While Smart Home skills are what Alexa is known for, but do you know, there are tons of Alexa skills and tutorials that make it better than other AI-based smart devices. As the year 2019 ends, we have got you the top Alexa skills and capabilities that broadened the reach of artificial intelligence in human lives. Check out the list and try the ones you weren’t aware of until now:
Our Pick
Before you head to the list, we have pulled out five Alexa skills from the ones mentioned in this piece for your convenience. So, check out what are the best Alexa skills to help you through your use of a home-based AI.
- Spotify
- Quick Events
- Uber
- Big Sky
- YNAB
1. Finance
i). PayPal
If you ever have to make instant payments and you do not have the exact figures in your pockets, this Alexa skill would do the job for you. One of the top Alexa skills is that it allows users adding payment options. Via PayPal skill for Alexa, you can add your PayPal account to it. All you need to say is, “Alexa, pay $50 to Nancy”. Alexa would recognize the name of the Payee from your contact list and would send the amount you just asked her to transfer.
ii). YNAB [“Why Nab”]
An abbreviation for You Need A Budget, YNAB is an expense tracker and budget management platform. To operate YNAB, you need to create an account on the platform and link YNAB to Alexa. Alexa’s skill for YNAB would allow you to command Alexa to form a budget for your different kinds of expenses.
Now, just tell Alexa how much you’ve spent on your groceries and other daily necessities and luxuries. To check your budget and remaining balance, you can ask Alexa to do the same.
2. Productivity
i). Chop Chop
Improve your kitchen skills with this Alexa tutorial in just a matter of minutes. Why call it a tutorial? Well, any skill that is instructive in nature can be termed as an Alexa tutorial. So, Chop Chop is a step-by-step tutorial, which instructs users about perfectly chopping up veggies. Basically, if you ain’t any good in the kitchen, maybe this Alexa skill could help you.
ii). Word of the Day
Learn a new word every day, along with its meaning and uses in your language. Boost your vocab skills and make yourself more productive in your professional and even personal conversations using one of the top Alexa skills called Word of the Day. Just ask, “Alexa, what’s my flash briefing.”
3. Planner
i). Quick Events
Adding those daily tasks and reminders on Google Calendar surely is of help, but it’s equally irritating. Typing in plans and tasks can sometimes get you frustrated, or it is possible you even skip some in your tight schedule. To sort this out, you can use the easiest and the best Alexa command.
ii). Astrobot
Astrobot works on Alexa commands to scan through your essential emails on Gmail and Outlook. This is one of the best Alexa skills for professionals who wish to check and get someone to read their emails to them while they get ready for work.
Ask Alexa, “Read my emails,” and Alexa would begin reading them in order. You can direct Alexa to read mails from a specific category, for example, Priority Inbox only. One of the best Alexa commands in this skill is to read quick replies, which Alexa will automatically send to the sender’s email.
4. Fitness
i). Guided Meditations
Mediation is the key to a fresh start in the morning, and now Alexa wants to help you do the same. Using Guided Meditations, a top Alexa tutorial for fitness, you can go through a subtle streak of meditations early morning.
Ask Alexa, “Open Guided Meditations,” and then given an Alexa command to Play Next to continue the streak.
ii). 5-Minute Plank Workout
To all the fitness freaks, if you guys have it in you, then we have the best Alexa tutorial to get you in shape. The 5-Minute Plank is a timed workout routine, where Alexa guides you through five minutes of different plank styles. Alexa asks you to take a break and change postures in between. You can also play music while working out as well.
5. Weather
i). Big Sky
In this highly-reliable Alexa skill, ask Alexa to “Open Big Sky” and get the latest weather updates and receive weather forecasts. Of course, you’ll need to create an account on Big Sky before you use this Alexa skill. Besides, you can also receive Air Quality Info from the AQ index reports as well as set weather alerts to notify you of any significant weather forecast.
ii). Fast Weather
Fast Weather is an Alexa command-cum-skill which gives you direct forecast reports with lesser details. All you get is the high/low probability of what the weather condition would be in the next few hours. Just give a command to Alexa, “Alexa, fast weather.”
6. Food and Drinks
i). What Beer?
If you’re fond of having a beer with your favorite snacks, so you better know what beer goes best with your preferred meal. But you need to use this Alexa skill a bit cleverly, making your articulation while giving the command as easy as you can. For example, ask, “Alexa, what beer goes with Pizza.” Remember phrasing What Beer? Before you name your snack.
ii). Domino’s
Domino’s just struck my mind while discussing Pizza up there. Thanks to this top Alexa skill in the Food category. There are a few steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Create a profile on Domino’s website.
Step 2: Create an Easy Order.
Step 3: Link Domino’s profile to Alexa
Once you’ve gone through these three simple steps, you can always place your preferred easy order. Just say, “Alexa, open Domino’s and Place my Easy Order.” Your saved easy order will then be placed via your web profile. You can sign up for tracker notifications, where Alexa will keep updating you of your order status.
There are similar skills for Pizza Hut called Pizza Hut and Starbucks called Starbucks Reorder.
7. Travel
i). Uber
Manage your daily travels via this best Alexa skill for travel and book your Uber by asking Alexa. Just say, “Alexa, ask Uber to get me a car.” Alexa would confirm the type of car you need before proceeding to confirm the booking.
ii). Kayak
If you’re planning a future trip, plan it with Kayak. You can ask for flight prices, booking discounts, and other travel details. Say, “Alexa, ask Kayak…..” and place your question. Alexa would enquire for further information after which, a fair result of your query would be produced.
8. Entertainment
i). Valossa Movie Finder
In case you forget the name of some favorite movies you want to watch, you can use this entertainment Alexa skill. You need to ask, “Alexa, use Movie Finder….” and ask your query. For example, “Alexa, use Movie Finder to find the best war films.”
ii). Short Bedtime Story
Say, “Alexa, tell Bedtime Story” or “launch Bedtime Story.” Alexa will then help your little ones to go to a sound sleep. Alexa not only narrates these short stories but also allows you to customize character names within them. These customizations can be done through the companion website of the skill.
9. Podcasts
i). TED Talks
Ask Alexa, “Alexa, ask TED talk to play latest talk” or “Alexa, ask TED Talk to play talks about motivation.”
These Alexa commands would search and filter TED Talks of your choice from your profile and account on TED and play it. You can also search TED Talks by their titles and even by their speaker names. So, stay motivated and humorous with the best TED Talks available on the platform.
10. Quiz and Games
i). Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?
From Nickelodeon comes one of the best skills on Alexa, offering your family a great quiz time. Based on the quizzes from the TV game show of the same name, you can team up or go solo on quizzes with Alexa with your loved ones to pass the time.
Say, “Alexa, open Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader”. You can quit by just saying, “Quit.”
ii). Common Knowledge
Another quiz skill for Alexa, Common Knowledge is a general knowledge skill. It tests your basic knowledge by asking questions, the answers to which you should definitely be aware of. Let’s see whether you are or not,
11. Music
i). Spotify
ii). Prime Music
12. Bonus Skill
Skill Finder is an Alexa skill which, allows you to find other skills. To make more sense, using Skill Finder skill, you can basically ask Alexa to get you the best Alexa command, skill, or tutorial. Just say, “Alexa, open Skill Finder.”
These are the top Alexa skills that work best for your daily routines besides taking care of your home appliances. These skills are actual examples of how an AI home assistant works and that it is not just meant to take care of your switches.
These Alexa skills will ensure that you automate most of your routine tasks such as cab bookings and food orders. On the other hand, you can ask for random reports and entertainment suggestions to Alexa using the right skills.
