Your Alexa-enabled device is a standout gateway into the world of smart home automation. Using voice commands and the intuitive Alexa companion app, Alexa owners can control web-connected devices like smart security cameras, door locks, and A/V hardware like the Amazon Fire Stick 4K Max. In addition to schedule management and other great features, did you know that Alexa is capable of many “skills” too?
- Alexa can recommend movies
- Alexa can give you medical advice
- Alexa can keep tabs on your credit card balance
- In the kitchen, Alexa can provide Instant Pot recipes too
- Alexa can help you eat healthier
- Alexa can find your phone
- Alexa can keep you updated on your favorite sports teams
- Alexa can read you a short bedtime story
- Alexa can read you customized news briefings
- Alexa can play your favorite music
- Alexa can learn cocktails and help you select a wine
- Alexa can call your friend in an emergency
- Alexa can let you listen to The Tonight Show
- Alexa can help you navigate the NYC Subway
- You can play games with Alexa
- Alexa can help kill boredom with a guided magical quest
- Alexa can tell you details about the weather
- Alexa can save you money on gas
- Alexa can start your car
- Alexa can walk you through a workout
- Calm your pets
- Alexa can remind you to take your medication
- Alexa can order from Domino’s and Pizza Hut
- Alexa can help pick you up when you’re feeling down
- Alexa can help you sleep
- Alexa can start your Xbox
- Alexa can help with homework
- Alexa can donate to charity on your behalf
- Find other skills
Alexa skills are small, free apps (though a few do have a subscription fee) you can download to add functionalities to your smart devices. You can install skills to use voice commands to call Lyft, get
As
Further reading
Alexa can recommend movies
If you’re stumped on what to watch this weekend, your
Alexa can give you medical advice
While major health concerns should always be handled by your doctor or emergency personnel, there’s nothing wrong with getting answers to some common medical questions at home. With the Mayo Clinic
Alexa can keep tabs on your credit card balance
Keeping tabs on your purchase history is key to maintaining those healthy bank accounts. Thankfully,
If you’re not an Amex cardholder, there’s also a version of this skill available to Capital One customers.
In the kitchen, Alexa can provide Instant Pot recipes too
Got an Instant Pot?
Alexa can help you eat healthier
Keeping track of your calories? Whether you’re trying to lose weight, gain weight, or just maintain a healthy weight, keeping tabs on your calorie intake can be really important. Do that easily with an
Alexa can find your phone
It’s easy to misplace your phone or have it slip out of your pocket into the depths of the couch. If someone else is home, your first instinct is likely to frantically ask them to call it. With its Where’sMyPhone skill,
Alexa can keep you updated on your favorite sports teams
Although it’s a default skill, you might not be aware that you can go into your settings via
Alexa can read you a short bedtime story
This one is for any parent who gets tired of reading the same bedtime stories over and over. You might not like the idea of a robot reading your child to sleep, but your kid will love it. The app also lets you customize the story to include your child’s name. Each of the stories clocks in at under a minute (and Alexa’s monotone reading voice is no substitute for yours), but it’s worth enabling if you ever need a rest for a night.
If you aren’t really a story type of person, you may be more interested in
Alexa can read you customized news briefings
We’re not referring to a specific skill, but rather the ability to customize the news you get every day. By default, asking
Alexa can play your favorite music
Want to listen to music, but don’t have speakers in the house? Your Alexa-enabled device functions as a music player, and once you register the device to your Amazon account, you’ll be able to play music from your Amazon Music library. Prefer to stream music from a service like Spotify? You can do that, too, and even use the Spotify app on your smartphone as a remote control. Like listening to some gentle, relaxing music while you fall asleep? You can ask
Alexa can learn cocktails and help you select a wine
The Mixologist skill gives you access to tons of incredible drink recipes. If you’re watching TV and see someone order an unfamiliar cocktail, or if you just don’t know what’s in your favorite mixed drink, the app will rattle off the ingredients for you. One great version of this skill is through Mixologist, which makes it particularly easy to search for a specific cocktail or find cocktails with a certain base.
Then there’s MySomm, which also lets you know what kind of wines pair best with what you’re having for dinner. If you tend to entertain and have a well-stocked liquor cabinet, you’ll be using this constantly. It’s worth noting that MySomm asks you to activate it by referring to it as “Wine Gal,” which means said company will probably make fun of you.
Alexa can call your friend in an emergency
Ask My Buddy is a helpful skill for anyone who might find themselves in a situation where they need help but can’t access their phone. It can call or text a specific contact (or all programmed contacts) quickly and easily in case of an emergency. It does not call 911 or other emergency services, however.
Alexa can let you listen to The Tonight Show
Even if you don’t watch the show religiously, this app is great for listening to the show’s opening monologue and a few choice bits. If you’re a Jimmy Fallon fan, it’s some nice, light entertainment to listen to while you’re brushing your teeth or cleaning up around the house.
Alexa can help you navigate the NYC Subway
There are a variety of skills for public transportation hubs similar to NYC Subway. Enabling these skills will allow
You can play games with Alexa
Got a geography buff in the house? There are plenty of
Alexa can help kill boredom with a guided magical quest
The Magic Door, one of the highest-rated
On the other hand, if you already have a good idea of what sort of adventures you like to go on, you may prefer the Skyrim Very Special Edition skill, which allows you to explore the Elder Scrolls game through an interactive (and tongue-in-cheek)
Alexa can tell you details about the weather
Alexa can save you money on gas
With the GasBuddy skill, you can use
Alexa can start your car
If you have the right model, a variety of vehicle brands have created
Alexa can walk you through a workout
Gym memberships and personal trainers don’t come cheap, but fortunately, you don’t need to shell out loads of cash to get in great shape. Your voice assistant
Calm your pets
2020 aside, we can’t really be with our pets all the time. But
Alexa can remind you to take your medication
Adding to
Alexa can order from Domino’s and Pizza Hut
Quality of the pizza notwithstanding, ordering food without stopping what you’re doing has never been easier. Both skills require you to set up a customer profile, but once you do,
Alexa can help pick you up when you’re feeling down
Got the blues? Need a spark of inspiration? Let
Alexa can help you sleep
Let’s take a moment to thank our tech for helping us get some shut-eye. With the Sleep and Relaxation Sounds skill, your Echo can play a peaceful roulette of slumber-inducing sounds, from thunderstorms and gentle rain to babbling brooks and steady heartbeats.
Alexa can start your Xbox
The demise of the Xbox Kinect has left many Xbox users unable to use voice commands on the Xbox. Thankfully
Alexa can help with homework
Alexa can donate to charity on your behalf
Feel like donating to charity?
Find other skills
Not a fan of any skills mentioned above? You can use Skill Finder to hunt down new skills or find anything that’s trending today. Simply enable the skill, then say, “
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