Alexa Plus AI Upgrade Costs $19.99 Monthly, Free for Prime Users

Amazon has introduced Alexa Plus, an upgraded version of its smart assistant with enhanced AI features. This new version can perform advanced tasks like finding concert tickets, ordering an Uber, and enabling more natural conversations. However, for the first time, Amazon is charging for these additional capabilities. Early access to Alexa Plus will be available in the U.S. starting in late March 2025 for select Echo Show users. Those eligible will receive notifications via email and device alerts, but they must opt-in to access them.  Once the early access period ends, Alexa Plus will cost $19.99 per month. However, Prime members will get it for free. Given that an Amazon Prime membership costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year, many users may find subscribing to Prime more beneficial than paying separately for Alexa Plus. Many of Alexa Plus’ advanced features will rely on Amazon services such as Amazon Music and Prime Video. For example, users will be able to skip directly to specific movie scenes featuring a chosen song, but this feature will require an active Prime Video or Amazon Music subscription. This integration makes a Prime membership nearly essential for those who want to take full advantage of Alexa Plus. Amazon did not announce any new hardware at the event, but it confirmed that Alexa Plus will work on most existing Alexa devices, including Fire TVs, tablets, and the Alexa mobile app. However, the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, and 21 will be prioritized for early access.  Some older Echo devices, such as the Echo Tap and first-generation Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Plus, Echo Spot, and Echo Show, will not support Alexa Plus. Additionally, Amazon’s Astro robot will only work with the standard Alexa, not the upgraded Alexa Plus.