Amazon on Wednesday announced that its upgraded digital assistant, Alexa+, is now available to all users in the U.S., nearly a year after its initial relaunch.

Previously, Alexa+ had been in an “early access” phase since March, requiring users to join a waitlist or own newer devices to try out the generative AI-powered assistant.

The company describes Alexa+ as an enhanced version of its 11-year-old Alexa, capable of handling multiple queries simultaneously and acting as a virtual “agent” to perform tasks for users, such as booking a repair service or ordering an Uber.

Starting Wednesday, Amazon will charge $19.99 per month for access to Alexa+. However, the service remains free for Prime members, who pay $139 annually, and anyone can try it at no cost through the Alexa+ website and app.

Amazon noted that access to the free version of Alexa+ will be “limited based on use.”

Amazon’s vice president of Alexa and Echo,
Daniel Rausch, said in an interview that tens of millions of users are now engaging with Alexa+.

He noted that interaction with the assistant has grown across the board, with people holding two to three times more conversations than they did previously.

“Every week in a customer’s journey, engagement goes up, and that is really the sign of a hit product, basically,” Rausch said. “There are plenty of consumer electronic products where it goes up and comes right back down.”

Recently, Amazon has automatically upgraded certain Prime members to Alexa+, causing frustration for those who preferred the classic Alexa experience.

Users can switch back to the original version using a voice command.