Amazon Alexa Guard Plus features, pricing: Dog barks and other ways the $5 subscription service promises to protect people’s home

People now live in a world of subscription-based services, and Amazon has just introduced its new offering to pair with its Echo speakers. The company just launched the Alexa Guard Plus that, as the name suggests, presents new ways to help a user’s home for $5 a month.

What is Alexa Guard Plus and how it’s different from Alexa Guard

Security is one of the most important aspects of owning a home, so it was not surprising that smart speaker makers like Amazon have considered that in developing new smart home devices over the last few years. Amazon introduced the Alexa Guard feature almost two years ago to add another layer of home security whenever people are away. This week, Amazon has improved that service with new features — locked behind a paywall — through the Alexa Guard Plus service.

Alexa-compatible speaker owners can still use a free version of Alexa Guard. It lets the smart speakers notify homeowners through the Alexa app when it “hears” glass breaking, smoke alarm, and carbon monoxide alarm sounds. The free Alexa Guard features also include the automatic switching on and off paired smart lights to make it seem like someone is home.

Alexa Guard Plus exclusive features for $5 a month; how to subscribe

The Alexa Guard Plus includes all the features above, along with new functions under the Away and Deter modes. One of the most significant additions in this paid service is the ability to call the Emergency Helpline hands-free. Upon setting up the Alexa Guard Plus subscription, users will be asked to input a “valid emergency address, a device with Alexa Communications, and a working phone number linked to the Alexa account. During a time of need, people inside the house can call for help by saying, “Alexa, call for help” or “Alexa, I need help.”

The Deter mode has also received new features through the Alexa Guard Plus. Homeowners can now set their Alexa-powered smart speakers to produce dog barking sounds and sirens when movement is detected inside. For these features to work, though, the speaker needs to be paired with other smart home devices that have motion sensors like lights and cameras. Alexa Guard Plus costs $4.99 a month or a one-time payment of $49 for an annual subscription.

Featured photo by Andres Urena on Unsplash