Is Alexa Free With Prime?

Amazon’s Alexa itself is a free service provided by Amazon; it doesn’t require an Amazon Prime membership to use. Alexa is a virtual assistant AI technology developed by Amazon. It’s available on millions of devices from Amazon and third-party device manufacturers. With Alexa, you can voice control your device, listen to music, create shopping lists, get weather updates, and more.

Even though Amazon Prime isn’t required to use Alexa, a Prime membership can enhance what Alexa can do.

Prime members have access to additional features and services that aren’t available to non-Prime members, such as streaming ad-free music, accessing Prime-exclusive deals, and enjoying free delivery services on eligible items. 

So, while Alexa is free to use without a Prime membership, pairing it with a Prime subscription can unlock lots of cool features and functions.

Why Use Alexa with a Prime Membership

Using Alexa with an Amazon Prime membership unlocks premium functions you don’t get for free.

Here are the main perks you enjoy when combining Alexa with Amazon Prime:

1. Prime Music: Prime members have ad-free access to over 2 million songs through Prime Music.
2. Prime Reading: You can ask Alexa to read from a selection of thousands of books, magazines, and more available through Prime Reading. 
3. Audible Channels: Prime members have free access to Audible Channels, a service that provides original audio series, playlists, and a selection of audiobooks.
4. Shopping Benefits: You can ask Alexa to order products directly from Amazon, and as a Prime member, you’ll benefit from free two-day shipping on eligible items, access to Prime-exclusive brands, and special deals. Alexa can also track your orders.
5. Prime Video: You can control your Prime Video experience with Alexa.
6. Voice Shopping: During special events like Prime Day, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday, Prime members have the opportunity to access exclusive deals by voice shopping with Alexa.
7. Flash Briefings: Customize your daily news and information readouts from Alexa with Prime-exclusive content.
8. Smart Home Integration: While this feature is available to all Alexa users, combining it with Prime membership enhances the experience, especially concerning delivery notifications for your orders, including Amazon’s secure in-home delivery service, Amazon Key.
9. Unlimited Photo Storage: Prime members can ask Alexa to show their photos stored with Amazon Photos, which offers unlimited photo storage.
10. Amazon Fresh: In some locations, Prime members can use Alexa to place orders for same-day or next-day delivery on groceries and household items through Amazon Fresh.

These perks make owning an Alexa device more convenient and enjoyable, leveraging the full ecosystem of Amazon services for entertainment, shopping, and home management.

Why Not Use Alexa with a Prime Membership?

Choosing not to pair Alexa with an Amazon Prime membership can save you money. All the standard functions of Alexa are available absolutely free. Prime membership offers lots of additional premium services, but there are lots of things you can do without one.

The primary advantage of using Alexa without a Prime membership is saving money. Prime membership comes with a yearly or monthly fee, which might not be justifiable for users who don’t frequently shop on Amazon or use its range of services.

Not everyone uses the extensive content library and additional features offered by Prime. Some people might find they’re content with the standard, free Alexa functions, such as asking questions, setting timers, or listening to radio stations.

With Prime, Alexa’s capabilities are expanded, offering a seamless, integrated experience with access to a vast library of music, movies, TV shows, and secure, fast shipping for products purchased on Amazon. For frequent online shoppers or entertainment seekers, these benefits can represent real value and convenience, potentially outweighing the cost of the membership.

Whether Prime is worth it with Alexa depends on individual needs and lifestyle. If you’re looking to save on costs and prefer a minimalist approach, using Alexa without Prime might suit you better. But if you want an enhanced, all-inclusive experience, especially for those already embedded in the Amazon ecosystem, the additional perks of a Prime membership may be worth the money.

How To Connect Alexa To Prime

Connecting your Amazon Alexa device to Amazon Prime is a straightforward process that only takes about a minute or two.

Here’s a summary of how to do it:

1. Amazon Account Setup: Before you start, make sure you have an active Amazon Prime subscription. If you don’t, you’ll need to sign up for Prime by going to the Amazon website.
2. Alexa App Installation: Download and install the Amazon Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet. This app is available for both iOS and Android devices and is essential for managing your Alexa-enabled devices.
3. Sign In: Open the Alexa app and sign in using the same Amazon account you used for your Prime subscription. It’s crucial that you use the same account information so that your Prime benefits are accessible through Alexa.
4. Device Setup: If you haven’t already set up your Alexa device, the app should guide you through the process. This setup includes connecting your device to the internet, selecting a language, and possibly updating the device’s software.
5. Verification: Once you’re signed in to the app with your Prime-enabled Amazon account, your Alexa device automatically inherits all the Prime benefits. You can verify this by asking Alexa to play a song from Amazon Music, access an audiobook from Audible, or order something with Prime shipping. If you have access to these services, your Alexa is connected to Prime.
6. Enjoy Your Prime Benefits: With the connection complete, you can now use Alexa to stream your favorite music, order items, listen to audiobooks, and access other exclusive Prime member benefits.

Remember, any issues with connectivity or accessing services may require a quick check of your internet connection or a call to Amazon’s customer support for assistance.

Can You Listen To Music on Alexa Without Prime?

Yes, you can listen to music on Alexa without an Amazon Prime membership. A Prime membership offers additional streaming benefits, but it’s not mandatory for playing music.

Here’s how you can enjoy music on Alexa without Prime:

1. Free Streaming Services: Alexa is compatible with free versions of several popular music streaming platforms. For example, you can link services like Spotify Free, Pandora, or iHeartRadio to your Alexa device and stream music with ads.
2. Amazon Music Free: Amazon offers a free, ad-supported version of Amazon Music that you can use without a Prime membership.
3. Purchased Music: If you’ve purchased music from Amazon in the past, you can access that music through your Alexa device.
4. Music Uploads: Depending on your region and the specific services available, you may be able to upload your own music files to a cloud service and stream them through Alexa.
5. Third-Party Music Services: You can subscribe to other music services, such as Apple Music, Spotify Premium, or Tidal, independently of Amazon Prime. Once you link your account in the Alexa app, you can stream music directly through your Alexa device.
6. Radio Stations: Alexa can play many internet radio stations natively. You can ask Alexa to play a specific station, and it will stream it live.
7. Bluetooth Connection: You can use Alexa as a Bluetooth speaker by pairing it with your smartphone or tablet and playing any audio from your device, including music from apps that Alexa doesn’t support natively.

While having an Amazon Prime membership provides access to ad-free Amazon Music, there are still lots of ways to enjoy music on your Alexa device without a Prime subscription.

Does Prime Give You Better Music?

Yes, an Amazon Prime membership includes a selection of music that’s better than using Alexa without a subscription. This service is known as Amazon Prime Music.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Amazon Prime Music: Prime Music offers members unlimited, ad-free access to over 2 million songs and thousands of playlists and stations. This collection includes a variety of genres, artists, and albums.
2. Integration with Alexa: You can access Prime Music via any Alexa-enabled device. Once you’ve set up your device and connected it to your Amazon account with an active Prime membership, you can start using voice commands to play music from Prime Music.
3. Additional Features: With Prime Music on Alexa, you can create and edit playlists, like or dislike songs, and possibly even set up a personalized station based on your preferences. The system learns from your choices and can suggest music for you.
4. Upgrading for More Music: If you find the selection of music in Prime Music limiting, Amazon offers a separate, more extensive subscription called Amazon Music Unlimited. This service provides access to tens of millions of songs, which is significantly more than what’s available through Prime Music. Amazon Music Unlimited requires an additional fee on top of the Prime membership, but it integrates with Alexa in the same way as Prime Music.

An Amazon Prime membership gives you access to a lot more songs and artists than the free version of Alexa. Whether or not it’s better depends on your taste in music. For some users, using Alexa for free is more than enough.

If you have any questions about Alexa, email or leave a comment below.