Voice Assistant Apps: Compatibility, Features and Limits

Start with the assistant supported by your phone and the devices you want to control. Android, Apple and Samsung users have different options, and a smart speaker’s features may differ from those in its companion phone app. There is no single assistant that can perform every task on every device.

For everyday calls, reminders and device settings, check the built-in assistant first. For a smart home, check the exact accessory’s compatibility. The choices below separate general assistants, specialist tools and older apps that should not be treated as current recommendations.

Match the assistant to the job

What you need	Where to start	What to check
An assistant on an Android phone	Google’s Gemini mobile guidance	Phone, account, language and supported actions
Voice control on Apple devices	Siri	Device, software version and regional features
Control of supported Galaxy features	Bixby	Model and installed software
Alexa devices and compatible home accessories	The Alexa app	Accessory support and mobile OS requirements
Business receipts and expenses	Sage Expense Management, formerly Fyle	Employer workflow and integrations

Google: Gemini and the Google Assistant transition

Google has been moving its mobile assistant experience toward Gemini. Follow Google’s Gemini mobile setup instructions rather than assuming an older Google Assistant download will provide the current phone experience. Google’s March 2025 transition announcement described the direction of that change; it does not establish that every device switched at once.

On supported Android phones, Gemini can be the mobile assistant. Google also offers a Gemini app for iPhone, where it is a separate app rather than a universal replacement for Apple’s device controls. Availability and actions depend on the account, country, language, device and enabled connections. Check the task you need, such as calling a contact or setting a reminder, before relying on it.

Amazon Alexa: start with your devices

The Alexa app is a starting point for people using Alexa devices and compatible smart-home accessories. Check whether an accessory supports the actions you want; having an Alexa app does not make every connected product compatible.

Amazon’s mobile requirements list iOS 16 or later, Android 10 or later, and Fire OS 7 or later. Some features are limited on Android 11 and older. These requirements apply to the phone app and do not establish support for a separate Windows or Mac app. Review permissions and any subscription required by a linked service before connecting it.

Cortana: discontinued

Cortana is no longer a current assistant choice. Microsoft ended support for the standalone Windows Cortana app in 2023, followed by Cortana in several other Microsoft experiences. An old Microsoft Store link is not evidence that the service still works. For Windows voice control, Microsoft’s retirement guidance points to alternatives such as Voice Access; check that the alternative handles your particular task.

Siri: voice assistance within Apple’s ecosystem

Siri is the natural starting point for someone who wants voice assistance on supported Apple devices. Test the functions you use most, such as messages, calls or reminders, on your own device. Features vary with hardware, software, language and region, so an announcement for one iPhone should not be read as support for every older Apple product.

Voice requests also deserve a privacy check. Apple’s privacy guidance explains that some processing happens on the device, while some requests use servers. Review Siri settings, history and the options for sharing audio to improve the service. Do not assume every request stays on the device.

Fyle: an expense tool, now Sage Expense Management

Sage Expense Management, formerly Fyle focuses on business expenses and receipts. That makes it a different kind of product from Siri or Alexa. It may suit an employee or finance team whose organization uses its expense workflow, but it is not a substitute for a general phone assistant. Check employer support, integrations and the plan’s terms before signing up.

Extreme: treat old listings cautiously

An old listing for the Extreme Android assistant is not a reason to install an app from a download mirror. If you encounter it in a store, check the exact publisher, recent updates and requested permissions. An app with a similar name may be a different product. Start with a supported system assistant when you need access to calls, messages or device settings.

Bixby: check your Galaxy model

Samsung’s Bixby guidance describes voice and text interaction for supported Galaxy features, including opening apps, sending messages and creating reminders. The available actions vary by device and software version. Bixby should not be described as working on every Samsung phone, TV or refrigerator. Check support for the particular model and the service you intend to control.

DataBot: a specialist information assistant

The DataBot developer describes an assistant for information, voice interaction and multimedia presentations. That is a more specific role than full control of a phone or computer. Check the edition and platform offered by the developer, then review the store listing for compatibility and permissions. Its advertised presentation features should not be taken as a guarantee that it can manage every email app or system setting.

Hound: verify the exact consumer app

An older Hound consumer-app listing does not establish compatibility with a current phone. A company’s newer voice technology is not automatically the same product. Before choosing it, verify that the original publisher still offers a supported app for your device. Avoid relying on an old download button or installing an unrelated app that uses the same name.

Robin: an old recommendation is not a safety guarantee

If you are considering an Android app named Robin for navigation or messaging, verify which product the listing describes. Check the original publisher and current compatibility before installing any app under that name. Voice control does not remove distraction while driving. Set up navigation before leaving and use the supported controls for your phone and vehicle; pull over when a task needs your attention.

Before you give an assistant access

Try one low-risk task first. Then check microphone, contacts, calendar, location and connected-account permissions. Give access only when it is needed for a function you actually use. Review a message or an important calendar change before confirming it, and independently check factual answers that affect a purchase, health decision or other consequential action.

Do not assume assistants can talk directly to each other. A device may work with more than one ecosystem through separate integrations, but that does not establish a general connection between Google’s assistant and Alexa. Check the accessory and service documentation for the exact action you want.

Common questions

For a broader remote-work setup, see our work-from-home apps guide.

Correction: An earlier version incorrectly presented Cortana as a current Windows option and overstated direct interoperability between Google Assistant and Alexa.