The 111 best free Amazon Echo features

What are skills?

Amazon skills are similar to the apps on a smartphone. Alexa is activated with skills that are activated at a later stage, which she does not bring with her. The range of functions of all Amazon Echo speakers and the language software Alexa installed on them can be expanded at any time. Accordingly, Alexa can fulfill more and more individual wishes over time. In addition, the skills also enable the control of lamps, thermostats and many other Alexa-compatible devices that do not come directly from Amazon.

Where can I find Alexa skills?

Amazon lists its Alexa skills on its own website in a section of the same name. But if you don’t want to bother in Alexa Skill Store Searching among thousands, sometimes very questionable, Alexa features for the desired function, also includes direct links to the respective download option on Amazon in our overview.

How do I activate Alexa skills?

Basically, all Alexa skills can be activated in the Amazon Skill Store or for the most part directly via Alexa voice command. While most Alexa skills are still free, Amazon announced the launch of in-app purchases for Alexa skills in late 2017 to increase sales. It is therefore foreseeable that more and more paid Alexa functions will be offered in the future. Donation opportunities in charity skills of aid organizations or service offers such as learning, lexicon and information skills would be conceivable. So that you don’t accidentally pay on it, we present the best free Alexa skills here.

1. Education & Reference Alexa Skills

  • Stain remover Alexa Skill: Not only saves mothers with toddlers the day. With the help of an extensive stain database, this skill helps to quickly erase any stain. For example, grass stains. For this it is sufficient, for. For example, to ask: “Alexa, ask stain remover how I can remove grass stains.” In addition, general cleaning tips can be found on the Stain remover skill be retrieved.

  • Translator Alexa Skill: Not quite as well known as that PONS Translate Skill is this here. In return, however, he received significantly better customer reviews. Nevertheless, the The interpreter Alexa Skill, like all Alexa skills in this area, sometimes faltering in whole sentences. Conclusion: Good solution for individual vocabulary or short sentences, but still not a perfect interpreter.

  • Basic law: All 146 articles of the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany have the same name Basic law skill in petto and can call them on call. Maybe not suitable for everyone, but still a good solution for further education.

  • Legal database: The provides even more useful information about law and order Legal database skill. It also provides information on the Code of Criminal Procedure (STPO), the Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO) and the Criminal Code (STGB).

  • Green thumb Alexa Skill: As the name suggests, it helps Green thumb skill for all questions and problems with plants of all kinds. So far the list includes almost only houseplants, but will soon be expanded. The skill can be started, for example, with the statement: “Alexa, start green thumb.”

  • Timetable skill: This skill was developed for stressed parents who ponder every day anew whether their darling should have their sports bag or their painting things with them today. On the Timetable skill several timetables can be created and verbally queried via Alexa. For example with the following voice command: “Alexa, ask the timetable what hours does Anna have on Monday?”

  • Wikipedia: To quickly fill spontaneous knowledge gaps, Alexa users can find out about the unofficial Wikipedia skill Simply have the appropriate articles read out.

Any number of Alexa skills can be used with any Echo device

(E HEALTH / health home & smart editorial team)

2. Utilities Alexa Skills

  • Waste Calendar Skill: Where there is planing, chips fall and those who work a lot also produce a lot of (paper) waste. But the popular one does not only ensure in the office Waste Calendar Skill to ensure that the garbage is always ready for collection on the street. The Amazon Echo can thus be ordered, for example: “Alexa, ask the waste calendar when the green bin will be picked up.”

  • Handy Finder: Anyone who misplaces their cell phone more often will have to in future thanks to that Handy Finder Skill no longer desperately looking for it. Instead, it is enough to activate this skill. For example, with one of the following two commands: “Alexa, start Handy Finder and call me” or “Alexa, ask Handy Finder what my PIN is.”

  • Calendar calculator: If you want to know when the next full moon is coming up or when the next school holidays begin, you can do that with Calendar days Alexa Skill well advised. He also knows many name days.

  • Black Werewolf Alexa Skill: This skill reveals when the next full moon will be seen. No matter whether you are a potential sleepwalker, poor sleeper or herb collector: the entertaining one Black werewolf skill keeps you up to date on the current “werewolf danger situation”. The higher this is, the shorter the time span until the next full moon. Just say to Alexa: “Alexa ask Black Werewolf about the danger.”

  • Random number generator Alexa Skill: Whether for the lottery ticket or the selection of a secure password, the Random number generator skill names numbers between 0 and 100 by default. If you want other ranges of numbers, you can simply define them with a voice command. For example, like this: “Alexa, say random number ‘give me a number from 100 to 200’.”

A language assistant can help forgetful people find their things

(britta60 / Adobe Stock)

3. Food & Drink Alexa Skills

  • Crispy baked goods thanks to baking witch: Cakes, rolls and other baked goods are made almost as irresistible as the gingerbread house in the fairy tale “Hansel and Gretel” with the help of the Back witch skills. For example, he is started with the voice command: “Alexa, ask Backhexe how to make a strudel.”

  • No beer before four: The delivers for all beer fans Beer facts skill useful, curious and funny information about barley juice even when you are not allowed to or do not want to drink beer. Whoever uses it will definitely become a real entertainer at the next party.

  • Chef: Regardless of whether it is about conjuring up something tasty from the last three remaining ingredients in the fridge or bringing a noble festive dish to the table: The Chef Skill has the right recipe for every occasion.

  • Barkeeper: Just the thing for the next party – the Bartender skill helps to find and prepare exactly the right drink or cocktail for every guest.

  • Nutella: Lovers of the well-known chocolate cream get through the Nutella skill 55 baking recipes including step-by-step instructions.

  • For the perfect steak with the right core temperature: The The perfect preparation of fish and meat requires a lot of practice and always poses tricky challenges for beginners in particular. With the Core temperature skill but they are on the safe side.

  • Seasonal calendar: If you want to eat healthy, you will learn about it Seasonal skill quickly and easily which types of fruit and vegetables are currently available in the area. In this way, long transport routes and often even costs can be saved.

4. Film & TV Alexa Skills

  • Bond films: If you think you already know everything about the famous agent with a license to kill, you can do that with Bond Movies Skill Review whether he is really right. Because in addition to performers, this exciting echo feature also lists quotes, direction, performers and much more. For example, it can be started with the command: “Alexa, ask Bond Films what year was the film Goldfinger released?” or “Alexa, ask Bond Movies what year was Martin Campbell directing?”

  • Television program about Get Alexa: For more general questions about television programs, however, is the TV program skill a good alternative. This can be used, for example, to query the current program on a station at a specific time or to start a consultation with the following statement: “Alexa, ask the television program for the recommendations for tonight.”

With the right Alexa skill, the evening program will be exciting

(iko / Adobe Stock)

  • Movie ticker: Many Alexa beginners use it Yellow Pages Cinema Skill, but have problems with the somewhat cumbersome operation. We therefore recommend that Cinema ticker, which was a little easier to use in our practical Review. It is easily started with the command: “Alexa, ask cinema tickers about all new releases.”

  • Streaming search engine: If you are looking for the next broadcast date of your favorite series, come with it JustWatch skill reach their destination particularly quickly.

  • Commissioner Falke as a personal crime scene expert: When is the next crime scene with my favorite commissioners? Crime scene viewers who want to find out about the next broadcast date of their favorite crime thriller are with the Commissioner Falcon Skill best advice. After all, he has all of the current crime scene consequences in his sights, from the first to ARD, NDR, WDR and RBB. The skill can be activated, for example, with the voice command: “Alexa, ask Commissioner Falke if the crime scene is running today”

5. Health & Fitness Alexa Skills

  • 7 minute workout: If you don’t just want to listen to sports news, but also want to get fitter and reduce stress yourself, you can use the Gymondo workout Perform twelve exercises in just seven minutes under instruction.

  • Trainer without mercy: Nice sayings were yesterday, from today he delivers Sport motivator skill tough comments to scare the inner bastard. Entertaining, but not for the faint of heart. So if it is difficult to get up again, just say to your echo: “Alexa, ask the inner bastard if I should do sports?”

  • Fitbit skill for athletes (and those who want to become one): What could be nicer than enjoying your own performance after a strenuous sport session? So that this is even more measurable, there is the Fitbit skill for all trackers of the brand of the same name. It can be used to ask, for example: “Alexa, ask Fitbit how I slept last night.”

  • Relaxation through music: Are you rushed, annoyed or stressed? The “Spanish guitar will bring you peace,” at least that’s what the skill provider promises Relaxing sounds. If you want to try out the effects of this amazingly popular skill for yourself, all you have to do is say: “Alexa, start your Spanish guitar.”

  • Natural sleep sounds: If the “Spanish guitar” gets on your nerves after only a few minutes, you may find it at the provider of the Falling asleep finally rest. Because this skill can mimic rain showers, ocean waves, a fireplace, a stream, frogs, birds and even a thunderstorm, a train or an airplane. It is activated with the command: “Alexa, play (… e.g. rain showers) from falling asleep.”

  • Brain jogging Alexa Skill: The promises two training methods with up to five levels of difficulty Brain jogging skill. For example, Alexa mentions an arithmetic task with a result and the user must use “yes” or “no” to determine whether the solution is correct. If you want to use the skill, just remember the following sentence: “Alexa, start brain jogging”

  • Brushing teeth with voice assistant: Teaching children to brush their teeth is sometimes a great Review of patience. Therefore the Brush your teeth Skill Give the whole family more fun with dental hygiene by starting a random song. You just have to say to Alexa “Alexa, start brushing your teeth” and off you go.

6. health home Services Alexa Skills

  • Handy Finder: It was just there just now … Scrapped contemporaries can be happy because Alexa can help them find their smartphone. In order for it to work, however, the Handy Finder Skill activated in the Alexa app, a specified phone number called and a PIN entered.

  • Tell my husband: If your spouse is not listening again, women can let Alexa do what they want. Alternatively to Tell my husband skill by the way there is also the Tell my wife and tell my child … skill.

7. Children’s skills

  • Tickle Monster: With the phrase “” Alexa, it’s time to tickle ” Tickle Monster Skill brought to life, which should provide lots of fun, especially for families with kindergarten children.

  • Bibi Blocksberg: Fans of the famous little witch can thanks to Bibi’s world skill Get exciting witches sayings, quizzes and much more via Alexa.

  • Little Red Riding Hood skill varies fairy tales: And they lived happily ever after. Most fairy tales end like this and we already know them inside out. For more excitement, the Little Red Riding Hood skill to care. Because the interactive design enables a change in history. How this works in concrete terms can be found here: Little Red Riding Hood Alexa Skill tells fairy tales with a variable outcome.

  • 1,2 or 3 ?: With this skill, as the name suggests, all players have the choice between three different answer options. Each question may consider every 30 seconds. It ends after nine rounds 1,2 or 3 game.

  • The three ???: The popular The Three ??? Skill is also interactive, who was able to inspire many other testers besides us.

8. Communication skills

  • Consolation donor: Whenever something goes wrong in life, Amazon’s language assistant is happy to listen and, if desired, can help with good advice – for example on the Consolation Skill by Pintarweb, which should also encourage thought. For people who really deserve a lesson, there is an ironic one Round pity skill.

When there is no helping hand, Alexa is happy to comfort us

(Jenny Sturm / Adobe Stock)

9. Lifestyle Alexa Skills

  • Advent Calendar: The interactive Alexa Skill ensures that the waiting time until the presents are not quite as long Hello Advent for a lot of variety. For example with competitions, poems, music or a suggestion for a good deed.

  • Picture yours Alexa Skill: So far, the Bild Zeitung has been able to convince its readers primarily through large-format images. Now verbal brief information should entertain and inform the listener. The IMAGE skill covers topics from sports to politics to celebrity news. The skill is started automatically after the question: “Alexa, what are the messages?”

  • Gala Alexa Skill: The publishers of the gala have also recognized the trend towards Alexa use and have launched their own skill. The Gala skill includes a celebrity quiz that tests your own knowledge of gossip. It is started with the command: “Alexa, open GALA.”

Always get the latest trends and rumors via the GALA skill

(master1305 / Adobe Stock)

  • Confucius says … He always has a white saying Confucius says skill ready, which will not only elicit a smile from supporters of Far Eastern cultures and sometimes even inspire philosophizing. Would you like an example? “You can’t get a gem shiny without rubbing it.”

  • Wisdom for every situation: He delivers the right saying for every situation Wise Helge Skill. With the request “Alexa, start Weiser Helge and enlighten me”, one of 456 inspiring wisdoms can be called up.

  • Yoga: With the VGH yoga time skill Everyone can call up 16 free exercise series from their homes, comfortably and flexibly. This echo feature is started e.g. B. via the voice command: “Alexa, say yoga time that I want to practice fifteen minutes!”

  • VEGANE facts: In the meantime there is hardly a circle of friends without at least one vegetarian or vegan. With the VEGANE facts skill meat fans can now learn interesting facts about vegan nutrition and score points at the next cooking event.

10. Local & Regional Alexa Skills

  • Cityguide Karlsruhe Alexa Skill: As the Karlsruhe editorial team, we are proud that Alexa also wants to convey the advantages of our city to outsiders. The Cityguide Karlsruhe Skill offers information on art and culture, as well as tips for nature trips around Karlsruhe. It can be started, for example: “Alexa ask Cityguide Karlsruhe for the top sights.

  • Query cinema program for Bonn: Although this is an unofficial skill that was not commissioned by Woki or CineVision Filmtheater GmbH, it is still very practical to find out about the current cinema program. You can also use the Cinema program Bonn Skill the seasons of the blockbusters currently running are queried. For example, like this: “Alexa, ask Kino Bonn what is going on in the cinema on Thursday evening.”

  • Practical for students in Aachen: Depending on your taste, various canteens in Aachen can be selected and their menus can be read out according to date or dish. So far, the Cafeteria Aachen Skill the Academica, Vita and Ahorn dining halls. Hungry Alexa owners can, for example, ask their voice assistant: “Alexa, ask Mensa Aachen what is there in the Academica as burger of the day …

11. Music & Audio Alexa Skills

  • Donnerwetter, Alexa !: Thunderstorm in the endless loop? Sounds strange at first, but can be very calming. Especially if, like in this case, it is a “gentle” thunderstorm. The Nature Sounds Thunder Skill is therefore particularly suitable for people who find it difficult to concentrate in a restless environment. They find peace with the admittedly somewhat ambiguous command: “Alexa, start thunderstorm.”

  • MTV Top Ten: Uses information from mtv.com to name the top ten of the current German single charts. The German charts skill is therefore a good solution for everyone who always wants to be up to date. You can get current music with the Alexa command, among other things: “Alexa ask German charts for the top ten.”

  • loud.fm Alexa Skill: This skill enables you to listen to several thousand user-generated radio stations. Alexa only needs the specification of a music style and then hits over the loud.fm skill suitable music. It is of course also possible to select a specific station. For example with the voice command: “Alexa, play rock music from laut.fm”

  • BAYERN 3: For real fans, of course, not just any station is possible and therefore there is one for your own BAVARIA 3 skill.

The favorite music can now be controlled by voice command

(olly / Adobe Stock)

12. News and Alexa News Skills

  • Deutschlandfunk: Every hour the Deutschlandfunk-Nachrichten skill Top topics for everyone who doesn’t want to miss any news. The special thing about it: Here you can hear the real, human voices of the radio moderators.

  • Start-up scene Alexa Skill: Creative minds develop new ideas for business, sport and politics day and night. So that they get proper attention, the Startup scene skill including a daily summary. This can also be found out with the same question about the news or the daily summary.

  • Daily news in 100 seconds: With Alexa, busy people only have to interrupt their work for 100 seconds because the Tagesschill Skill provides information quickly and compactly.

  • Sports show in 100 seconds: In addition to the Tagesschau Skill, the Erste Fußballfans also offers one Sports Show Skill.

  • ZDFheute Xpress: The rapporteurs of the ZDF Today’s Xpress Skills, which Alexa can use to call up news on politics, business and sport on demand.

  • Smart health home News: Also the You can simply have the latest health home & smart news read out to you by Alexa. Our Smart health home news Skill extends your Alexa summary of the day with 5 news about smart health home, IoT and electromobility. In the following ehealth we reveal how the skill is installed.

Note: All activated message skills are read out by Alexa one after the other in the daily summary.

13. Novelties & Humor Alexa Skills

  • Akinator: Who previously believed to be opaque will be from Akinator skill disabused. Because with just a few questions, he knows exactly who we were thinking of.

  • Alternative facts ?: The developers of the have a good dose of humor Powerful aluminum hat Skills prompted her database to be fed with strange conspiracy theories of all kinds. Suitable for anyone who always wanted to know the real truth behind the alternative facts. They get enlightened with the statement: “Alexa ask mighty aluminum hat for the truth.”

  • Only Chuck Norris makes funnier sayings: Not only real Chuck Norris fans will love these quick-witted sayings. The Chuck Norris fan jokes skill ensures that there is always something to talk about at the next film evening. It starts with the command: “Alexa, start Chuck Norris fan jokes.”

  • Comedy timer: Classic alarm clocks usually have a boring to annoying effect. Not this one. Because the Tick-tack comedy timer makes funny celebrity quotes after the given time.

Alexa also has a lot to talk about in the Freundeskreis

(ivanko80 / Adobe Stock)

14. Productivity Alexa Skills

  • Ego Booster: “You really have something on the box. I’m constantly impressed.” We hear these and similar sayings from Alexa when we ask them Ego booster to start.

  • Daily Challenge Alexa Skill: For everyone who is not yet busy with work and private life or who is looking for new challenges Daily Challenge Skill recommended. It brings a breath of fresh air to everyday routine and motivates you to do more with yourself through unusual challenges. The daily challenge can be activated with the request: “Alexa, open Daily Challenge.”

  • Plant care: Who has no green thumb and z. B. likes to forget his plants in stressful everyday office life, receives from myPlant skill Support. Because it remembers exactly when the last time was poured.

15. Travel & Transport Skills

  • Public transportation: During the BVG skill With its information on Berlin’s transport companies, it has so far only been able to score with a few users. Posted the Deutsche Bahn Skill already significantly more positive customer reviews for themselves. In addition, the Deutsche Bahn turns with its Call a bike skill to all environmentally conscious travel fans who want to explore their destination without emissions.

  • Order a rental car via Alexa: Sometimes a mobile pedestal just has to be made very quickly. In such cases, Amazon’s voice assistant can be contacted through the Sixt car rental skill Book a cheap rental car as a replacement for an accident vehicle or order a classy Mercedes-Benz, BMW or Audi for special occasions. It can then be picked up at one of the more than 4000 Sixt rental locations.

  • Fuel prices: After depositing their preferred petrol stations, drivers can use the Fuel prices skill Ask Alexa anytime where is the cheapest fuel.

16. Shopping Alexa Skills

  • Shopping list for the whole family: Paper shopping lists are definitely out of date. Nowadays, all necessary food can be used with the Bring! Skill stored online and accessed by the whole family at any time via smartphone. This way, you will never again buy anything twice. For example, you can get an overview of foods that have already been listed with the voice command: “Alexa, ask Bring! What’s on my list.”

  • Bio scanner: He promises more quality of life through better nutrition Bio skill. On request, he lists organic shops and their special offers in the area. It also provides other facts and helpful information for a healthy, environmentally conscious life. For example, it can be started like this: “Alexa, ask Bio for organic shops in Hamburg.”

  • BOOK A TIGER: At ‘Book A TIGER‘Fortunately, you don’t have to reckon with an animal mess or animal smell – on the contrary: this skill can be used to book professional cleaning staff or to manage cleaning plans.

  • Shopping Sundays: If you just can’t get enough of shopping, you can use the Echo feature shopping Sundays to activate and query regional dates for the next four months.

Thanks to Alexa, there is always shopping time, even on Sundays

(Dmitrieva Daria / Adobe Stock)

17. Smart health home Alexa Skills

  • ioBroker Smart health home: ioBroker is an integration platform with which smart health home products from different manufacturers can be operated uniformly. With the ioBroker skill smart health home control becomes even easier. For example, the following is also possible: “Alexa, raise the kitchen temperature by 4 degrees.”

  • homee health home automation: The intelligent control cubes of the homee Smart health home solution are available in different versions with different radio standards and can be combined with each other. By activating the homee skills floor lamps, shutters, thermostats and much more can also be controlled by voice.

  • IKEA TRADFRI: There is hardly a modern household that does not have at least one IKEA product. The Swedish furniture giant has now started to conquer the smart health home with the TRADFRI lamp series. Who likes TRADFRI lamps besides that IKEA skill even control with a homekit or Google health home.

  • Night light Alexa Skill: Having to go to the toilet in the middle of the night is uncomfortable enough, but full lighting only really wakes you up. That is why there is now the night light skill that lights up the Amazon Echo, depending on your needs, for up to 90 seconds. This can be activated Night light for example with the following sentence: “Alexa, say night light for 40 seconds.”

Thanks to Smart health home components, the lighting automatically adjusts to the time of day

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  • openHAB: The open health home Automation Bus (openHAB) project is a universal integration platform for health home automation. The primary goal of the project is the manufacturer-independent smart health home control. OpenHAB supports: KNX, Modbus, DMX, Philips Hue, PLCBus, Sonos, Plugwise, IHC / Elko, Homematic and Samsung TV. These technologies, even if they are not Alexa-compatible, can be accessed via the openHAB skill controlled with Amazon’s voice assistant.

  • Symcon skill: This skill is predestined for the owners of Symcom components and can, for example, carry out the following order: “Alexa, dim the ceiling lamp to 60 percent.” Who doesn’t Symcom Having a system doesn’t have to be sad, a large number of other smart health home manufacturers now offer their own skills.

  • Robot vacuum: With a networked cleaning professional like Roomba or Kobold VR200, we never have to get up again and go to the cupboard to find the vacuum cleaner if something falls down. The one-time activation of the iRobot-, Neato- or Leprechaun Cleaning Skills is enough to be able to use voice control.

18. Social networks Alexa skills

  • My birthdays: A forgotten day of honor can quickly become an embarrassing blunder. So that the mother-in-law has no reason to be caught, there is my birthdays skillwho keeps an eye on all important data. If you are wondering whether you should quickly buy a gift for your sweetheart or have three days left, you can simply say: “Alexa, ask my birthdays: who will have their next birthday?”

  • Boredom killer: Godmothers, grandparents and especially parents who have had to bridge a rainy weekend with young children know how difficult it can be to think up new jobs spontaneously. The Boredom killer, as soon as someone desperately exclaims: “Alexa, tell Boredom Killer that we are bored.”

  • Declaration of love: Alexa gives it to everyone who finds it difficult to talk about their feelings Declaration of love skill Help.

19. Games, Quizzes and Co. Alexa Skills

  • My mission (detective game): We don’t all dream a little of accomplishing heroic deeds? With the My job skill After all, as a master detective, you can solve a few tricky puzzles. However, if you take the risk with the statement “Alexa, open my order” to tackle a case, you have to pay attention to every detail in order to reach your goal.

  • Trip to Jerusalem: The trip to Jerusalem is a children’s birthday classic, in which all players have to quickly find a chair as soon as the music is stopped. Those who are too slow are out of the game. The Journey to Jerusalem Skill can not only start and stop the music necessary for the game, but also includes some surprising additional functions. The journey begins with the following sentence: “Alexa, start the journey to Jerusalem.”

Alexa can even take on child employment

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  • Take a virtual walk: Running around outside is not for everyone, but with that My walk skill also no longer absolutely necessary. Because these are voice-controlled adventure games for Amazon Echo. All details about the virtual excursions can be found here: Alexa Skill My Walk.

AB SMART HEALTH health home & BUILDING REVIEW