# Amazon Alexa review, pricing and alternatives

Source: https://listme.name/software/amazon-alexa
Website: https://alexa.amazon.com/

Amazon's voice assistant app for smart home control

The Amazon Alexa app is Amazon's companion app for Echo devices, smart home control and voice assistant features. The Echo Hub control panel adds a built-in smart home hub, and Alexa+ is free with Amazon Prime.

The Alexa app pairs Echo speakers and displays with smart home devices, and Echo Hub is a wall-mounted control panel that works as a built-in smart home hub for WiFi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Matter, Sidewalk and Thread devices. Alexa can control lights, locks and thermostats by voice, and the newer Alexa+ assistant is also available on the web at alexa.com.

The app is free with in-app purchases, and Prime members get Alexa+ at no extra cost, while some content and services need separate subscriptions. Device control depends on an Amazon account and Amazon's cloud services, which makes it less suited to fully local automation than the hub platforms in this ranking.

- Free plan, paid upgrades | iOS, Android, Web
- Price: App is free with in-app purchases; Alexa+ is free with Prime
- Checked: 2026-10-10

## Strengths

- Matter, Zigbee and Thread support through Echo Hub
- Free app with broad device support
- Alexa+ included with Prime

## Limits

- Depends on Amazon's cloud services and account
- Less suited to local-only automation than hub platforms

## Rankings

- #10 of 11 in [best Home automation platforms](https://listme.name/best/home-automation-platforms), score 80.5: The Alexa app is free, Echo Hub is a built-in hub for Matter and Zigbee devices, and Alexa+ is free with Prime. Control depends on Amazon's cloud and account, so it ranks below the local platforms.

## Alternatives

- [Home Assistant](https://listme.name/software/home-assistant), score 95.0
- [Homey](https://listme.name/software/homey), score 92.5
- [Hubitat Elevation](https://listme.name/software/hubitat), score 90.5
- [openHAB](https://listme.name/software/openhab), score 89.0
- [ioBroker](https://listme.name/software/iobroker), score 87.5
- [Apple Home](https://listme.name/software/apple-home), score 86.5
- [Domoticz](https://listme.name/software/domoticz), score 84.5
- [Samsung SmartThings](https://listme.name/software/smartthings), score 83.0