The two are often compared but they really are very different.

The Echo is a computer device that has a voice recognition interface. So it has commands that you memorize and then issue with your voice.

So for music it has a command of “song goes like”. So switch account you have a command to switch. To secure things there is a passcode that you use. All typical computer things.

The Google Home (GH) is the most human like technology I have used. It also has the voice recognition but then it has another step where it tries to actually understand what you want. So in some cases better than a human and then in others not as good as a human.

So the GH does NOT have commands but you talk to it like you would to a human. Working in my daughters room on a DIY project and she is talking about Sheeran performance at the Grammys. When she just says “hey google play sheeran grammy” and it Ed Sheeran playing at the 2017 Grammys starts playing. But no command to memorize and when daughter received and plugged in was able to use instantly without any book or a single thing to memorize.

The GH, like a human, just knows one voice from another. So the GH in the kitchen and I ask for a song it uses my YouTube Red account but if my kid does it they get their Spotify account. Nothing manual to do and just like a human just knows one voice from another. This is an example better than humans. I have two kids whose voice I mix me up if I do not see them and the GH knows the difference without any problem.

We do NOT allow younger kids to turn down the AC. So when they ask it just does NOT happen as the GH knows it is not me or my wife. But if I ask it just happens.

Love this with the hot tub. Wife does NOT want guest turning it up and can not explain why but do what I am asked. So when they ask it does not happen but family members it does. But it is not awkward like the Echo was with a passcode. Plus the passcode is really a joke as just overheard.

Truth be told the two devices are really not comparable but guess humans always want to pit things against each other.