Long gone are the days that we would just use our phones to call and text people. Now we need our phones daily to wake us up in the morning with an alarm, set reminders on our calendars, look up random questions, and so much more. And having a virtual assistant like Siri makes those tasks so much easier to carry out. But is there a Siri for Android?

Siri may have been the first digital assistant to become mainstream, but she's certainly not the only one now. Even iPhone users have sometimes turned away from Siri in favor of a different virtual assistant app, some of which are surely on this list.

So while there is no Android version of Siri, here are seven great alternatives that are just as good---if not better.

1. Google Assistant

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If you just want a functional Siri equivalent that likely came with your phone, then look no further.

Google Assistant evolved from Google Now and comes as a pre-installed part of most Android phones. You can access it by holding the home button or, on some devices, squeezing your phone by its sides. And instead of "Hey Siri" you can launch it by saying "Hey Google" instead.

As you might expect, Assistant can make calendar appointments and answer questions. But with it, Google is trying to expand our idea of what digital personal assistants can do, like place calls and make reservations on your behalf.

Download: Google Assistant (Free)

2. Hound

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Hound is a really awesome alternative to Siri and the larger virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Hound can help you do all the usual assistant tasks like setting alarms and timers, telling you the news or the weather, and calling and texting contacts.

But Hound can also help you with really advanced requests, like searching for barbecue restaurants rated only 4 stars or more near you. Hound also helps you search for songs you need to know the name of, look up random questions, and can even book an Uber for you.

Download: Hound (Free)

3. Amazon Alexa

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Amazon has taken the world by storm and Alexa is shining at the forefront. Alexa has become a household assistant, so why not use her on your phone as well? If you have an Amazon Echo speaker or other household gadgets that support Alexa, then downloading Alexa as your personal assistant is a no-brainer.

Alexa will incorporate into your life super easily if you've already been using her elsewhere in your home. Once you open the Alexa app, you log into your Amazon account to connect everything together and you're good to go.

Alexa can help you set timers and alarms, tell you the weather, answer your questions, and so much more. You can even use Alexa as a personal trainer.

As mentioned before, Alexa will work with other household gadgets that support her too. So if you have an air fryer or coffee maker that works with Alexa, she can help you set timers specifically for those devices.

Download: Amazon Alexa (Free)

4. Robin

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Robin is a great personal assistant option if you're not so interested in sharing your info with larger companies like Google or Amazon. While Robin may not be able to answer your burning questions like Siri can, she can still do so much for you.

Robin shines when you're driving. So if that's when you find yourself needing a virtual assistant the most to help you out, download Robin.

She can play different playlists, send texts for you, set reminders and alarms, help you get directions, and more. Think of Robin as a friend riding shotgun doing tasks for you while your hands are on the wheel.

Download: Robin (Free)

5. Extreme

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If privacy is important to you, the Extreme personal assistant app has you covered. All of your conversations and questions to Extreme are never seen or shared with anyone besides you. Plus, if you ever decide to uninstall the app, all the data you've ever shared with Extreme is deleted.

You can ask Extreme questions, have it take a selfie of you, or use it in more practical ways like finding directions or setting timers and alarms. However you would usually use a personal assistant app, Extreme can do it for you securely.

The only in-app purchase is to remove ads.

Download: Extreme (Free, in-app purchases available)

6. Jarvis

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If you've seen Iron Man and you know the name Jarvis, then you've probably wanted a virtual assistant named Jarvis. This app gives it to you!

Although you can rename Jarvis to whatever you'd like, why would you want to? Jarvis can make calls for you, open apps at your command, read messages aloud to you, play music, and more. For any easy personal assistant tasks, Jarvis is your guy.

There's a Pro version of this app that comes with no ads and allows you to speak with Jarvis from any screen or window. With the free version, you'll always see an overlay that tells you to open the application to continue the service (pictured above).

Download: Jarvis (Free, premium version available)

7. DataBot

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Although DataBot is a personal assistant, it's more of a replacement for Siri's fun, witty side. On the more useful end, DataBot can help you customize multimedia presentations, answer specific questions through Google searches, and act as your secretary.

But where the app really takes off is all the fun ways you can interact with DataBot. You can ask DataBot for your daily horoscope, providing you give the app your birthday. DataBot can tell jokes, give you quotes, play brain games with you, and puzzle you with riddles.

Download: DataBot (Free, in-app purchases available)

The Best Android Voice Assistants

We each have our own preferences and needs. Out of the box, Google Assistant works pretty well. And Amazon's Alexa integrates so well with other devices that support her. But some people aren't as comfortable sharing even more data with these big companies.

Those of us who aren't comfortable with giving these companies more information may find Robin, Extreme, or another smaller app worth considering. If you have a Samsung device, you can also try using Bixby, which is kind of like Samsung's own built-in Google Assistant.

Image Credits: Willyam Bradberry/Shutterstock

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