Sonos has had a rough couple of years since its disastrous app update, but it still makes some of the best multi-room speakers you can buy. Its newest models have impressed us, too: the Sonos Play earned four stars, while the Arc Ultra soundbar won an Award. So only a fool would write it off.
But the competition is fiercer than ever – they've sensed blood, and they're going for it. Take Audio Pro's W generation of speakers (one of which, the C20 W, won a What Hi-Fi? Award) and the four-star WiiM Sound, to name but two recent challengers.
7th May 2026: We've added Bluesound and WiiM to the main list, and culled the Google Nest Hub.
The first time I used Sonos it felt like a real step into the future. Hearing the same music through speakers in different rooms, and all controlled from the nifty – though chunky – Controller made me think the company was onto something. Sonos has evolved since that first demo 20-odd years ago, and while its range now includes all manner of speakers, the competition has caught up. Rival multi-room speakers can be cheaper, better-sounding and more stylish. Check these out.
The best Sonos alternatives we recommend in 2026
Why you can trust What Hi-Fi? Our expert team reviews products in dedicated test rooms, to help you make the best choice for your budget. Find out more about how we test.
Best overall
Audio Pro has made its mark on the multi-room market in a short space of time.
We're big fans of the Swedish company's wireless speakers, which look and sound superb, and together they make an excellent Sonos alternative.
The Audio Pro C20 W, Addon C3, Addon C5A and Addon C10 MkII all deliver excellent audio performance for the money. (In fact, the C20 W is a current What Hi-Fi? Awards winner, while the C3 and C10 MkII won in previous years.)
The latest entry into the range – the C20 W – is another five-star performer, building on the success of the C20. It retains all the versatility of the standard C20, with better usability and upgraded sonics, elevating an already excellent speaker to new heights.
Audio Pro speakers are entertaining, musical performers and superior to a lot of rivals at similar money. Crucially, they also offer Bluetooth and line-in inputs on many of their models, giving even more flexibility.
The Audio Pro range doesn’t include the same home cinema components as some of its multi-room rivals. The app has been updated throughout, and looks fresh and is easy to navigate (though it did fail to connect occasionally during testing).
But as we concluded our review: "[F]or sound quality at the price, this system is currently unbeatable."
Read the full Audio Pro multi-room system review
Best for hi-res
If hi-res is your priority, then check out Bluesound. It pairs native hi-res compatibility of up to 24-bit/192kHz with ESS Sabre DAC chips for precise digital-to-analogue conversion. Its devices are also full of features and very competitively priced. No wonder they've reviewed so well.
The Node Icon earned a What Hi-Fi? Award for its trouble last year, while the standard Node (2024) and Node Nano are both solid four-star products.
As well as the streamers, the range now includes two Dolby Atmos soundbars: the Pulse Cinema and Pulse Cinema Mini.
They're all powered by the BluOS platform, which is compatible with over 20 streaming services and a massive raft of file formats.
Dirac Live room calibration software recently came to the range, allowing you to adjust the audio to match the layout of the room in which the device is placed (though this costs extra). Dirac Live also creates a cleaner, tauter sound by reducing phase issues experienced between speaker drive units.
Downsides? Only models from 2024 onwards support DSD files (by converting them to PCM), and Chromecast support is conspicuous by its absence.
But the Node Icon recently became the first to use MQA Labs’ Qrono digital-to-analogue technology, following parent company Lenbrook’s acquisition of MQA Ltd. Qrono refines the DAC's timing response to align better with the original recording.
The BluOS mobile app is intuitive to get around, and it contains plenty of settings to play with, like gain, mono/stereo playback modes and tone control. And BluOS is more open than Sonos' walled garden approach, so you can wirelessly pair other BluOS-compatible devices like the Award-winning Cyrus 40 ST, Award-winning NAD C 3050 (with MDC2 BluOS-D module), Roksan Attessa streaming amplifier, Dali Oberon C speakers (when coupled with the Sound Hub) and PSB Alpha iQ speakers.
Read our full Bluesound Node Icon review
Best for iOS
The HomePod 2 is the pricier option in Apple’s current lineup, sitting well above the HomePod Mini.
It succeeds the first generation HomePod we tested all the way back in 2018, and while it may look similar, it contains some big changes.
Sonically, it's a leap forward.
Our tests revealed it to be one of the best sounding smart speakers you’ll find, blowing its closest rival, the Amazon Echo Studio, out of the water and offering a much more precise low end than the first generation HomePod.
The audio doesn't succumb to sibilance like a lot of speakers at this price. It has bags of energy too, playing tunes with infectious enthusiasm. And the bass is very good indeed – as we noted in our review, it "demonstrates the sort of low-frequency flexibility that the average wireless speaker can only dream of."
Classically Apple, it's a cinch to set up.
When it's paired with an iPhone all you have to do is scan for the speaker and run through a few on-screen commands to get it fully integrated with your smart home setup. It even adjusts its sound in real time to adapt to its surroundings.
But its biggest strength is also its greatest weakness: it's an Apple product, for Apple people. If you're not in Apple's ecosystem, you won't get anywhere near the best out of the HomePod 2.
Its primary connection is locked to Apple’s AirPlay 2 tech, Apple Music is the only music streaming service natively supported and Siri is your only option for voice commands. This will limit its appeal to those who aren’t Apple diehards. They might prefer more platform-agnostic options like Sonos, or another alternative from this list.
A HomePod with a screen has been rumoured for some time now – stay tuned for updates.
Read the full Apple HomePod 2 review
Best for value
The fifth incarnation of the Amazon Echo Dot doesn’t exactly break from its predecessor in the looks department, retaining that round shape and understated aesthetic that served the 4th Generation so well.
It's lost the 3.5mm audio output, but can still be connected to another speaker via Bluetooth.
Like other Echo speakers, it prioritises Amazon's services, but isn't limited to them: Spotify, Deezer and Apple Music are supported alongside Amazon Music, though sadly Tidal is only supported in the US.
Amazon promises clearer vocals, deeper bass and vibrant sound in any room thanks to a single 44mm front-firing speaker, larger than the previous gen’s 40mm.
It sounds very impressive indeed – "the sonic experience is somewhat remarkable when you also consider the Dot’s remarkably slim price tag and unobtrusive design," we said in our Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) review.
The bass carries some weight, but isn't as clear as with pricier speakers. Crank the volume up and distortion starts to creep in. Nevertheless, this is another stunning entry to the Echo speaker range.
Read the full Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation) review
Best newcomer
WiiM might not be a household name like Sonos, but it's impressed us greatly in its short life so far. The WiiM Pro Plus won a What Hi-Fi? Award for its killer combination of detailed sound and ease of use, while the WiiM Amp Pro is fantastic value as a just-add-speakers system. The WiiM Sound smart speaker might not quite match the Apple HomePod 2, but is still well designed with excellent streaming features.
There's also a cut-price WiiM Sound Lite to compete with Amazon's Echo speakers.
So as you can see, WiiM has plenty of devices to suit a range of budgets. And generally, the quality is very good. (We say "generally", because there are some three-star products among the range, and the connections and technologies do vary by device – the newer ones lack Apple's AirPlay tech, for instance.)
Build quality is also solid across the range, though the plastic build can feel a little cheap. And they come supporting a host of file formats (up to 24-bit/192kHz hi-res) and streaming services, all accessible through the WiiM Home mobile app, which is a joy to use.
If it looks familiar, that's because certain Audio Pro speakers use a similar app by WiiM's parent company LinkPlay.
If WiiM keeps on in this vein, it could one day rival Sonos for market dominance.
Read our full WiiM Amp Ultra review
Also consider
The best (other) Sonos alternatives we've tested:
Apple HomePod Mini: If you don't want to shell out for the full HomePod 2 experience, the HomePod Mini is a great budget option. It delivers surprisingly full sound in a much smaller and cheaper package, while offering a full suite of features.
Amazon Echo (4th Gen): Bigger than the Echo Dot, the standard Echo gives you the same experience with improved sound. And it's often discounted, so keep a look out come sales time.
How to choose the best Sonos alternative for you
Before you dive right in and spend a fortune on a Sonos alternative, wait.
The beauty of a multi-room system like the ones above is that you don't have to buy it all in one go, you can start with just one or two speakers and expand it on a device-by-device basis, going room to room.
This will help you spread the cost over months – or even years – and take a more considered approach to which rooms really need adding to your multi-room set-up.
And if you find actually you would be better served by another brand's ecosystem, you won't have to replace your whole system.
App control is now pretty standard, but some apps are better than others, so it might be worth looking into how each works to find which is simplest for you.
Most systems also work with voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa.
Deep into Apple's/Google's/Amazon's ecosystem? Make sure your Sonos alternative is compatible with your smart assistant of choice, or switch allegiance.
It's also worth investigating which streaming service(s) your speaker of choice supports.
The big ones are pretty ubiquitous nowadays, but it's always worth checking – do your homework before you buy to avoid disappointment.
You should also look at what physical connections each speaker offers – the HomePod range offers none at all bar a port for the power cable, while Audio Pro and Denon's models have optical, RCA and an Ethernet port for a more robust internet connection.
If you plan on connecting other devices to your Sonos alternatives, you'll need to know whether they're compatible.
Then there's the matter of price.
Most of the devices in this list are cheaper than their Sonos counterparts, and, with the exception of Apple, more likely to be discounted in the sales.
Choose wisely, and you won't miss Sonos at all.
How we test Sonos alternatives
At What Hi-Fi? we comprehensively test and review every product we recommend, from soundbars to speakers, headphones and TVs. And it's no different for Sonos alternatives.
As a rule, we do comparative testing – ensuring new products are tested against their rivals according to product type, features and price.
Almost all the testing is carried out by our team of expert reviewers at our dedicated test rooms, though we have been known for take Sonos alternatives home to really get the full 'living with' experience (sadly we have to give them back afterwards).
We test every aspect of a multi-room speaker system, including sound quality, features, ease of set-up and use, and overall performance.
And we test multiple products in each family, so we're not judging a whole range from one device (sound quality can really vary within the same range – some speakers score a five while others may only be a three).
As with all products we test, review verdicts are decided by the team rather than one reviewer in order to avoid possible bias. There's no input from PR companies or our sales team when it comes to the verdict.
In the nearly 50 years since we started reviewing, our aim remains the same – to give honest, unbiased advice so you can buy the best products possible.
For more, check out our how we test and review products page.
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F.A.Q.
What is a good alternative to Sonos?
Sonos is the best known of all the multi-room systems, but there are plenty of alternatives. Big names like Apple, Amazon, Google and Bose offer speakers that can work together wirelessly as a multi-room system, as do less mainstream brands like Audio Pro and Bluesound.
Our best Sonos alternatives are ranked in order of preference, so we think the Audio Pro devices are the best alternatives around. But which will be best for you really depends on your needs.
Why is Sonos so popular?
It's a combination of factors.
Sonos has been in the game for a long time, so it's built up a reputation. Its ecosystem is one of the most comprehensive out there, with all the main streaming apps and services covered, and an 'everything just works' approach.
Over the years it's also built up a portfolio of products that covers every need, from portable speakers (Sonos Roam 2), to soundbars (Sonos Arc Ultra), and everything in between.
So whatever kind of system you're building, there's a Sonos speaker (or three) for every room in the home.
Is Bose or Sonos better?
Both Bose and Sonos offer speakers and soundbars that can talk to each other wirelessly to create a multi-room system. Our tests have shown Sonos' devices have come out on top overall, thanks to the reasons listed above. But Bose does make some excellent speakers, while its noise-cancelling headphones are some of the best in the business. It also launched some new soundbars recently – stay tuned for our reviews.
Recent updates
- 7th May 2026: Added Bluesound and WiiM as new entries to the main list, deleted Google Nest Hub. Replaced 'The quick list' with the desktop widget. Mentioned the new Bose soundbars in the F.A.Q.
- 26th January 2026: Rewrote intro to include reference to the WiiM Sound and our hands-on review. Added an update log below the intro.
- 14th October 2025: Deleted HEOS entry as it was out of date. Updated Awards references to 2025's winners. Added mention of the recently reviewed Audio Pro C20 W.
- 1st July 2025: Updated references to outdated speakers.
- 4th April 2025: Linked to Apple HomePod with a screen rumour round-up. Added links to AudioPro reviews.
- 17th January 2025: Rewrote intro. Added a quote from the relevant product's review for each entry. Linked to how we test and review products on What Hi-Fi?
- 13th September 2024: Rewrote intro. Deleted duplicate headings in 'The Quick List' section. Edited 'Q&A'.
- 4th July 2024: Rewrote intro. Removed test scores tables. Updated Audio Pro entry with mention of C20; updated Denon HEOS entry with mention of Marantz M1 and Denon Home 150 NV. Expanded 'How to Choose' section.
- 16th May 2024: Converted to new Best Buy format. Removed Bluesound Generation 2i, Apple HomePod Mini and Amazon Echo (4th Generation) from main list. Added 'Also consider' and 'Recent updates' sections.
- 12th January 2024: Added new introduction and mentions of Award-winning products where relevant.
- 5th June 2023: Added Amazon Echo Dot (5th Generation).
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