Amazon’s Echo line of products can answer questions, play music, and control your smart home products such as light bulbs, locks, and thermostats. But a big part of the reason Amazon launched its line of devices with the Alexa voice service is because they also make it easy for you to buy things… from Amazon.
Need more laundry detergent or snack bars? Just ask Alexa and your Echo will place an order for you.
Now Google’s answer to Alexa can do that too. Google Assistant now lets you shop using Google Home, a Pixel phone, or the Allo chat app.
Of course, Google Assistant won’t order products from Amazon. Instead, it’ll place orders at stores that participate in the Google Express service, including Costco, Kohl’s, Petsmart, Staples, Toys R Us, Treasure Island, Walgreens and Whole Foods.
Sure, that means you don’t get Amazon Prime shipping perks… but Google Express orders place between now and April 30th won’t include any shipping fees.
In order to shop with Google Assistant you’ll need to set up a payment method in the Google home app and then you can try questions or commands like “OK Google, order cat food” or “OK Google, how do I shop?” for more information.