We guide you through the best Alexa skills for Echo Show devices and how to add them
The Echo Show has developed into an essential part of the Alexa line-up, and that’s not only thanks to the vast number of screen size options, but also to the range of great Echo Show skills that make use of those screens.
Whether you’ve got the more recent Echo Show 21 or Echo 15, the older Echo Show 15 or Show 10, the Show 5 or Show 8 or an older model, you can access visual skills that offer a range of different features – and best of all they are ones that screen-less Amazon Echo speakers don’t.
However, you’d also be forgiven for wondering exactly what skills work with your smart speaker with a display, and how to download Echo skills.
Don’t worry though, we’ve pulled together this specific list of the best Amazon Echo Show skills that make use of the screen.
How to add skills to Echo Show
Adding skills to your Echo Show (or Echo Spot) doesn’t actually differ too much from how you would install them on a regular Alexa speaker.
- Open the Alexa app
Open the Alexa app on your smartphone or tablet and tap on ‘More‘ in the bottom right corner.
- Find the Skill
The next thing you’ll need to do is tap on the ‘Skills & Games’ tile within the menu. You can then search for the Skill you want to add by tapping it in the search bar at the top.
- Enable the Skill
Last thing you need to do is enable the Skill you are trying to add. Tap on the Skill from the list and then select ‘Enable to use’. Keep in mind that some will require you to link your account from that service with your Alexa account.
Best Alexa apps and skills for Amazon Echo Show
Amazon Prime Video
You can watch TV shows and movies from Amazon Prime Video on your Amazon Echo Show and Spot, provided you have a Prime account.
To watch shows such as The Grand Tour and Bosch (surprisingly not a show about dishwashers) just say, “Alexa, play [name of show] on Amazon Prime Video.”
Netflix
Netflix is actually built into your Echo Show – you can access it simply by swiping down on the homescreen and tapping the Video icon, or by saying, “Alexa, launch Netflix.”
This gives you the opportunity to watch popular TV shows and big-budget movies like Project Power, The Irishman and Red Notice – all on a 8, 10, 15, or 21-inch screen, just as the director intended. The Echo Show 5 doesn’t support Netflix.
Calendars
OK, not an Alexa skill per se – but more useful than most on this list. You can connect and see your calendars on your Alexa screen.
Open the Alexa app to connect calendars from Microsoft, Gmail and Apple – among others.
- Tap ‘More‘.
- Go to ‘Settings‘.
- Scroll down to ‘Calendar‘.
- Tap on the ‘+‘ in the top right corner.
- Choose your calendar service and follow the instructions.
WikiHow
Sometimes you just want to learn how to do something, and you want some good instructions for how to do it. Enter the WikiHow skill, which will give you video walkthroughs on how to do pretty much anything.
All you have to do is say something like, “Alexa, ask wikiHow how to tie my shoes” and you’re off to the races.
Nest
A real win for smart home fans, you can say “Alexa, show my front door” to have that security camera feed displayed on the Echo Show or Echo Spot’s screen – obviously replace “front door” with the name of your Nest Cam.
This can turn your camera into a fantastic baby monitor, or just act as a seamless way of checking on what’s happening in different areas of the house.
Viewing security camera feeds on the Echo Show is also available if you own a device from another brand, too, with skills also present for Wyze and Amazon-owned Blink among many others.
Ring
Another top video smart home integration, you can ask “Alexa, show my Ring Doorbell” for a feed of what’s happening out front.
You don’t even have to wait for the chime – you can pull up the feed at any time. It’s very useful for screening time-wasting callers.
Good Housekeeping
A bustling skill with everything from recipes to advice on getting stains out of your soft furnishings, you can say things like, “Alexa, ask Good Housekeeping what I should make for dinner tonight.”
The screen helps with recipes, making it one of the better, well, housekeeping skills available. On;y problem here is that you’ll need to pay for a subscription.
Train your brain
You can get your fix of trivia with multiple quiz skills. You can try saying “Alexa, open Brain Training – Odd One Out” for a host of visual challenges, which get trickier the longer the game goes on.
It can also be used by up to 4 players. If that’s not enough, say “Alexa, enable Quick Fire Quiz“, which will fire trivia questions.
Stream Player
Say “Alexa, enable Stream Player” to get a host of off-the-wall video content from the likes of NASA, Bloomberg and CBS.
There are loads to watch and do – and certainly a great alternative to attempting to watch serious TV on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Escape the Room
Exceptionally highly rated, Escape the Room is a clue-based challenge where you have to get out of a locked room within the time limit. The latest update means you can access hints.
There are five levels to choose from, each ranging in difficulty. Start in the Jail Cell which is easiest (ironically) and make your way up to the car, which is hardest. Go figure, and say: “Alexa, enable Escape The Room“ to try it out.
Twitch
The Amazon-owned gaming streaming service obviously has a visual Alexa skill, which will help you follow your favorite players. You can link your accounts from within Twitch to be notified when one of your followed players logs on.
Alternatively, you can ask “Alexa, ask Twitch who’s playing [insert game]” or “Alexa, ask Twitch to suggest an IRL channel” to start streaming.
Jeopardy!
Jeopardy!, the Alexa skill of the popular game show, is one of the best on the Echo – and it offers a little more for users of Echo Show.
Users will get clues on the screen and see the questions, which makes it just a little easier to play than carefully listening to Alexa. To start, just say “Alexa, play Jeopardy”.
Food Network / Allrecipes / Recipedia
One of the most-used examples of why Alexa benefits from a screen is cooking – you can ask for a recipe and have it displayed in front of you.
To use any of the above services just ask, “Alexa, show me a recipe for [insert delicious dish]” and she’ll select one for you. If you’re particular about which service you like, you can say “Alexa, ask Allrecipes for a [insert food] recipe” and it’ll find one for you.
Reuters TV
The Flash Briefing has quickly become an essential piece of using Alexa daily, and Reuters TV is essential if you’ve got an Echo Spot or Show.
That’s because it’s built out of video clips that will give you a great video briefing of the top news of the day. All you have to do to get started is say “Alexa, what’s my Flash Briefing” Just make sure Reuters TV is set up to be a part of your flash briefing in the companion Alexa app.
Ambient Visuals
One of our favorite skills for normal Echos, the Ambient Visuals range offers relaxing vibes with some HD visuals as part of the package.
You can choose from Rainfall, Space Shuttle and Lightning Storm skills, among others. Just say “Alexa play Ambient Visuals [name of effect]” to get started.
Logo Quiz
The popular app game, but now with voice; it’s actually far better suited to Alexa than it is to the app.
You can shout out the names of the logos, rather than battling to spell company names correctly, ask for hints (you get three per game) or just pass.
The logos are shown on the screen of the Echo Show and Echo Spot.
Connect 4
Play against Alexa in a battle of wits, in which she’s more than a match. The app (open with “Alexa, enable Connect 4″) could be better, with serious repetition of the words “into which slot do you throw a disc” which sounds a little insane.
However, the game works well, quickly and Alexa is no walkover. It’s just a shame you can’t play two-player locally, and chuck Alexa out of the equation.
Animal Rescue
Once a winner of the Amazon Developers best kids skill for Echo Show, Animal Rescue puts children in charge of the development of a Panda cub.
The skill is much the same on Echo Show as on audio-only devices, but the screen adds pictures of the panda cub at different stages of development, which adds to the education aspect for kids.
Fish Tank
A moderately low-res screensaver for Echo Show and Echo Spot devices, Fish Tank puts some hyperactive swimmers on your screen – with some annoying bubbly sounds that you can’t get rid of.
Relaxing it is not, but it’ll probably keep kids/cats entertained.
