Previously, it was free only for Prime members.
Amazon is offering free access to Alexa+ to all Americans with eligible Fire TV devices. The company charges $20 per month to access the AI-powered assistant, although it has always been free for Prime subscribers. Now you don’t need to pay to use it. Compatible devices include current-generation Amazon Fire TV Sticks, Fire TV Cube, Amazon Ember smart TVs, and other smart TVs with Alexa+ built-in, such as those made by Hisense and Panasonic.
The company unveiled its improved Alexa experience in February this year, after years of development. Unlike the old Alexa, which requires knowing keywords or key phrases for voice commands, Alexa+ can understand natural language. Instead of asking it to play a specific series, for example, you can ask it for recommendations. You can say, “Show me historical dramas with strong female leads,” then refine it by saying, “recommend something newer.” You can also ask it for context about what you’re watching, such as asking it to tell you about an actor’s filmography.
If you have other smart home devices, you can talk to Alexa+ to control them. You can ask Alexa to show you the front door to display footage from the camera in front of your home on your smart TV, or to lock the door if you have a smart lock. According to the company, users talk with Alexa+ almost twice as much as with the old Alexa, because it can understand conversational questions and requests.
Amazon says it may offer Alexa+ for free to more devices and regions in the future. Although free access to the assistant is currently limited to US customers, Alexa+ is also available in the UK, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Germany, Austria, Brazil and France. The company plans to roll out the AI assistant to more countries this year and 10 more regions in 2027.
