You do not have a front desk, or you have one that cannot cover every call, and you want a receptionist service rather than a piece of software: someone, or something, that answers in your company’s name, screens and transfers calls, takes intake and books appointments, around the clock. This guide is for the practice manager, office manager or founder making that hire without hiring: what a virtual receptionist service actually is, what it costs against a person on payroll, which kind fits your front desk, and what to know about each one. If you are a one-person business looking for the cheapest AI that answers calls, our AI receptionist for small business guide is the better read.

Every score comes from our own weighted rubric: call handling quality (25%), features (20%), value (20%), ease of setup (15%), the AI-and-person balance (10%) and support and trust (10%). The rubric is applied the same way to every service and kept separate from any commercial relationship, including the sponsorship on this category. Prices as of 16 October 2026. If you have already decided on AI rather than a human team, our best AI receptionist guide ranks all 13 AI services with per-call costs.

Quick answer
Which virtual receptionist service is best?

If every caller must reach a trained person, such as a law practice, an accountancy or a clinic, choose Ruby (from $250/mo for 50 minutes) or Abby Connect (from $165/mo, English and Spanish, and you can mix in AI to stretch the minutes). If you want a person only for the calls that need one, choose Smith.ai: its AI answers first and live US receptionists take over, with human-first plans from $300/mo for 30 calls. If you want your own team to keep answering and just need cover for what they miss, Reception AI’s staff-first mode rings your phones first and the AI picks up after 5 to 60 seconds, from $29/mo. If you already run your company on a cloud phone system (calls over the internet), RingCentral, Dialpad, Nextiva and GoTo Connect each offer a virtual receptionist. It answers and routes calls through your phone plan, and some are a paid extra.

Best virtual receptionist services for growing companies

Reception AI by ElevenLabs answers every call for a growing company without adding staff. It answers 24/7, books appointments, and qualifies leads on scope, timeline and budget, then routes or transfers to a human when a caller needs one. Plans start at $29/month for 75 minutes, with a $79 Plus plan for 275 minutes and three numbers. It supports 70+ languages and logs a summary, transcript and recording of every call.

What a virtual receptionist service is, and what it does

A virtual receptionist answers your business calls remotely, in your company’s name, as if sitting at your front desk: greets the caller, screens and transfers, takes messages, captures intake and lead details, books and reschedules appointments, and covers after-hours, weekends and overflow. If you would rather clients booked themselves online instead of paying for every call, see our guide to appointment scheduling software. What confuses buyers is that four different things get sold under the name.

What people mean by itWho answersWhat you getTypical cost
A virtual receptionist service (the classic meaning)Trained people at a receptionist company, US-based, 24/7Personalised call handling to your script, live transfer, intake, scheduling$165 to $1,725/mo, billed per minute
An AI receptionist serviceSoftware, instantly, on every callAnswers questions, books against your calendar, takes tagged messages, transfers by rule$29 to $199/mo, billed per minute or per call
An auto attendantA menu inside your phone systemPress 1 for sales; routes, does not converseIncluded in most cloud phone plans
A virtual assistantA remote admin person, usually part-timeEmail, calendar, admin, and sometimes calls, but not 24/7 live answeringHourly

The first two are what this guide compares. An AI receptionist (software that answers the phone) such as Reception AI works like a virtual receptionist service, powered by AI instead of a call center. Callers do not wait on hold, and the AI books the appointment during the call instead of passing along a message. A service where people answer offers judgement, warmth and detailed intake from a trained person. Both suit different callers, which is why the choice below is framed by who answers.

Virtual receptionist vs hiring a receptionist

The comparison every buyer makes is against a person on payroll. The 2025 US median receptionist wage is $38,010 a year, about $3,170 a month before benefits, for one person covering business hours, with sick days and holidays uncovered. Against that: Abby Connect starts at $165/mo for 50 Abby Minutes, Ruby at $250/mo for 50 minutes and $720 for 200, Smith.ai’s human-first plans at $300/mo for 30 calls, and an AI receptionist such as Reception AI at $29 to $199/mo for 75 to 1,000 minutes, all 24/7. A service is cheaper than a hire at any volume a small firm sees; the real question is which callers you are willing to have software answer, and that is the next section.

Four kinds of virtual receptionist service

KindWhat you getTypical costChoose it if
Real people answer every callTrained, US-based receptionists on every call, 24/7, with intake, scheduling and transfers to your instructions$165 to $1,725/mo, per minute; roughly $8 to $15 per three-minute callYour callers are clients, patients or high-value leads and the first impression is worth the premium
AI answers first, a person steps inInstant AI answering, booking and qualification; live receptionists take the calls that need judgementAI free for 25 calls, then $3.00 a call or $150/mo; human plans from $300/mo per 30 callsMost calls are routine but a few each week are too important to leave to software
Your team answers first, AI covers what you missYour phones ring first; if nobody picks up within 5 to 60 seconds, or outside your staff hours, the AI answers, books and takes tagged messagesFrom $29/mo (Reception AI staff-first mode)You already have people answering and only lose the overflow and after-hours calls
Built into your phone systemAn auto attendant or AI receptionist that greets, answers common questions and routes calls inside your cloud phone planPhone plans from $15 per user a month on a yearly plan (a full year, at a lower monthly price). The AI receptionist is often an add-on (a paid extra).You already need a business phone system and want call routing without a separate contract

What is the difference between a virtual receptionist and an answering service?

The difference is what happens on the call. A virtual receptionist (also called a virtual front desk) answers as your front desk. It greets the caller, answers questions, books appointments and can do a live transfer, which puts the call through to you while the caller waits. An answering service mainly takes a message and passes it on. Many plans do some of both, so check what each plan includes.

Choose a virtual receptionist if callers need an answer or a booking during the call. Choose a plain answering service if a message you return later is enough. Ruby and Abby Connect (people), Smith.ai (AI first, then a person) and Reception AI (AI answers) are virtual receptionist services. For after-hours cover only, see our after-hours answering service guide. For AI options, see our best AI receptionist guide.

Virtual receptionist services at a glance

ServiceWho answersBest if you…Entry priceScore
Smith.aiAI first, live US receptionists step inwant a person only when a call needs oneAI free (25 calls); human-first from $300/mo (30 calls)8.3/10
RubyReal US-based people, every callrun a law practice or firm where every caller must reach a person$250/mo for 50 minutes7.6/10
Abby ConnectReal people plus AI, English and Spanishhave Spanish-speaking callers and want to stretch minutes with AI$165/mo for 50 Abby Minutes7.5/10
Reception AIYour team first, then AI; or AI on every callwant your own staff to keep answering with AI as the safety net, or AI only$29/mo for 75 min8.2/10
RingCentralAI Receptionist add-on inside the phone systemrun a scaling team on RingCentralPhone plans from $20/user/mo on a yearly plan ($30 month to month); AI Receptionist add-on from $39 a month with 100 minutes, then $0.50 a minute8.4/10
NextivaAI receptionist add-on inside the phone systemwant one reliable phone platform with support to matchPhone plans from $15/user/mo on a yearly plan ($23 month to month); AI receptionist is an add-on8.4/10
DialpadAI agents answer calls (sold by conversation); call transcription comes with the phone planwant AI call handling in the phone app itselfPhone plans from $15/user/mo on a yearly plan ($27 month to month); AI agents are priced per conversation8.3/10
GoTo ConnectAI virtual receptionist with a visual call-flow editorwant the simplest call routing to administerQuote-based7.8/10

How virtual receptionist pricing works

Services where people answer bill by receptionist minute, in monthly blocks, and that is where the surprises live. A plan’s headline price buys a block of minutes; anything above it is billed at an overage rate, and unused minutes do not roll over. Three minutes is a typical answered call, so a 100-minute plan is about 33 calls. Here is what the three people-answered services cost at the block sizes they sell, with the AI benchmark for scale.

Service50 minutes100 minutes200 minutes500 minutesPer minute at 200
Ruby$250$395$720$1,725$3.60
Abby Connect (human)$165$329$599$1,380$3.00
Abby Connect (AI-answered, worked out)100 AI min for $165200 for $329400 for $5991,000 for $1,380$1.50 (worked out)
Smith.ai (human-first)$300 for 30 calls$810 for 90 calls$2,100 for 300 callsCustom$11.50 to $8.50 per call
Reception AI (AI)$29 (75 min)$79 (275 min)$79$199 (1,000 min)$0.29

Three things to check before you sign: the overage rate (Ruby and Abby bill extra minutes at your plan rate, Smith.ai $11.50 down to $8.50 a call, Reception AI $0.45 down to $0.30 a minute); whether Spanish, intake forms, CRM updates or payment collection are included or itemised (Smith.ai prices most of them per call, Ruby includes them); and any setup fee or minimum term (none of these charge setup; Ruby has a 21-day money-back guarantee, Abby a free trial on every plan, Reception AI a 14-day trial and month-to-month billing). For AI costs per call, see our AI receptionist cost guide.

Service quality: what to compare

Price decides less than buyers expect; these are the points the people-answered services compete on, with the AI service shown for contrast.

RubyAbby ConnectSmith.ai (human-first)Reception AI (AI)
Who answersUS-based receptionists, 100% liveDedicated US-based team, plus AI you can switch inUS-based receptionists trained in your fieldAI, instantly, no hold
Hours24/7 including weekends and holidaysCustom hours with a 24/7 option24/724/7; staff-first hours configurable
Live transferYesYesYes, free transfer destinations per planRule-based transfer to a number, up to 10 rules
Spanish / languagesBilingual optionsEnglish and SpanishDedicated Spanish line, $1.00 per call add-on70+ languages, switches mid-call
Intake, conflict checks, paymentsLead capture, scheduling, payment collection includedClient and patient intakeAdd-ons priced per call: intake, conflict checks (a check for a conflict of interest), payments and CRM. The first CRM link and a 5-question intake are freeBooking and messages; no intake forms or payments
Compliance (HIPAA is the US patient-privacy law)HIPAA-compliant services on its receptionist plansHIPAA-compliant call handling with its human receptionists; its AI is meant for calls with no health informationDoes not handle patient health informationISO 27001 and 42001, CCPA; HIPAA not yet supported
CommitmentMonth-to-month, 21-day money-backMonth-to-month, no setup fee, free trialMonth to month; 10% off on a 12-month plan; money-back guarantee for new clientsMonth-to-month, 14-day free trial

The services where a real person answers every call

Ruby: best if you run a law practice or firm where every caller must reach a person

App Score 7.6/10. Ruby is the long-established virtual receptionist company built around friendly, US-based people who answer live 24/7, including weekends and holidays. AI works behind the scenes on call flows and summaries; the caller always talks to a person. Every plan includes the same features: custom greetings, lead capture, scheduling, robocall filtering, outbound call assistance, payment collection, a mobile app and the ability to call and text from your business number. The only decision is minutes: $250/mo for 50, $395 for 100, $720 for 200, $1,725 for 500. Live chat plans can be bundled at 20% off. It scores 8.5 on call handling but 5.5 on value: at $3.45 to $5 a minute it is the most expensive way to answer a call, and worth it only when the caller relationship justifies it. If the price is the sticking point, our Ruby alternatives guide compares the people-answered and AI options against it.

Abby Connect: best if you have Spanish-speaking callers and want to stretch minutes with AI

App Score 7.5/10. Abby Connect blends dedicated, US-based human receptionists with an AI receptionist you can switch in for overflow, after-hours or routine calls. Calls are answered to your instructions in English or Spanish, with custom hours, a 24/7 option, call blocking, voicemail and 1,000+ integrations. Usage is measured in Abby Minutes: a human minute is one, an AI minute is half, and a call that starts with AI and escalates bills each part at its own rate. Starter is $165/mo for 50 Abby Minutes, Essential $329 for 100, Professional $599 for 200, Growth $1,380 for 500, with no setup fee and a free trial on every plan. It scores 8.5 on call handling and 8.0 on support and trust; value (5.5) is low for the same reason as Ruby, though the AI mix halves the effective rate.

Smith.ai human-first plans: best if you want people plus the strongest AI in the category

App Score 8.3/10. Smith.ai’s human-first plans put professional, US-based receptionists trained in your field on every call, 24/7, and bill per call rather than per minute: $300/mo for 30 calls, $810 for 90, $2,100 for 300, with overage from $11.50 down to $8.50 a call. Add-ons are priced per call and include booking at $1.50 and call recording at $0.25. The first CRM link is free, and extra CRMs are $0.50 a call. The 5-question new-client intake is free, and a longer intake is $1.50 a call. It scores 9.0 on call handling and 9.5 on support and trust, the highest in our ranking; value (6.5) reflects per-call pricing that climbs with add-ons. To compare the two side by side, read Smith.ai vs Ruby.

Best AI virtual receptionist services for 24/7 coverage

Reception AI by ElevenLabs answers calls 24/7, so after-hours and overflow calls are handled instead of lost. It books appointments, qualifies callers, and transfers to a person when needed, in 70+ languages, with a summary and transcript after every call. Plans start at $29/month and setup takes minutes.

AI answers first, a person steps in

If most of your calls are bookings and questions but a few each week are too important for software, Smith.ai runs both under one roof. Its AI receptionist answers instantly, qualifies the caller against your criteria, books and routes. When a call needs judgement, a live receptionist takes over. The AI tier is free for 25 calls a month, then $3.00 a call, and the Pro plan is $150 a month at $2.00 a call. You can start on AI and add people when you need them without changing provider. That combination is why it leads our best AI receptionist ranking. See our Smith.ai alternatives guide.

Your team answers first, AI covers what you miss

The mirror image, and for a firm that already has people on the phones it is often the right one. In Reception AI’s staff-first mode your staff’s phone rings first; if nobody answers within the ring time you set (5 to 60 seconds), the AI takes over with a fallback message, books or takes a message tagged Emergency, Urgent or Normal, and transfers on up to 10 plain-language rules. You set staff answering hours, so outside them the AI answers directly. That gives a practice manager overflow and after-hours cover without changing who callers reach during the day, from $29/mo for 75 minutes (Premium, $199, adds 20 locations, 5 numbers and 10 simultaneous calls). Note that minutes your own staff answer in this mode still use plan credits, and that Reception AI does not yet support HIPAA.

Virtual receptionists built into business phone systems

If you are choosing a phone system anyway, you may not need a separate receptionist contract. The cloud phone systems we review each include a virtual receptionist of some kind. It ranges from a classic auto attendant (a menu that routes callers) to an AI receptionist that answers questions and books. RingCentral (8.4/10): phone plans start at $20/user/mo on a yearly plan ($30 month to month). The AI Receptionist add-on starts at $39 a month, or starts at $49 a month on its own. Nextiva (8.4/10): the AI receptionist is an add-on, and phone plans start at $15/user/mo on a yearly plan. Dialpad (8.3/10): phone plans start at $15/user/mo on a yearly plan ($27 month to month). Its AI agents (software that answers customers) are priced per conversation. GoTo Connect (7.8/10): AI virtual receptionist with a visual call-flow editor, quote-based. 8×8 (7.8/10): auto attendant, quote-based. A phone-system receptionist routes calls and answers common questions. A receptionist service adds detailed intake (taking details from a new client) and people who answer for you. Compare them on our best business phone systems guide.

Who gets real value from a virtual receptionist, and who does not

  • Law and accounting practices: every call is a potential client and a missed one goes to the next firm; intake and conflict checks matter. Ruby or Smith.ai’s human-first plans.
  • Medical and dental practices: scheduling, reminders and HIPAA. Ruby’s receptionist plans include HIPAA-compliant services, and Abby Connect offers HIPAA-compliant call handling with its human receptionists. Smith.ai does not handle patient health information, and Reception AI does not yet support HIPAA. See our medical answering service guide for specialists.
  • Firms with Spanish-speaking callers: Abby Connect for people, Reception AI or Rosie for AI.
  • Growing companies and remote teams with no front desk: any of the three people-answered services for live transfer; Reception AI’s staff-first mode if the team still answers most calls; Premium for multi-location.
  • Businesses that already have someone answering and only miss overflow: staff-first AI, or Abby Connect’s overflow plans, not a full receptionist plan.
  • Who does not need one: a business whose calls are rare and mostly informational is better served by a good website and an AI receptionist at $29 to $79; a business whose calls are all complex and emotional should hire.

Good to know before you choose a virtual receptionist service

  • Ruby and Abby Connect bill by the minute and Smith.ai by the call. Extra usage costs more: Ruby and Abby Connect charge extra minutes at your plan’s per-minute rate, and Smith.ai charges $11.50 down to $8.50 a call. Ask Ruby for its rate before you sign.
  • AI receptionists suit routine calls such as bookings and questions. For calls that need a person, Smith.ai and Abby Connect have people on standby, and Reception AI transfers to your own team by rule. With any service, check the first week of call summaries for names and phone numbers.
  • A receptionist built into your phone system routes calls and answers common questions. If you also need detailed intake or people who answer for you, add a receptionist service.
  • Clinics should get HIPAA terms in writing (a signed agreement that covers patient information) before patient calls go to any service. The medical section below shows which services offer HIPAA-compliant handling.

For growing companies and remote teams

Companies without a physical front desk (remote teams, multi-location practices, firms that outgrew the office manager) are the core customer for these services, and three features matter more to them than price. Live transfer, so a receptionist can warm-transfer a caller to whichever team member is available wherever they are: Ruby, Abby Connect and Smith.ai all do this; AI services transfer by rule and phone-system receptionists route calls. Coverage hours that match how you work, including 24/7 and holidays: all three people-answered services and every AI service cover 24/7. And professional call handling to a script, so every caller hears your company, not the vendor’s: Ruby and Smith.ai train receptionists in your field, Abby Connect assigns a dedicated team, and Reception AI runs one receptionist across up to 20 locations on Premium, routing by branch with shared calendars.

Virtual receptionist vs virtual assistant vs virtual call centre

These three are often confused. A virtual receptionist answers and handles your incoming calls in your company’s name: greeting, screening, transfers, messages and bookings. A virtual assistant is a remote helper for a wider range of tasks, such as email, scheduling and research, and is usually not set up to answer a live phone line. A virtual call centre is a team of remote agents working through high call volumes, usually in a support or sales queue, and is priced and managed differently from a receptionist plan. If what you need is someone to pick up when you are busy or closed, you want a virtual receptionist, not an assistant or a call centre.

Virtual receptionist for small business: pick by call volume

Choosing the best answering service for a small business comes down to how many calls you take and what each one is worth.

  • If you get only a few calls a week, mostly routine questions, an AI receptionist at $29 to $79 a month is usually enough.
  • If you get steady calls and each one could be a new client, a people-answered service is worth the higher cost: plans run from $165 to $1,725 a month depending on minutes.
  • If your own team answers most calls and you only miss the overflow, choose staff-first AI or an overflow plan, not a full receptionist plan.

Count minutes, not calls: multiply your monthly calls by three, pick the plan block above that figure, and check the overage rate before the headline price.

Medical virtual receptionist: what to check

A medical virtual receptionist, also called a virtual medical receptionist or remote medical receptionist, answers a clinic’s calls remotely: scheduling, reminders and routing to clinical staff. Because calls contain patient information, check HIPAA support in writing before you sign. Ruby’s receptionist plans include HIPAA-compliant services, and Abby Connect offers HIPAA-compliant call handling with its human receptionists. Smith.ai does not handle patient health information, and Reception AI does not yet support HIPAA. Our medical answering service guide covers the specialists.

How to choose a virtual receptionist service

  • Decide who must answer: a person on every call (Ruby, Abby Connect), a person on standby behind AI (Smith.ai), your own team first with AI behind them (Reception AI), or routing inside your phone system (RingCentral, Nextiva, Dialpad, GoTo Connect, 8×8).
  • Count your minutes, not your calls: multiply monthly calls by three and pick the plan block above it; check the overage rate before the headline price.
  • List the add-ons you actually need (Spanish, intake forms, CRM updates, payments, conflict checks) and check whether they are included (Ruby) or itemised (Smith.ai).
  • Ask for HIPAA terms in writing if you are a clinic. The medical section above shows which services offer HIPAA-compliant handling.
  • Check the exit: month-to-month with no setup fee is standard among the services here; avoid anything with a minimum term until you have tested the call quality.
  • Test it: call your own number during and after hours before you forward your main line. Reception AI has a 14-day free trial you can run next to your current service, and the other services offer a free trial or a money-back period.

In short

For round-the-clock call coverage without hiring, Reception AI by ElevenLabs answers calls 24/7 in 70+ languages, books appointments, qualifies leads, and hands off to a person when needed, from $29/month with setup in minutes.

Related answering-service guides

Matching an answering service to your situation? See our focused guides: after-hours answering service, plumbing, contractor, property management, real estate, bilingual, medical, dental, HVAC and home services and legal answering service. Also see the best 24/7 AI receptionist for always-on coverage and AI receptionists with live transfer for calls that need a person.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a virtual receptionist cost?

Services where real people answer cost $165 to $1,725 a month depending on minutes: Abby Connect from $165 for 50 Abby Minutes, Ruby from $250 for 50 minutes and $720 for 200, Smith.ai’s human-first plans from $300 for 30 calls. That is roughly $8 to $15 per three-minute call, against a median US receptionist wage of about $3,170 a month. AI receptionists cost $29 to $199 a month, and a receptionist built into a cloud phone system comes with phone plans that start at $15 per user a month on a yearly plan. The AI version is often an add-on.

What does a virtual receptionist do?

A virtual receptionist answers your business calls remotely in your company’s name: greets callers, screens and transfers them, takes messages, captures leads and intake details, books and reschedules appointments, and covers after-hours, weekends and overflow. Depending on the service, the receptionist is a trained person, an AI, or your own team first with AI stepping in for the calls they miss.

Can an AI replace my answering service?

For routine calls, yes. A free trial, such as the 14 days Reception AI gives, lets you run an AI receptionist next to your current answering service and compare the two. An AI receptionist answers questions, books against your calendar and flags urgent messages during the call, where a traditional answering service takes a message. For intake, conflict checks, payments or callers who need a person, keep a people-answered service or Smith.ai’s human-first plans.

Is there a free virtual answering service available?

Only the AI side is free to keep: the Smith.ai AI receptionist is free for 25 calls a month, and a card is needed to sign up. Free trials: Abby Connect gives 14 days with its people and its AI, and a payment method is needed. Reception AI gives 14 days with no card. Rosie gives 7 days. Beside gives 7 days on its Unlimited plan only. Goodcall has a free demo you can build and test before you pay. Among people-answered services, Ruby offers a 21-day money-back guarantee.

What is the cheapest AI receptionist?

The Smith.ai AI receptionist is free for 25 calls a month. Among the paid plans we cover, Beside and Reception AI both start at $29 a month. Beside includes 30 AI-answered calls, or $99 a month for unlimited. Reception AI includes 75 minutes, about 25 calls. Rosie is $49 a month for 250 minutes. If you want a person available, the $165 Starter plan at Abby Connect is the cheapest way in.

Are virtual receptionists worth it?

For a business without a front desk, yes: a missed call is usually a lost client, and a people-answered service costs less than a part-time hire while covering nights and weekends. The question is which kind: a person on every call pays off when each caller is valuable; an AI service pays off when most calls are routine; your own team first with AI behind them pays off when you only lose the overflow.

Is an AI receptionist worth it?

For routine calls (bookings, hours, quotes, messages), yes, at $29 to $199 a month. For complex or high-value calls, pair it with a person: Smith.ai does both, Abby Connect lets you mix AI and human minutes on one plan, and Reception AI can sit behind your own staff so it only takes what they miss.

What is a remote medical receptionist?

A remote medical receptionist, or medical virtual receptionist, answers a clinic’s calls from outside the office: scheduling, reminders and routing to clinical staff. Check HIPAA support and get it in writing before patient calls go to any service.

What is the difference between a virtual receptionist and a virtual assistant?

A virtual receptionist answers and handles your incoming calls in your company’s name. A virtual assistant is a remote helper for wider tasks such as email, scheduling and research, and is usually not set up to answer a live phone line.

What is the best virtual receptionist for a small business?

It depends on call volume and who must answer. An AI receptionist at $29 to $79 a month suits routine calls, and a people-answered service at $165 to $1,725 a month suits businesses where each call could be a new client.

What is the difference between a virtual receptionist and an answering service?

A virtual receptionist, also called a virtual front desk, answers as your front desk: it greets callers, answers questions and books appointments. An answering service mainly takes a message and passes it on. Many plans do some of both, so check what each plan includes.

See Appscribed first in your AI answers

Add us as a preferred source on Google, and our reviews and picks show up in your Top Stories and AI Overviews.

If you sell a AI receptionist or answering service: Business owners now ask ChatGPT and Perplexity which receptionist or answering service to trust. See whether they name you with our free AI visibility checker, or see how our GEO service gets brands cited.