Choosing between Google Home, Alexa, or Home Assistant isn't just about features, it's about who controls your home data and whether your smart home works when the internet goes down.
The Core Difference
Google Home and Alexa are cloud-based platforms owned by tech giants. Every command, every device activation, every automation runs through their servers overseas.
Home Assistant is open-source software that runs entirely on your own hardware. Your data never leaves your home unless you choose to enable remote access.
Privacy: Where Your Data Actually Goes
Google Home
Every interaction with Google Home is recorded and sent to Google's servers:
- Voice commands (recorded and transcribed)
- When devices turn on/off
- Usage patterns and schedules
- Connected device information
- Your location data
This data is shared across Google's services and used for advertising profiles. Once it leaves your home, you can't control what happens to it.
Amazon Alexa
Similar to Google, Alexa sends everything to Amazon's cloud:
- All voice recordings
- Device activity logs
- Shopping patterns
- Routine triggers and timing
- Network information
Amazon uses this data across its ecosystem, linking your smart home behavior with your shopping habits and browsing history.
Home Assistant
Processes everything locally on your hardware:
- No voice recordings sent to servers
- No usage data collected
- No activity tracking
- No data sharing with third parties
- Optional encrypted remote access only if you enable it
Your smart home data stays in Victoria, on hardware you own.
Cloud Dependency: What Happens When Internet Drops
This is where the platforms show their true nature.
Google Home & Alexa: Completely Dependent
Without internet connection:
- Voice commands don't work
- Automations stop running
- Devices become unresponsive
- Mobile app can't control anything
- Smart displays show error messages
Even basic functions like "turn off the lights" require cloud connection. During NBN outages or service disruptions, your entire smart home becomes useless.
Home Assistant: Fully Functional Offline
All core functions work without internet:
- Voice commands processed locally
- Automations continue running
- All devices remain controllable
- Dashboards stay accessible on your network
- Schedules and triggers work normally
You only lose internet-dependent features like weather updates or remote access. Everything else keeps working.
Device Compatibility
Google Home
Limited to Google-approved devices and integrations. If Google decides to discontinue support for a manufacturer or protocol, your devices may stop working.
Alexa
Similar limitations to Google. Focuses on Ring ecosystem and Amazon-partnered brands. Third-party support depends on Amazon maintaining relationships with manufacturers.
Home Assistant
Supports 1000+ integrations including:
- Any Zigbee device (local control)
- Any Z-Wave device (Victorian frequency 921.4 MHz)
- Most WiFi smart devices
- RTSP/Onvif security cameras
- Solar inverters and energy monitors
- Generic sensors and switches
You're never locked into specific brands or ecosystems.
Automation Capabilities
Google Home & Alexa
Basic automations with simple if-then logic:
- Turn on lights when you arrive home
- Adjust thermostat at specific times
- Basic voice routines
Complex conditions or multiple triggers require workarounds or aren't possible.
Home Assistant
Advanced automation engine:
- Multiple conditions and triggers
- Time-based with precise control
- Presence detection
- Sensor-based triggers (temperature, humidity, motion)
- Integration with Victorian weather (Bureau of Meteorology)
- Energy monitoring and solar optimization
- Complex logic and delays
Can create sophisticated automations like "pre-cool the house using solar power before hot afternoons" or "only run the pool pump when electricity is cheapest."
Voice Control Options
Google Home
Best voice recognition, but everything is cloud-processed. Google records and stores all voice interactions.
Alexa
Good voice recognition, cloud-only processing. Amazon keeps recordings unless you manually delete them.
Home Assistant
Three options:
1. Integrate Google/Alexa - Use their voice recognition but Home Assistant handles the automation
2. Local voice assistant - Process commands entirely on your hardware (privacy-first, but less polished)
3. No voice - Control via dashboards, mobile app, or automations only
You choose your privacy level.
What About Remote Access?
All three platforms offer remote access, but the implementation matters.
Google Home & Alexa
Remote access is mandatory and built-in. Your devices are always accessible through Google/Amazon's cloud infrastructure. You can't disable this even if you want local-only control.
Home Assistant
Remote access is optional:
- None - Keep everything local on your network only
- VPN - Access through your own encrypted tunnel
- Nabu Casa - Encrypted relay service ($65/year, supports development)
You decide if your smart home is accessible remotely and how.
The Real Trade-Off
Google Home and Alexa offer plug-and-play simplicity. Buy a speaker, plug it in, connect devices through the app. Everything works immediately with minimal setup.
The cost? Complete dependency on cloud infrastructure, zero privacy, and giving tech giants full access to your home activity data.
Home Assistant requires initial setup effort or professional installation. The learning curve is real if you're configuring it yourself.
The benefit? Complete control, total privacy, cloud-independence, and a system that works exactly how you want without corporate surveillance.
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Choose Google Home if:
- You want absolute simplicity over everything else
- You're already deep in Google's ecosystem
- You don't care about privacy or data collection
- You're okay with your smart home being useless during internet outages
Choose Alexa if:
- You shop heavily on Amazon
- You want Ring doorbells/cameras
- Voice shopping appeals to you
- Privacy isn't a concern
Choose Home Assistant if:
- You value privacy and data ownership
- You want your smart home to work offline
- You need advanced automations
- You want to use any devices, not just ecosystem-approved ones
- You're willing to learn or pay for professional setup
- You want integration with Victorian services (BOM weather, energy monitoring, solar)
For Most Victorian Homes: Home Assistant Wins
Unless you absolutely need the simplicity of plug-and-play devices and genuinely don't care about privacy, Home Assistant offers better long-term value.
Your data stays in Victoria. Your automations work during NBN outages. You're never locked into specific brands or subscriptions. And you own your system outright instead of renting access to someone else's cloud.
The setup investment, whether time or money, pays off with a smart home that's actually yours.
Common Questions
Can I migrate from Google/Alexa to Home Assistant?
Yes. Most Zigbee and Z-Wave devices transfer easily. WiFi devices with Home Assistant integrations work too. Some proprietary devices can still be controlled through cloud integrations.
What if I'm not technical?
Professional installation services handle all configuration and setup. You get a polished, ready-to-use system without needing technical knowledge.
Will my automations break when Home Assistant updates?
Updates are optional and don't break existing automations. You control when to install updates.
Is local processing really more secure?
Yes. With no cloud to breach and all processing on your local network, your attack surface is limited to your home network. This is fundamentally more secure than sending data to external servers.
Ready to take control of your smart home without surveillance? Cyborg Automation AU specialises in privacy-first Home Assistant installations across Victoria.
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