Hitechreports

Amazon has officially launched Alexa+, its next-generation AI assistant, making it available nationwide across the United States. The revamped assistant introduces more natural conversations, deeper personalization, and powerful new task-handling abilities. Alexa+ is priced at $20 per month, but Amazon Prime members get full access for free. For non-Prime users, Amazon is also offering a free, text-only version as a way to try the service before committing.

What Is Alexa+ and What’s New

Alexa+ represents Amazon’s biggest upgrade to Alexa since the assistant first launched. Built around more advanced AI models, the new assistant is designed to handle longer, more complex conversations while understanding context more effectively. Instead of short, command-style interactions, Alexa+ aims to feel more like a true digital assistant that can reason through requests and follow up intelligently.

Beyond conversation improvements, Alexa+ introduces agentic capabilities. This means it can actively help manage your day, such as organizing schedules, making reservations, offering tailored recommendations, and coordinating smart home devices more intuitively.

Amazon says Alexa+ is also more personalized, learning from your preferences and digital activity to provide responses that are more relevant over time.

Pricing and Free Access Options

Alexa+ is available in two main ways:

• $20 per month as a standalone subscription
• Free with Amazon Prime, which currently costs about $15 per month

Given that Prime is cheaper than the Alexa+ subscription alone, Amazon is clearly positioning Alexa+ as a value-add to encourage Prime sign-ups. First-time customers can also take advantage of Amazon’s 30-day free Prime trial, which includes full Alexa+ access.

For users who don’t have Prime and aren’t ready to pay, Amazon has introduced a free text-based Alexa chat accessible via Alexa.com. This tier allows users to ask questions and research topics, but it comes with usage limits and does not include voice interactions or advanced agent features.

How to Start Using Alexa+

Prime members can upgrade immediately by saying “Alexa, upgrade to Alexa+” on supported devices or by signing in at Alexa.com. The website also serves as the hub for the new text-based Alexa chat experience, whether you’re testing the free tier or managing your subscription.

Alexa+ has technically been available in early access since last year, and Amazon says it incorporated user feedback during that period to refine the experience ahead of today’s nationwide rollout.

Early Impressions and Lingering Questions

While Alexa+ promises major improvements, it may not be a flawless experience for everyone. In an early preview last summer, Engadget’s Cherlynn Low praised Alexa+ for its ability to handle more complex tasks but noted that it could feel inconsistent, describing it as “just incompetent enough to be annoying” at times.

That mixed feedback highlights the challenge Amazon faces: balancing ambitious AI features with reliability in everyday use.

Whether Alexa+ can consistently deliver on its promise of a smarter, more proactive assistant will become clearer as more users begin using it at scale.

Conclusion

Alexa+ marks a significant evolution of Amazon’s voice assistant, bringing richer conversations, smarter automation, and deeper personalization. With free access for Prime members and a no-cost text-based trial for everyone else, Amazon is making it easy to try the future of Alexa, while betting that its AI upgrades will be compelling enough to win over new subscribers.