How to Get Amazon Echo to Play Music Without Amazon Prime

While many Echo owners enjoy the perks of an Amazon Prime subscription, others may want to explore free alternatives. Fortunately, there are several methods to play music on your Amazon Echo device without needing a Prime membership. This guide will help you leverage free music services and other options to enjoy your favorite tunes.

Free Music Streaming Services

There are multiple free music streaming services that integrate seamlessly with Amazon Echo, allowing you to play music without an Amazon Prime subscription. Here are a few popular options:

Spotify Free - You can link your Spotify Free account to your Echo device and ask Alexa to play music. Simply link your Spotify account in the Alexa app and you're good to go. Pandora - If you have a Pandora account, you can link it to your Echo and ask Alexa to play your stations. iHeartRadio - You can use iHeartRadio for free streaming and play specific stations or playlists. Just make sure to connect your iHeartRadio account in the Alexa app. Amazon Music Free - Amazon offers a free tier of Amazon Music that you can access without a Prime membership. Simply say 'Amazon Music' to play music from this service.

Bluetooth Connectivity

Another way to play music on your Amazon Echo is by connecting your smartphone or tablet to the device via Bluetooth. This allows you to control music from any app on your device. Simply connect your device to the Echo using Bluetooth and play music from your favorite app. You can then ask Alexa to play your desired track or playlist.

Other Music Apps

Many other music services can be used with Alexa, such as Apple Music or Deezer. However, these may require a subscription for full access. If you already have a subscription, you can continue using it. Otherwise, you may want to explore free alternatives as mentioned above.

Radio Stations

Radio stations are also a great option for streaming music on your Amazon Echo. You can ask Alexa to play specific radio stations or genres by saying, 'Alexa, play [station name] on TuneIn.' TuneIn has a vast library of radio stations and podcasts that you can access through your Echo.

Setting Up Free Music Services

To set up any of these services, you may need to link your accounts through the Alexa app on your smartphone. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Connect to your WiFi network. Open the Alexa app on your smartphone. Select music and podcasts from the settings menu under the more button. Choose a music streaming service such as Spotify, Pandora, or iHeartRadio that will play for free with commercials. Decide on the service you want to control different types of music searches. Confirm your selection and back out of the app. Ask Alexa to play music from the service you selected, a certain song, genre, artist, or album. It should work just fine.

Supported Streaming Music Services

As of my last update, the following on-demand music streaming services are supported in the US:

Amazon Music (both Prime Music and Unlimited) Apple Music Deezer Gimme iHeartRadio Pandora Sirius XM Spotify Tidal TuneIn VEVO

These services support voice commands for selecting individual songs and playlists. The radio services support voice commands for selecting stations.

By leveraging these free music services and other alternatives, you can enjoy music on your Amazon Echo without the need for a Prime membership. Experiment with different options to find the best fit for your listening preferences.