In 2011, Siri became the world’s first voice assistant, and many companies have since copied her.
But after a decade of competition and some great new options, is Siri still worth using?
Siri is still worth it. A lot has changed in voice assistant technology since 2011, but Siri is still considered one of the top 3, competing with Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant. Depending on which factor is most important to you, Siri could still be the right voice assistant for you.
This article will discuss what to consider when choosing a voice assistant.
If you’re wondering what other options are available or what Siri has to offer, read on and you’ll be able to make an informed choice on whether Siri is the voice assistant for you.
How Do Siri and Her Competitors Match Up?
Before you decide whether or not Siri is still worth it, it’s a good idea to compare her performance against her main competitors (Alexa and Google Assistant) in the following categories:
- Voice recognition
- Quality of responses
- Compatibility
- Smart speaker
- Music options
- Online ordering
- Directions
1. Voice Recognition
All three smart assistants use highly sophisticated voice recognition technology, and they’re all very good at understanding what you’re asking.
With Siri, you need to train her to recognize your voice (this only takes a few minutes in the beginning).
Apple insists on this so that you won’t have unauthorized users gaining access to your private information.
After asking a question, Siri doesn’t linger around to check if you’re happy with the response or if you need to clarify something else.
This is something that Alexa and Google Assistant both do, putting them at an advantage.
Using Google Assistant or Alexa, you can give them a few instructions at the same time.
They’ve programmed their AI to understand that “and” means that another instruction will follow.
Both Alexa and Google Assistant can recognize multiple voices, making them more attractive to multi-person households.
2. Quality of Responses
One of the most popular and basic functions of a smart assistant is answering questions.
These can be anything from where the closest gas station is, how long cows live, or how to make salsa.
Apart from using a smart assistant, most people turn to one place when they need to know something: Google.
So it makes sense that Google Assistant would be the leader, and this was proven in a recent study.
According to Loup, Google Assistant could answer 92.9% of the questions correctly and understood an impressive 100% of the queries.
Siri came second with 83.1% correct answers and appeared to understand 99.8% of the questions.
Alexa brought up the rear, answering only 79.8% of queries and understanding 99.9% of questions.
3. Compatibility
Siri is compatible with all Apple devices so you can use her with your iPhone, Apple HomePod, iPad, Apple TV, Mac, Apple Watch, etc.
She isn’t available on Android, so if your devices are a hybrid of operating systems, you won’t be able to use her on everything.
Of course, if you’re a die-hard Apple fan, then this won’t matter.
Google Assistant is available on any device that supports Android 5.0 or higher, making it compatible with most devices, including the Amazon Fire Tablet.
Google Assistant doesn’t support iOS devices, though.
You can use Alexa with any Amazon device that offers it, and certain Windows computers and smart speakers offering Amazon Alexa integration.
4. Smart Speaker
Siri’s smart speaker is the Apple HomePod, Alexa’s is the Echo, and Google’s is the Google Home.
With only two models, Apple falls way short of Alexa and Google Assistant, which offer multiple options.
Below is a handy chart explaining each company’s smart speaker options:
| Siri | Google Assistant | Alexa | |
| Models Available | HomePodHomePod Mini | Nest AudioNest MiniGoogle Home Mini | Echo DotFire TV CubeEchoEcho ShowEcho PlusEcho Studio |
| Price | $99 – $299* | $34.99 – $99.99** | $34.99 – $199.99*** |
| Compatibility | Only works with iOS devices | Works with Android and iOS devices | Works with Android and iOS devices |
| Privacy | All data is encrypted and not linked to your Apple profile | Uses data collection to understand your needs | Uses data collection to understand your needs |
*Based on Apple Store prices in August 2021.
** Based on Google Store prices in August 2021.
***Based on Amazon prices in August 2021.
5. Music Options
Music could potentially be a deal-breaker for you if you like listening across a range of platforms.
Siri only supports Apple Music, so you cannot listen to songs from your Spotify, Pandora, or Tidal subscriptions. The same goes for iHeartRadio and Sirius.
Alexa can play tunes from your Amazon Music, Apple Music, Pandora, and Spotify lists, and it’s also compatible with Sirius and iHeartRadio.
Google Assistant doesn’t support Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Sirius, TuneIn, but you can listen to content on Spotify, YouTube Music, and Google Play Music.
When it comes to music, Alexa gives you the most choices!
She’s compatible with Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Apple Music, and you can also listen to your Sirius and iHeartRadio stations.
Reading tip: 3 Ways To Make Alexa Stop Playing Music at a Certain Time
6. Online Shopping
Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant allow you to place online orders by speaking a command into the smart speaker.
Siri’s capability for online ordering is minimal.
Still, according to a report by informIT, she’s great at finding stores, restaurants and reminding you when you need to order more items (as long as you’ve asked her beforehand).
You can use your Google Assistant to order products from Walmart, Costco, Target, and Kohl’s, but you’ll need to set up payment details and physically check out your order on Google Express.
Currently, this option is only available to US users.
Alexa offers arguably the best options for online ordering due to her interface with Amazon.
She can reorder items, find items you need, and recommend takeout places or restaurants.
7. Directions
In the past, Siri would only use Apple Maps when you asked her for directions, a definite drawback if you prefer using other GPS platforms.
Siri has updated her software recently, and you can use Waze for navigation instead of Apple Maps.
You need to set Waze up as your default GPS service, and the next time you need directions, Waze will automatically open up.
Google Assistant, as you would expect, uses Google Maps as the default GPS service.
You can also ask what your next exit is, how far from home you are if there’s any traffic ahead, and more.
Using Alexa as your smart assistant, you can ask her to send directions directly to your smartphone.
If you don’t keep your Alexa speaker or device with you when out and about, you won’t be able to use her for directions, which is a definite disadvantage.
Learn more: What can Alexa do without a smartphone?
Siri Is Still a Great Option for Apple Fans
So, is Siri still worth using?
If you’re an avid Apple fan who only uses Apple devices and platforms and values your privacy, Siri is still a strong contender.
Also, if you don’t mind paying the high price for the Apple HomePod, and you don’t mind that the others lead with responsiveness and accuracy of questions, Siri should still be your smart assistant.
Conclusion
Siri is worth using if:
- You only use Apple devices
- Apple Music is your only music and podcast platform
- Privacy is important
- You use Apple Maps or Waze for navigation
Alternatively, consider Alexa if you:
- Want to listen to music and other content on several platforms
- Need your smart assistant to order on Amazon accurately
- Want your smart assistant to recognize everyone’s voice in your household
Google Assistant is a good bet if:
- Compatibility with a wide range of devices (but not Apple) is essential
- You want high-quality responses to your questions
- Google Maps is your favorite navigation app
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