A person
A trained person answers the phone live, in your name. They listen, judge and decide what happens next. Best for calls that need empathy or a judgement call.
Virtual receptionist or AI receptionist?
A person, a bot, or a bot with a person behind it? Many providers pick a side: no bots ever, or AI only. Our honest answer is that it depends, and often both.
Your choices
A bot
A bot answers when nobody can, says it is a bot, and works inside rules you write down. Best for simple, repeat calls at any hour.
A bot with a person behind it
The bot answers and takes the details. A person from our team reads every call and follows up when the caller asks. Best when you want cover at any hour and a person in the loop.
Call type by call type
| Call type | Best fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A caller who only needs to leave their details | A bot | The bot asks what the caller needs and takes their name, number and details, at any hour. |
| Booking an appointment inside your rules | A bot with a person behind it | The bot books inside your rules. Anything outside them waits for a person. |
| A call when nobody is free to pick up | A bot with a person behind it | The bot answers, takes the details and emails you a summary. A person reads the call and follows up when the caller asks. |
| A new enquiry that needs a quote | A bot with a person behind it | The bot takes the details but cannot promise anything about money. A person calls back when the caller asks. |
| An upset or worried caller | A person | Anything that needs empathy in the moment is better with a person from the first word. |
| A judgement call about money or safety | A person | A person makes the judgement call. A bot never promises anything about money. |
| A rare or unusual call | A person | When the job is so rare that writing the rules costs more than doing it, a person is simpler. |
| A caller who wants to speak to a person | A person | Some callers want a person on the line now. A bot can only offer a call back. |
What a bot never does alone
It works from a written list of your rules. These stay with a person.
- Anything outside your rules. It waits for a person.
- Promising anything about money.
- Pretending to be a person.
Our answer: it depends, and often both
Routine calls at any hour suit a bot. Calls that need empathy, judgement or a decision suit a person.
Our people answer the phone live, in your name. Our bots say they are bots, work inside your rules, and a person from our team reads every call.
Can we set one up for you? We scope that on a call, then put the plan and the quote in writing.
What each costs
We do not put prices on this site. A person on the phone is priced by the hours we cover. Bot setup is quoted in writing after a call.
Questions people ask
Which is better, a virtual receptionist or an AI receptionist?
It depends on the call, and often the answer is both. A bot suits routine calls at any hour. A person suits a call that needs empathy, a judgement call on money or safety, or a rare question. A bot with a person behind it covers the hours you cannot.
Will callers know they are talking to a bot?
Yes, always. Our bots say they are bots at the start of the call and whenever they are asked. They never say or suggest that they are a person.
What happens when a bot cannot handle a call?
It takes the caller’s details and says that a person reads every call. Anything outside your rules waits for a person, who follows up when the caller asks.
How much does a virtual or AI receptionist cost?
We do not put prices on this site. A person on the phone is priced by the hours we cover, and bot setup is quoted in writing after a call.
Can you set one up for my business?
We scope that on a call. Tell us when you miss calls and what callers usually need, and we will say what a bot could do, what a person should do and where you say yes.