Amazon just dropped a massive AI upgrade for Alexa, turning it into a full-blown personal assistant. Dubbed Alexa Plus, this new version promises to remember your preferences, plan your day, and even monitor your security cameras. But, of course, it all comes at a price.
How Much Does Alexa Plus Cost?
One of the biggest surprises was the pricing. If you’re not a Prime member, you’ll need to pay $19.99 per month for Alexa Plus. If you already have Amazon Prime, though, you’re in luck—it comes included at no extra charge. Initially, Amazon considered lower price points like $5 or $10 per month but ultimately landed on $19.99 for non-Prime users.
Amazon plans to roll out Alexa Plus to U.S. customers first in the coming weeks through an Early Access program, while other countries will have to wait a bit longer.
Who Gets Early Access?
If you own or purchase certain Echo devices—such as the Echo Show 8, 10, 15, or 21—you might receive an invite to try Alexa Plus early. Older devices like the first-gen Echo Dot or Echo Spot won’t be upgraded.
What’s New with Alexa Plus?
Smarter AI with Generative Intelligence
Alexa Plus is powered by Anthropic’s Claude AI and Amazon’s own AI models via their Bedrock platform. The result? A smarter, more conversational voice assistant that understands context and follows up on your requests without you repeating yourself.
For example:
- Say, “Alexa, I’m planning dinner for my family.” Alexa Plus remembers that you’re vegetarian, your partner is gluten-free, and your kids love pizza. Then, it suggests a recipe or even books a table at a restaurant through OpenTable.
- Planning a party? Alexa Plus keeps track of your theme, suggests snacks, queues up a playlist, and even sends invitations to your friends.
Home Security Integration
If you own a Ring doorbell or security camera, Alexa Plus can scan footage and tell you if:
- Your dog was walked
- A package arrived
- Someone is at the door
It acts as a voice-controlled security guard, but this level of surveillance raises privacy concerns. Amazon claims to have strong encryption and local processing for sensitive data, plus an improved privacy dashboard so you can manage your settings easily.
Document Summarization & Study Buddy Features
Another cool feature? Alexa Plus can summarize documents.
- Have a long HOA agreement? Forward it to Alexa Plus and ask, “Alexa, what are the key rules I need to know?”
- Studying for an exam? Upload notes or slides and ask Alexa Plus to quiz you or generate practice questions.
Smart Home & Connectivity Upgrades
Alexa Plus still does the basics—timers, alarms, weather updates, music, and smart home control—but now it supports Matter and Thread. This means better compatibility with a wider range of smart bulbs, thermostats, and vacuums.
Visual AI & Image Recognition
Amazon teased that Alexa Plus will soon be able to analyze images. You might say, “Alexa, take a picture of my fridge,” and it could suggest groceries based on what’s missing.
User Reactions: Worth It or Not?
Not everyone is sold on Alexa Plus. Some users are excited about the AI upgrades, while others think $20/month is too expensive for a voice assistant.
There were also reports that Alexa Plus struggled in live demos, sometimes requiring repeated prompts or giving incorrect answers—something that’s common with AI-powered chat models.
Amazon claims over 500 million Alexa devices are in homes worldwide. If Alexa Plus delivers on its promises, it could be a game-changer. But if it falls short, it might just feel like another subscription cash grab.
Final Thoughts: Should You Get Alexa Plus?
If you already pay for Amazon Prime, there’s no harm in trying Alexa Plus. But if you’re a non-Prime user, $19.99 per month is a big ask.