# Best Answering Service for Small Business (2026): Live, AI, and Hybrid Options Compared by Call Volume and Real Monthly Cost

Source: https://insertchat.com/blog/best-answering-service-small-business

> Compare the best answering service for small business: live, AI, and hybrid options priced at 100, 200, and 500 calls a month, plus billing traps to avoid.

Author: InsertChat Team

Published: 2026-10-21

For most small businesses taking up to a few hundred calls a month, an AI answering service is the best value: at 100 calls a month, published AI plans run about $70 to $150, while live receptionist services run about $400 to $1,200 for the same calls. A live or hybrid service is worth the extra cost when your callers regularly need human judgment, such as legal intake, upset customers, or emergency triage that can't wait for a callback.

This guide compares live, AI, and hybrid answering services on the prices each vendor publishes, checked on October 20, 2026. It works out what each one costs at 100, 200, and 500 calls a month, explains the billing models that make a cheap plan expensive, and ends with a five-step way to pick the right option for your call volume.

## The short answer: best answering service by situation

The right answering service depends less on the brand and more on two numbers: how many calls you get and what those calls need. Use this table to find your starting point, then check the cost tables below for your volume.

| Your situation | Best type | Services to shortlist | Typical cost at 100 calls/month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low volume, mostly messages and bookings | AI, billed per call or per caller | Upfirst, Goodcall, Quo Sona | About $70–$80 |
| Moderate volume, want booking plus website chat and texts | AI front desk with one shared allowance | InsertChat, Frontdesk, Nextiva XBert | About $98–$115 |
| Callers need a person (intake, complaints, judgment calls) | Live receptionists | PATLive, MAP Communications, Posh, Ruby | About $400–$1,160 |
| Mostly routine calls, some that need a human | Hybrid (AI first, human backup) | Smith.ai, Abby Connect, AnsweringService.com | About $210 and up |
| Only want messages taken, at the lowest price | Pay-as-you-go message taking | AnsweringService.com MessageExpress, ReceptionHQ | About $170–$225 |

One hundred calls a month is roughly four to five calls per business day. If that's you, the low-volume rows are where the savings are.

## Live, AI, and hybrid answering services: what's the difference?

A live answering service uses human receptionists in a call center who answer in your business name, take messages, and often transfer calls or book appointments. An AI answering service uses software with a natural-sounding voice that answers from your business information, books appointments, and sends you a summary. A hybrid service puts AI on the first answer and hands some calls to a human.

| | Live receptionists | AI answering service | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who answers | Trained people, usually US-based | Software voice | AI first, people for escalations |
| Typical billing | Per minute or per call, bundles with overage | Per call, per minute, per caller, or flat | Mixed: AI rate plus human rate |
| Cost per 3-minute call | About $4 to $15 on entry plans | About $0.50 to $2 | Somewhere between |
| Strengths | Empathy, judgment, warm transfers | Answers instantly, 24/7, books while the caller is on the line, cheap at volume | Routine calls cost less, hard calls still reach a person |
| Weak spots | Cost climbs fast; billing adds wrap-up time and spam calls | Some callers hang up on a bot; only as good as the information you give it | More moving parts, often quote-only pricing |

For a deeper look at the trade-offs, see our [comparison of AI and human receptionists](https://insertchat.com/blog/ai-receptionist-vs-human-receptionist).

## What each option really costs at 100, 200, and 500 calls a month

At 100 calls a month, the cheapest published AI plans cost under $100, and the cheapest live plans with transfers cost around $400 to $480. The gap widens with volume: at 500 calls, AI plans run about $130 to $800, while live services run about $1,200 to $4,900.

![Three stacks of coins increasing in height next to a desk phone and a printed invoice, showing how answering service costs rise with call volume](https://api-v3.trafficwins.com/media/articles/451839df-b628-4a0b-aa9c-23df39f1bbbe/451af01ac4a015245614d7564c78c6e6eda138a9f688a316cbda7c905c52c6a0.png)

*Live services cost several times more than AI at every volume, and the gap widens as calls increase.*

The tables below use each vendor's published pricing as of October 20, 2026, a three-minute average call (so 300, 600, and 1,500 minutes), the cheapest plan plus overage for each volume, and monthly billing before taxes. Every call is treated as billable, so real bills can be higher (spam, rounding, surcharges) or lower (spam exclusions, repeat callers). Treat these as planning numbers, not quotes.

### Live answering services

| Service | How it bills | 100 calls | 200 calls | 500 calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [AnsweringService.com](https://www.answeringservice.com/terms-conditions/) MessageExpress (messages only) | Per call | $170 | $315 | $735 |
| [AnsweringService.com](https://www.answeringservice.com/terms-conditions/) Answer (adds transfers) | Per call | $250 | $495 | $1,205 |
| [MAP Communications](https://www.mapcommunications.com/pricing/) | Minute bundle, $1.28–$1.37/min overage | $403 | $777 | $1,929 |
| [PATLive](https://www.patlive.com/pricing/) | Minute bundle, $1.69–$2.99/min overage | $479 | $938 | $2,344 |
| [Posh](https://www.posh.com/pricing) | Minute bundle, $1.90–$2.30/min overage | $630 | $1,170 | $2,850 |
| [Abby Connect](https://www.abby.com/pricing/) (human minutes) | Minute bundle | $899 | $1,656 | $4,140 (quote likely) |
| [Smith.ai](https://smith.ai/pricing/receptionists) virtual receptionists | Per call, $8.50–$11.50 overage | $915 | $1,965 | $3,800 |
| [Ruby](https://www.ruby.com/pricing/) | Minute bundle, $3.30–$5.40/min overage | $1,160 | $2,125 | $4,945 |

Notes that change the math:

- **AnsweringService.com** adds an after-hours surcharge of $0.20 to $0.30 per call outside 5am–7pm Monday to Friday, Phoenix time, per its [terms and conditions](https://www.answeringservice.com/terms-conditions/). MessageExpress takes messages only; it doesn't transfer calls.
- **Ruby** publishes its overage rates in its [help center](https://rubyhelpcenter.helpjuice.com/billing-plans/am-i-on-the-right-billing-plan) rather than on the pricing page, and you can't downgrade until you've stayed on a plan for three billing cycles.
- **Smith.ai** charges extra for some features on its human plans: +$1.00 per call for a Spanish line and +$1.50 per call for appointment booking.
- **Davinci Virtual** starts at $129 for 50 minutes, but its [FAQ](https://www.davincivirtual.com/faq/receptionist-services) says the live team answers 8am–8pm Eastern; outside those hours, coverage is automated. There's also a $95 setup fee.
- **AnswerConnect** and **Nexa** don't publish prices on their sites, so you'll need a quote.

If you're weighing two of the best-known live services, our [Ruby vs PATLive breakdown](https://insertchat.com/compare/ruby-vs-patlive) shows the minute math side by side, and the [answering service pricing guide](https://insertchat.com/blog/answering-service-pricing) covers per-minute bundles, pay-as-you-go, and per-call plans in more depth.

### AI answering services

| Service | How it bills | 100 calls | 200 calls | 500 calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| [Quo (OpenPhone) Sona](https://www.quo.com/pricing) plus one $19 Starter seat | Per call, in add-on tiers | $68 | $118 | $218 |
| [Upfirst](https://upfirst.ai/pricing) | Per call; spam not billed | $69.95 | $159.95 | $299 |
| [Goodcall](https://www.goodcall.com/pricing) | Per unique caller each month | $79 | $129 | $129 |
| [InsertChat](https://insertchat.com/pricing) | Monthly credits shared by calls and messages | $98 | $198 | $498 |
| [Jodie](https://heyjodie.com/en-us/pricing/) Professional | Flat monthly | $99 | $99 | $99 (check fair-use limits) |
| [Marlie](https://www.marlie.ai/pricing) | Minute bundle, $0.25–$0.35/min overage | $99 | $134 | $349 |
| [Nextiva XBert](https://www.nextiva.com/products/ai-receptionist) | Per interaction, $0.99 overage | $99 | $198 | $495 |
| [Frontdesk (My AI Front Desk)](https://www.myaifrontdesk.com/pricing) | Minutes plus credits, $0.25/min after | $114 | $189 | About $414 |
| [Dialzara](https://dialzara.com/pricing) | Minute bundle, $0.35–$0.48/min overage | $135 | $239 | $524 |
| [Rosie](https://heyrosie.com/pricing) | Minute bundle | $149 | $149 | $299 |
| [Smith.ai AI Receptionist](https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist) | Per call, $1.60–$3.00 | $212.50 | $385 | About $800 |

Notes that change the math:

- **Cheapest isn't always comparable.** Marlie's $49 Basic plan and Jodie's $49 Basic plan don't include transfers or booking, so the table uses the plans that do. Rosie's live transfers and direct calendar booking start on its $149 Scale plan.
- **Goodcall** counts each phone number once per month, so repeat callers cost nothing extra; at 500 calls from fewer than 500 people, it can be the cheapest option here. It books into Google Calendar only.
- **Quo Sona** needs a Quo phone plan. Call transfers are listed under the $33 Business plan, so budget for that seat if you need them.
- **Jodie** advertises unlimited minutes, but its US service page mentions a 1,000-call fair-use cap while its pricing FAQ says volume isn't capped. Ask before you rely on it at high volume.
- **Rosie** doesn't publish what happens when you go past your minutes. Ask whether it upgrades your plan automatically.
- **InsertChat** figures assume the [pricing page](https://insertchat.com/pricing) estimator's example rate of 12 credits per billable call minute: 300 minutes fit in Pro's 5,000 credits, 600 minutes in Growth's 10,000, and 1,500 minutes in Scale's 25,000. Credits aren't a fixed number of minutes; usage depends on your model and setup. The same credits also cover website chat, texts, email, and WhatsApp.

For comparison, a full-time receptionist earns a median $18.27 an hour, according to the [Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025 data)](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/receptionists.htm), or about $3,168 a month before benefits and payroll taxes.

## Why the pricing model matters more than the starting price

How a service counts usage decides your bill more than its headline price does. A $65 plan billed per minute can cost more than a $150 plan billed per call once your phone gets busy, and spam calls, rounding, and surcharges can add 20% or more on top.

The five billing models you'll see:

1. **Per minute with a bundle.** You buy a block of minutes (Ruby, PATLive, Posh, MAP) and pay a set rate per minute after it. Long calls and chatty callers raise your bill.
2. **Per call.** You pay for each call answered (Smith.ai, Upfirst, Quo Sona, AnsweringService.com). Predictable if your calls are long, expensive if you get lots of short ones.
3. **Per unique caller.** Each number counts once a month, however often it calls (Goodcall). Good for businesses where the same customers call back.
4. **Flat monthly.** One price regardless of volume (Jodie). Check fair-use terms.
5. **Shared credits.** One monthly allowance covers calls and written conversations (InsertChat, Frontdesk's credit pool, Nextiva's interactions). Simpler if you also want chat and texting answered.

The extras that turn a quote into a surprise:

- **Rounding and wrap-up time.** Ask whether each call rounds up to the next minute or 30 seconds, and whether the receptionist's time writing up your message after the call is billed. PATLive says it bills only the time the receptionist is live on the call.
- **Spam and robocalls.** Forwarded business lines attract them, and many services bill each one. Upfirst says it doesn't bill spam or calls under 15 seconds, Goodcall excludes spam and wrong numbers, and [ReceptionHQ](https://www.receptionhq.com/) doesn't charge for calls under 5 seconds or calls its receptionists flag as telemarketing.
- **After-hours and holiday charges.** Some services add per-call surcharges at night or daily fees on holidays. Others, including PATLive, Abby Connect, and Ruby, say they don't.
- **Paid add-ons.** Bilingual answering, appointment booking, extra transfer numbers, and setup can each cost extra. Smith.ai lists a Spanish line and booking as per-call add-ons; PATLive includes both on every plan.
- **Cancellation terms.** Several services require 30 days' notice. Read how cancellation works before you sign up for a trial.

## Live answering services worth shortlisting

Live services cost more per call, but a trained person can calm an upset caller, follow a complex script, and transfer a hot lead to your cell. These are the strongest published options for small businesses.

- **[PATLive](https://www.patlive.com/pricing/)**: The strongest value among live services with full features. Plans run from $49 pay-as-you-go ($2.99 a minute) to $1,499 for 1,000 minutes, and bilingual answering, booking, and transfers come on every plan. A 14-day free trial and no contracts.
- **[MAP Communications](https://www.mapcommunications.com/pricing/)**: The lowest per-minute overage among the live services here ($1.28 on its larger plans). Appointment scheduling and custom scripts can cost more, so get those priced up front.
- **[Posh](https://www.posh.com/pricing)**: US receptionists available 24/7/365, English and Spanish, no setup fees, and a trial of 7 days or 250 minutes. Pricing took effect January 1, 2026, starting at $65 a month with no minutes included.
- **[Ruby](https://www.ruby.com/pricing/)**: The premium choice, widely used by law firms and agencies, with 24/7 bilingual answering. It's the most expensive per minute here ($250 for 50 minutes), so it makes sense when the caller experience is worth the price.
- **[Smith.ai](https://smith.ai/pricing/receptionists)**: Per-call billing from $300 for 30 calls, with spam and wrong numbers not counted. Useful when your calls run long, since minutes don't matter. Our [Smith.ai alternative guide](https://insertchat.com/alternatives/smith-ai) compares its AI and human plans.
- **[AnsweringService.com](https://www.answeringservice.com/pricing)**: The cheapest way to get a person answering, if you only need messages. Pay-as-you-go MessageExpress is $20 a month plus $2.10 per call in its terms; a 7-day free trial needs no card.

## AI answering services worth shortlisting

AI services answer every call instantly, at any hour, and bill a fraction of live rates. The best ones book appointments during the call and send you a transcript and summary. Shortlist based on how you're billed and which calendar or CRM you need connected.

- **[Upfirst](https://upfirst.ai/pricing)**: Per-call plans from $24.95 for 30 calls, live warm transfers and booking on every plan, 35+ languages, and spam not billed. A 14-day trial with no card. A strong default for low-volume businesses.
- **[Goodcall](https://www.goodcall.com/pricing)**: Billed per unique caller ($79 for 100, $129 for 500), with transfers to up to three people. Booking is Google Calendar only, and it can send texts but can't yet receive replies.
- **[Quo Sona](https://www.quo.com/pricing)**: Best if you already use Quo (formerly OpenPhone) for your business line. It books by texting a link rather than writing to your calendar directly.
- **[Marlie](https://www.marlie.ai/pricing)**: Built for trades, with field-service connections like ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro and the ability to text callers a location link. Transfers and calendar sync start at $99.
- **[Smith.ai AI Receptionist](https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist)**: Free for 25 calls, then per-call plans from $150. Its draw is the option to hand calls to Smith.ai's live receptionists, so ask how those handoffs are billed.
- **[InsertChat](https://insertchat.com/product/phone)**: An AI receptionist plus website chat, texting, email, and WhatsApp from one knowledge base, starting at $98 a month. More on where it fits, and where it doesn't, below.

## Hybrid setups: AI first, people when it counts

A hybrid setup lets AI handle routine calls (hours, prices, bookings, messages) and puts a person on the calls that need one. You can buy hybrid from one vendor or build it yourself by having your own team's phones ring first and letting AI catch what goes unanswered.

![A smartphone receiving a call next to a receptionist with a headset and a laptop inbox, illustrating AI answering routine calls and handing others to a person](https://api-v3.trafficwins.com/media/articles/451839df-b628-4a0b-aa9c-23df39f1bbbe/8cedf58ed23f0b0c7dcf2675049b6fa87a2d83c173b556f549dd326b55e588d5.png)

*Ringing your team first and letting AI catch unanswered calls is often the cheapest hybrid.*

Vendor-run hybrid options:

- **[Abby Connect](https://www.abby.com/pricing/)** measures usage in "Abby Minutes" that cover both: a human minute uses one, an AI minute uses half. Plans run from $164 for 50 minutes to $1,380 for 500, month to month with no setup fee.
- **[Smith.ai](https://smith.ai/hybrid-ai-human-receptionists)** advertises hybrid AI-plus-human answering from $2.50 a call, but pricing for that tier is by quote.
- **AnsweringService.com and ReceptionHQ** both offer AI answering with a live team behind it, including bilingual English and Spanish AI receptionists at ReceptionHQ.

The do-it-yourself version is often cheaper. Many AI services can ring your team first and answer only if nobody picks up. InsertChat, for example, can ring your phones for 5 to 60 seconds before the AI answers, or answer only after hours. Regular customers still reach your staff, and nobody gets voicemail.

Why hybrid matters: callers want a way out. In Gartner's 2026 survey of 3,566 customers, [87% said companies using generative AI for service must offer access to a human agent](https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2026-08-04-gartner-survey-finds-87-percent-of-customers-say-companies-using-genai-for-customer-service-must-provide-access-to-a-human-agent0). A [Five9 survey by Hanover Research](https://www.five9.com/news/news-releases/new-five9-research-ai-adoption-cx-hits-92-consumer-trust-still-depends-human) of 3,000 consumers found 71% think it's very or extremely important to know when they're talking to AI. Say it's an AI assistant in the greeting, and make sure anything the AI can't handle reaches a person fast.

## How to choose for your call volume

Pick an answering service by counting your calls, sorting them by what they need, and pricing your actual volume, not the plan's starting price. This five-step process takes about an hour.

![A printed phone call log with highlighted rows beside a calculator and notepad, representing counting and sorting a month of business calls](https://api-v3.trafficwins.com/media/articles/451839df-b628-4a0b-aa9c-23df39f1bbbe/ede39cfc8b5bc30764d8bc04a9a5f03f81a0eb12c3f2420874a645f2cbf060cf.png)

*Thirty days of call logs tell you which billing model will cost least.*

1. **Count 30 days of calls and minutes.** Pull the call log from your carrier or phone system. Note total calls, average length, and how many came after hours. Strip out obvious spam; that's the volume a good service shouldn't bill you for.
2. **Sort calls by what they need.** Put each call in one of three buckets: message only ("call me back"), answer or book (hours, prices, appointments), and needs judgment (emergencies, complaints, legal or medical intake). Most small businesses find the first two buckets are the majority.
3. **Match the type to the mix.** Mostly messages and bookings: AI. A meaningful share of judgment calls: live or hybrid. After-hours only: AI after hours, or a pay-as-you-go live plan for low volume.
4. **Price your volume plus a buffer.** Work out each shortlisted plan at your monthly calls plus 30% for busy seasons, including overage, add-ons, and surcharges. Use the tables above as a starting point.
5. **Trial with real scenarios.** Most of these services offer a free trial. Forward your line after hours and place test calls: a new customer, an emergency, a caller who spells a hard name, a Spanish speaker, and someone demanding a person. Check what lands in your inbox and how fast.

| Calls per month | Usually the best value | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Under 50 | Per-call AI (Upfirst Starter, Smith.ai free tier) or pay-as-you-go live messages | Monthly minimums that cost more than the calls |
| 50–150 | AI plans from about $70–$150, or a live 300-minute plan around $400–$480 if you need people | Per-minute overage on short, frequent calls |
| 150–300 | AI plans from about $120–$200; hybrid if some calls need judgment | Live bundles jump to $900+ at this volume |
| 300+ | Per-caller or flat AI plans, or a negotiated live contract | Fair-use caps and quote-only tiers |

## Do missed calls justify the cost? What the data actually says

Yes for most businesses, if each booked call is worth more than a few dollars. But be careful with the missed-call statistics answering services quote. The most-repeated one, that 62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered, comes from a [2016 study by 411 Locals](https://411locals.us/small-business-owners-dont-answer-62-of-phone-calls/) that tracked just 85 businesses for 30 days. It found 37.8% of calls answered, 37.8% sent to voicemail, and 24.3% unanswered. Another popular claim, that 85% of callers won't call back, has no traceable original study.

More recent figures come from call-tracking vendors with large datasets. [Invoca's 2026 Lead Conversion Benchmarks Report](https://www.invoca.com/reports/the-invoca-lead-conversion-benchmarks-report-2026), covering more than 70 million calls across 10 industries, found 56% of callers to businesses speak with a person. CallRail [reports](https://www.callrail.com/blog/how-to-close-missed-call-customer-gap) that 28% of inbound calls go unanswered on average across its customers. Both skew toward businesses that already track calls.

Your own numbers matter more. A quick estimate: missed calls per month × the share that would have booked × your average job value. A hypothetical business missing 30 calls a month, where one in three would have booked a $300 job, is leaving about $3,000 a month on the table. Plug in your own figures with the [missed call calculator](https://insertchat.com/tools/missed-call-calculator).

## Questions to ask before you sign

Get these answers in writing during the trial. They're where most billing complaints and switching stories start.

- How do you round calls, and is after-call wrap-up time billed?
- Do spam calls, robocalls, wrong numbers, and hang-ups count against my plan?
- Are there after-hours, weekend, or holiday surcharges?
- What happens when I go over my plan: overage rate, automatic upgrade, or a cap?
- Are bilingual answering, booking, and call transfers included, or paid add-ons?
- Can I keep my business number? (Most services work by [call forwarding](https://insertchat.com/glossary/call-forwarding), which you can turn off in minutes.)
- Do you send usage alerts before I hit overage?
- How much notice do I need to give to cancel, and how do I cancel?
- For AI: which calendars and CRMs does it write to directly, can it transfer a live call, and how does it hand off calls it can't handle?

## Compliance basics: recording, healthcare, and AI disclosure

Most small businesses need to check three things: whether calls are recorded (and who must consent), whether the service will sign a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement if you handle patient information, and how the greeting discloses AI. This is general information, not legal advice; check with counsel for your industry and state.

- **Recording consent.** According to the [Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press](https://www.rcfp.org/introduction-to-reporters-recording-guide/), about 11 states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Washington, primarily require every party's consent to record. If your service records calls, make sure the greeting announces it.
- **Healthcare.** Under [HHS guidance on business associates](https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/guidance/business-associates/index.html), a vendor that creates, receives, maintains, or transmits protected health information for a practice needs a Business Associate Agreement. Ask which plan includes a BAA before you forward patient calls.
- **AI voices.** The FCC's [February 2024 declaratory ruling](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-17A1.pdf) (FCC 24-17) confirmed AI-generated voices count as "artificial" under the TCPA, so outbound AI calls need prior consent. In its [August 2024 proposal](https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-84A1.pdf) (FCC 24-84), the FCC noted the TCPA's requirements don't extend to technology used to answer inbound calls. Some states have their own AI disclosure rules, so an honest greeting is the safe default.

## Where InsertChat fits

InsertChat is an AI front desk for businesses that want calls answered and booked 24/7, with website chat, texts, email, and WhatsApp handled from the same knowledge base and shared inbox. It's a good fit for low-to-moderate call volume where the AI can resolve routine calls and your team follows up on the rest. It isn't the right pick if you need live call transfers.

What the [AI receptionist](https://insertchat.com/product/phone) does:

- Answers from your services, hours, prices, and policies, in the caller's language, with a choice of 10 voices and a greeting of up to 200 characters.
- Books, reschedules, and cancels appointments in its built-in calendar, Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly, or Cal.com, with appointment lengths from 15 to 120 minutes.
- Answers every call, only after hours, only when your team doesn't pick up within 5 to 60 seconds, or not at all (team only).
- Keeps your US or Canadian number through forwarding; elsewhere, you use a local or toll-free InsertChat number. Every paid plan includes one number, and extra numbers are $10 a month.
- Sends every call to the shared inbox with a transcript, AI summary, and the caller's contact record, and flags calls that need a person.

What it doesn't do: it doesn't transfer live calls, take voicemail, record calls, or place outbound calls, and number porting isn't offered. When a caller needs a person, the assistant takes their details, marks the conversation for your team, and tells the caller someone will follow up. If your workflow depends on warm transfers to an on-call tech or attorney, Upfirst, Goodcall, or a live service like PATLive will fit better. Medical practices should note that Business Associate Agreements are available on Enterprise plans only; see the [medical answering setup](https://insertchat.com/industries/healthcare) for details.

On cost, Pro is $98 a month with 5,000 credits; at the pricing page's example rate, that's about 416 call minutes, or roughly $0.71 for a three-minute call, with chat and messaging on the same plan. Calls round up to whole minutes with a one-minute minimum. To test it on your own calls, [start your 7-day free trial](https://insertchat.com/pricing) on Pro with 500 credits (a card is required, and the plan starts when the trial ends unless you cancel).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is there a free answering service for small business?

A few services have free tiers, but they're small. Smith.ai's AI Receptionist is free for 25 calls a month, then $3 a call, and Quo's Sona agent includes 10 calls on a Quo phone plan. Most other services offer free trials of 7 to 14 days instead. For genuinely free coverage, voicemail with transcription is the fallback, though many callers won't leave a message.

### Can I keep my business phone number with an answering service?

Usually, yes. Most answering services, live and AI, work through call forwarding: you keep publishing your number and forward all calls, after-hours calls, or unanswered calls to the service. Forwarding can be switched off in minutes, which makes trials low-risk. Some services also offer new local or toll-free numbers, and a few support porting your number over.

### What's the difference between an answering service and a virtual receptionist?

The terms overlap. A traditional answering service mainly takes messages and passes them on, often around the clock. A virtual receptionist does more of what an in-office receptionist would: answering questions, booking appointments, screening and transferring calls. Many providers now sell both levels, and AI services typically do receptionist-style work at answering-service prices.

### Do answering services charge for spam calls?

It depends on the provider, and it's one of the most common billing complaints. Upfirst says it doesn't bill spam or calls under 15 seconds, Goodcall excludes spam and wrong numbers, Smith.ai doesn't count spam or wrong numbers on its receptionist plans, and ReceptionHQ skips calls under 5 seconds. Others bill every answered call, so ask before you forward your line.