Amazon’s Alexa is a powerful tool, and we think it’s the best way for seniors and the non technical to get online, especially as you can make free calls with Alexa. You can read our full guide to the best devices for seniors here.
One of the great advantages of Alexa is the ability to make free calls.
If you have an Echo, Echo Dot or any Echo, you can make free voice calls. And if you own any version of the Echo Show, you can make video calls, too.
You can also receive and make calls via the Alexa app on your smartphone, getting free calls without an Alexa device.
How to make a free voice or video call using Alexa on your phone
We’ve put together a guide to making free calls
- Open the Alexa App
If you don’t have it, it’s a free download for the iPhone here and Android phones here. Remember, you’ll only be able to call people who are in your contacts list, and also have an Echo or the Alexa app installed on their phone
- Get to the communications section of the app
Tap the speech bubble on the left side of the bottom toolbar to do this
- Set up your contacts
First, tap the Contacts icon in the top right corner. You may be asked for permission to access your Contacts, if so choose allow if you want to make calls.
- Choose who you want to call
Search and tap any contact to see that person’s information. Like your phone’s standard contact section, you’ll see different numbers you have saved for each contact and the options for reaching them.
How to make a voice call using Alexa on your Echo Dot speaker
This is really simple – just say “Alexa, call [contact name].”
Alexa will confirm that it correctly understood the contact’s name, telling you what it heard, and then start the call. I
f you have an Echo or a Dot, the light ring at the top will pulse green while the call is active, and on a show there’s a pulsing light at the bottom of the screen.
How to make a video call using Alexa on your Echo Show
Say “Alexa, call [contact name]” near your Echo Show and it will automatically start a video call. As with a Dot, Alexa will confirm that it correctly understood the contact’s name, telling you what it heard, and then start the call.
You can, also turn off video at any point by saying “video off” after the call has started, or by tapping the video button on the screen. There’s also a physical lens cover on the show if you ant to be certain you aren’t sending video.
How to end a call with Alexa
To end a call, just say “Alexa, end call” or “Alexa, hang up.”
On an Echo Show, you can also tap the Hang Up button at the bottom of the screen.
