“Alexa+ is more powerful than the original Alexa, so we’re focused on making it accessible to as many customers as we can,” an Amazon spokesperson stated. “We’ve informed customers about the upcoming update and how they can revert to the previous version.” Amazon is upgrading only Prime members with compatible devices to Alexa+ Early Access in this latest rollout. Alexa+ is free for now, and Prime members will continue to enjoy it at no cost when the full version launches. However, it will be priced at $20 a month for non-Prime members once it officially debuts. A broad array of devices supports this upgrade, including the first generations of the Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Spot, and Echo Plus. There’s also a long list of compatible Fire TV and Fire tablet devices. Depending on how many Amazon devices you have at home and whether you’re a Prime member, you might find Alexa+ active in several spots.
How to Switch Back to Original Alexa
If you prefer not to upgrade or find the new experience isn’t for you, it’s simple to switch back. Just say, “Alexa, exit Alexa Plus,” and it will revert to the original Alexa voice and experience on supported Echo devices. You’ll no longer experience the chatbot-style conversations, and the assistant’s responses will be more straightforward. Overall, you won’t lose any core functionalities. Personally, I haven’t noticed much difference in how I ask questions between the two versions. The on-screen and voice experience returned to something very similar (if not slightly more polished) to what I remember from before switching to Alexa+. Amazon will notify you that some features may need adjustments in the Alexa app if you go back to the older version, but they don’t specify what these changes are, nor do they make those settings easy to locate.
If you’re not a Prime member and didn’t receive the automated upgrade to Alexa+, you should still be able to toggle it easily in the app or on your device by asking to switch to Alexa+. The sign-up page that existed before is no longer available, as there is no waitlist. For details about your Alexa+ access and to manage the controls, head to Memberships & Subscriptions in your Amazon account.
Alexa Versus Alexa+
Even if you decide to switch back to the original Alexa, is it truly the same? While it’s the same voice, Feminine 2 (or “Relaxed”), our team and other users on Reddit have observed some changes in the voice’s inflections, making it sound somewhat different from before. You can still use Feminine 2 while in Alexa+, indicating the voice has likely been updated to align with the more conversational style that Alexa+ offers. Some users are not fond of the new default voice, Feminine 1, which the Alexa app describes as “upbeat,” but others refer to it as the “teenage girl” voice. As my editor, who has a teen, puts it, it sounds like a “sassy teenager.” Overall, this new voice has a youthful tone and a cadence that can come across as sarcastic. In total, Alexa+ provides four feminine and four masculine voices, each characterized in the app with a single adjective like “Inviting” or “Warm.”
