How much does a missed call cost?
If you're a small business, probably more than you think.
A new lead, a loyal client, a five-star review, all gone in 30 seconds of silence. Multiply that by a few calls a week, and you've got hundreds of missed opportunities for your business.
That’s why we are going to talk about AI receptionists.
And no, AI receptionists don’t just pick up the phone. They can qualify leads, book appointments, and make sure no opportunity slips by.
Let me explain everything about AI receptionists and why I always say, it is like cloning your best employee, without payroll.
What’s an AI receptionist?
First things first. What exactly are we talking about?
AI receptionist definition
In simple words, an AI receptionist is a digital assistant that answers, routes, and manages phone calls using artificial intelligence.
They can also transcribe voicemails, summarize conversations, book appointments, and even qualify leads, without needing a human on the other end.
Impressive!
But is an AI receptionist the same as an AI answering service?
Let me explain the difference.
AI receptionist vs. AI answering service
While AI receptionists and AI answering services use the same AI technology under the hood, they focus on slightly different goals.
An AI answering service is like a modern voicemail. It picks up when you're unavailable, plays a custom greeting, transcribes the caller's message, and sends you a clean summary instantly. It's fast, reactive, and helps ensure you never miss important info, even when you're off the clock.
An AI receptionist, on the other hand, is more proactive. It doesn't just capture messages, it can route calls, schedule appointments, answer questions, and even qualify leads. It acts more like a human receptionist, trained to understand who’s calling and why, and to take the right next step in real time.
Both are essential—but your choice depends on whether you want to catch missed calls or handle them professionally while you focus elsewhere.
Want to see it in action?
Watch a demo of an AI receptionist handling real calls.
What are the advantages of using an AI receptionist?
1. Schedule appointments in real time
Forget back-and-forth emails. Your AI receptionist can book, reschedule, and confirm appointments instantly via call or SMS. Even outside business hours.
2. Route calls to the right person, automatically
No more "press 1 for sales." Your AI receptionist understands who's responsible for what and sends the call to the right person—fast.
It’s like an IVR on steroids.
3. Learn your business and answer smarter
You can train your AI receptionist with your policies, pricing, workflows, and more. Over time, it becomes a true expert on your business.
4. Always-on summaries and insights
Every call gets a clear summary: who called, what they wanted, and what to do next. Plus, get access to transcripts, analytics, and trends to spot issues or opportunities.
5. Built for modern workflows
AI receptionists today integrate with your calendar, CRM, Slack, or whatever tools you already use. Some even come with texting platforms, APIs, or thousands of pre-built integrations.
Convinced?
Let’s check now which are the best AI receptionists.
The best AI receptionists in 2025
Best for small businesses → Allô
If you're a solo founder, a small team company, a field service pro, or just too busy to pick up every call, Allô is built for you.
It’s a mobile-first AI receptionist that works right from your phone, no extra hardware or complex setup needed. It handles your calls while you’re in meetings, on the road, or taking a day off.
Pricing
- Starts at $13/month
Core features
- 24/7 availability: Allô answers your calls with customized greetings, collects caller intent, and routes or responds automatically.
- AI summaries + call transcription: Every voicemail and call is recorded, transcribed, and summarized with action-ready insights.
- Instant call notification + inbox: You get call notes via email, text, or directly in the Allô inbox. Organized like Gmail for phone calls.
- Smart routing: Route calls based on who's calling, the day/time, or if it's a known client or spam.
- Call tagging and contact sync: Create and label contacts in-app letting you know who is calling and the key information about the caller. Then it syncs them with your CRM or phone book.
- Webhook + CRM integrations: Connect with your important tools. Allô sends call data to Google Sheets, Notion, or your CRM with webhooks or native tools.
- Professional greeting builder: Record or generate your own phone greeting directly in-app.
Why does it stand out?
Allô is the only truly mobile-first AI phone system designed for solopreneurs and small teams. It’s the easiest way to look professional, stay reachable, and avoid wasting hours calling back missed leads.
Best for restaurants → Slang.ai
If you are a restaurant owner or manager, the tool you are looking for is definitely Slang.
It specializes in the hospitality industry and excels at handling menus, reservations, and customer FAQs with natural-sounding AI.
Pricing
- Starting at $380/mo, paid annually
Core features
- AI phone agent trained to understand food orders, reservations, waitlist status, and FAQs
- Real-time menu syncing, so callers always get accurate options
- Personalized greetings and responses to match your brand voice
- POS and online ordering integrations for seamless table or pickup coordination
- Multilingual support for diverse clientele
Why it stands out
Restaurants lose money every day from missed calls. Slang.ai fixes that by giving you an AI receptionist that sounds human, never sleeps, and knows your menu perfectly.
Best for large companies → Smith.ai
Smith offers both AI and human receptionist options. Better suited for fast-scaling teams, law firms, agencies, and enterprise businesses that can’t afford to miss a single inbound lead.
Pricing
- Starts at $97.50/month for 30 calls
Core features
- 24/7 coverage: Live agents powered by AI handle calls around the clock
- Custom call flows and scripts: Tailor how your calls are handled based on caller type or reason
- Lead screening and qualification: Automatically identify high-quality leads and route them to sales
- Appointment scheduling: Syncs with your calendar to book and confirm meetings in real time
- CRM and app integrations: Native connections with HubSpot, Salesforce, Clio, Calendly, and more
- Call summaries + transcripts: Each call is logged with context, outcomes, and follow-up actions
Why does it stand out?
Smith.ai is the most robust option on this list for businesses with volume, complexity, or dedicated sales funnels. It will give your business that professional touch you're looking for. It literally is like having your own front office team, but without the extra costs.
Frequently asked questions about AI receptionists
Is there a free AI receptionist?
Some services offer limited free trials. Full-featured plans usually start around $10–20/month.
But there’s no 100% free AI receptionist.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Pricing ranges from $10/month (e.g., Allô) to $100+/month (Smith.ai or Ruby) depending on usage, features, and support level.
What’s the best AI virtual receptionist for lead qualification?
Allô and Smith.ai both include lead qualification workflows. Allô is mobile-first and lightweight. Smith.ai is better if you are a large company or mid-size growing fast.
What's the best AI virtual receptionist for appointment scheduling?
Allô or Slang are our recommendations. They both integrate with your calendar and can schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments with confirmations by SMS or email.
What's the best AI solution for virtual receptionist call summaries?
Allô automatically creates clear call summaries that capture caller details, their main reason for calling, and any next steps needed.
