AI receptionist vs answering service.
An answering service uses live agents to pick up your calls, often to take a message for your team, and usually charges a monthly base plus a fee per minute or per call. An AI receptionist answers every call straight away, works from your business's own information, books appointments during the call and passes callers to your team when a person is needed, on a monthly plan. Many businesses use an AI receptionist for after-hours and overflow calls and keep people for the conversations that need them.
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Updated October 2026
Side by side
What changes for your callers.
Answering services vary a lot, so ask any provider how they handle each of these.
| Answering service | AI receptionist | |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | A live agent at the service | An AI receptionist set up for your business |
| What happens on the call | Often a message for your team to return. Some can book; ask how. | Answers questions, books the appointment and texts a confirmation, or transfers to your team |
| Busy times | Depends on how many agents are free | Handles several calls at once, so nobody waits for an agent |
| Hours | Often 24/7, sometimes with after-hours or holiday surcharges | 24/7, including holidays |
| Languages | Varies by service | 50+, in the caller's language |
| After the call | A message or call log | A recording and summary of every call |
| How it's priced | Monthly base plus a charge per minute or per call | Monthly plan with included minutes, plus a per-minute rate beyond them |
Which is right for you
It depends on what your calls need.
Plenty of businesses use both: people for some calls, an AI receptionist for the rest.
An answering service may suit you better if
- Every call needs a person's judgment from the first word, by policy or by nature
- You only want messages taken, and your call volume is very low
- You need someone to follow a long, changing script that's hard to write down
An AI receptionist is usually the better fit if
- You lose calls after hours, on weekends or while you're with a customer
- Callers want to book there and then, not wait for a callback
- Your callers speak many languages
- Calls come in bursts, so several arrive at once
- You want a predictable monthly cost and a summary of every call
Comparing costs? Use the Canadian pricing guide and calculator, or read what an AI receptionist is and how it works.
Pricing
Every plan is open 24/7.
Simple plans in CAD, billed monthly or yearly. Pick the one that matches how your business takes calls and bookings.
Who takes bookings?
Switch to yearly to see what you'd save.
Professional
Everything you need to answer every call.
Billed monthly · $499 one-time setup
Get started- 500 minutes / month included
- 24/7 AI answering in 50+ languages
- Appointment booking & SMS confirmations
- Human call transfer
- After-hours / overflow mode
- Basic lead capture
Business
For teams with more calls and more to route.
Billed monthly · $499 one-time setup
Get started- 1,000 minutes / month included
- Advanced lead capture
- Lead qualification
- Multiple calendars / staff
- Custom call workflows
- Urgent-call routing
- Missed-lead follow-up SMS
- Custom intake forms
Growth
For busy teams ready to grow.
Billed monthly · $499 one-time setup
Get started- 1,500 minutes / month included
- Everything in Business
- Review automation
- Customer reactivation
- Custom voice / voice clone
- Advanced reporting
Included in every plan
- 24/7 AI answering
- 50+ languages
- FAQs & business knowledge
- Call recordings & summaries
- SMS confirmations
- Appointment booking
- Human call transfer
- After-hours / overflow mode
Plan details: minutes, usage and billing
| Plan | Included minutes / month | Additional usage |
|---|---|---|
| Professional | 500 | $0.75 / minute |
| Business | 1,000 | $0.65 / minute |
| Growth | 1,500 | $0.55 / minute |
- Plans are billed monthly or yearly. All prices are in CAD.
- Setup is a one-time $499 on every plan, paid before your 7-day live trial starts. If you don't continue after the trial, we refund 50% of it.
- Pay yearly after your trial: 11 months upfront gets you 12, and your setup fee is refunded in full.
FAQ
Questions about AI receptionists and answering services.
Something we haven't covered? Ask us directly.
What's the difference between an AI receptionist and an answering service?
An answering service uses live agents to pick up your calls, often to take a message for your team, and usually charges a monthly base plus a fee per minute or per call. An AI receptionist answers every call straight away, works from your business's own information, books appointments during the call and passes callers to your team when a person is needed, on a monthly plan. Many businesses use an AI receptionist for after-hours and overflow calls and keep people for the conversations that need them.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than an answering service?
It depends on your call volume and what you need done on the call. Compare the all-in monthly cost at your usual volume, and whether each option can book appointments or only take messages.
Can I use an AI receptionist and keep my team or answering service?
Yes. With Frontdesk AI you choose when it answers: every call, after a set number of rings, only when your line is busy, or only after hours. Your team or service handles the rest.
Can an AI receptionist put a caller through to a real person?
Yes. Frontdesk AI transfers or escalates calls to your team following the rules you set, and if a question goes beyond what it knows, it passes the call on instead of guessing.
Do I need to change my phone number?
No. You keep your number and forward calls to Frontdesk AI through your phone provider.
Book a demo
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Leave your details and we'll set up a short call. We'll look at how your business handles calls, show you how Frontdesk AI would work for you, and answer your questions.
- Hear it handle calls like yours
- Find the right plan and coverage
- See how booking would work for your business