Amazon Alexa+ Price & Prime Benefits

Amazon Announces Alexa+: A New Subscription Service

A revamped Alexa experience, branded Alexa+, is being introduced by Amazon. The service will be available for $19.99 monthly, but is included at no additional cost for current Amazon Prime members.

Initial access to Alexa+ will begin next month within the United States. Following this, a broader rollout to users will occur in stages over the coming months, according to Amazon’s announcement.

Device Compatibility and New Features

The first devices to receive the Alexa+ upgrade will be the Echo Show 8, Echo Show 10, Echo Show 15, and Echo Show 21.

Currently, it remains uncertain whether other Echo devices, such as the Echo Dot and Echo Pop, will be compatible. Amazon has not yet provided specifics regarding support for these speaker-only models.

Alongside Alexa+, Amazon is launching Alexa.com, a redesigned web interface. This new platform is intended to facilitate more extensive and detailed work sessions.

A modernized Alexa mobile application is also being released, featuring an updated user interface and enhanced functionalities.

Amazon's Vision and Competitive Pricing

“With generative AI and a fundamentally rebuilt Alexa, we are shifting the focus from simple chatbots to a completely innovative approach,” stated Panos Panay, head of Amazon’s devices and services, during a presentation in New York City.

Priced at $19.99 per month, Alexa+ aligns with the cost of other generative AI chatbots currently available. Both OpenAI’s ChatGPT (paid version) and Google’s Gemini Advanced are also offered at this price point.

However, the final price is higher than previously speculated. Earlier reports indicated a potential cost between $5 and $10 for the upgraded Alexa service, potentially including a substantial free trial period.

Key features of Alexa+ are expected to include enhanced conversational abilities and improved responsiveness, leveraging the power of generative AI.