The Echo Hub now costs $20 less than the Echo Show 8 at list price.
That flips the old advice, because Amazon raised Echo Show prices in August 2026 and most comparisons still quote the older numbers.
Here’s the full Echo Hub vs Echo Show comparison, built from Amazon spec sheets and current prices.
If you only want the short version:
- Mounting a panel by the door? Go with the Echo Hub.
- For a kitchen screen with calls and shows, get the Echo Show 8.
- A wall screen that doubles as a TV means the Echo Show 15.
Echo Hub vs Echo Show at a Glance
The Echo Show 8 beats the Echo Hub for most homes, adding a camera, stronger speakers and video apps for $20 more. The Echo Hub wins only if you want a thin panel on a wall.
Here’s how the two compare, using the comparison chart on Amazon and current list prices:
| Category | Echo Hub | Echo Show 8 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| List Price | $179.99 | $199.99 | Echo Hub |
| Screen | 8-inch, 1280 x 800 | 8.7-inch HD | Echo Show 8 |
| Camera | None | 13 MP with auto-framing | Echo Show 8 |
| Speakers | Two 1.2-inch stereo | Dual drivers, 2.8-inch woofer | Echo Show 8 |
| Video Apps | None listed | Prime Video, Netflix | Echo Show 8 |
| Built-In Hub | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Wall Mount | In the box | None described | Echo Hub |
| Dashboard | Appears as you approach | One tap or voice command away | Echo Hub |
| Overall | Best wall panel | Best for most homes | Echo Show 8 |
In other words, buy the Echo Hub for your wall and the Echo Show 8 for everything else.
What Is the Echo Hub?
The Amazon Echo Hub is an 8-inch smart home control panel for your wall, listed at $179.99. It runs Alexa and shows your lights, locks, cameras and Routines on a dashboard you arrange yourself.
The clever part is the proximity sensor. Infrared technology detects you and swaps your photos for the dashboard as you approach, so it works like a digital photo frame between uses.
The touchscreen has a 1280 x 800 resolution, and the whole panel is 15 mm deep. A free software update also redesigned the interface for every owner.
So if you’ve already built an Alexa smart home, the Hub gives everyone one place to run it, with voice control as a backup.
What Is the Echo Show?
The Amazon Echo Show is a family of Alexa smart displays, from $99.99 for the Echo Show 5 to $349.99 for the Echo Show 15.
Think of them as smart speakers with a touchscreen. Here’s how the lineup splits:
- Echo Show 5: $99.99, 5.5-inch display, 2 MP camera, no built-in hub.
- Echo Show 8: $199.99, 8.7-inch HD display, the closest match to the Echo Hub.
- Echo Show 11: $249.99, 11-inch Full HD display, same speakers and camera.
- Echo Show 15: $349.99, 15.6-inch Full HD display, with Fire TV built in.
Skip the Show 5 for this choice, since it has no hub inside. Amazon also lists an all-new Echo Show 16, but I can’t confirm its price or specs yet.
Echo Hub vs Echo Show Price
The Echo Hub lists at $179.99, which is $20 less than the $199.99 Echo Show 8 and $170 less than the $349.99 Echo Show 15. PCWorld reported those Echo Show prices on Aug 26, 2026.
The Echo Show 8 list price rose from $179.99 in August, and the 2023 model launched at $149.99.
The catch is sales, because PCWorld says Amazon plans promotions through the year. So check the live price before you decide.
The Hub has one extra cost. Its counter stand was $29.99 when Amazon announced it in 2023, so a tabletop Hub can cost more than a Show 8.
Design and Wall Mounting
The Echo Hub is built for a wall, while Amazon pitches the Echo Show 8 as a kitchen assistant. The Hub box includes a wall mount, anchors and screws, though you’ll need an electric drill.
An in-wall cable pass through or power-over-ethernet adapter can hide the cord, and both are sold separately.
Can You Wall Mount an Echo Show?
Yes, you can wall mount an Echo Show if it’s the Echo Show 15 or 21, because both ship with wall mounting equipment. Amazon pitches the Echo Show 8 as a kitchen assistant and describes no mount for it.
So if a wall is the plan, your real choice is the Hub or the bigger Show 15.
Camera and Video Calls
You can’t make video calls on the Echo Hub, because it has no camera. The Echo Show 8 has a 13-megapixel camera with auto-framing and 3x zoom, so it wins easily for calling family.
No camera has an upside, though, since a screen with no lens suits a bedroom. The microphone has an off button for privacy too.
Both can still show your security camera feeds. On the Hub, Multiview shows up to 4 live streams at once, which suits a home with several cameras.
Sound and Entertainment
The Echo Show sounds better than the Echo Hub, and Amazon says so itself. The Amazon chart calls the Hub “basic sound” from two 1.2-inch speakers, while the Echo Show 8 gets spatial audio and a 2.8-inch woofer.
That woofer delivers up to double the bass of the previous Show 8.
Video is a bigger gap. The same chart lists Prime Video and Netflix apps for the Show 8 and no video support for the Hub.
The Hub can still run your music, though. It controls your other speakers, so pair it with a good Alexa speaker.
Smart Home Control and Hub Support
The Echo Hub and Echo Show 8 both include a built-in smart home hub, according to the Amazon chart. The Hub lists support for Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Bluetooth and Sidewalk, plus Wi-Fi devices.
So the Hub can be your first smart home hub, and you may not need a separate Thread border router. But Z-Wave isn’t among those protocols, which matters if you own Z-Wave devices.
The real difference is the screen. The Hub keeps device tiles front and center and arms a Ring alarm with one tap, though Amazon says digital arming needs a Ring subscription.
It also keeps working in an outage, when it can still control select lights, switches and plugs.
Can I Use My Echo Show as a Smart Home Hub?
Yes, the Echo Show 8, 11, 15 and 21 each work as a smart home hub, because Amazon lists one built in. The Echo Show 5 doesn’t have one.
Here’s the part most comparisons miss. The new Show 8 and 11 have a full-screen smart home dashboard with camera feeds, device groups and Home, Away and Night modes.
Just say “Alexa, open my smart home dashboard.” Temperature can even trigger Alexa Routines on these models, so the Hub now wins on convenience more than on features.
Echo Hub vs Echo Show 15
The Echo Show 15 suits a wall screen that’s also a TV, while the Echo Hub suits a wall panel for control only. The Show 15 costs $170 more at $349.99.
For that money, you get a 15.6-inch Full HD display, Fire TV built in, a 13 MP camera, a remote and bigger speakers, with two 2-inch woofers and two 0.6-inch tweeters.
So pick the Echo Show 15 for a kitchen wall where you’d watch shows, and pick the Hub for a hallway you only walk through.
Is the Amazon Echo Hub Worth It?
The Amazon Echo Hub is worth it at $179.99 if you have many Alexa devices and want one shared wall panel. Amazon shoppers rate it 3.9 out of 5 as of October 2026, against 4.2 for the Echo Show 8.
But if you own a handful of devices, the Show does more for $20 extra.
The Hub makes the most sense for busy households that skip the phone app, and for Ring users who want a panel by the door.
Who Should Choose the Echo Hub
Choose the Echo Hub if a wall panel is the whole point. It fits you if:
- You want controls by a door or in a hallway.
- You don’t want a camera in that room.
- You use Ring and pay for its subscription.
- You want up to 4 live camera feeds on one screen.
Who Should Choose the Echo Show
Choose the Echo Show if you want one screen that does a bit of everything. Start with the Echo Show 8, which fits you if:
- You make video calls with family.
- You want music and shows in the kitchen.
Comparing brands too? The Nest Hub vs Echo Show matchup covers the Google side.
The Echo Hub is a wall control panel and the Echo Show is an all-purpose smart display. Choose by where it will live.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an Echo Show as a speaker?
Yes, an Echo Show works as a speaker for music, podcasts and books. On the Echo Show 8 and 11, open it from Menu, then Music & More.
Does the Echo Hub have a camera?
No, the Echo Hub has no camera, and the comparison chart on Amazon shows a blank in that row. It can still display live feeds from your connected security cameras.
Can you watch Netflix or Prime Video on the Echo Hub?
No, don’t buy the Echo Hub for Netflix or Prime Video, because the chart on Amazon lists no video support for it. The Echo Show 8 and 11 have Prime Video and Netflix apps.
What are the key differences between the Echo Show 8 and 11?
The Echo Show 8 and Echo Show 11 differ mainly in screen and price: 8.7-inch HD at $199.99 versus 11-inch Full HD at $249.99. Amazon lists the same 13 MP camera, speakers and video apps for both.
Do you need a subscription for the Echo Hub?
Two Echo Hub features can cost extra: Ring Alarm needs a Ring subscription for digital arming, and Alexa+ is free with Prime or $19.99 a month without it.
Final Thoughts
The Echo Show 8 is the better pick for most homes, because it adds a camera, better sound and video to the same built-in hub.
The Echo Hub earns its place on a wall, as a shared panel for lights, locks and cameras.
This week, decide where the screen will live: a wall means the Hub, and a counter means the Show.
