Best AI receptionist for small business
For most small businesses, Upfirst is the easiest place to start: plans begin at US$24.95/mo, it books straight into your calendar, and you get 14 days free. If you want to try one at no cost, Smith.ai has a free plan with 25 calls a month, and Rosie, Goodcall, and Quo suit different call volumes and setups.
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The picks at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan or trial | Checked on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfirst | Most small businesses that miss calls | US$24.95/mo (30 calls), or US$20/mo billed yearly | 14-day free trial | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Smith.ai | Trying an AI receptionist for free | US$0 (25 calls/mo, then US$3 a call). Pro US$150/mo | Yes, free plan | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Rosie | Long calls, priced by minutes | US$49/mo (250 minutes) | 7-day free trial | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Goodcall | Busy lines with lots of repeat callers | US$79/mo (100 unique customers) | Free demo agent; pay when you connect a number | Oct 20, 2026 |
| Quo | Teams that want a business phone line with an AI agent built in | US$19 per user/mo, or US$15 billed yearly | 7-day free trial | Oct 20, 2026 |
Prices are each maker’s regular list price in US dollars, read on the date shown. We never convert currencies. None of these makers lists a Canadian-dollar price on its pricing page.
1. Upfirst: best overall
Why it fits. Upfirst answers around the clock, or only for overflow or after hours, whichever you choose. After each call it texts or emails you a summary. It books straight into Google, Outlook, Calendly, Square, and other calendars, can text a caller mid-call (a booking link or directions, say), and blocks spam so you don’t pay for junk calls. Its pricing page also says it works in 35+ languages. The Starter plan includes 30 calls a month.
Watch out. It’s priced per call: Starter covers 30 calls, then US$1.50 a call. A busy month can cost more than the sticker price.
2. Smith.ai: best free option
Why it fits. The free plan includes 24/7 AI answering, recordings and summaries, lead questions and call routing, and booking through Calendly and other tools. You can also test the receptionist before it goes live. Smith.ai also sells hybrid and human-first plans, so you can add real people later.
Watch out. After the 25 free calls, each one costs US$3. The next step up, Pro, is US$150/mo.
3. Rosie: best if your calls run long
Why it fits. Rosie is priced by minutes, not calls. Professional includes 250 minutes, message taking, booking links by text, spam detection, and a website chat widget.
Watch out. Booking right onto your calendar and live transfers start on Scale, at US$149/mo.
4. Goodcall: best for lots of repeat callers
Why it fits. Goodcall charges per unique caller each month, not per minute or per call, so someone calling back five times counts once. Every plan includes a local number, or you can forward your own. You build and test a demo agent for free first.
Watch out. It starts at US$79/mo. Starter allows 1 team member and keeps 30 days of call history.
5. Quo: best if you need a business phone line too
Why it fits. Quo is a business phone system with its AI agent, Sona, included on every plan. Each user gets a number (new or ported), and calls and texts to US and Canadian numbers are included. The plans include 1,000 Sona credits, which is about 10 calls a month.
Watch out. AI call answering past the included credits costs extra (credit packs from US$25/mo). Call transfers and AI call summaries start on the Business plan (US$33 per user/mo).
How to choose
- Count your calls first. Check how many calls you miss each month and how long they run. Then compare per-call (Upfirst, Smith.ai), per-minute (Rosie), and per-caller (Goodcall) pricing.
- Need jobs booked, not just messages taken? Check the booking feature is on the plan you’re buying. With Rosie, for example, it starts on Scale.
- Keep your number. Most let you forward your current line. Quo replaces your phone line instead.
- Test it with real calls. Use the free plan or trial to call it yourself and hear how it handles your common questions.
Questions people ask
What is the best AI receptionist for a small business?
For most small businesses, Upfirst: it’s US$24.95/mo, books appointments, and has a 14-day free trial. If you want to start at no cost, try Smith.ai’s free plan.
Is there a free AI receptionist?
Smith.ai has a free plan with 25 calls a month (then US$3 a call). Goodcall lets you build and test a demo agent for free and charges once you connect a number.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Among our picks, starting prices run from free (Smith.ai) to US$79/mo (Goodcall), checked October 2026. Most charge more once you go past the calls, minutes, or callers your plan includes.
Can an AI receptionist book appointments?
Yes. Upfirst and Smith.ai book into calendars like Calendly, and Rosie books directly from its Scale plan. Check the plan before you buy.
Related pages
- Tool pages: Calendly · Upfirst
- Best AI customer chat & support tools for small businesses
- How we pick
Questions or a correction? hello@momandbot.com
Sources (all checked Oct 20, 2026)
- Upfirst pricing: https://upfirst.ai/pricing
- Smith.ai AI receptionist pricing: https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist
- Rosie pricing: https://heyrosie.com/pricing
- Goodcall pricing: https://www.goodcall.com/pricing
- Quo pricing: https://www.quo.com/pricing