76
Alexa+ Plus is currently only available in the US. The new model for a smart home offers exciting additional features and benefits for Prime members.
Alexa Plus costs and subscription model
Amazon is revolutionizing the voice assistant market with Alexa Plus, an AI-powered version of the popular digital assistant. The new version promises advanced features and an improved user experience, but comes with a price tag.
- Monthly subscription for $19.99: Alexa Plus is being introduced as a paid service, available for $19.99 per month. This price will initially be for the US market. Since the new model will initially only be tested in the American market, pricing for other countries has not yet been announced.
- Free for Amazon Prime members: Good news for Prime subscribers is that Alexa Plus will be integrated into their existing membership at no additional cost. This makes the upgrade particularly attractive for Prime customers and further enhances the value of the Prime package.
- Compared to the free version: Unlike the classic Alexa, which remains free (except for the purchase of a corresponding device), Alexa Plus offers advanced AI features, improved conversational skills and in-depth personalization. The decision to upgrade depends on how intensively you want to use these advanced features.
- Possible trial period: Although not yet officially confirmed, Amazon could offer a free trial period for Alexa Plus to give users the opportunity to try out the new features before deciding on a subscription.
- Additional Member Option: For households with multiple users, Amazon offers the option of adding additional members for $5.99 per month, making Alexa Plus more flexible for families or shared households.
Release Date and Expected Features
Amazon has big plans for Alexa Plus and wants to launch the service in the course of 2025 – first in the US, and later in other countries. The introduction of Alexa Plus marks a significant step in the evolution of voice assistants towards full-fledged AI assistants.
- Planned release in 2025: Although there is no exact date, the first possible access for the American market has been announced for the coming weeks. After that, availability will follow in waves. This gives Amazon time to perfect the technology and avoid possible teething problems. It is not known when the service will be available in Germany.
- Generative AI technology: Alexa Plus is based on advanced generative AI that enables more natural and contextual conversations. This means that Alexa Plus can understand and process more complex requests, resulting in a significantly improved interaction.
- Proactive assistance: One of the main innovations of Alexa Plus is its ability to proactively make suggestions, remind users of tasks and help them with planning. This transforms Alexa from a reactive into a proactive assistant.
- Advanced personalization: Alexa Plus will be able to learn from the user’s data and documents to provide more in-depth personalization. This enables tailored recommendations and better adaptation to individual needs and habits.
- Cross-device availability: In addition to the classic Echo devices, Alexa Plus will also be accessible via a new app, browser and Fire TV/tablets. This expands the range of possible uses and makes Alexa Plus a ubiquitous digital assistant in everyday life.
