9 Best Answering Services in 2025 (With Prices Revealed)

Your phone is ringing, and you need help answering it. Sounds simple enough, until you start comparing answering services and discover just how complicated this decision can get. There are dozens of providers, complex pricing models, and endless feature lists to compare.

Here's the thing: we run an answering service ourselves. But we also know we're not the perfect fit for everyone. Your needs might align perfectly with our service. Or you might be better off with one of our competitors.

That's exactly why we created this guide. We've broken down the key players in the market, analyzed their strengths and weaknesses, and laid out the factors that actually matter when making your choice:


• Are you looking for basic message-taking or full front-desk replacement?
• Is your priority cost savings or caller experience?
• Do you prefer per-minute pricing or per-call pricing?


Think of this as your honest field guide to answering services. We'll show you what each provider does well, where they fall short, and help you make the choice that's right for your business—whether that's with us or someone else.

Ready to find your perfect match? Let's dive in.

Upfirst

Base price: $24.95 for 30 calls
Free trial? Yes, 14-day free trial

Upfirst is an AI-powered virtual receptionist that makes 24/7 answering affordable for any sized business. 

Deep dive
Upfirst is an AI-powered virtual receptionist founded by Gene Sigalov and Felix Dubinsky, the team behind SimpleTexting. The idea came out of Sigalov’s experience running a law firm and paying high fees for basic message-taking. Upfirst aims to offer a lower-cost alternative that’s available 24/7.

The system uses AI to answer calls, collect information, and provide summaries. It can route calls to specific departments or people, if you desire. The voices are designed to sound natural. Spam calls aren’t counted toward usage, and users can test the experience from their own number without being charged.

Upfirst integrates with other software via Zapier. It doesn’t currently support inbound text messaging, though outbound texts are possible in some workflows.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use, designed for non-technical users
• Extremely affordable compared to traditional answering services
• Keep your existing phone number
• Speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish
• All features included, even at lowest plan

Cons:

• No ability to receive text messages, yet (though it can send texts)
• Not a good fit if you’re not open to AI

Pricing
‍Upfirst’s pricing is based on the number of calls you place. You do not get charged for spam or phone test calls that you place using the phone number you signed up with. 

Upfirst’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• $24.95 for 30 calls ($1.50 per additional call)
• $59.95 for 90 calls ($1 per additional call)
• $159.95/month for 300 calls ($.75 per additional call)
• Customer plans available for 300+ calls per month

Ruby

Base price: $245/month for 50 minutes
Free trial? No, but there is a 21-day money-back guarantee

Ruby offers a premium virtual receptionist service that, while pricey, can effectively handle front-line communications for small businesses. Consider it if maintaining a professional image is crucial for your business and you have the budget to support the investment.

Deep dive
‍Ruby provides 24/7 virtual receptionist and live chat services for small businesses, with plans ranging from 50 minutes ($245/month) to 500 minutes ($1,695/month). Their US-based receptionists handle call screening, message taking, and basic appointment scheduling.

Reviews consistently highlight that Ruby's service quality varies significantly between receptionists. While some staff provide excellent service, others struggle with following detailed instructions or collecting complete caller information. The service works best for businesses needing simple call handling - either forwarding all calls or taking basic messages. However, companies requiring complex rans or specific handling instructions often report inconsistencies.

Pros:

• 24/7 US-based receptionists handle calls and chats
• Mobile app for managing calls and messages
• Filters out spam and marketing calls
• Both standalone virtual receptionist and live chat options available
• 21-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• Per-minute pricing rounded up from 30-second increments can lead to unexpectedly large bills
• Setup and onboarding process could be improved according to reviews
• Technical issues with integrations and apps reported by some users

Pricing
‍Ruby offers three virtual receptionist plans ranging from 50 minutes to 500 minutes, with a mid-tier 200-minute plan at $705/month marked as their most popular option. They also offer bundled plans that combine virtual receptionist services with live chat functionality at a 25% savings, as well as standalone live chat plans starting at $140/month for 10 chats. While not advertised on their website, if you speak to sales there are additional plans such as a 350-minute plan.

Ruby’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• $245/month for 50 minutes
• $385/month for 100 minutes
• $705/month for 200 minutes
• $1,695/month for 500 minutes

AnswerConnect

Base price: $75 setup free + $325/month for 100 minutes ($2.95 per additional minute)
Free trial? Yes, 14 days or 150 receptionist minutes, whichever comes first

AnswerConnect offers a premium, human-powered answering service. Their commitment to real human interactions comes at a price, making them ideal for established businesses with significant communication needs and the budget to support them.

Deep dive
AnswerConnect is a Canadian-based team with a commitment to human-only interactions, differentiating themselves from AI-powered services like Upfirst. While their "no bots" approach may appeal to businesses, it can make the service cost-prohibitive for some.

The company offers 24/7 answering without additional charges for holidays or after-hours support. All plans include CRM integrations and access to a service team that helps build customized scripts—a feature frequently praised in customer reviews. However, based on feedback, AnswerConnect may not be suitable for all industries, such as medical services.

Their mobile app allows customers to listen to calls, and live chat is included in most plans (excluding the entry-level option). Chats are billed with a maximum charge of 10 minutes regardless of actual chat duration. Additionally, all plans offer scheduling through Setmore.

Pros:

• Personalized onboarding with customized script development
• Live chat billing capped at 10 minutes per interaction
• Scheduling included on all plans
• CRM integrations on all plans

‍Cons:

• Premium pricing makes the service cost-prohibitive for small businesses
• No lower-cost AI-assisted option for budget-conscious companies

Pricing
‍Please note that AnswerConnect is a Canadian company, and their pricing is in Canadian dollars (CAD). There is no charge for the first 30 interactions under 30 seconds per billing cycle, and all interactions are rounded up to the nearest minute. With an average call being 2 minutes, even the smallest plan (100 minutes) provides approximately 50 calls, which may not be the most cost-effective option for small businesses with low call volumes. Some of their plans do charge setup fees.

AnswerConnects’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• $75 setup free + $325/month for 100 minutes ($2.95 per additional minute)
• $425 per month for 300 minutes ($2.95 per additional minute)
• $825 per month for 450 minutes ($2.75 per additional minute)
• $75 setup free + $1,095 per month for 600 minutes ($2.75 per additional minute)
• $75 setup free + $1,645 per month for 900 minutes ($2.75 per additional minute)
• AnswerConnect has 12 more plans that go up to 100,000 minutes

Smith.ai

Base price: $285/month for 30 calls
Free trial? No, but there is a 14-day money-back guarantee

Smith.ai is a highly-rated virtual receptionist service that is a good fit if you need to go beyond basic message taking. For example, they can accept payments, check if new leads are a conflict of interest, or send text follow-ups to clients.

Deep dive
‍Smith.ai is one of the highest-rated virtual receptionist services in North American. The service goes beyond basic call answering, offering appointment scheduling, payment processing, lead qualification, and integration with common business software systems.

Reviews consistently highlight the professionalism of their receptionists, with many clients noting that callers can't tell the difference from in-house staff. This comes with a higher price tag. Some businesses may appreciate the per-call (as opposed to per-minute) pricing, but you should be aware the you might end up paying more for every call that involves “add-ons” such as scheduling or payment collection.

Smith.ai particularly well-suited for small law firms and other professional services. While most reviews are positive, some customers report occasional challenges with billing and account setup, particularly when managing multiple accounts. 

Pros:

• Per-call (not per-minute) pricing structure
• Basic lead qualification and intake included in base price
• Customers praise their staff’s professionalism
• Both human-first and AI-first options are available as of 2024
• 14-day money-back guarantee

‍Cons:

• While it’s worth the price for some businesses, Smith.ai is more expensive compared to competitors
• Many features (appointment booking, payment collection, custom routing) require add-on fees
• Limited to 3 qualifying questions before extra fees apply

Base price:
‍$245/month for 50 minutes

Pricing
‍Smith.ai offers several distinct service categories: AI-first voice answering backed by human agents, traditional human-staffed virtual receptionist services, and web chat solutions, with each having its own pricing structure. They offer a 14-day money-back guarantee (up to $1,000) with no setup fees or annual contracts required.

Smith.ai’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• $285/month for 30 calls ($10.50 per additional call)
• $765/month for 90 calls ($7.50 per additional call)
• $1,950/month for 300 calls ($9.50 per additional call)

VoiceNation

Base price: $70 for 20 minutes
Free trial? No, but there is a 21-day money-back guarantee

VoiceNation delivers a no-frills virtual receptionist service for small businesses. Founded in 2002 and later acquired by Moneypenny, they've built a straightforward solution for companies needing professional call handling without breaking the bank.

Deep dive
VoiceNation serves small businesses and professional services with 24/7 call answering. Their receptionists get solid marks for professionalism, but customers have mixed feelings about billing and account management. They do well with basic message taking but might struggle with more complex communication needs.

The service lets receptionists collect unlimited caller information—just remember you're paying by the minute. Their mobile app keeps you connected to incoming communications without hassle.

Pros:

• Affordable rates compared to other traditional answering services
• Good for basic call answering and message taking
• No limit to the amount of information receptionists collect from callers (though keep in mind they charge per-minute)
• 21-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• Some customers complain about the cancellation process
• Inconsistent receptionist performance reported by some users

Pricing
‍With a 20-minute plan, VoiceNation offers one of the most accessible virtual receptionist solutions on the market. Of course, with the smaller minimum commitment comes a slightly higher per-minute cost of around $3.

VoiceNation’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• $70 for 20 minutes ($2.99 per additional minute)
• $135 for 50 minutes ($2.85 per additional minute)
• $229 for 100 minutes ($2.65 per additional minute)
• $525 for 250 minutes ($2.39 per additional minute)
• $925 for 500 minutes ($2.09 per additional minute)
• $1,275 for 750 minutes ($1.95 per additional minute)
• $1,595 for 1,000 minutes ($1.85 per additional minute)

Posh

Base price: $65/month for access to $2.25/minute
Free trial? Yes, 7 days or 250 receptionist minutes, whichever comes first

Posh, a 100% employee-owned company, aims to create pleasant and professional experiences with customers. Customer service, appointment scheduling, lead capturing, bilingual receptionists – Posh makes it easy to customize to your business needs. 

Deep dive
‍Posh prides itself on being U.S. based and 100% employee-owned, delivering a highly exceptional and polite customer service experience for callers. They offer 24/7 availability for call handling, appointment setting, and lead intake with bilingual options and specialty in many popular industries. Posh users enjoy a robust app that makes it easy to turn off and on call handling and let’s you choose to have relevant calls transferred to you if you are available. 

While having a friendly receptionist team on standby, users often reported issues with receptionists going off script and not following their customized instructions. Other times, people complained about unpredictable billing and received bills that were much higher than anticipated. 

Posh isn’t the cheapest option, but neither is it the most expensive out of the bunch. It can be a great option if you value creating pleasant experiences for your customers, while also taking some administrative tasks off your shoulders.

Pros:

• High-quality caller experience with polite and professional virtual receptionists
• Robust app that allows you to turn off and on its call handling services at will
• Outbound calling services available for extended sales support

Cons:

• Lack of built-in call recording for businesses that want to review interactions
• Some users reported difficulty in following customized instructions or FAQs
• Multiple people complained about being overbilled or receiving unexpected overages and high fees

Pricing
‍Posh pricing plans start with a base $65/mo with 0 minutes included and an extra $2.25 per minute, which could be a great option for startups that don’t expect many calls. The pricing structure is pretty clear, with each tier explaining what size business it’s suitable for, and ranges from small startups all the way up to enterprise businesses.

Posh’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• $65/month for access to $2.25/minute
• $125 for 50 minutes ($2.15 per additional minute)
• $210 for 100 minutes ($2.10 per additional minute)
• $410 for 200 minutes ($2.05 per additional minute)
• $685 for 350 minutes ($1.95 per additional minute)
• $950 for 500 minutes ($1.90 per additional minute)
• $1,850 for 1,000 minutes ($1.85 per additional minute)

AnswerHero

Base price: $79/month for 50 minutes ($1.89)
Free trial? 7-day free trial

AnswerHero offers 24/7/365 availability and bilingual receptionists with every plan. They’re built to be a reliable and affordable option for any business with answering service needs. Each plan is laid out with clear pricing and details on what you can expect.

Deep dive
‍AnswerHero is a straightforward and cost-effective solution for businesses needing professional answering services with easy-to-read pricing plans. It’s refreshing that they’re upfront about having no setup or holiday fees, whereas other services required some digging to find. With every plan comes 24/7 availability and bilingual answering, as well as important features for good answering services like a client portal, email/SMS delivery, lead capturing, call dispatching, and more. 

From user feedback, a majority of customers praised AnswerHero for its helpful customer service team, which steps in quickly to resolve issues. However, some reviews mentioned call drops and delays, along with occasional miscommunication of instructions. Despite these concerns, AnswerHero’s commitment to affordability and reliability makes it a strong contender for businesses seeking virtual receptionist services.

Pros:

• No setup or holiday fees. 
• Affordable plans with a base plan that includes minutes and low additional minute costs.
• Good customer service team that resolves issues quickly.

Cons:

• Some customers experienced significant call drops and delays.
• Some had issues with instructions not being followed.

Pricing
‍AnswerHero begins with affordable pricing that starts at $79/mo and includes 50 minutes (every additional minute is $1.89). They have a clear pricing structure, and it’s nice that they explicitly state information about no set up or holiday fees. Every pricing plan includes 24/7 answering,  100% bilingual receptionists, a client portal, lead capture, and much more. 

AnswerHero’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• $79/month for 50 minutes ($1.89 per additional minute)
• $149 for 100 minutes ($1.59 per additional minute)
• $279 for 250 minutes ($1.35 per additional minute)
• $499 for 500 minutes ($1.25 per additional minute)
• $949 for 1,000 minutes ($1.19 per additional minute)

MAP Communications

Base price: $49/mo with 0 minutes, $1.37 per additional minute
Free trial? Yes, 7-day free trial, no credit card required.

100% employee-owned and U.S. based, MAP Communications is staffed 24 hours a day for 365 days. Designed with flexible options for small and large businesses, MAP Communications makes it easy to get started quickly by customizing scripts tailored to your business and features an intuitive dashboard with detailed call analytics.

Deep dive
‍MAP Communications provides 24/7 coverage with every plan, starting with their base plan of $49/mo with 0 minutes. Users appreciated how easy their client dashboard is to navigate, with great features like detailed call analytics and call volume tracking. 

Many users reported seamless onboarding, with a helpful consultation process to design a script and get started quickly. Long-time customers cited that MAP has been a reliable and important aspect of their day-to-day operations for years, answering calls quickly, giving their professional image a boost, and even helping cover calls when their own phone systems went down. 

Other times, some users were confused with billing and unclear overage charges, like holiday charges that weren’t previously agreed upon. Some reviewers felt that their concerns were never addressed properly with customer service, and sometimes had issues with agents going off script or missing important information clients should know.

Overall, MAP Communications seems like a great option for medium-sized to more established businesses looking for reliable support for their customers.

Pros:

• Intuitive, user-friendly web portal with detailed call analytics, including call answering monitoring, call volume tracking, and more.
• Fast call answering and quality customer service.
• Helpful consultation process to get started.
• U.S. based agents

Cons:

• According to reviews, some users reported unexpected fees like holiday charges.
• Service can become costly for smaller businesses.
• Some users reported agents going off script, had errors, or missed key info.

Pricing
‍MAP Communications starts off with a base price of $49 a month with 0 minutes, meaning you’ll have to pay $1.37 per additional minute. You get 125 minutes with the next plan up with $179/mo, with a rate of $1.30 per additional minute. MAP’s has an Enterprise plan ($339/mo for 250 minutes) and a Premium plan ($649/mo for 500 minutes), each with extra charges per additional minutes. Every plan includes features like free phone number, 24/7 coverage, client portal access, English and Spanish receptionists, and more. 

MAP Communications’s virtual receptionist pricing:

• Pay-as-you-go plan: $49/mo | 0 minutes, $1.37 per additional minute
• Business: $179/mo | 125 minutes, $1.30 per additional minute
• Enterprise: $339/mo | 250 minutes, $1.28 per additional minute
• Premium: $649/mo | 500 minutes, $1.28 per additional minute

ReceptionHQ

Base price: $25/mo for message taking, $1.99 per call
Free trial? Yes, 7-day free trial

ReceptionHQ is a flexible answering service built for small and well-established businesses. It features extensive pricing plans that start with pay-per-call options for individual services like message taking or lead capture, making it easy to only pay for what you need.

Deep dive
‍ReceptionHQ has been one of the global leaders in answering services since 2003, providing receptionist solutions from small businesses to large corporations. Offering 24/7 live call answering and bilingual support with no lock-in contracts, they’ve built an extensive pricing structure to be flexible for businesses of any size. 

While many users praise ReceptionHQ for having friendly receptionists with an adaptive ability to handle a variety of scripts when it comes to appointment scheduling and after hours support, one of the main drawbacks among users was its own customer support. Whenever issues arose like billing disputes, people experienced slow response times or none at all. 

Pros:

• Extensive pricing plans make it easy to pay for only what you need.
• Friendly receptionists with 24/7 coverage
• Helpful for businesses that need to manage client bookings
• Ability to handle a variety of call scripts

Cons:

• Prices are flexible but complicated
• Users reported slow or unresponsive customer support and difficulty reaching higher level management.
• Some reviewers noted that it took a while for receptionists to learn their script.
• Some users cited overbilling charges and continued billing post-cancellation.

Pricing
‍ReceptionHQ features an incredibly extensive pricing plan, it would be too much to list every option here. Each virtual reception plan listed below has plans ranging from Small to Medium to Large, with some going up to Enterprise level. Within each size range, there are additional tiers. We’ve listed out the base for all. The base plans are pay-as-you-go, with a monthly subscription charge and additional charge per minute or call. Their plans each featured branded names like MessageExpress or MyDiary. But to make things simple, rather than using the plan names below we listed out what’s available with each price.

ReceptionHQ’s virtual receptionist pricing:

Virtual Reception & Call Answering

• Message taking $25/mo with $1.99 per call
• Receptionist Plus (Message & call transfers, customization) | from $35/mo with $2.99 per call
• MyAssistant (Virtual assistance & lead capture) | from $49/mo with $2.20 per minute
• MyDiary (Appointment scheduling) | from  $49/mo with $2.20 per minute

Call Routing & Phone Numbers 

• Call Diversion Services (Divert calls to your business #, landline, etc) |  from $20/mo
• Voicemail-to-Email Solutions (Have voicemail messages emailed to you) | from $5/mo
• Interactive Voice Response Services (Provide menu options on calls) | from $10/mo
• Local or Toll-free numbers | from $10/mo
• Virtual address | from $65/mo
• Call center services (solutions for high call volume and complexity) | contact for pricing

‍Factors to consider when choosing

With all of these viable answering services on the market, how do you decide what’s best for you and your business? What's the cost of the answering service? Take a moment and think about what features you will need for your business. Do you need appointment scheduling, lead capture, or both? Do you need after hours coverage? How many calls do you expect to take in every month? How many will you need once you grow? Do you want your service to simply take messages for you, or do you need customer support? What is your budget per month? It’s absolutely important you consider these factors before you make a decision for your business:

Price
‍There are no two answering services that have the exact same pricing plan. Each one has it’s own structure that includes it’s own features. Keep in mind that some services usually charge by the minute or by call, and usually accompanied by a monthly subscription. 

If you’re someone who needs advanced services like after hours answering, appointment scheduling, or call forwarding, be on the lookout for extra charges. Some answering services are explicit about whether a plan includes these advance features, while some others may not be upfront. 

Some companies also charge overages, like charging for additional calls or minutes beyond what your plan covers. Some may round to 30-second increments and others round to 15-second increments. Look out for other hidden fees such as setup or holiday fees.

Features offered
‍The cheapest plans may be attractive, but they might not cover what you need. It’s imperative to know what you need before you run with a service. 

Answering services typically come with a wide range of features that help your business. Consider this checklist of helpful features:

• Transfer calls
• Take messages
• Schedule appointments
• Send texts
• Train the receptionist with knowledge about your business
• Answer callers in multiple languages
• Collect information form leads

Ease of setup
‍Onboarding should be simple for users to get started and is key to success with an answering service. The best onboarding should only take a few steps and answering services should have agents available to guide you through setup, from customizing your script to activating your phone service.

Answering Service FAQs

What is an answering service?
An answering service is a third-party team that handles incoming phone calls for businesses. Instead of letting calls go to voicemail, these services provide human or AI-powered receptionists who answer, screen, and manage communications 24/7. Think of them as an outsourced front desk.

What types of businesses use answering services?
Any business that receives calls can benefit from an answering service. They are popular among lawyers, real estate agents, and home service businesses. There are many HIPAA-compliant answering services that serve the medical industry, too.

What is the onboarding process like with an answering service?
Launching an answering service is like hiring a new team member—you've got to set clear expectations from the start. Get crystal clear on what you want your virtual receptionist to do. Are you looking for basic message taking, or do you need them updating your CRM and routing calls in specific ways? Once you've got your wishlist, the service will help you craft a custom script. Then you'll forward your calls to a new number, and they're off and running. Pro tip: listen to those first few call recordings. A good service will welcome your feedback 

Can answering services schedule appointments?
Most modern services integrate with scheduling tools like Setmore, Calendly, or Google Calendar. They'll confirm availability, set times, and even send follow-up confirmations. 

Can I customize the script for my business?
Yes, most answering services allow you to customize your script. But a great answering service doesn't just robotically follow a script. Their receptionists actively listen to callers, adapting in real-time to collect the right information while providing accurate, personalized responses.