A business phone answering service picks up your calls when you can’t, so customers reach a person or an AI receptionist instead of voicemail. In 2026 there are three kinds to choose from: AI answering services that cost as little as $49 a month, live receptionist services staffed by people, and hybrid services that pair AI with human backup.
This guide compares eight of the best options on price, coverage hours, features and who each one suits, and works out what each would cost for a typical small business.
Quick answer: the best business phone answering services in 2026
- Marlie AI: best AI answering service for small and service businesses, from $49/month with 24/7 coverage.
- Smith.ai: best hybrid option, with an AI receptionist that can hand calls to live agents.
- Ruby: best premium live receptionist service for professional and client-facing firms.
- PATLive: best 100% human answering with a free trial and no contracts.
- AnswerConnect: best value per minute for businesses that need 24/7 live answering.
- Abby Connect: best for a dedicated receptionist team that learns your business.
- Moneypenny (formerly VoiceNation): best for choosing between live and AI plans from one provider.
- Davinci Virtual: best for businesses that also need a virtual office address.
Business phone answering services compared
| Service | Type | Starting price | Billing model | Hours | Free trial or guarantee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marlie AI | AI | $49/month (250 minutes) | Per minute | 24/7 | 14-day free trial |
| Smith.ai | AI, hybrid or live | Free AI plan (25 calls); live from $300/month (30 calls) | Per call | 24/7 | 30-day money-back on live plans |
| Ruby | Live (optional AI tools) | $250/month (50 minutes) | Per minute | 24/7 | None listed |
| PATLive | Live only | $49/month + $2.99/minute | Per minute | 24/7 | 14-day free trial |
| AnswerConnect | Live | $350/month (200 minutes) | Per minute | 24/7 | None listed |
| Abby Connect | Live, AI or both | $164/month (50 minutes) | Per minute | Custom or 24/7 | Free trial on every plan |
| Moneypenny | Live or AI | $165/month (50 minutes); AI $69/month (25 calls) | Per minute or per call | 24/7 | None listed |
| Davinci Virtual | Live | $129/month (50 minutes) | Per second | Mon–Fri, 8 a.m.–8 p.m. ET | None listed |
Prices were checked on each provider’s pricing page, or on third-party reviews where a provider doesn’t publish a full price list, in October 2026. Plans change often, so confirm before you sign.
What is a business phone answering service?
A business phone answering service is an outsourced service that answers your company’s calls on your behalf. You forward your business number to the service, it answers in your company’s name, and it follows your instructions: take a message, answer common questions, book an appointment, qualify a lead or transfer an urgent call to you.
There are three main types:
- AI answering services use a voice AI agent to answer every call instantly, 24/7, and can handle many calls at once. They cost the least and are fastest to set up, but they work best when calls follow predictable patterns.
- Live answering services use trained human receptionists. They handle sensitive or unusual calls well, but they cost more per minute and can put callers on hold when lines are busy.
- Hybrid services let AI handle routine calls and pass complex ones to a human receptionist, so you pay human rates only when a person is needed.
How we picked these services
We started with the providers that appear most often in 2026 comparisons, reviews and searches for business answering services. We then checked each one against its current pricing page and product information. Two entries from our previous version changed: VoiceNation now operates as Moneypenny after its acquisition, and we replaced Nexa with Smith.ai because Nexa doesn’t publish pricing.
Each service was judged on five criteria: published pricing and billing model, coverage hours, what the receptionist can actually do on a call (booking, intake, transfers, payments), integrations, and contract terms. Marlie AI is our own product. We included it because it competes directly in this category, and we’ve listed its limitations alongside everyone else’s.
1. Marlie AI
Marlie AI is an AI receptionist that answers every call in under two seconds, 24/7, and can handle several calls at the same time. It answers in your business name, answers questions from your FAQs and training documents, takes detailed messages, books and reschedules appointments on your calendar, and sends texts with links to callers. It also screens out spam and robocalls before they waste your time.
When a caller needs a person, Marlie can transfer the call to your team based on rules you set. After every call, you get a summary and transcript by email or text, and Marlie connects to more than 8,000 tools through integrations and Zapier, including Google Calendar, HubSpot, Housecall Pro and Slack. Most businesses are live in about 15 minutes. It’s especially popular with home service businesses such as plumbers, HVAC companies and locksmiths that miss calls while they’re on a job.
Best for: Small businesses and service companies that want every call answered around the clock at a predictable monthly price.
Pricing: Basic $49/month (250 minutes), Standard $99/month (500 minutes, adds booking and call transfers), Pro $199/month (1,000 minutes, adds payment links and a knowledge base) and Premium $399/month (2,000 minutes, adds multi-location setup and an account manager). Extra minutes cost $0.25 to $0.35 each. Every plan includes a 14-day free trial.
Pros
- Answers instantly, 24/7, with no hold times and no extra charge for nights or weekends.
- Lowest starting price on this list, with 250 minutes included.
- Books appointments and sends follow-up texts during the call.
- Handles several calls at once, so busy periods don’t create a queue.
Cons
- AI only: transfers go to your own team, not to an outside human receptionist.
- Call transfers and calendar booking need the Standard plan or above.
- Callers with very unusual or emotional requests may still want a person.
2. Smith.ai
Smith.ai offers three ways to answer calls: an AI-first receptionist, a human-first service with North America–based receptionists, and a hybrid of both. Its AI receptionist qualifies leads, books appointments and routes calls, and it can hand a complex call to a live agent at any time of day. Smith.ai says more than 5,000 businesses use it.
Unlike most services on this list, Smith.ai bills per call instead of per minute, and spam calls don’t count against your plan. Its human plans are popular with law firms and professional services because of features such as intake questions, conflict checks and payment collection, though many of these are paid add-ons.
Best for: Businesses that want AI to handle routine calls with human receptionists available as backup, and firms that need detailed intake.
Pricing: AI receptionist from $0/month (25 calls, then $3 per call) and Pro at $150/month for 75 calls. Human receptionist plans start at $300/month for 30 calls ($11.50 per extra call), with Basic at $810/month for 90 calls. Live plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Pros
- One provider for AI, human and hybrid answering.
- Per-call billing makes long calls cheaper.
- Strong lead qualification and intake workflows.
- Free AI plan to test before paying.
Cons
- Human plans are expensive per call at low volumes.
- Many features, such as appointment booking and text follow-up, cost extra per call.
- AI calls count toward your quota, apart from a small allowance for spam.
3. Ruby
Ruby has run a live virtual receptionist service for about two decades and is known for warm, personal call handling. Its US-based receptionists answer 24/7, including holidays, and can schedule appointments, collect payments, handle client intake and make outbound calls for you. Spanish and bilingual answering, HIPAA-compliant service and robocall filtering are included.
Ruby’s plans differ only by minutes, so every customer gets the same features. Ruby also offers optional AI tools, such as transcripts and sentiment analysis, at no extra cost. It’s a strong fit for law firms, healthcare practices and other businesses where every caller is a potential high-value client.
Best for: Professional and client-facing businesses that want a premium live receptionist experience.
Pricing: $250/month for 50 minutes, $395/month for 100 minutes, $720/month for 200 minutes and $1,725/month for 500 minutes. Ruby says there are no setup, onboarding or after-hours fees.
Pros
- High-quality, personal call handling from trained US receptionists.
- Every feature is included on every plan.
- 24/7 coverage, bilingual answering and HIPAA options.
- Mobile app for messages and call activity.
Cons
- One of the highest per-minute costs on this list.
- Small plans run out quickly if calls are long.
- No public free trial.
4. PATLive
PATLive has answered calls for businesses since 1990, and it is one of the few providers that promises 100% human answering with no AI. All receptionists are based in the US, and it answers 24/7 with no extra charge for nights, weekends, holidays or bilingual Spanish service.
PATLive’s pricing is one of the most transparent in the industry. It bills only for the time a receptionist is live on your call, not for after-call notes, and there are no per-feature or change fees. Every plan includes call screening and transfers, message taking, lead collection, appointment scheduling and emergency dispatch, plus a free cloud phone system.
Best for: Businesses that want only human receptionists and a risk-free trial.
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go at $49/month plus $2.99 per minute, or bundles such as 50 minutes for $99/month, 200 minutes for $349/month and 500 minutes for $759/month. Every plan has a 14-day free trial and no contract.
Pros
- 100% US-based human receptionists, with no AI or offshore staff.
- Clear pricing with no feature, change or after-hours fees.
- Bills only for live talk time.
- 14-day free trial on every plan.
Cons
- Per-minute costs add up for businesses with long calls.
- No AI option for businesses that want a cheaper tier.
- Overage rates are high on the smallest plans.
5. AnswerConnect
AnswerConnect provides 24/7 live answering with US-based receptionists, every day of the year. Its receptionists take messages, qualify leads, schedule appointments, take orders and route urgent calls, and its plans include CRM integrations, a desktop dashboard and a mobile app. The Growth and Standard plans add customizable scripting and website live chat.
On a per-minute basis, AnswerConnect’s published plans are among the cheapest for human answering once you need a few hundred minutes a month. Watch the setup fees and overage rates, which vary by plan.
Best for: Businesses with steady call volumes that need affordable 24/7 human answering.
Pricing: Entry at $350/month for 200 minutes (plus a $49.99 setup fee, $2.50 per extra minute), Growth at $395/month for 300 minutes (no setup fee, $1.85 per extra minute) and Standard at $575/month for 400 minutes (plus a $49.99 setup fee). Larger plans are quoted.
Pros
- Low cost per minute for human answering at 300 minutes or more.
- 24/7/365 coverage with US-based receptionists.
- Live chat included on the Growth and Standard plans.
- CRM integrations on every plan.
Cons
- Setup fees on two of the three published plans.
- High overage rate on the Entry plan.
- Less personal than services with a dedicated receptionist team.
6. Abby Connect
Abby Connect assigns each customer a small, dedicated team of US-based receptionists who work from its Las Vegas headquarters and learn your business over time. It now also offers an AI receptionist, so you can choose human answering, AI answering or a mix of both on the same plan.
Abby measures usage in “Abby Minutes.” One minute of human answering uses one Abby Minute, while one minute of AI answering uses half, so leaning on AI stretches your plan up to twice as far. Plans include white-glove onboarding, more than 1,000 integrations, encrypted call recordings and HIPAA options for human answering.
Best for: Businesses that want callers to hear the same small team each time, with the option to add AI later.
Pricing: Starter $164/month (50 Abby Minutes), Essential $329/month (100), Professional $599/month (200) and Growth $1,380/month (500). Overage is billed at your plan’s per-minute rate. Every plan has a free trial, no setup fee and month-to-month terms.
Pros
- Dedicated receptionist team rather than a large shared pool.
- Mix human and AI answering on one plan.
- Free trial and no setup fee.
- Custom answering hours, including 24/7, with no weekend upcharge.
Cons
- Human minutes are among the most expensive on this list.
- Overage is charged at the full plan rate.
- AI answering is newer than Abby’s human service.
7. Moneypenny (formerly VoiceNation)
Moneypenny is a UK-founded answering service that bought VoiceNation in 2020 and now operates under the Moneypenny name in the US. It offers live receptionists and an AI receptionist with human escalation built in, so you can pick per-minute human plans or per-call AI plans from the same provider.
Every plan includes 24/7 service, bilingual answering, warm call transfers, lead qualification, CRM integrations and a mobile app, with no feature tiers. Plans have no long-term contract, but cancellation needs 30 days’ notice.
Best for: Businesses that want to compare live and AI answering from one provider without a contract.
Pricing: Live answering from $165/month for 50 minutes ($2.28 per extra minute), $265/month for 100 minutes and $422/month for 200 minutes. AI answering from $69/month for 25 calls, $99/month for 50 calls and $199/month for 100 calls.
Pros
- Live and AI plans from one provider.
- All features included on every plan.
- 24/7 bilingual answering.
- AI plans include human escalation.
Cons
- 30 days’ notice to cancel.
- Per-minute live plans get expensive with long calls.
- No published free trial.
8. Davinci Virtual
Davinci Virtual combines a live receptionist service with virtual office products, such as a business address, mail handling and meeting rooms. Its receptionists answer in your company’s name, screen and transfer calls, take messages and schedule appointments.
Davinci bills by the second instead of rounding up to the minute, which helps businesses with short calls. The main limitation is coverage: its live receptionists answer Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern, so you’ll need another solution for nights and weekends.
Best for: Remote businesses and startups that want a professional address and a weekday receptionist from one provider.
Pricing: Business 50 at $129/month (50 minutes) and Business 100 at $239/month (100 minutes), with extra time at $1.75 per minute. Premium plans cost $249 to $319/month with extra time at $2.50 per minute. A one-time setup fee applies.
Pros
- Lowest starting price for a human receptionist on this list.
- Per-second billing keeps short calls cheap.
- Bundles with a virtual address and meeting rooms.
- Month-to-month terms for phone services.
Cons
- No live coverage on nights or weekends.
- Small minute bundles.
- Virtual office products carry longer initial terms.
How much does a business phone answering service cost?
Most business phone answering services cost between $49 and $800 a month for a small business. AI answering services sit at the low end, from about $49 to $200 a month, while live receptionist services usually cost $1.50 to $3 per minute, or $8 to $12 per call.
The billing model matters as much as the headline price. Here is roughly what each service would cost a business that gets 100 calls a month averaging 3 minutes each (300 minutes):
| Service | Plan that fits | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Marlie AI | Standard (500 minutes) | $99 |
| Smith.ai (AI) | Pro, 75 calls + 25 extra at $2.50 | About $213 |
| AnswerConnect | Growth (300 minutes) | $395 |
| PATLive | 300-minute plan | $479 |
| Davinci Virtual | Business 100 + 200 extra at $1.75 (weekdays only) | About $589 |
| Moneypenny (live) | 200 minutes + 100 extra at $1.91 | About $613 |
| Abby Connect (human) | Professional (200) + 100 extra at plan rate | About $899 |
| Smith.ai (live) | Basic, 90 calls + 10 extra at $10.50 | About $915 |
| Ruby | 200 minutes + overage, or the 500-minute plan | $720 + overage, up to $1,725 |
These are estimates based on published prices. Your real cost depends on call length, add-ons, setup fees and taxes. For comparison, a full-time in-house receptionist in the US typically costs several thousand dollars a month once wages, taxes and benefits are included.
AI vs. live answering: which should you choose?
Choose an AI answering service if most of your calls are routine, such as booking appointments, answering questions about hours, prices and service areas, or taking job details. AI answers instantly, never puts callers on hold, and costs far less at any volume. It’s the best fit for after-hours coverage and for businesses that miss calls while they’re busy on a job.
Choose a live answering service if many calls are sensitive, emotional or unpredictable, or if your clients expect to speak to a person, as in many legal and medical practices.
Choose a hybrid if you want the low cost of AI for most calls but need a human for the exceptions. You can also build your own hybrid: let an AI receptionist answer everything and transfer the calls that need a person straight to your team.
For a deeper look at how AI receptionists work, read our guide to AI answering services.
How to choose the right business phone answering service
- Count your calls and minutes. Check your phone records for monthly calls and average length. This tells you whether per-minute, per-call or flat pricing will be cheapest.
- Decide when you need coverage. If most missed calls happen at night or on weekends, rule out business-hours-only services and look for true 24/7 answering.
- List what the receptionist must do. Taking messages is standard. Booking appointments, qualifying leads, collecting payments and transferring calls are not always included, and some providers charge per action.
- Check integrations. Make sure the service can send call details to your calendar, CRM or field service app so nothing gets retyped.
- Read the fine print. Look for setup fees, overage rates, rounding rules, spam call charges and notice periods for cancelling.
- Test before you commit. Use a free trial or money-back guarantee, call your own number at different times, and listen to how your callers will be treated.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best phone answering service for a small business?
For most small businesses, an AI answering service like Marlie AI offers the best value, with 24/7 coverage from $49 a month. If your callers need a human, PATLive and AnswerConnect offer affordable live answering, while Ruby and Abby Connect are premium choices with a more personal touch. See our guide to small business call answering services for more options.
How much does a business answering service cost per month?
AI answering services typically cost $49 to $200 a month. Live answering services usually start between $129 and $350 a month for 50 to 200 minutes, with extra minutes costing about $1.75 to $3.00 each. A business with 100 calls a month could pay anywhere from about $99 with AI to more than $900 with a premium live service.
Is an AI answering service as good as a live receptionist?
For routine calls, often yes. AI answers instantly, handles several calls at once and never takes a break. Human receptionists are still better for sensitive, complex or emotional calls. Many businesses use AI for most calls and transfer the rest to a person.
Can an answering service book appointments?
Yes. Most services on this list can schedule appointments directly on your calendar. Marlie AI includes booking on its Standard plan, Ruby and PATLive include it on every plan, and Smith.ai charges a small fee per booking.
Do answering services work after hours and on weekends?
Most do. Marlie AI, Smith.ai, Ruby, PATLive, AnswerConnect and Moneypenny answer 24/7 without extra charges for nights or weekends. Davinci Virtual’s live receptionists only cover weekdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern.
Can I keep my business phone number?
Yes. With most services, you simply forward your existing number to the answering service when you want it to answer, such as after hours, when you’re busy, or all the time. Some providers also let you port your number to them.
The bottom line
The best business phone answering service depends on who your callers are and how many calls you get. If you want premium human receptionists, Ruby and Abby Connect lead on quality, while PATLive and AnswerConnect offer better value for 24/7 live answering. Smith.ai and Moneypenny are good picks if you want both AI and live options from one provider.
If your goal is simply to stop losing customers to voicemail, an AI receptionist is the fastest and most affordable fix. Marlie AI answers every call in under two seconds, 24/7, from $49 a month. Start a 14-day free trial and have it answering calls in about 15 minutes.
