Best Answering Services Compared (Prices Included)
Find the best answering service for your business with our comprehensive comparison of the top 8 answering service providers.
For businesses of all sizes, answering every call can make the difference between gaining a loyal customer and losing them to a competitor. But let’s be honest, answering every call yourself isn’t realistic.
That’s where answering services come in. They help ensure no call goes unanswered, but here’s the catch: not all services are created equal. They vary widely in features, capabilities, and especially cost. The key is understanding your business needs first, then finding the provider that’s the best fit.
For a detailed breakdown of all the factors you should consider when choosing an answering service, check out our comprehensive guide: Choosing the Best Answering Service
In this guide, we’re comparing the 8 best answering services on the market today. We’ll highlight their strengths, weaknesses, and pricing structures to help you make an informed decision for your business.
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Prefer a side-by-side comparison? Jump to the Comparison Table.
The 8 Best Answering Services
#1
AnswerFirst
AnswerFirst has been delivering 24/7 live answering services since 1998, building a solid reputation for reliability and exceptional customer care.
Their 100% U.S.-based Customer Service Professionals (CSPs) handle everything from basic message-taking to full front-desk coverage, allowing businesses across all industries to focus on what matters most—running their operations.
Unlike many competitors, AnswerFirst offers straightforward pay-as-you-go pricing with no contracts, monthly commitments, or hidden fees. You only pay for what you use.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $30/month + $1.55-1.90/minute
- Free trial: No, but cancel anytime
- Google Reviews: 4.8 ⭐ | 475+ reviews
Strengths
- 100% live, U.S.-based receptionists with ongoing training and quality checks
- Simple pay-as-you-go pricing with no contracts or hidden fees
- 1-on-1 White Glove Support for first 45+ days
- Online portal with reports, recordings, schedules, and more
- Strong employee satisfaction translates into outstanding customer experiences
Weaknesses
- No free trial offered
- Not ideal for businesses seeking a budget AI-only solution
Pricing Model
AnswerFirst offers true pay-as-you-go pricing, meaning you only pay for what you use as you use it.
They charge a monthly base rate ($30) plus a per-minute rate that decreases as call volume increases, billed in 1-second increments.
💰 Rates:
- $30/mo base rate + $1.55-$1.90 per-minute rate
- Per-minute rate adjusts automatically based on call volume
#2
Posh
Posh is a 100% employee-owned, U.S.-based answering service that focuses on delivering a high-quality caller experience.
They provide 24/7 coverage, bilingual reception, appointment scheduling, and outbound calling, with a mobile app that allows businesses to toggle call handling and customize routing in real time.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $65/month (base rate) + $2.25/minute (Flat-rate plans start at $125/month for 50 minutes (+$2.15 per additional minute)
- Free trial: Yes, 7 days or 250 receptionist minutes (whichever comes first)
- Google Reviews: 4.5 ⭐ | 70+ reviews
Strengths
- Employee-owned company with U.S.-based receptionistsOutbound calling adds an extra layer of customer support
- Known for providing warm, professional interactions
- Mobile app makes it easy to control call flow
- Bilingual options available
Weaknesses
- Reports of receptionists straying from scripts
- Some users frustrated by billing surprises and high overages
- No built-in call recording feature, meaning you cannot listen to calls
Pricing Model
Posh offers flat-rate pricing, starting at $125/month for 50 minutes. Per-minute overage fees incur should you go over your allotted minutes.
They also offer a pay-as-you go option, as noted below, which includes a $65/month base rate plus $2.25/minute for services used.
💰 Rates:
- $65/month base rate + $2.25/minute (pay-as-you-go option)
- $125/month for 50 minutes (+$2.15 per additional minute)
- $210/month for 100 minutes (+$2.10 per additional minute)
- $410/month for 200 minutes (+$2.05 per additional minute)
- $685/month for 350 minutes (+$1.95 per additional minute)
- $950/month for 500 minutes (+$1.90 per additional minute)
- $1,850/month for 1,000 minutes (+$1.85 per additional minute)
#3
Specialty Answering Service (SAS)
SAS has decades of experience providing 24/7 U.S.-based answering, specializing in healthcare, legal, and professional services.
They focus on human-first service with personalized call handling and script customization, and emphasize HIPAA compliance for medical clients, making them ideal for businesses handling sensitive information.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $44/month (base rate) + $1.54/minute Flat-rate plans start at $159/month for 100 minutes (+$1.44 per additional minute)
- Free trial: No
- Google Reviews: N/A
Strengths
- U.S.-based receptionists available 24/7
- Experienced in serving professional industries like legal and healthcare
- Offers both message-taking and full call handling
Weaknesses
- Free trial not offered, so you’ll need to commit before testing service quality
- Some users report minor delays during peak call times
- Limited mobile app functionality compared to other providers
Pricing Model
Speciality Answering Service (SAS) offers flat rate pricing, ranging from $159/month for 100 minutes up to $10,599/month for 10,000 minutes.
They also offer a pay-as-you go option, as noted below, which includes a $44/mo base rate plus $1.54/minute for services used.
💰 Rates:
- $44/month base rate + $1.54/minute (pay-as-you-go option)
- $159/month for 100 minutes (+$1.44 per additional minute)
- $269/month for 220 minutes (+$1.44 per additional minute)
- $649/month for 500 minutes (+$1.34 per additional minute)
- $1,199/month for 1,000 minutes (+$1.29 per additional minute)
- $2,929/month for 2,500 minutes (+$1.19 per additional minute)
- $5,649/month for 5,000 minutes (+$1.19 per additional minute)
- $10,599/month for 10,000 minutes (+$1.09 per additional minute)
#4
ReceptionHQ
ReceptionHQ offers flexible, global answering services with tiered plans and pay-as-you-go options.
Their 24/7 bilingual receptionists handle everything from basic message-taking to full appointment scheduling, making them suitable for small businesses as well as larger organizations with complex call handling needs.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $25/month (base rate) + $1.99/call for basic message taking services only (Flat-rate plans start at $49/month for 25 calls +$1.99 per additional call)
- Free trial: Yes, 7 days
- Google Reviews: 4.6 ⭐ | 90+ reviews
Strengths
- Wide range of flexible pricing and plan structures
- 24/7 live receptionists with bilingual support
- Capable of handling appointment scheduling and lead capture
Weaknesses
- Complicated pricing can be difficult to navigate
- Reports of unresponsive or slow customer support
- Some customers cited billing issues, including post-cancellation charges
- Receptionists may take time to learn detailed scripts
Pricing Model
ReceptionHQ has a complex pricing structure. They offer several different plans (MessageExpress, ReceptionistPlus, MyAssistant etc.) with varying service capabilities.
Within each plan, there are several flat-rate packages based on expected monthly usage. Some plans are based on minutes, others are based on calls. There are a few pay-as-you-go options too which are noted below.
There are setup fees for several of the plans, as well as overage fees for additional usage beyond what your package allows.
💰 Rates:
- MessageExpress Package (basic message taking only)
- $25/month base rate + $1.99/call (pay-as-you-go option)
- $49/month for 25 calls (+$1.99 per additional call)
- 6 more packages available, scaling up to 500 minutes (Custom option also available)
- Receptionist Plus Package (messages, support & call transfers)
- $35/month base rate + $2.99/call (pay-as-you-go option)
- $80/month for 25 calls (+$2.99 per additional call)
- 12 more packages available, scaling up to 1,000 calls (Custom option also available)
- MyAssistant Package (tailored scripting & virtual assistance):
- $49/month base rate + $2.20/minute (pay-as-you-go option); setup fee starting at $50
- $99/month for 25 minutes (+$2.20 per additional minute), setup fee starting at $50
- 12 more packages available, scaling up to 1,000 minutes (Custom option also available)
- MyDiary Package (appointment scheduling & diary management):
- $49/month base rate + $2.20/minute (pay-as-you-go option); setup fee starting at $99
- $99/month for 25 minutes (+$2.20 per additional minute), setup fee starting at $99
- 10 more packages available, scaling up to 800 minutes (Custom option also available)
#5
MAP Communications
MAP Communications is a U.S.-based, employee-owned service offering 24/7 coverage and flexible plans. Customers highlight their fast onboarding, helpful consultation process, and intuitive dashboard with call analytics.
MAP is a strong fit for businesses seeking reliable answering support paired with detailed reporting, though some users report occasional billing concerns.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $49/month (base rate) + $1.37/minute (Flat-rate plans start at $179/month for 125 minutes +$1.30 per additional minute)
- Free trial: Yes, 7 days (no credit card required)
- Google Reviews: N/A
Strengths
- U.S.-based receptionists with 24/7 coverage
- Helpful onboarding with personalized scripts
- Dashboard includes analytics and call monitoring
- Bilingual options included
Weaknesses
- Reports of unexpected fees (holiday charges, overages)
- Can become expensive for small businesses with limited budgets
- Some complaints about receptionists going off-script or missing details
Pricing Model
MAP Communications offers flat-rate pricing plans, ranging from $179/month for 125 minutes to $649/month for 500 minutes.
They also offer a pay-as-you go option, as noted below, which includes a $49/mo base rate plus $1.37/minute for services used.
💰 Rates:
- $49/month base rate + $1.37/minute (pay-as-you-go option)
- $649/month for 500 minutes (+$1.28 per additional minute)
- $339/month for 250 minutes (+$1.28 per additional minute)
- $179/month for 125 minutes (+$1.30 per additional minute)
#6
AnswerConnect
AnswerConnect is a “humans only” service that positions itself against AI receptionists.
Their Canadian-based team provides 24/7 answering with no extra fees for nights, weekends, or holidays. They appeal to established businesses seeking personalized scripting, CRM integrations, and reliable, human-powered service.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $325/month for 100 minutes ($2.95 per additional minute)
- Free trial: Yes, 14 days or 150 receptionist minutes (whichever comes first)
- Google Reviews: 4.8 ⭐ | 150+ reviews
Strengths
- Onboarding includes personalized scripting and dedicated support
- Appointment scheduling handled through Setmore
- Live chat available on most plans, with capped billing per chat
- Customers can monitor calls through the mobile app
Weaknesses
- Highest starting costs compared to competitors ($325/mo)
- $75 setup fee applies for several plans
- Smaller businesses may find costs difficult to justify
Pricing Model
AnswerConnect offers flat rate pricing plans, starting at $325/month for 100 minutes to $1,645 for 900 minutes.
Note: they round up to the nearest minute, meaning you may be billed for time you didn’t actually use, and there are per-minute overage fees if you go over your plan’s allotted minutes.
Some plans also include setup fees.
💰 Rates:
- $325/month for 100 minutes (+$2.95 per additional minute)
- $425/month for 300 minutes (+$2.95 per additional minute)
- $825/month for 450 minutes (+$2.75 per additional minute)
- $1,095/month for 600 minutes (+$2.75 per additional minute)
- $1,645/month for 900 minutes (+$2.75 per additional minute)
- More than a dozen additional plans available, scaling up to 100,000 minutes.
#7
Ruby
Ruby offers premium virtual receptionist services with 24/7 U.S.-based staff handling both calls and live chat.
Designed for businesses that want a polished, professional image, Ruby emphasizes caller experience and is best suited for companies that can justify a higher monthly investment.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $245/month for 50 minutes
- Free trial: No, but they do offer a 21-day money-back guarantee
- Google Reviews: N/A
Strengths
- Around-the-clock coverage with U.S.-based receptionists
- Mobile app for call management and message delivery
- Spam and robocalls filtered out automatically
- Offers both phone answering and live chat services
Weaknesses
- Higher costs compared to competitors ($245/50 min = $4.9 per minute)
- Setup and onboarding can be confusing for some users
- Service quality is inconsistent depending on which receptionist takes the call
- Some customers report technical hiccups with integrations and app performance
Pricing Model
Ruby offers flat-rate pricing plans ranging from $245/month for 50 minutes to $1,695/month for 500 minutes per month.
Bundled plans with live chat are available at a 25% discount, and standalone live chat plans start at $140 for 10 chats.
💰 Rates:
- Virtual Receptionist Plans:
- $245/month for 50 minutes
- $385/month for 100 minutes
- $705/month for 200 minutes
- $1,695/month for 500 minutes
- Live Chat Plans:
- $140/month for 10 chats
- $330/month for 30 chats
- $510/month for 50 chats
#8
Smith.ai
Smith.ai goes beyond basic answering, offering lead qualification, appointment scheduling, and payment processing.
Their professional receptionists are often indistinguishable from in-house staff, and their per-call pricing can be appealing for businesses with varying call volumes.
📊 Quick Stats:
- Starting price: $292.50/month for 30 calls
- Free trial: No, but a 14-day money-back guarantee is offered
- Google Reviews: N/A
Strengths
- Receptionists frequently praised for professionalism
- Includes lead qualification and intake in base plans
- Optional AI-first or human-first models available
- Integrates with a wide range of business software
Weaknesses
- Higher costs compared to competitors ($292.50/30 calls = $9.75 per call)
- Add-ons like appointment booking and payment processing come with extra fees
- Some users report billing or account setup headaches
- Limited to three qualifying questions before add-on charges apply
Pricing Model
Smith.ai offers flat rate pricing plans, but their plans are by number of calls rather than minutes. Pricing starts at $292.50/month for 30 calls.
Their pricing structure can be a bit confusing, as there are many “add-on” services that aren’t included in the prices seen below.
💰 Rates:
- Virtual Receptionists:
- $292.50/month for 30 calls (+$11 per additional call)
- $787.50/month for 90 calls (+$10 per additional call)
- $2,025/month for 200 calls (+$8 per additional call)
- Custom plans available
- AI Receptionists
- $95/month for 50 calls (+$2.40 per additional call)
- $270/month for 150 calls (+$2.30 per additional call)
- $800/month for 500 calls (+$2.10 per additional call)
- Custom plans available
Overview: Comparison Table
Here’s a quick comparison of the top 8 answering services, including reviews, pricing, and free trial options.
| Provider | Reviews | Free Trial | Pricing Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AnswerFirst | 4.8 ⭐ (475+ reviews) | No, but you can cancel anytime (no contracts or commitments) | True pay-as-you-go pricing; Per-minute billing in 1s increments | $30/mo base rate + $1.55-1.90/min(rate based on call volume) (pay-as-you-go) |
| Posh | 4.5 ⭐ (70+ reviews) | Yes, 7 days or 250 receptionist minutes | Mostly flat-rate pricing, by minutes; Pay-as-you-go pricing option available | $65/mo base rate + $2.25/min (pay-as-you-go option)Flat-rate plans start at $125/mo for 50 minutes (+$2.15 per additional min.) |
| SAS | n/a | No | Mostly flat-rate pricing, by minutes; Pay-as-you-go pricing option available | $44/mo base rate + $1.54/min (pay-as-you-go option)Flat-rate plans start at $159/mo for 100 minutes (+$1.44 per additional min.) |
| ReceptionHQ | 4.6 ⭐ (90+ reviews) | Yes, 7 days | Mostly flat-rate pricing, some plans by minutes & others are by calls; Pay-as-you-go pricing option available | *MessageExpress (basic messaging) only* $25/mo base rate + $1.99/call (pay-as-you-go option)Flat-rate plans start at $49/mo for 25 calls (+$1.99 per additional call) |
| MAP Communications | n/a | Yes, 7 days | Mostly flat-rate pricing, by minutes; Pay-as-you-go pricing option available | $49/mo base rate + $1.37/min (pay-as-you-go option)Flat-rate plans start at $179/mo for 125 minutes (+$1.30 per additional min.) |
| AnswerConnect | 4.8 ⭐ (150+ reviews) | Yes, 14 days or 150 minutes | Flat-rate pricing, by minutes | $325/mo for 100 minutes(+$2.95 per additional min.) |
| Ruby | n/a | No, but there is a 21-day money-back guarantee | Flat-rate pricing, by minutes | $245/mo for 50 minutes |
| Smith.ai | n/a | No, but there is a 14-day money-back guarantee | Flat-rate pricing; by calls | $292.50/mo for 30 calls(+$11 per additional call) |
Last Updated: January 26, 2026
