Answering service pricing comparison: 9 services with costs revealed (2026)

We compared answering service pricing across 9 live answering services, plus one popular AI-powered alternative that's surprisingly affordable. Below is a side-by-side pricing comparison so you can see exactly what each service costs before you commit.

In this article, we've broken down the prices of many traditional live answering services. If you're looking specifically for a comparison of AI answering services, we dig deeper here.

How we evaluated these answering services

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.

For each service, we looked at:

• Pricing structure: Per-minute vs. per-call, and what happens when you go over your plan
• Features included: Do you get appointment scheduling, call transfers, and bilingual support at the base price, or are those add-ons?
• Real user feedback: What actual customers say about reliability, billing transparency, and receptionist quality
• Hidden costs: Setup fees, holiday charges, overage rounding, and other surprises

Upfirst

Base price: $24.95/mo for 30 calls
Free trial? Yes, 14 days

Upfirst is an AI-powered virtual receptionist built for small businesses that want a low-cost alternative to human receptionists.

Upfirst was founded by Gene Sigalov and Felix Dubinsky, the team behind SimpleTexting. The idea came from 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, schedule appointments, and provide summaries. It can route calls to specific departments or people. The voices are designed to sound natural. Spam calls aren't counted toward usage, and you can test the experience from your 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
• The cheapest answering service on this list by a wide margin
• Keep your existing phone number
• Speaks multiple languages, including English and Spanish
• All features included, even at the 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

Upfirst's pricing:

• $24.95/mo for 30 calls ($1.50 per additional call)
• $59.95/mo for 90 calls ($1.00 per additional call)
• $159.95/mo for 300 calls ($0.75 per additional call)
• Custom plans available for 300+ calls per month

Ruby

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

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

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

Reviews consistently highlight that Ruby's service quality varies between receptionists. While some provide excellent service, others struggle with following detailed instructions or collecting complete caller information. The service works best for businesses needing simple call handling.

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

Ruby's pricing:

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

AnswerConnect

Base price: $325/mo for 100 minutes + $75 setup fee
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 a better fit for established businesses with significant communication needs and the budget to support them.

AnswerConnect is a Canadian-based team that differentiates itself with a "no bots" approach. They offer 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.

Their mobile app allows you 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.

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

AnswerConnect's pricing (in CAD):

• $75 setup + $325/mo for 100 minutes ($2.95 per additional minute)
• $425/mo for 300 minutes ($2.95 per additional minute)
• $825/mo for 450 minutes ($2.75 per additional minute)
• $75 setup + $1,095/mo for 600 minutes ($2.75 per additional minute)
• $75 setup + $1,645/mo 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/mo 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 goes beyond basic message taking. They can accept payments, check if new leads are a conflict of interest, or send text follow-ups to clients.

Smith.ai is one of the highest-rated virtual receptionist services in North America. The service offers appointment scheduling, payment processing, lead qualification, and integration with common business software.

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 be aware you might pay more for every call that involves "add-ons" such as scheduling or payment collection.

Smith.ai is particularly well-suited for small law firms and other professional services.

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 available
• 14-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• More expensive compared to competitors, though it's worth the price for some businesses
• Many features (appointment booking, payment collection, custom routing) require add-on fees
• Limited to 3 qualifying questions before extra fees apply

Smith.ai's pricing:

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

VoiceNation

Base price: $70/mo 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 offer professional call handling without breaking the bank.

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, though keep in mind you're paying by the minute. Their mobile app keeps you connected to incoming communications.

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
• 21-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

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

VoiceNation's pricing:

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

Posh

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

Posh is a 100% employee-owned company that focuses on creating pleasant, professional experiences for callers. Customer service, appointment scheduling, lead capturing, bilingual receptionists, Posh makes it easy to customize to your business needs.

Posh prides itself on being US-based and employee-owned. They offer 24/7 availability for call handling, appointment setting, and lead intake with bilingual options. Their app makes it easy to turn call handling on and off, and lets you choose to have relevant calls transferred to you when you're available.

While they have a friendly receptionist team, users often reported issues with receptionists going off script and not following customized instructions. Some people complained about unpredictable billing and bills that were much higher than anticipated.

Pros:

• High-quality caller experience with polite and professional virtual receptionists
• Robust app that allows you to turn call handling on and off 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 following customized instructions or FAQs
• Multiple people complained about being overbilled or receiving unexpected overages

Posh's pricing:

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

AnswerHero

Base price: $79/mo for 50 minutes
Free trial? Yes, 7 days

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.

AnswerHero is a straightforward and cost-effective solution with easy-to-read pricing plans. They're upfront about having no setup or holiday fees, which is refreshing compared to other services that require some digging. With every plan comes 24/7 availability and bilingual answering, plus 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. However, some reviews mentioned call drops and delays, along with occasional miscommunication of instructions.

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

AnswerHero's pricing:

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

MAP Communications

Base price: $49/mo with 0 minutes included
Free trial? Yes, 7 days, no credit card required

100% employee-owned and US-based, MAP Communications is staffed 24/7, 365 days a year. Designed with flexible options for small and large businesses, MAP makes it easy to get started quickly with customized scripts and an intuitive dashboard with detailed call analytics.

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 part of their daily operations for years.

Some users were confused with billing and unclear overage charges, like holiday charges that weren't previously agreed upon. Some felt their concerns were never addressed properly by customer service.

Pros:

• Intuitive, user-friendly web portal with detailed call analytics and call volume tracking
• Fast call answering and quality customer service
• Helpful consultation process to get started
• US-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 or missing key info

MAP Communications' pricing:

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

ReceptionHQ

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

ReceptionHQ is a flexible answering service built for businesses of all sizes. They have 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.

ReceptionHQ has been one of the global leaders in answering services since 2003, providing receptionist solutions for small businesses to large corporations. They offer 24/7 live call answering and bilingual support with no lock-in contracts.

While many users praise ReceptionHQ for having friendly receptionists who can adapt to a variety of scripts, one of the main drawbacks was their 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 only for 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
• Some reviewers noted it took a while for receptionists to learn their script
• Some users cited overbilling charges and continued billing post-cancellation

ReceptionHQ's pricing:

• Message taking: $25/mo + $1.99 per call
• Receptionist Plus (message and call transfers, customization): from $35/mo + $2.99 per call
• MyAssistant (virtual assistance and lead capture): from $49/mo + $2.20 per minute
• MyDiary (appointment scheduling): from $49/mo + $2.20 per minute
• Call diversion services: from $20/mo
• Voicemail-to-email: from $5/mo

What to look for in an answering service

Before you pick a service, think about what your business actually needs. A solo contractor fielding 20 calls a month has very different needs than a law firm handling 200.

Understand the pricing model. Per-minute billing works well if your calls are short and predictable. Per-call billing is better if your calls vary in length but you know roughly how many you get. Watch out for rounding (some services round up from 30-second increments), setup fees, and holiday surcharges.

For a deeper breakdown, see our guide to how much a virtual receptionist costs per month.

Match features to your needs. The cheapest plan is only a deal if it covers what you need. Make sure your service handles the basics: call transfers, message taking, appointment scheduling, and bilingual support if your callers need it. Some services charge extra for features that others include at every tier.

Test before you commit. Many of these services offer free trials. Take advantage of them. Call your own number, hear how the receptionist handles it, and check the message summary. That ten-minute test can save you months of frustration.

If you're wondering how much an answering service costs in general, or how much to pay someone to answer your phone, we cover those topics in separate guides.

Answering service FAQs

What is an answering service?

An answering service is a third-party team that handles incoming phone calls for your business. Instead of letting calls go to voicemail, these services provide human or AI-powered receptionists who answer, screen, and manage communications 24/7.

What types of businesses use answering services?

Any business that receives calls can benefit. They are popular among lawyers, real estate agents, and home service businesses. There are also HIPAA-compliant answering services that serve the medical industry.

What is the onboarding process like?

Getting started is like hiring a new team member. You'll define what you want the receptionist to do, help craft a custom script, and forward your calls to a new number. Listen to the first few call recordings and give 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 send follow-up confirmations.

Can I customize the script for my business?

Yes, most services let you customize your script. A good answering service doesn't just robotically follow a script. Their receptionists actively listen to callers and adapt in real-time to collect the right information.

How much does a message answering service cost?

Message answering service costs range from $25 to $325+ per month depending on the provider and your call volume. Basic message-taking services like ReceptionHQ start at $25/mo plus a per-call fee. AI-powered options like Upfirst start at $24.95/mo. Traditional live receptionist services like Ruby and AnswerConnect start between $245 and $325/mo. Your total cost depends on how many calls or minutes you use each month.