Apple's new HomeView costs $299, but you don't have to spend that much to get a screen for video calls, music, and smart-home controls.
Amazon and Google have cheaper options, including two Echo Show models currently selling below their listed prices. But the best choice depends on what you want the screen to do, and which devices and services your household already uses.
HomeView opens for general sale on November 13, 2026. It has a 7-inch display and works with Apple's smart-home and communication features, but setting it up and supporting multiple users requires a compatible iPhone or iPad.
Some personalised requests also need an Apple Intelligence-enabled device. If that sounds like more Apple equipment than you want to buy, these alternatives are worth a look.
Louis Eriakha
/1. Amazon Echo Show 8 (2025) — Best all-round alternative
- Price: $149.99, down from $199.99
- Buy it on Amazon | Check the Best Buy offer
For most people, the Echo Show 8 is the sensible place to start. Its 8.7-inch screen gives you more room than HomeView's 7-inch display, and it can handle everyday jobs such as playing music, streaming shows, making video calls, and controlling compatible smart-home devices.
It also supports Matter, Thread, and Zigbee, so it can serve as a hub for compatible connected-home products. You can use it with Alexa rather than relying on Apple's services, which makes it a better fit for households already using Amazon devices or a mix of compatible smart-home products.
At the current Best Buy price, it's $149.99, half the price of HomeView. That's a meaningful saving if you mainly want a shared screen for everyday use rather than Apple's particular features.
The compromise, though, is the ecosystem. The Echo Show 8 uses Alexa, not Siri or FaceTime, and its built-in camera doesn't have a physical shutter. If you want HomeView specifically for Apple's communication features, this isn't a like-for-like substitute.
/2. Amazon Echo Show 11 (2025) — Best for a larger screen
- Price: $199.99, down from $249.99
- View it at Best Buy | Buy on Amazon
If you expect to watch videos, follow recipes, or check camera feeds from across the room, the Echo Show 11's 11-inch Full HD screen gives you more space to work with. It also has a built-in camera for video calls and supports Alexa's smart-home features.
The price difference between it and the Echo Show 8 is currently $50 at Best Buy. That buys you a larger display, but the basic experience is similar: both run Alexa and can manage compatible connected devices. So, you don't need the bigger model just to get a smart-home hub or a screen for everyday reminders.
Consider where you'll put it, too. An 11-inch display takes up more counter space, and its size may be less useful if you're planning to place it on a small bedside table.
/3. Amazon Echo Hub — Best for controlling a smart home
- Price: $179.99
- Buy on Amazon | Shop on Best Buy
The Echo Hub makes the most sense if you already have smart lights, locks, sensors, or cameras and want one screen to control them. Its 8-inch touchscreen is built around a customisable dashboard, with shortcuts for devices, camera feeds and routines.
That's a different job from the Echo Show 8 or 11. The Hub is designed to make controlling a connected home easier, rather than being the screen you choose primarily for watching videos or making video calls. It has no built-in camera for video calling.
At $179.99, it's more expensive than the Echo Show 8's current sale price. So unless a dedicated control panel is what you need, the Echo Show 8 may be the more practical buy: it also handles entertainment and calls.
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