What alternatives to Yandex Studio exist with Russian language support for smart home management?
I’m looking for a replacement for Yandex Studio, as I’ve encountered issues that support has been unable to resolve for a year. Russian ecosystems don’t work for me for several reasons.
Requirements for the device:
- Voice control for playing music and children’s stories in Russian (for example, commands like “turn on a story” or “turn on a story about Pinocchio”)
- Ability to set reminders, timers, and alarms
- Compatibility with smart home devices: SmartLife, Roborock, Xiaomi
- Voice control in Russian is preferred but not a mandatory requirement
Has anyone faced the choice of alternatives before? What devices might meet these requirements?
Yandex Station has several competitive alternatives with Russian language support for smart home control, including Google Assistant, Home Assistant with various voice engines, as well as some devices from third-party manufacturers that can integrate with your SmartLife, Roborock, and Xiaomi devices.
Contents
- Google Assistant as the main alternative
- Home Assistant with voice control
- Devices from other manufacturers
- Integration with smart home devices
- Open solutions and custom systems
- Practical recommendations for selection
Google Assistant as the main alternative
Google Assistant is one of the most popular alternatives to Yandex Station with full Russian language support. Google Assistant understands many commands in Russian, including those you mentioned for playing fairy tales and music.
Advantages of Google Assistant:
- Russian language support with high recognition quality
- Wide compatibility with smart home devices
- Ability to create reminders, timers, and alarms
- Integration with music services for children
- Available on various devices: from smartphones to smart speakers
Devices with Google Assistant:
- Google Nest Audio
- Google Nest Hub
- Google Nest Mini
- Smart speakers from third-party manufacturers with Google Assistant support
According to research, Google Assistant already supports Russian language and can be a good replacement for smart home control, especially if you’re looking for a solution with international support and a wide selection of devices.
Home Assistant with voice control
Home Assistant is a powerful platform for smart home control that can work with various voice assistants, including Russian alternatives.
Integration with Yandex TTS:
Home Assistant supports integration with Yandex SpeechKit for text-to-speech, allowing the use of Russian language for system voice responses.
Voice alternatives:
- Nabu Casa voice control for Home Assistant
- Third-party voice engines with Russian support
- Integration with existing smart speakers
The advantage of Home Assistant is that it gives full control over the system and can be customized to your specific needs, including integration with SmartLife, Roborock, and Xiaomi devices.
Devices from other manufacturers
There are devices from other manufacturers that can work with Russian language and integrate with your smart home ecosystem.
Sber Salut:
Another Russian voice assistant that can be an alternative to Yandex Alice. Sber Salut offers full Russian language support and can control various smart home devices.
Alternative smart speakers:
- Devices with Google Assistant support from other brands
- Smart speakers working with Microsoft Cortana
- Devices with support for open-source voice engines
As noted in discussions, there are other language assistants focused on the Russian market that can offer alternative capabilities for smart home control.
Integration with smart home devices
An important part of choosing an alternative is compatibility with your existing SmartLife, Roborock, and Xiaomi devices.
Roborock:
- Roborock vacuums can work with both Mi Home and the dedicated Roborock app
- Support for voice control via Google Assistant
- Ability to integrate with Home Assistant for advanced automation
SmartLife:
- The SmartLife app works with devices from various manufacturers
- Support for integration with Google Assistant and other voice systems
- Ability to create scenarios and automation
Xiaomi devices:
- Xiaomi ecosystem devices can integrate with various platforms
- Support through Mi Home app or direct integration with Home Assistant
- Compatibility with voice assistants via API integration
According to research, Roborock devices, which are part of the Xiaomi ecosystem, can successfully integrate with alternative voice systems, making them a flexible solution for smart home use.
Open solutions and custom systems
For those seeking maximum flexibility, there are open solutions and custom smart home systems.
ESPHome with voice control:
- ESPHome allows creating custom devices with voice control
- Support for various voice engines, including Russian ones
- Integration with existing smart home devices
ReSpeaker and similar solutions:
- As noted in research, there are boards like ReSpeaker Lite and ReSpeaker XVF3800
- They allow creating custom smart speakers with desired functions
- Full customization to your requirements
Home Assistant Voice:
- Commercial development with ESPHome for Home Assistant voice control
- Support for various languages, including Russian
- Flexible configuration to user needs
These solutions are suitable for those who want full control over the system and configure it specifically for their tasks, including Russian language voice control.
Practical recommendations for selection
Based on your requirements, I recommend considering the following options:
For maximum compatibility:
Google Assistant on a Google Nest or Nest Hub device would be the most versatile solution with full Russian language support and integration with your devices.
For technically savvy users:
Home Assistant with Yandex TTS integration and Nabu Casa voice engine will provide maximum flexibility and control over the system.
For a budget solution:
ESPHome with a ReSpeaker-type board will allow creating a custom device with desired functions at a relatively low cost.
Proven alternative:
If you need a replacement specifically for a speaker, consider devices with Google Assistant from other manufacturers that may offer better support and updates than Yandex Station.
Sources
- Yandex Smart Home Ecosystem Powered by its Alice Virtual Assistant
- Google Assistant now supports Russian language
- Is there a better alternative to Google/Alexa voice control for HA?
- Yandex TTS - Home Assistant
- Smart home with Alice, Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant
- All Smart home voice assistants
- Russia’s Yandex expands its Alice voice assistant to the smart home
- Roborock App vs Mi Home App: Which One To Choose?
- I replaced my smart speakers with cheaper open-source alternatives
Conclusion
The choice of an alternative to Yandex Station depends on your technical skills, budget, and system requirements. Google Assistant with Google Nest devices is the most versatile solution with full Russian language support. For those who want maximum control, Home Assistant with various voice engines offers a flexible platform. And for DIY enthusiasts, there are open-source solutions based on ESPHome and ReSpeaker.
When choosing, consider that Google Assistant already shows good results in Russian language recognition and can successfully control your SmartLife, Roborock, and Xiaomi devices through appropriate integrations. Many users who have encountered support issues with Yandex find Google Assistant to be a more stable and supported alternative with an international ecosystem of devices.