Amazon’s new Alexa+ rolls out in France, here’s which Echo devices will (and won’t) get it

Amazon is flipping the switch on Alexa+ in France, betting that a more conversational, generative-AI version of its voice assistant can win back attention in a world crowded with AI chatbots on phones and laptops.

The rollout starts with a free “early access” phase, Amazon says, before a broader launch in the coming weeks. The big questions for users: how much it’ll cost, whether their Echo will support it, and how much more “natural” Alexa will actually feel in everyday French.

Amazon says about 95% of Echo devices currently in use in France will get Alexa+ through a software update, but several older, first-generation models are left behind. Pricing is also blunt: €22.99 a month (about $25) if you don’t subscribe to Prime, and included at no extra charge for Prime members.

France gets Alexa+ first through free early access

Amazon is taking a phased approach in France, starting with early access that’s free at launch and expanding gradually. That kind of slow ramp is typical for major assistant upgrades, giving Amazon time to watch how people use it, and fix the inevitable problems like misheard commands, laggy responses, or flaky smart-home integrations.

Alexa+ is Amazon’s answer to the new generation of AI assistants that don’t just follow simple commands, but can hold a conversation, keep context, and carry out multi-step tasks. Amazon’s pitch: fewer robotic exchanges, more natural back-and-forth, and less repeating yourself.

For France specifically, Amazon is highlighting a partnership with Mistral AI, a high-profile French AI startup. The goal isn’t just “speaks French,” but “understands French the way people actually talk”, including longer requests, informal phrasing, and implied meaning.

That added intelligence comes with a familiar tradeoff: the more an assistant can interpret and remember, the more sensitive the privacy questions become. Amazon says Alexa+ includes privacy and security protections, and it has discussed an optional mode that can listen longer so users don’t have to keep repeating the wake word. Amazon says that longer listening isn’t enabled by default, users have to opt in.

It’s about $25 a month without Prime, and free (for now) with Prime

Amazon is positioning Alexa+ as a premium AI service. In France, it’s priced at €22.99 per month, roughly $25, for people who aren’t Prime subscribers. Prime members are expected to get Alexa+ included, turning the assistant into another perk alongside shipping, streaming, and other Prime benefits.

That price point puts Alexa+ in the same psychological category as other paid AI upgrades: easy to justify if you use it constantly, harder to swallow if Alexa is mostly a kitchen timer and weather announcer.

Amazon isn’t sharing France-specific usage numbers for Alexa. Globally, the company has long pointed to a massive installed base, more than 600 million Alexa-compatible devices sold or in circulation worldwide, but that doesn’t say how many people use Alexa regularly, or how many will pay for a new tier if they’re not already in Prime.

The competitive pressure is real. Many consumers now default to AI tools built into smartphones and computers, without buying a dedicated smart speaker. Amazon’s advantage is the home: voice control for lights, routines, and entertainment. The risk is that if Alexa+ feels like a novelty, or doesn’t work consistently across devices, people will try it once and move on.

Most Echo devices will get Alexa+, but these older models won’t

Amazon says Alexa+ will work on about 95% of Echo devices currently used in France via a software update. For most households, that means no new hardware purchase to try the upgraded assistant.

But Amazon is drawing a clear line at several older devices, especially first-generation models. These Echo products are listed as not compatible with Alexa+ in France: Echo Dot (1st gen), Echo (1st gen), Echo Plus (1st gen), Echo Show (1st gen), Echo Show (2nd gen), and Echo Spot (1st gen).

If you have one of those older speakers plugged in, say, in a bedroom or kitchen, you’ll still be able to use “classic” Alexa, but you won’t get the new generative-AI features. In homes with a mix of old and new devices, that could create a jarring split: one Alexa that can handle a long, natural request, and another that forces you back into rigid command-speak.

Amazon hasn’t framed it this way, but the technical reality is straightforward: early Echo hardware has tighter limits on processing power and memory. From a consumer perspective, though, the outcome is the same, getting Alexa+ everywhere may require replacing older devices, and Prime doesn’t cover that cost.

Alexa+ is also headed to TVs, Fire tablets, Kindle Scribe, the web, and mobile

Amazon isn’t keeping Alexa+ confined to Echo speakers. The company says it’s expanding Alexa+ to TV experiences geared toward entertainment, like recommending what to watch and even identifying an actor on screen. It’s a classic couch use case: you want an answer fast without grabbing your phone.

Amazon also plans Alexa+ access on Fire tablets and newer Kindle Scribe models. On Fire tablets, the value is obvious: voice plus a screen for lists, steps, and suggestions. On the Kindle Scribe, Amazon’s note-taking e-reader, the company hasn’t detailed many specific Alexa+ features yet beyond availability.

Crucially, Amazon says Alexa+ will also be accessible through a web browser and a dedicated mobile app. That widens the footprint beyond the smart speaker, letting users start a request on a phone and continue it elsewhere, especially useful for households that don’t have an Echo in every room.

The catch is that “TV integration” can mean very different things depending on the brand, operating system, and update support. And on mobile, Alexa+ will be competing with assistants people already use daily. If it’s just another app, it may struggle, unless it’s noticeably faster and better at smart-home control and Amazon’s content ecosystem.

Amazon’s bet: smarter smart homes, and a voice assistant that sounds less like a machine

Amazon is pitching Alexa+ as a smarter way to run a connected home, where you can speak in plain language instead of memorizing exact phrases. That’s the promise of generative AI in the smart-home world: you describe what you want, and the assistant figures out the steps.

Whether it works in real life will come down to messy conditions, accents, background noise, kids talking over each other, and requests that bundle multiple actions. Those are the moments where voice assistants tend to fail, and where Alexa+ will be judged.

There’s also a broader trust issue. A smoother conversation doesn’t guarantee flawless execution, especially when Alexa is controlling a patchwork of smart-home devices from different brands. If Alexa+ becomes a Prime perk that millions can toggle on instantly, Amazon will need to make privacy controls and settings clear enough that users feel comfortable inviting a more capable listener into their homes.