Android Auto is the car-friendly mode built into newer Android phones and available through an app on older phones, and Alexa Auto Mode is a car-friendly version of the Alexa phone app that’s heavily integrated into Echo Auto. Both give you car-friendly interfaces while driving and let you interact with your phone via voice commands, but there are a few very important differences.

Android Auto and Alexa Auto Mode both perform the same function and have a lot in common, but they are aimed at slightly different audiences. Android Auto only works for Android phone users, while Alexa Auto Mode works on both Android and iPhone. Android Auto is also the better option for drivers whose car stereos have Android Auto integration, while Alexa Auto Mode can work in virtually any vehicle as long as you purchase an Echo Auto.

The biggest difference between Android Auto and Alexa Auto Mode is that you can only use Android Auto on Android phones, while Alexa Auto Mode is available for both Android and iPhone. Android Auto does work on some older Android phones, however, as it is compatible with Android 5.0 and newer, while Alexa Auto Mode requires Android 6.0 or newer.

Android Auto is also a bit more convenient for owners of newer Android phones, as it's built into Android 10.0 and later. Owners of Android phones that can't install Android 10.0 will need to actually download the Android Auto app.