Echo Dot vs Echo Show 8: Which Echo Should You Buy?
The Echo Dot and the Echo Show 8 both run Alexa, but they're different products. The Dot is a small, cheap voice speaker; the Show 8 is an 8-inch smart display with a camera and a built-in smart home hub. The simplest question decides it: will you use a screen? Here's our comparison, based on research rather than hands-on testing.
How we pick: we research specs, owner feedback and expert reviews. We haven’t tested these products hands-on. Scores are our editorial opinion, not Amazon customer ratings. We earn a commission if you buy through our Amazon links.
At a glance
| Product | Best for | Standout | HashMonkey score | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Dot | Pick the Echo Dot for voice basics | Cheap and compact | 4/5 | Check price |
| Echo Show 8 | Pick the Echo Show 8 for the kitchen | Screen for recipes, cameras and calls | 4/5 | Check price |
Side-by-side comparison
| Echo Dot | Echo Show 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Smart speaker | 8-inch smart display |
| Best room | Bedroom, office, bathroom | Kitchen, living room |
| Video calls | No | Yes, camera follows you |
| Smart home | Voice control of plugs and lights | Built-in hub for many Zigbee and Matter devices |
| Sound | Fine for a room, thin for music | Fuller than the Dot |
| Downsides | Alexa upsells | Promotional home screen; camera |
Our verdict
Get the Echo Dot for bedrooms, offices and anywhere you just want voice timers, alarms and smart home control. Get the Echo Show 8 for the kitchen or a central smart home hub where recipes, camera feeds and video calls are useful. Both make sense only if you're in the Alexa ecosystem.
1. Echo Dot: Pick the Echo Dot for voice basics
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our editorial opinion, based on research into specs, owner feedback and expert reviews. Not hands-on testing, and not an Amazon customer rating.
The Dot handles timers, alarms, weather and voice control of smart plugs and lights, and the tap-to-snooze top makes it a great bedside alarm. Sound is fine for a room but thin for real music listening.
Why we like it
- Cheap and compact
- Great bedside alarm
- Easy smart home on-ramp
Keep in mind
- Thin sound for music
- Alexa upsells
2. Echo Show 8: Pick the Echo Show 8 for the kitchen
HashMonkey score: 4/5 ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆
Our editorial opinion, based on research into specs, owner feedback and expert reviews. Not hands-on testing, and not an Amazon customer rating.
The 8-inch screen is big enough to follow a recipe across the counter, the camera follows you on video calls, and a built-in hub connects many Zigbee and Matter devices. The home screen pushes Amazon content, and its camera means you should think about placement.
Why we like it
- Screen for recipes, cameras and calls
- Built-in smart home hub
- Photo frame when idle
Keep in mind
- Promotional home screen
- Camera privacy considerations
How to choose
Do you need a screen?
Recipes, doorbell and camera feeds, video calls and visual controls all need the Show. If you'll only talk to it, the Dot does the job for less.
Which room?
Small, voice-only rooms suit the Dot. Kitchens and shared spaces suit the Show 8.
Your ecosystem
Both are Alexa devices. Google Home and Apple Home households should look elsewhere.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an Echo Show or will an Echo Dot do?
If you'll only use voice commands, the Dot is enough. Choose the Show if you want to see recipes, camera feeds or make video calls.
Is the Echo Show 8 worth it?
For Alexa households, especially in the kitchen, yes. It's the best all-round Echo Show for most homes in our view. If you don't need a screen, the Dot is the better value.
Which has better sound, Echo Dot or Echo Show 8?
The Show 8 is fuller. The Dot is fine for voice and background audio in one room but thin for serious music listening.
Do I need Amazon Prime for an Echo Show?
No. Alexa and most features work without Prime, though some Amazon content and music services require a subscription.