Key takeaways
- Cheapest pick worth buying: Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) ($29 – $49).
- Compact smart speakers are heavily discounted during big sales.
- Pick the assistant that fits your phone and smart home devices.
In this article
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You do not need to spend a lot to get good smart speakers. These are the cheapest smart speakers we would still buy in the US, sorted by typical price.
Prices are typical ranges, not live prices. The button on each pick opens the current price.
Budget picks at a glance
| Product | Verdict | Score | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen) | Buy | 8.5/10 | $29 – $49 |
| Amazon Echo (4th Gen) | Buy | 8.2/10 | $80 – $100 |
| Apple HomePod mini | Consider | 7.6/10 | $89 – $99 |
| Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) | Buy | 8.5/10 | $130 – $150 |
Budget picks in detail
Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen)
Most people · Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.5/10 · Typical price: $29 – $49
Why we like it: Cheapest way to get Alexa in every room.
Pros: Low price · Clearer sound than older Dots · Temperature sensor for routines
Cons: Small sound · Alexa prompts can feel pushy
Buy it if you want an affordable smart speaker for timers, weather, music and controlling smart lights.
Skip it if you want room-filling music; a bigger speaker sounds much better.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen)
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.2/10 · Typical price: $80 – $100
A safe choice: Amazon Echo (4th Gen) earns a buy verdict with a score of 8.2/10, at a typical price of $80 – $100.
Apple HomePod mini
iPhone households · Verdict: Consider · Score: 7.6/10 · Typical price: $89 – $99
Why we like it: Siri, AirPlay and HomeKit in a small speaker.
Pros: Great with iPhone and Apple Music · Thread border router for Apple Home · Handoff from iPhone
Cons: Needs an Apple device · Siri is less capable than Alexa for smart home
Buy it if you use an iPhone and Apple Home and want an easy speaker for AirPlay and Siri.
Skip it if you use Android; HomePod needs an iPhone or iPad to set up.
Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen)
Verdict: Buy · Score: 8.5/10 · Typical price: $130 – $150
A safe choice: Amazon Echo Show 8 (3rd Gen) earns a buy verdict with a score of 8.5/10, at a typical price of $130 – $150.
How to save money
Compact smart speakers are heavily discounted during big sales.
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.
Where not to cut corners
Pick the assistant that fits your phone and smart home devices.
Common mistake: Placing speakers where they can hear the TV and trigger by mistake.
Compare more options
Search smart speakers on Amazon See top-rated smart speakers on Amazon
Related reading
Frequently asked questions
What are the best cheap smart speakers in the US?
The cheapest model we would still buy is Amazon Echo Dot (5th Gen), typically $29 – $49.
Are cheap smart speakers worth it?
Compact smart speakers are heavily discounted during big sales. Do not compromise on the basics, though. Pick the assistant that fits your phone and smart home devices.
When are smart speakers cheapest in the US?
The deepest discounts usually arrive during the big summer sales in July, the October sales events and Black Friday through Cyber Monday in late November.