In 2025 Amazon introduced Alexa+ the next-generation version of its voice companion. The service runs on large language models supplied by Anthropic and Amazon’s own Amazon Nova suite, giving the assistant the ability to generate more natural responses and manage more intricate tasks than the classic voice-only version.
Access points and pricing model
Users can reach Alexa+ through three primary channels. All existing Alexa-enabled devices—including Echo speakers and Fire TV units—receive the upgrade via a simple voice command. In August 2026 Amazon announced a family of new tablets that ship with Alexa+ baked in, expanding the hardware footprint beyond the traditional smart speaker. For owners of smartphones or tablets, the Alexa app (available on Apple’s App Store and Google Play) and the web portal at provide a free, text-based chatbot interface. The site description notes the experience is “ideal for quick answers, planning, research, and exploring new topics.”
Full, unrestricted use of Alexa+ is reserved for Amazon Prime members, who can activate the upgrade by asking their device to “upgrade to Alexa plus.” Non-Prime customers may subscribe directly to the assistant for $19.99 per month. For context, the base Prime plan costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year meaning the dedicated Alexa+ plan is only $5 more each month while delivering the same AI capabilities. A 30-day trial is also offered on the website for users who prefer to test the service before committing.
New capabilities and third-party integrations
Amazon describes the assistant’s expanded skill set as a collection of experts—groups of systems, APIs and instructions that handle specific categories of requests. In a conversation with TechRadar, Daniel Rausch Amazon’s vice president of Alexa and Echo, illustrated the concept by showing how an expert could pull together a Yankees game schedule, ticket availability and related news. Users can also select from four tonal presets—Brief, Chill, Sweet and Sassy—to shape the personality of the dialogue.
Beyond the usual music, weather and Amazon shopping functions, Alexa+ now integrates with external platforms such as TicketmasterUberGrubhub and OpenTable. Theoretically, a single command could reserve a concert seat, order a dinner reservation, summon a rideshare and even schedule a dessert delivery for the return trip. Amazon claims the system is “able to orchestrate across tens of thousands of services and devices” a scale the company says “has never been done at this scale.”
Early user impressions and known limitations
Early adopters have reported a mixed experience. While many appreciate the broadened conversational range, the assistant still exhibits the occasional inconsistency common to generative AI, requiring users to double-check information. Some reviewers compare the chatter to an overly talkative neighbor, and a few have noted delays in response time or occasional mishearing of commands. Functional memory—how long the assistant retains context—has also been flagged as an area for improvement.
Despite these growing pains, the consensus is that Alexa+ can comfortably automate a variety of household tasks, from setting timers to arranging multi-step outings. Amazon is rolling the service out initially in the United States and Canada, with early-access programs already running in Mexico, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Australia, Spain and India. Regional differences may affect which services are available, but the company says expansion to additional markets is underway.
To start using Alexa+, owners can simply say, “Alexa, upgrade to Alexa plus,” or log in at . Those curious about the premium experience can sign up for the trial and decide whether the added convenience justifies the monthly fee.
