 connected devices, 5 variables each and one day of data retention
  • Free accounts are limited to 25 compilations a day and 10 trigger notifications a day
  • The Maker plan at $72 a year lifts devices to 25 and retention to 3 months, still for a single user
  • Team pricing jumps to $1,000 a year
  • Two years of data retention and unlimited ingestion require Enterprise

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

Arduino Cloud

Free
  • MakerFree
    • 2 devices
    • Basic features
    • Cloud access
  • Maker Plus$7/month
    • Up to 10 devices
    • Advanced features
    • Better storage

Google Home

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Google Home review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Arduino Cloud if

  • You need device connectivity.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard.
  • You also want cloud storage.
Arduino Cloud 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 Arduino Cloud or Google Home better?
Neither clearly leads. Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Google Home at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arduino Cloud or Google Home?
Arduino Cloud starts at Free and Google Home at Free.
Does Arduino Cloud or Google Home run on more platforms?
Arduino Cloud runs on Arduino devices, Cloud, Mobile app, Web dashboard. Google Home runs on iOS, Android, Web, ChromeOS.
Can I use Arduino Cloud for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Arduino Cloud best used for?
Arduino Cloud is most often used for connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard, over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices, logging sensor data and charting it over time, triggering notifications from device thresholds. Of those, connecting arduino boards to a cloud dashboard and over-the-air firmware updates to deployed devices are not what Google Home is typically brought in for.
What can Arduino Cloud do that Google Home cannot?
Arduino Cloud covers Device Connectivity, Cloud Storage, Real-Time Sync, Security. Google Home covers Google Assistant, Voice Control, Routines, Multi-Room Audio.
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