Find an answering service that keeps your small business booking.
Published by Penny · Updated · Sources and corrections
When both trucks are out, a new customer should still be able to book a visit. When a call needs you, the receptionist should know where to send it. Use those jobs to compare human and AI services, then price the plan at your call volume.
14 days of Pro, including 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations. No credit card.
Buy coverage for the work you need done.
A two-truck shop needs appointment booking while both crews are out. A property manager needs the unit number and an on-call contact. A salon needs to know which stylist and how much time to reserve. Start with the details that change what your team does next.
Penny publishes this guide using the providers’ plan details linked below. The shortlist reflects stated capabilities, not a comparative test of call quality. Smith.ai’s entries cover its live receptionist plans; its AI service is a separate offering.
Write the call-handling requirements first.
Use the tasks your office performs today. A plan is a good buy when it completes those tasks accurately at the volume you expect.
Compare the subscription, included calls or minutes, extra usage, and required feature charges. Price a usual month and a busy one. Both human and AI plans can charge overage.
Decide which appointments callers may book and which jobs need your approval. Then test an allowed slot and a request that must wait for your office. Confirm the calendar entry yourself.
Use a common call from your trade and check the details saved. An address, unit number, symptom, or preferred stylist may change what your team does next. Supply your own quoting and service-area rules.
Check nights, weekends, and overflow, along with the person who receives transfers. Test what happens when nobody answers that destination. Coverage is only useful if your follow-up process works.
Check both the available language and the plan or add-on required. Try an address correction in Spanish if that reflects your customers. Inspect the record after the call.
Check the email, calendar, or business software you use. Confirm which appointments are booked and which requests still need a dispatcher, quote, or approval.
Test the calls your office would recognize.
Use a normal request, a job you do not offer, and an urgent situation covered by your policy. Check that the receptionist follows the right path for each and does not invent a service or price.
Penny’s trade references supply a starting point, and her industry pages print their scope. Add your own hours, service area, quoting limits, and transfer contacts before testing the account.
Which service belongs on your shortlist?
Start with who should answer, then check the tasks and plan terms that matter to your office.
AI answering with a trade reference, business instructions, and calendar booking from Starter.
Best for: Owners who want routine intake and permitted appointments handled while they work.
Check: Minutes are metered. Warm transfers and on-call rotation require Pro; the free plan covers website chat.
Live receptionists with minute-based plans and scheduling available.
Best for: Businesses that want a person handling the conversation from the start.
Check: Get the extra-minute rate in your quote and test your calendar setup.
Human receptionist plans billed by call count; separate from Smith.ai’s AI product.
Best for: Offices considering per-call billing for live intake.
Check: Selected features add per-call charges. Qualifying spam is excluded from billing.
Live answering with monthly minute allowances.
Best for: Businesses looking for human coverage around the clock.
Check: Compare the rounding, extra-minute rate, and setup fee for the specific plan.
AI answering with editable prompts and tiered calendar and transfer features.
Best for: Businesses pricing AI plans against a defined intake and handoff workflow.
Check: Include phone-number charges and any required add-ons; check the feature tier.
The published plans beside your requirements.
Each competitor row links to its source and verification date. Penny’s headline prices are effective monthly amounts billed annually.
| Service | Type | Billing | Entry price | 24/7 | Books appointments | What it knows about your trade | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penny | AI | Minute allowance plus extra usage | $29/mo billed annually · 100 minfree tier: website chat, 100 conversations a monthBusiness $249/mo billed annually · 1050 min | 24/7 on every phone plan | Google Calendar or Outlook booking from Starter | Trade reference plus your website and business rules | Pricing |
| Ruby | Human | Minute allowance plus extra usage | $250/mo · 50 min | 24/7 included | Scheduling available across plans | Personalized call handling; test your intake | Ruby plans and pricingas of 2026-09-07 |
| Smith.ai (live agents) | Human | Call allowance plus extra calls and selected add-ons | $300/mo · 30 calls | 24/7 included | Per-call scheduling add-on | Business-specific intake and lead criteria | Smith.ai live receptionist pricingas of 2026-09-07 |
| AnswerConnect | Human | Minute allowance plus extra usage | $350/mo · 200 min (+$49.99 setup) | 24/7 included | Appointment scheduling offered | Configurable scripting; test your intake | AnswerConnect services and plansas of 2026-09-07 |
| Dialzara | AI | Minute allowance plus extra usage | $29/mo · 60 min | 24/7 | Calendar sync from Pro | Editable prompts and custom questions | Dialzara pricingas of 2026-09-07 |
Prices are plan subscriptions with the allowances shown, not unlimited usage. Add overage and any required feature or number charges. Provider features come from their linked pages; their presence is not a comparative quality score.
Want the full pricing breakdown, including mid-tier plans and overage rates? See the answering service cost guide, or browse every head-to-head on the compare hub.
Make the shortlist, then run the calls.
If a person must answer from the start, compare Ruby, Smith.ai’s live service, and AnswerConnect. If AI fits your routine calls, test Penny and Dialzara against the same requests. Check the output and total price before choosing.
Penny starts at $29/month billed annually or $35 monthly, with 100 minutes. When you choose to keep answering past them, 60 more minutes are added at a time at $0.24–$0.29 a minute, depending on plan. The free plan is website chat, 100 conversations a month; the trial, 14 days of Pro, including 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations, lets you test phone answering with your own rules.
14 days of Pro, including 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations. No credit card.
New to AI receptionists? Start with the AI answering service overview, or read what Penny knows about your trade on the industries pages.
Call Penny and try it
The live demo uses Summit Heating, a fictional HVAC business. Listen to her intake here; test your own trade’s rules in your Penny account.
(630) 324-4620- Ask the shared HVAC demo for an appointment and listen for confirmation.
- Give an address, then correct the street number.
- Use your trial account to test your own trade and urgent-call rules.
Free website chat. Phone answering from $29 a month.
Every paid plan comes with your industry’s knowledge, your intake questions, and calendar booking. Bigger plans add minutes, the on-call schedule, more numbers and locations, field-service connections, and reporting.
Billed annually, ~17% less than month to month.
100 phone minutes a month · $348 billed annually
- Everything in Free
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.100 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.
- Your plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.$0.29/min after that, in 60-minute blocksYour plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.300 chat conversations a month, without the Penny markOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- Penny checks open slots and your booking rules before adding an appointment to Google Calendar or Outlook during a call or chat.Calendar booking in Google or Outlook, on phone and chatPenny checks open slots and your booking rules before adding an appointment to Google Calendar or Outlook during a call or chat.
- Edit your industry’s emergency rules in plain English. Penny tries the number you choose. If nobody answers, she takes a message and emails it to you.Your industry’s emergency rules and a transfer numberEdit your industry’s emergency rules in plain English. Penny tries the number you choose. If nobody answers, she takes a message and emails it to you.
- Every call and chat with its transcript in your dashboard. Send call, lead, and appointment details to your own system with a signed webhook, or through Zapier to Slack, Microsoft Teams, HubSpot, Salesforce, and other apps.Call log with transcripts; Zapier and webhooksEvery call and chat with its transcript in your dashboard. Send call, lead, and appointment details to your own system with a signed webhook, or through Zapier to Slack, Microsoft Teams, HubSpot, Salesforce, and other apps.
375 phone minutes a month · $1,188 billed annually
- Everything in Starter
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.375 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.
- Your plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.$0.27/min after that, in 60-minute blocksYour plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.1,000 chat conversations a monthOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- Set who is on call by day and hour. Penny rings that person and, with announce on, tells them about the call before connecting the caller. If nobody picks up, Penny comes back on the line, takes a message, and emails it to you.On-call schedule and warm transferSet who is on call by day and hour. Penny rings that person and, with announce on, tells them about the call before connecting the caller. If nobody picks up, Penny comes back on the line, takes a message, and emails it to you.
- Send intake records to Jobber or Housecall Pro for your office to review and schedule. Penny sends one after each call or chat where she takes a message, lead, request, booking or voicemail. Housecall Pro needs its Max plan.Jobber or Housecall ProSend intake records to Jobber or Housecall Pro for your office to review and schedule. Penny sends one after each call or chat where she takes a message, lead, request, booking or voicemail. Housecall Pro needs its Max plan.
- Up to 3 locations and 3 Penny numbers under one account. Each location has its own number, hours, greeting, service area, transfer contacts and alert email. Your services, prices, house rules and answers are shared.Multiple numbers and locationsUp to 3 locations and 3 Penny numbers under one account. Each location has its own number, hours, greeting, service area, transfer contacts and alert email. Your services, prices, house rules and answers are shared.
1,050 phone minutes a month · $2,988 billed annually
- Everything in Pro
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.1,050 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when Penny hands the call to a person.
- Your plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.$0.24/min after that, in 60-minute blocksYour plan’s per-minute rate for talk time past your minutes, added 60 minutes at a time when you choose to keep answering. Unused added minutes carry over. No per-call fee.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.2,500 chat conversations a monthOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- Everything Pro does for multiple locations, for up to 10 locations and 10 Penny numbers.Up to 10 locations and numbersEverything Pro does for multiple locations, for up to 10 locations and 10 Penny numbers.
- Call volume, outcomes, leads, and bookings over time, with a read API and export for your own reporting.Analytics and reporting; API and exportCall volume, outcomes, leads, and bookings over time, with a read API and export for your own reporting.
- Choose how long Penny keeps conversations. Older ones are deleted automatically, except those with an appointment still to come.Retention controlsChoose how long Penny keeps conversations. Older ones are deleted automatically, except those with an appointment still to come.
- Front-of-the-line support and a guided setup session that tunes Penny to how your office runs.Priority support and guided setupFront-of-the-line support and a guided setup session that tunes Penny to how your office runs.
14 days of Pro, including 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations. No credit card.
Chat on your website. 100 conversations a month.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.100 chat conversations a monthOne visitor session counts as one conversation, and the count resets every month. On a paid plan you can choose to keep answering past your allowance: we add 100 conversations for $10 and email you. Added conversations you don’t use carry over.
- The free widget carries a small “answered by Penny” mark. Starter removes it.A small “answered by Penny” mark on the widgetThe free widget carries a small “answered by Penny” mark. Starter removes it.
- A visitor asks for a time, Penny takes the request, and the email gives you what you need to confirm it with them. Live booking onto your calendar begins on Starter.Appointment requests you confirmA visitor asks for a time, Penny takes the request, and the email gives you what you need to confirm it with them. Live booking onto your calendar begins on Starter.
- Penny notices the caller’s or visitor’s language and switches, mid-conversation if needed, at no extra charge.English and SpanishPenny notices the caller’s or visitor’s language and switches, mid-conversation if needed, at no extra charge.
- Penny reads your site for services, hours, and service area, and starts with a working reference on your line of work.Answers from your website and your industry’s knowledgePenny reads your site for services, hours, and service area, and starts with a working reference on your line of work.
- The details each visitor shares, their question, and the outcome, in your inbox as the conversation ends.Lead capture, with an email after every conversationThe details each visitor shares, their question, and the outcome, in your inbox as the conversation ends.
Phone answering, live booking, and call transfers begin on Starter.
Try Penny freeFrom $3,000 a year, with custom volume and a named account team.
- Everything in Business
- Minutes sized to your call volume, on a contract you negotiate with the account team.Custom phone volumeMinutes sized to your call volume, on a contract you negotiate with the account team.
- What talk time past your contract’s minutes costs is agreed with the account team and written into your contract.Overage set in your contractWhat talk time past your contract’s minutes costs is agreed with the account team and written into your contract.
- Website conversations sized to your traffic, set in your contract along with your minutes.Custom website chat volumeWebsite conversations sized to your traffic, set in your contract along with your minutes.
- A named team that knows your setup, with contractual response times.A dedicated account team and SLAsA named team that knows your setup, with contractual response times.
- Connectors built for your systems and a hands-on onboarding for your team.Custom integrations and onboardingConnectors built for your systems and a hands-on onboarding for your team.
Billed annually on a custom contract.
Talk to usNo setup fee. Keep your number and cancel from billing. Enterprise uses a custom annual contract.
Questions to settle before choosing an answering service.
Still weighing it up? Call the demo line and ask Penny what you would ask a front desk.
Choose one that handles your actual requests, follows your rules, and leaves accurate records. Decide whether callers need a human from the start, then compare the relevant plans. This Penny buying guide uses published terms, not an independent ranking of call quality.
The same test, run on your trade.
Penny asks whether the furnace starts and quits or never starts at all, then puts the caller’s answer on the booking.
Penny records the property, unit, and access instructions together, so the maintenance coordinator can act on the request.
A slow-drain request includes which fixture is affected and whether other drains are backing up, so your plumber can prepare for the visit.
Give Penny a call before you forward yours.
Try the HVAC demo, then set up Penny for your business. Your account starts with 14 days of Pro, including 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations; Free keeps your website chat after the trial.
14 days of Pro, including 100 phone minutes and 300 website conversations. No credit card.