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Buyer’s guide · 2026

The 10 best virtual receptionist services in 2026

Our pick for the best virtual receptionist service in 2026 is InsertChat, an AI virtual receptionist that answers every call from your own knowledge, books appointments, and hands your team a transcript, from $98 a month. If you want a person on every call, Ruby, AnswerConnect, and PATLive are the strongest human services, billed by the minute.

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Our picks at a glance

  1. 1.InsertChat: Best AI virtual receptionist
  2. 2.Ruby: Best for human receptionists plus live chat
  3. 3.AnswerConnect: Best for people on every call, 24/7
  4. 4.PATLive: Best for screening and transferring calls
  5. 5.Abby Connect: Best hybrid of people and AI
  6. 6.Smith.ai: Best for AI with human backup
  7. 7.Davinci Virtual: Best for billing by the second
  8. 8.Posh: Best for a few calls a month
  9. 9.Moneypenny: Best for per-call receptionist plans
  10. 10.Nexa: Best for intake and sales calls

Compare the virtual receptionist services side by side

Swipe horizontally to compare →

Compare the virtual receptionist services side by side: ranked picks with what each is best for, entry price, channels, and the source checked
PickBest forStarting priceChannelsChecked
1. InsertChatBest AI virtual receptionistPro at $98/month, or $81.67/month billed annually, with 5,000 credits, 3 assistants, and 3 seatsWebsite chat, phone, email, SMS, and WhatsApp in one shared inbox Our pricing
2. RubyBest for human receptionists plus live chatReceptionist from $250 for 50 minutes; chat from $143 for 10 chatsPhone calls and website live chat, with calls and texts from your business numberOctober 13, 2026 Source
3. AnswerConnectBest for people on every call, 24/7$350 per month for 200 minutes plus a $49.99 setup fee; Growth is $395 for 300 minutes with no setup feePhone answering, plus live chat staffed by people on Growth and Standard; notifications by app, SMS, and emailOctober 13, 2026 Source
4. PATLiveBest for screening and transferring calls$49 per month pay-as-you-go at $2.99 per minute; $99 for 50 minutesPhone, live web chat staffed by people, and outbound calls; business texting through its free phone system add-onOctober 13, 2026 Source
5. Abby ConnectBest hybrid of people and AI$165 per month for 50 Abby Minutes, with no setup feePhone answering by people or AI; follow-up calls and texts from the AbbyGO appOctober 13, 2026 Source
6. Smith.aiBest for AI with human backupFree for 25 calls a month; Pro from $150 for 75 calls; Enterprise from $500 for 300 callsAI call answering; custom SMS branding on ProOctober 13, 2026 Source
7. Davinci VirtualBest for billing by the second$129 per month for 50 live answer minutes (Business 50)Phone: live answering, voicemail, an auto receptionist, and online faxingOctober 13, 2026 Source
8. PoshBest for a few calls a month$65 per month plus $2.30 per minute (Chïc); $130 for 50 minutes (Vogue)Phone answering; calls and texts from your business number in the Posh app; messages by email or textOctober 13, 2026 Source
9. MoneypennyBest for per-call receptionist plans$69 per month for 25 calls; $165 per month for 50 minutesPhone calls; call summaries arrive by email, text, or bothOctober 13, 2026 Source
10. NexaBest for intake and sales callsNot listed; plan buttons lead to a contact formPhone, with a local and toll-free number; live chat is a separate serviceOctober 13, 2026 Source

Prices are in USD as each vendor lists them. Vendors change plans, so confirm current terms with the linked source before you buy.

The 10 best virtual receptionist services

1. InsertChat

Best AI virtual receptionist

Human virtual receptionists bill for every minute a person spends on your calls. InsertChat answers the same calls with AI from your website and documents, at any hour, and handles website chat, email, SMS, and WhatsApp in the same inbox. Pro is $98 a month with 5,000 monthly credits, three AI assistants, and three team seats, so routine calls stop using up receptionist minutes.

Why it’s our pick

  • No per-minute receptionist rate: calls and messages draw on one monthly credit allowance.
  • Answers at 3 a.m. and on holidays the same way it does at noon, from information you keep up to date.
  • Your team sees every call as a transcript with an AI summary and takes over from the shared inbox.
  • Set it up yourself: add your website, pick one of 10 voices, choose when it answers, and place a test call.

Watch out for

  • It’s AI only: InsertChat doesn’t employ receptionists, so your own team handles the conversations it hands off.
  • It doesn’t transfer live calls. Your phone can ring first for 5 to 60 seconds; after that, the AI answers and flags anyone who needs a person, with the details attached.
  • A caller who insists on a person hears that your team will follow up, rather than reaching one immediately.
Entry price
Pro at $98/month, or $81.67/month billed annually, with 5,000 credits, 3 assistants, and 3 seats Details
Pricing model
Pro, Growth, Scale, and Enterprise plans with monthly AI credits included. Annual billing costs ten monthly payments, paid upfront. Details
What is metered
AI credits from one monthly allowance. Use depends on the model, conversation length, knowledge processing, and tools; calls round up to whole minutes. Details
Channels
Website chat, phone, email, SMS, and WhatsApp in one shared inbox Details
Human handoff
Your own team takes over in the shared inbox with the full conversation, on every plan Details
Booking
Books into the built-in calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly, or Cal.com, automatically or after your team’s approval Details
Notable limits
Additional phone numbers, SMS, WhatsApp, and other connected services can carry their own charges; analytics and reports start on Scale Details

InsertChat facts come from our pricing and product pages.

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2. Ruby

Best for human receptionists plus live chat

Ruby’s receptionists answer calls and website chats, priced in minute and chat bundles, and Ruby lists its optional AI enhancements at no extra cost.

Pick it if

  • You want people, not AI, answering your calls and website chats.
  • Your call volume fits a bundle of minutes, from 50 to 500 on Ruby’s listed plans.
  • You want a human service with optional AI enhancements, which Ruby lists at no extra cost.

Watch out for

  • Its smallest receptionist bundle includes only 50 minutes.
  • Email, SMS, and WhatsApp aren’t part of the plans.
Entry price
Receptionist from $250 for 50 minutes; chat from $143 for 10 chats Source
Pricing model
Receptionist plans by included minutes, and separate live chat plans by included chats Source
What is metered
Receptionist minutes (50 to 500 on listed plans) and chats (10 to 50) Source
Channels
Phone calls and website live chat, with calls and texts from your business number Source
Human handoff
Human service: people answer calls and chats; optional AI enhancements are free Source
Booking
Scheduling is listed among the receptionist plan features Source
Notable limits
Listed receptionist plans run to $1,725 for 500 minutes, and chat plans to $520 for 50 chats Source

Checked on from Ruby’s public pricing page. Compare InsertChat vs Ruby

3. AnswerConnect

Best for people on every call, 24/7

AnswerConnect staffs real people around the clock and says it uses no AI agents, with live chat staffed by people on its Growth and Standard plans.

Pick it if

  • You want every caller to reach a person, day or night: AnswerConnect’s guide says it uses no AI agents.
  • Callers need live transfers, on-call routing, or complex call flows handled by a receptionist.
  • You want people on your website chat as well, which AnswerConnect includes on Growth and Standard.

Watch out for

  • Every interaction rounds up to a whole minute, and Entry adds a setup fee.
  • Spanish answering, transcriptions, and HIPAA compliance are paid add-ons.
Entry price
$350 per month for 200 minutes plus a $49.99 setup fee; Growth is $395 for 300 minutes with no setup fee Source
Pricing model
Monthly plans by receptionist minutes: Entry $350 for 200, Growth $395 for 300, Standard $575 for 400, and larger plans up to 100,000 minutes Source
What is metered
Receptionist minutes, rounded up and billed in 1-minute increments; the first 30 interactions under 30 seconds each billing cycle are free Source
Channels
Phone answering, plus live chat staffed by people on Growth and Standard; notifications by app, SMS, and email Source
Human handoff
Human service: the guide says it uses no AI agents; receptionists transfer calls using your call flows Source
Booking
Appointments booked into your calendar with its free scheduling software Source
Notable limits
Extra minutes cost $2.50 on Entry and $1.85 on Growth and Standard; transcriptions, HIPAA compliance, Spanish answering, and live operator relay are add-ons from $30 to $40 a month Source

Checked on from AnswerConnect’s published US pricing guide (PDF). Compare InsertChat vs AnswerConnect

4. PATLive

Best for screening and transferring calls

PATLive’s US receptionists screen and transfer calls on every plan and schedule appointments, with pay-as-you-go pricing for low volume.

Pick it if

  • You want every call answered by a person: PATLive says it does not use AI to answer calls.
  • You need calls screened and transferred to your team while the caller waits.
  • Your volume is low and uneven: pay-as-you-go is $49 a month plus $2.99 a minute.

Watch out for

  • Prices are plus taxes and fees.
  • Live chat and outbound calls are separate plans.
Entry price
$49 per month pay-as-you-go at $2.99 per minute; $99 for 50 minutes Source
Pricing model
Live call answering plans from $49 pay-as-you-go to $6,899 for 5,000 minutes, with separate live chat and outbound call plans Source
What is metered
Minutes receptionists are live on your calls (after-call notes and wrap-up are not charged); extra minutes cost $2.99 down to $1.49 Source
Channels
Phone, live web chat staffed by people, and outbound calls; business texting through its free phone system add-on Source
Human handoff
Human only: PATLive does not use AI to answer calls; call screening and transfers on every plan Source
Booking
Appointment scheduling on every plan Source
Notable limits
Prices are plus taxes and fees; outbound calls run 8 am to 6 pm ET on weekdays; texting activation is a one-time $50 fee Source

Checked on from PATLive’s public pricing page. Compare InsertChat vs PATLive

5. Abby Connect

Best hybrid of people and AI

Abby Connect routes each call to a US-based receptionist or its AI by call type, and AI minutes cost half, so you decide where a person matters.

Pick it if

  • You want trained US-based receptionists on the calls that need a personal touch, with AI on the rest.
  • You want to set the human and AI mix by call type and change it month to month.
  • You need HIPAA compliance options, which Abby offers on human answering.

Watch out for

  • Its Starter plan includes 50 Abby Minutes.
  • HIPAA compliance options apply to human answering only.
Entry price
$165 per month for 50 Abby Minutes, with no setup fee Source
Pricing model
Starter $165 (50 Abby Minutes), Essential $329 (100), Professional $599 (200), Growth $1,380 (500), and custom Enterprise plans Source
What is metered
Abby Minutes: one per minute of human answering, half per minute of AI answering Source
Channels
Phone answering by people or AI; follow-up calls and texts from the AbbyGO app Source
Human handoff
US-based receptionists and an AI receptionist; each call goes to a person or the AI based on call type Source
Notable limits
Overage is billed at the plan’s Abby Minute rate; HIPAA compliance options are for human answering only Source

Checked on from Abby Connect’s public pricing page. Compare InsertChat vs Abby Connect

6. Smith.ai

Best for AI with human backup

Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist lists human-agent backup and a free plan, a low-cost way into a service that still has people behind it.

Pick it if

  • You want live receptionists to take over transferred calls: Smith.ai routes them to its North America-based team, day or night.
  • You want to try AI answering on real calls for free: its Free plan covers 25 calls a month.
  • You prefer a per-call bill, and your calls run long enough that per-minute pricing would cost more.

Watch out for

  • Calls past the included allowance are charged per call.
  • SMS and email start on Pro.
Entry price
Free for 25 calls a month; Pro from $150 for 75 calls; Enterprise from $500 for 300 calls Source
Pricing model
Free, Pro, and Enterprise plans priced by calls per month Source
What is metered
Calls: $1.60 to $2.00 per included call on paid tiers; extra calls cost $3.00 on Free and $2.10 to $2.50 on paid tiers Source
Channels
AI call answering; custom SMS branding on Pro Source
Human handoff
Transfers calls to a live North America-based receptionist, day or night Source
Booking
AI scheduling with Calendly and other calendars, from the Free plan Source
Notable limits
Every answered call counts, with up to 10% removable as spam; cancelling takes 30 days’ notice Source

Checked on from Smith.ai’s public pricing page. Compare InsertChat vs Smith.ai

7. Davinci Virtual

Best for billing by the second

Davinci bills live receptionist time by the second instead of rounding up, and forwards calls to up to 99 people or numbers at no extra charge.

Pick it if

  • You want live receptionists billed by the second: Davinci’s FAQ says it does not round calls up to the minute.
  • You need calls forwarded to up to 99 employees or numbers, which Davinci includes at no extra charge.
  • You also want online faxing or a virtual office address from the same provider.

Watch out for

  • Its FAQ lists live answering on weekdays from 8 am to 8 pm EST.
  • A one-time setup fee applies, and scheduling is on Premium plans only.
Entry price
$129 per month for 50 live answer minutes (Business 50) Source
Pricing model
Business 50 ($129), Business 100 ($239), Premium 50 ($249), and Premium 100 ($319) plans by live answer minutes Source
What is metered
Live receptionist time, billed by the second; extra time costs $1.75 per minute on Business and $2.50 on Premium Source
Channels
Phone: live answering, voicemail, an auto receptionist, and online faxing Source
Human handoff
Human service: receptionists forward calls to up to 99 employees or numbers at no extra charge Source
Booking
Appointment scheduling on Premium plans only Source
Notable limits
$95 one-time setup fee; its FAQ lists live answering from 8 am to 8 pm EST, Monday through Friday; 30 days’ written notice to cancel Source

Checked on from Davinci’s live receptionist plans page. Compare InsertChat vs Davinci Virtual

8. Posh

Best for a few calls a month

Posh’s smallest plan has no minutes included and a per-minute rate, so a business with a few calls a month pays for what it uses, with unlimited users.

Pick it if

  • You want receptionists who transfer calls to you when your status in the Posh app says you’re free.
  • You get only a few calls: Chïc is $65 a month, with each minute at $2.30.
  • You need English and Spanish speaking receptionists.

Watch out for

  • Per-minute rates are highest on the smallest plans.
  • AI-enabled plans are priced separately from its main pricing page.
Entry price
$65 per month plus $2.30 per minute (Chïc); $130 for 50 minutes (Vogue) Source
Pricing model
Seven plans by receptionist minutes, from Chïc ($65, no minutes included) to Exclusive ($1,900 for 1,000 minutes) Source
What is metered
Receptionist minutes; extra minutes cost $2.30 down to $1.90 Source
Channels
Phone answering; calls and texts from your business number in the Posh app; messages by email or text Source
Human handoff
Human service: receptionists transfer calls to you based on the status you set in the app Source
Booking
Appointment scheduling through integrations with your software Source
Notable limits
Month-to-month; the free trial lasts seven days or 250 receptionist minutes, whichever comes first Source

Checked on from Posh’s public pricing page. Compare InsertChat vs Posh

9. Moneypenny

Best for per-call receptionist plans

Moneypenny’s US call plans charge by the call rather than the minute, with warm transfers on every plan; voicenation.com now redirects to it.

Pick it if

  • You want receptionists and AI on one account, with AI calls escalating to people.
  • You need warm call transfers to your team during the call.
  • You prefer paying per call: plans run from $69 for 25 calls to $435 for 250.

Watch out for

  • Overage applies per call or per minute, depending on the plan.
  • Canceling takes 30 days’ notice.
Entry price
$69 per month for 25 calls; $165 per month for 50 minutes Source
Pricing model
Minute plans from $165 for 50 to $985 for 500, and call plans from $69 for 25 to $435 for 250, with People Answering and AI Answering options Source
What is metered
Minutes or calls, by plan: extra minutes cost $2.28 down to $1.67, extra calls $2.49 down to $1.89 Source
Channels
Phone calls; call summaries arrive by email, text, or both Source
Human handoff
Warm call transfer on every plan; call plans list human escalation Source
Booking
Its AI receptionist books appointments directly into your calendar Source
Notable limits
No long-term contract; canceling takes 30 days’ notice, effective from your next billing date Source

Checked on from Moneypenny’s US pricing page. Compare InsertChat vs Moneypenny

10. Nexa

Best for intake and sales calls

Nexa’s live virtual receptionists answer around the clock, with client intake and inbound or outbound sales calls listed on its larger plans.

Pick it if

  • You want live virtual receptionists answering around the clock, every day of the year.
  • You need client or patient intake and inbound or outbound sales calls, listed on Nexa 300 and 500.
  • You prefer a plan quoted by a sales team over self-serve signup.

Watch out for

  • Prices aren’t published; plans are quoted by sales.
  • Work time includes after-call follow-up, not just talk time.
Entry price
Not listed; plan buttons lead to a contact form Source
Pricing model
Nexa 100, Nexa 300, and Nexa 500 plans by voice minutes; prices are not listed Source
What is metered
Receptionist work time: talk time plus after-call follow-up, email, scheduling, dispatching, and other time on your behalf; extra minutes bill at your base rate Source
Channels
Phone, with a local and toll-free number; live chat is a separate service Source
Human handoff
Human service: live virtual receptionists answer 24 hours a day, every day Source
Booking
Appointment scheduling on every plan Source
Notable limits
A setup fee covers programming, onboarding, and training (amount not listed); CRM integration is listed on Nexa 500 only Source

Checked on from Nexa’s public pricing page. Compare InsertChat vs Nexa

How we evaluated

We read the pages that rank for “best virtual receptionist services”, kept the products a small business can actually buy, and read each vendor’s own pricing and product pages, most recently on October 13, 2026. We don’t give star ratings or scores, and we didn’t buy every plan: these are documented facts, not hands-on test results. Anything a vendor doesn’t publish is left out rather than guessed. InsertChat is first because we build it for this job; the others are ordered by how well they fit the buyer this page is for.

Who answers

A trained person, an AI voice agent, or a mix, and whether you decide which calls go where.

Hours covered

Whether live answering runs 24/7 or only during business hours on the plan you buy.

How time is billed

Per minute, per call, or per credit, and whether calls round up, bill by the second, or include after-call work.

Transfers and messages

How calls reach you: warm transfer, screening, a message by text or email, or a transcript in an inbox.

Scheduling

Whether appointments are booked on every plan or only on premium tiers.

Beyond the phone

Live chat, texting, email, and WhatsApp: included, or sold as separate plans.

How to choose a virtual receptionist service

Virtual receptionist services come in three kinds: human receptionists billed by the minute, AI receptionists on a monthly plan, and hybrids that route calls between the two. Pick the kind first, then compare providers within it.

Price a normal month, not the entry plan

Entry plans look cheap until overage starts. Take last month’s total talk time, add your after-hours calls, and price it on each plan, including setup fees, rounding, and add-ons such as bilingual answering or transcriptions.

Check how time is counted

Providers measure differently: AnswerConnect rounds each interaction up to a whole minute, Davinci bills by the second, and Nexa counts after-call work as well as talk time. The same call can cost noticeably different amounts.

Confirm the hours you’re buying

Some plans include people around the clock; others cover business hours and hand nights to automation. If after-hours calls are why you’re buying, read the hours on the exact plan.

Write the call flow before the demo

List who gets transferred, who gets a message, and what counts as urgent. Human services follow your script; an AI receptionist like InsertChat follows your knowledge and handoff rules. Either way, a clear flow is what makes the service sound like your own front desk.

Decide whether you need a person at all

If most calls ask about hours, prices, availability, and booking, an AI receptionist answers them instantly on a flat plan. Keep a human service, or your own team, for calls that need judgment or a live transfer.

The 10 best virtual receptionist services in 2026: common questions

Choosing, pricing, and switching

Get started

A virtual receptionist service answers your business calls remotely, with trained receptionists or an AI voice agent. It greets callers in your business name, answers common questions, takes messages, books appointments, and passes urgent calls to your team. InsertChat is an AI virtual receptionist that also answers chat, email, SMS, and WhatsApp.

Human services on this list bill per receptionist minute or per call, with entry plans that include a set number of minutes and overage after that. InsertChat Pro is $98 a month with 5,000 monthly credits for calls and messages. Compare each pick’s sourced entry price and how it counts time.

For routine calls such as hours, prices, availability, and booking, an AI receptionist answers instantly and consistently at any hour. Human receptionists are better for emotionally difficult calls and live transfers. Many businesses put AI first and keep their own team, or a human service, for the rest.

Most can, but not always on every plan: Davinci lists scheduling on Premium plans only. InsertChat books into Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly, Cal.com, or the built-in calendar on every plan, automatically or after your team approves, with reminders 72 and 24 hours before.

Yes. Keep your current service for business hours and forward only after-hours or unanswered calls to InsertChat during the 7-day free trial with 500 credits. Compare the transcripts, then decide how much to move. In the US and Canada you keep your number by forwarding.

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