Alexa+ Launches in Early Access in Canada

Amazon has just made its next-gen Alexa+ assistant available in early access in Canada. This marks the first international expansion of Alexa+, which first launched for a limited number of users in the US in late March.

Alexa+ has been developed using a new architecture that supports multiple large language models (LLMs), and it can engage in natural conversations in English instead of just responding to a specific set of voice commands. Amazon also said that Alexa+ has been trained to understand Canadian culture, and it also integrates with local services such as CBC and OpenTable.

“You will find Alexa+ is deeply attuned to Canadian culture – recognizing regional expressions, following Canadian sports teams, appreciating homegrown music and culture, and navigating distinctly Canadian topics. Ask about her favourite hockey team or musician, and you’ll discover Alexa+ feels right at home,” explained Allison Siperco, Alexa Canada Country Manager.

Alexa+ is free to try during the early access period, and it will be free with Amazon Prime once it officially launches. Non-Prime members will need to pay $19.99 US/$127.99 CAD per month to access it after early access, however. The original version of Alexa will remain available for free for people who don’t want to upgrade.

Alexa+ is currently available on a subset of Echo speakers and smart displays, including the brand new Echo Show 8, Echo Show 11, Echo Dot Max, and Echo Studio, which are designed for the next-gen assistant. Over time, Alexa+ will become available on most Echo devices, with support for Fire TV devices also coming in 2026. Early enthusiasts with eligible devices can sign up to get early access to Alexa+ for free on this page.