What Is Alexa Skills Charge? A Detailed Overview
Alexa is a voice assistant to help you perform various tasks. But do you know this device also accesses a third-party service called “skills”?
What is Alexa skills charge?
I will share with you more details related to this feature.
Let’s dig into this informative article to explore everything!
What Is Alexa Skills Charge?
Alexa skills charge is a service that the developers use to charge users for their Alexa skills.
Some are free. Yet, others require you to pay before using them.
One example of free skills is Spotify on Alexa.
You can freely play music on Spotify! Read until the end to learn more about this service!
What Do Alexa Skills Cost?
The cost of these skills varies.
For instance, some only require a one-time payment.
Yet, you must pay for a subscription to use all features.
Moreover, the Alexa app will prompt you to authorize the payment when you enable a skill requiring a charge.
After you’ve completed the payment, you can use the skill whenever you desire until the subscription expires.
Some skills may provide in-skill purchases.
It allows you to unlock additional content or features.
Free Alexa Skills
Currently, Alexa comes with over 100,000 skills, but you must pay a fee for some.
If you are searching for top free skills on this smart home device, check the list!
#1. Weather
This skill offers accurate forecasts from trusted sources.
You can ask it for details about:
- High & low temperature
- Current temperature
- Precipitation: snow, rain
- Pollen
- Severe weather
- Weekend weather
- Privacy
You can use the command below:
- “Alexa, open the weather channel.”
- “Alexa, ask the weather channel what’s the weather.”
- “Alexa, ask the weather channel for the pollen level outside.”
#2. News
You can easily access the latest news from NPR with your Alexa.
You can use the command below:
- “Alexa, play NPR.”
- “Alexa, play the news from NPR.”
#3. Online shopping
This smart device will guide you in online shopping.
You can make a shopping list and add items to your cart on Amazon.
You can use the command below:
- “Alexa, add toilet paper to my shopping list.”
- “Alexa, add shampoo to my cart.”
- “Alexa, are there eggs on my shopping list?”
#4. Fitness
The skill guides you on six sets of 5-minute planks.
You can use the command below:
- “Alexa, start the 5-minute plank.”
- “Alexa, ask for a 5-minute plank to start.”
- “Alexa, open the 5-minute plank.”
#5. Security
This skill alerts you about what happens in your home when you are away.
After activating the subscription for Guard Plus, you can say the command:
- “Alexa, call for help.”
- “Alexa, I need help.”
#6. Audiobooks
With the Audible skill, you can access numerous free podcasts.
Use the command below:
- “Alexa, play [name of podcast] on Audible.”
- “Alexa, play the latest episode of [name of podcast] on Audible.”
- “Alexa, resume [name of podcast] on Audible.”
#7. Music
After paying for the Amazon Prime Music skill, you can access over two million songs.
#8. Bedtime stories
This skill lets you listen to a bedtime story customized to your child’s name.
Here are the commands to use
- “Alexa, tell the BedTime Story to [name of your child].”
- “Alexa, launch Bedtime Story.”
- “Alexa, ask Bedtime Story to [name of your child].”
Alexa In-Skill Purchases
Some Alexa skills offer added features or content through subscriptions or purchases.
In-skill purchases have different types, as shown below.
One-time Purchase
It can allow you to unlock content or features with a skill, such as
- Themed game packs
- Bonus levels
- Additional accessories
This in-skill purchase type is available on any Alexa device linked to your online account.
Consumable
This type will be depleted after a specific usage time.
Yet, you can purchase it again whenever you want.
If you opt for this in-skill type, you will get the following additional features, including
- Extra lives
- Game currency
- Game hints
Subscription
This category will periodically charge for scheduled add-ons or content.
It can offer the features below
- Podcasts
- News/Magazine subscriptions
- Premium features/content
In-skill purchases
How Do I Cancel Alexa Skills Charge?
If you want to cancel the Alexa skills charge, check the methods below to complete your task efficiently!
On iPhone/iPad
- Open the Alexa app.
- Tap your name.
- Click “Subscriptions”.
- Select the skills you desire to review.
- Tap Cancel.
On Android Devices
- Open Google Play Store on your device.
- Tap Menu and select “Subscriptions.”
- Choose the skill you want to cancel.
- Tap “Cancel Subscription.”
On A Mac Computer
- Open Mac App Store.
- Click on your name.
- Select “View Information.” Sign in to the app if it asks you to do so.
- Scroll down until you notice the “Subscriptions” section.
- Click “Manage.”
- Select “Edit” next to the skill you want to cancel.
- Click “Cancel Subscription.”
On Paypal
- Visit the website www.paypal.com
- Select “Settings”.
- Click “Payments.”
- Choose “Manage Automatic Payments” under the Automatic Payments section.
- The dashboard will show you a merchant list you have subscribed to. Tap “RTA Apps Ltd” or “Skills for Amazon Alexa App” to cancel the skill.
Guides on canceling skills charge
FAQs
How Much Is Alexa Monthly?
This smart home device does not require any monthly subscription payment.
Yet, you must pay for the subscription for additional features.
Does Alexa Charge For Phone Calls?
The good news is no! You can make a phone call to others for free.
Will Alexa Charge Me For Music?
The short answer is No! You can listen to music on Alexa without spending a dime.
However, you must subscribe to a premium service to access advanced features.
For example, you must pay $9.99 monthly for Amazon Music Unlimited.
How Do I Pay My Alexa Subscription?
You can pay your Alexa subscription with the following methods:
- Through the Amazon Website
- Through the Alexa App
- Through Voice Commands
Final Thoughts
Alexa Skills Charge is a feature that allows developers to charge you for their Alexa skills.
Some are free, while others require payment for extra content.
Paid skills often provide unique and valuable services unavailable elsewhere.
Hopefully, this article provides every detail you need about this service.
Thanks for reading!
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Home Automation Expert
David
Hi! I’m David — a writer, blogger, and proud owner of Smarterve. I’ve been using smart home gadgets and in the home industry for about a decade. I love to solve problems, give suggestions, and create ease for people to enjoy life. This blog is where I can share tips and provide solutions to everyone using smart gadgets.
Great article! I appreciate the detailed breakdown of Alexa Skills Charge.
thanks.
I found the explanation quite informative, but it would be beneficial to include some real-life examples or case studies to illustrate the impact of Alexa Skills Charge on different users. This could add a practical dimension to your already comprehensive overview.
Well, it could be done. Thanks for the suggestion.
The article touched upon the causes and fixes, but it would be helpful to know if Amazon provides any official support or guidelines for developers facing challenges with Alexa Skills Charge. Including such information might make the troubleshooting process smoother for your readers.
They should, plz contact with the officials for better clarification