Smart speakers: what they can do if you live alone
Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.
A smart speaker is a small loudspeaker you talk to. Ask it out loud and it will play the radio, set a reminder, tell you the time or weather, or ring a relative, with no screen or buttons needed. For someone living alone, or with poor sight or stiff hands, it can be the most useful gadget in the house.
Who a smart speaker suits
Smart speakers suit people who find small buttons and screens difficult, anyone with sight loss, people who want reminders through the day, and those who would enjoy easy radio, music and audiobooks. They are also a comfort for family at a distance, because calling becomes as simple as saying a name.
You need home broadband with Wi-Fi, and somebody with a smartphone or tablet to do the first setup. After that, the speaker works by voice alone.
What it can do, in everyday terms
- Reminders. "Remind me to take my tablets at eight every morning." "Remind me the bins go out on Thursday." A family member can also set reminders from their own phone, with your agreement.
- Radio, music and audiobooks. "Play Radio 4." "Play some Glenn Miller." No tuning, no remote.
- Calls. Speakers can call other people who have the same make of speaker or its phone app, hands-free. What else they can call varies by make and changes over time, so check the maker's website.
- "Drop in" or intercom calling between trusted family devices, if you both switch it on.
- Time, date, weather and news. Helpful if reading a clock or calendar is hard.
- Timers and lists. "Set a timer for the potatoes." "Add milk to the shopping list."
- Questions. Spellings, sums, what time the chemist shuts, how long to roast a chicken.
- Controlling lights and plugs. With smart bulbs or plugs you can say "turn on the hall light" before getting out of bed, which helps with preventing falls at home.
The main types
- Small speakers. About the size of a grapefruit or smaller. Fine for speech, reminders and background radio. The cheapest way in.
- Larger speakers. Fuller sound for people who will mostly listen to music.
- Smart displays. A speaker with a screen, like a small television on a stand. It shows the time in large figures, song words, recipes, family photos and who is at the video doorbell, and can make video calls. Often the best choice for later life, because seeing a face and a large clock adds a great deal.
The three main families are Amazon (the assistant is called Alexa), Google and Apple. They do broadly the same things. As with phones, the best choice is usually the one your family already uses, because calling between matching devices is simplest.
What to look for
- Screen or no screen. A screen helps with video calls, hearing loss and memory.
- Sound that is loud and clear enough for your hearing. Bigger speakers carry speech better.
- A microphone-off button and, on displays, a camera cover, for privacy.
- A physical volume control.
- Compatibility with any doorbell, plugs or bulbs you plan to add.
- Calling features that match what your family has.
Rough price guide
As a rough guide at the time of writing (November 2026): small smart speakers cost from around £25 to £60; smart displays around £60 to £180; and larger music-focused speakers from around £100 to £300. Prices are often cut sharply in seasonal sales; see our seasonal sales calendar. The basic features have no monthly fee, though music services with every song on request, and some newer assistant features, are paid subscriptions. Radio is free.
Setup tips a family member can help with
- Set the speaker up with the owner's own account where possible, not the helper's, so their shopping and messages stay separate.
- Place it where it will be heard and can hear: a kitchen worktop or beside the favourite chair, away from the television.
- Add contacts and test a call in both directions.
- Set the daily reminders together, then write five useful phrases on a card beside the speaker.
- Switch off voice purchasing, or protect it with a spoken PIN, so nothing can be ordered by accident.
- Review the privacy settings: you can choose not to keep voice recordings.
- Turn off notifications and "by the way" suggestions that may confuse.
Privacy in plain English
A smart speaker listens for its wake word (such as "Alexa" or "Hey Google") and only then sends what you say to the company's computers to be answered. A light shows when it is doing so. You can press the microphone-off button whenever you wish, and delete past recordings in the app. If the idea makes you uncomfortable, that is a perfectly good reason not to have one.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating it as an emergency alarm.
- Leaving voice purchasing switched on.
- Setting it up and leaving. People need a few visits' worth of practice and a prompt card.
- Trusting every answer. Speakers sometimes get facts wrong. For health questions, ask a pharmacist, your GP or NHS 111.
- Asking it to "call" a company. Fraudsters have planted fake customer service numbers online. Use the number on your bill instead; see spotting scams.
Common questions
Does a smart speaker work without the internet?
No. It needs Wi-Fi for almost everything. See broadband for over-60s.
Will it understand my accent?
Generally yes, and recognition has improved a great deal. Speaking at a steady pace after the wake word helps. Very quiet or slurred speech can be a struggle.
Can it help someone with memory problems?
Spoken reminders and a display showing the day and date can help some people, but it is not a medical device. An occupational therapist or your council's adult social care team can advise on memory aids.
Is there a monthly charge?
Not for reminders, radio, timers, weather or calls between devices. Optional music and premium services cost extra.