What an AI receptionist does.
And how it compares to an answering service.
What it answers, what it books, when it hands the call to you, and how it's priced, next to voicemail and a human answering service.
By Abdul Nada, founder of Backlineflow · Updated
An AI receptionist is a phone line answered by software trained on your business. It picks up on the first ring, day and night, answers common questions, books appointments or takes orders, texts confirmations and payment links, and transfers the caller to you with a one-line summary when a person is needed.
Hear one: call (551) 239-1701.
Ava, our own AI receptionist, answers, day or night. Ask her what a website costs, or ask her to book you a call.
AI receptionist vs answering service vs voicemail.
| Compared on | Voicemail | Human answering service | AI receptionist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who answers | Nobody; a recording | A person at a call center, reading your script | Software trained on your business |
| Hours | Always on, but nobody picks up | Depends on the plan; often around the clock | Day and night, every day |
| Books or takes orders | No | Some do, from a script | Yes: books, takes orders, texts a payment link |
| Transfers to you | No | Usually, or takes a message | Yes, and texts you a one-line summary |
| How it's billed | Free with your phone line | Usually per minute or per call | With us: a one-time setup plus a flat monthly |
Answering services vary by provider, so read the contract: billing is usually per minute or per call.
What it does, step by step.
Picks up on the first ring
Day and night, weekends included, so a call in the rush or after closing still gets answered.
Answers the common questions
Hours, location, services and your menu, from what it was trained on.
Books or takes the order
The appointment or the order is taken while the caller is still on the line.
Texts during the call
A confirmation, a reminder, or a payment link the caller pays on their phone.
Hands the call to you
When a person is needed, it transfers the caller and texts you a one-line summary of who they are and why they called. If you can't pick up, it takes a message and sends it to you.
Reports every call
After each call you get an email with who called, their number, what they wanted and a short summary, so nothing said on the phone gets lost.
How it’s priced.
A one-time setup plus a flat monthly. There’s no price list on this site, on purpose: you get the exact number on a short call.
The setup covers writing the call flow, training it on your menu or services and your hours, forwarding your number, and live testing. It’s waived when the receptionist is turned on with your build, and the Max plan includes it.
What moves the monthly: it covers a set allowance of call minutes, so a busier line costs more, and it depends on whether the receptionist joins one of our plans or runs on its own.
Before you ask.
Can it transfer the call to me?
Yes. When a caller needs a person, it hands the call to you with a one-line summary, so you know who's on the line and why.
Do I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your number stays yours. During setup we forward it to the receptionist, so callers dial the number they always have.
What happens when it doesn't know the answer?
It's trained on your business: your menu or services, your hours and your policies. When a question goes past that, it hands the caller to you with a one-line summary.
Can it take payments?
It texts a payment link during the call, and the caller pays on their phone.
How is it priced?
A one-time setup plus a flat monthly. The setup is waived when the receptionist is turned on with your build, and the Max plan includes it. The monthly covers a set allowance of call minutes, so a busier line costs more. You get the exact number on a short call.
See what we'd build you.
Tell us how you run today. We come back with a demo of your own business, often the same day.