Alexa+ is an upgraded version of Alexa that uses generative AI to handle multi-step requests, carry on real conversations, and help with tasks like drafting messages or planning. It started rolling out to Echo devices in 2025, and some features require an Alexa+ subscription. Most things still work hands-free — you just talk normally.
If you have had an Echo on your kitchen counter for years, you might have noticed that Alexa has gotten a lot smarter lately. That is not your imagination. Amazon rebuilt Alexa around a large language model — the same kind of AI that powers ChatGPT — and called the result Alexa+. Here is what that means for you and how to actually use the new features.
Step 1: Check Whether Alexa+ Is Available on Your Device
Open the Alexa app and check your device
Go to the Alexa app on your phone. Tap More (bottom right), then Settings, then Alexa+. If your Echo is compatible, you will see an option to enable or subscribe to Alexa+. If you do not see it, your device may not be supported yet, or the rollout may not have reached your region.
Enable Alexa+ or join the waitlist
If Alexa+ is available, follow the on-screen steps to turn it on. Amazon has been offering Alexa+ at no extra cost to Prime members, but verify the current pricing in the app before signing up. Once enabled, your Echo does not need any updates — the AI runs in Amazon's cloud.
Try a simple multi-step request
The clearest way to feel the difference is to give Alexa a task that has two parts. Say something like: "Alexa, add oat milk to my shopping list and remind me to check the expiration date on the current one when I get home." Old Alexa would handle only the first part or get confused. Alexa+ connects both steps and confirms each one. You can also follow up naturally: "Actually, add almond milk instead."
Have a real back-and-forth conversation
Alexa+ remembers what you said earlier in the same conversation. Ask: "What's a good recipe for chicken soup?" Then follow up with "How long does it take?" and then "Can I make it in a slow cooker?" — without repeating "chicken soup" each time. This works best on Echo Show devices where Alexa can display text, but it also works on standard Echo speakers.
Ask Alexa+ to help you write something
Say "Alexa, help me write a birthday message for my sister — she's turning 60 and loves gardening." Alexa+ will draft something and read it to you. You can say "Make it shorter" or "Add a joke" and it will revise. On an Echo Show, you can see the text on screen.
Set up routines using plain language
You used to need the Alexa app to build a routine step by step. Now you can just say: "Alexa, every weekday at 7 a.m., turn on the kitchen lights, tell me the weather, and play the news." Alexa+ will create that routine for you automatically. You can still edit it later in the app if you want to fine-tune it.
Know what Alexa+ still cannot do
Alexa+ is impressive but has real limits. It cannot browse the web freely, access your email without explicit setup, or make phone calls on your behalf. It also occasionally gets facts wrong — if Alexa+ tells you something important (a medication name, a business address), double-check it. Think of it as a very helpful assistant who sometimes guesses rather than checks.
What to try next
If you want to compare Alexa+ to Google and Siri side by side, read Alexa vs. Google vs. Siri: Which Smart Speaker Assistant Is Best?. And if you have privacy questions about how much Alexa hears, Is Alexa Always Listening? What Actually Happens walks through exactly what gets recorded and how to delete it.
