Short answer: An AI receptionist answers your business phone when you can't, then books a time, takes an order or takes a message. This list has 16 options, sorted by industry. Ruby is the one that uses live people instead of AI.
Last updated: · 16 tools · How we pick
About this list
An AI receptionist answers your business phone when you can't get to it. Most of the tools on this list pick up the call, ask a few questions, and then book a time or take a message. Some take food orders. One, Ruby, is different: it uses live, trained receptionists instead of AI, so you can compare the two.
We sorted the list by industry, so you can jump to tools made for your kind of work: home services, restaurants, salons, auto shops, insurance and real estate. Smith.ai, Ruby and the ElevenLabs phone agent work for any business.
Some listings are ready-made software you sign up for. Others are DIY builds, where a business owner shared how they set up their own phone bot with tools like n8n. DIY builds take more setup, but each listing page has the steps.
Costs come straight from each maker. Many listings say “Check site,” which means the maker doesn’t post a clear price. Before you pick one, call it yourself a few times, see what it does with an urgent call, and make sure it can pass hard calls to a real person.
Any business
Answers your business phone day and night, answers common questions, books appointments, and sends hard calls to staff.
Any BusinessFree to try · Paid plans from $6/moMedium
AI receptionist answers calls, books, and takes messages.
Any BusinessFree plan · Pro $150/moEasy
Any BusinessFrom $250/moEasy
Home services and roofing
Answers every call day and night and books the job. Texts new web leads within seconds. Follows up on missed calls and open estimates.
Home ServicesCheck siteEasyZenplus Roof Receptionist
8+ hrs/wkAnswers every call day and night, asks key questions, and books estimates.
8+hrs/wk savedRooferCheck siteEasyAnswers the phone when the crew can't, notes the leak, and books a visit.
RooferCheck siteEasy
Restaurants
Answers every call, even when your whole team is busy. Takes the order from your menu. Sends the order to your POS and kitchen, like a counter order.
Restaurants; delisCheck siteEasy
Maple AI Phone Orders
~21 hrs/wkAnswers every call and takes the full order, toppings and all. Sends the order into Toast or Clover so it prints in the kitchen. Takes payment before pickup and answers 'what's the wait?'.
~21hrs/wk savedRestaurants; pizzeriasFrom $85/mo, billed yearlyEasy
Answers every call, even before you open. Takes phone orders so staff can stay with guests. Shows call volume so you can plan store hours.
Restaurants; pizzeriasCheck siteEasy
Maple
12 hrs/wkAnswers phone calls and takes pickup, delivery and call-ahead orders, then sends them into the shop's register (Clover).
12hrs/wk savedBagel shop$350/moEasy
Salons
Mira Salon AI Receptionist
20 hrs/wkAnswers salon calls and texts 24/7 and books, moves, or cancels appointments.
20hrs/wk savedShops & RestaurantsCheck siteEasy
Auto shops
Picks up the phone after it rings for a set time. Books oil changes, check-engine visits, and tire jobs. Gives you a daily list of appointments with names and numbers.
Auto repair shopsFrom $119/moEasyAnswers shop calls, notes the car problem, books a time, and texts to confirm.
Auto repair shopCheck siteNeeds setup
Insurance agencies
AI answers agency calls and types quote details in while you talk.
Insurance & FinanceCheck siteEasy
Real estate
Answers calls during showings, asks key questions, and books the meeting.
RealtorCheck siteEasyAnswers calls, finds out what the client wants, and collects budget and area.
RealtorCheck siteNeeds setup
Compare them side by side
| Tool | What it does | Who it’s for | Cost (from maker) | Setup | Time saved | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ElevenLabs Phone Answering Agent | Answers your business phone day and night, answers common questions, books appointments, and sends hard calls to staff. | Any Business | Free plan to try. Paid plans from $6/mo (Starter); Creator $22/mo; Pro $99/mo. Agent calls use your monthly credits. Check site | Medium | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for ElevenLabs Phone Answering Agent |
| Smith.ai | AI receptionist answers calls, books, and takes messages. | Any Business | Free (25 calls); Pro $150/mo | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Smith.ai |
| Ruby | Live receptionists answer calls 24/7. | Any Business | From $250/mo (50 minutes) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Ruby |
| Avoca AI Front Office | Answers every call day and night and books the job. | Home Services | Check site | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Avoca AI Front Office |
| Zenplus Roof Receptionist | Answers every call day and night, asks key questions, and books estimates. | Roofer | Check site | Easy | 8+ hrs/wk (maker's claim) | Source for Zenplus Roof Receptionist |
| Roof Leak Call Taker | Answers the phone when the crew can't, notes the leak, and books a visit. | Roofer | Check site | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Roof Leak Call Taker |
| Certus AI Restaurant Phone Orders | Answers every call, even when your whole team is busy. | Restaurants; delis | Check site (no price in the case study; the owner says there was no contract) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Certus AI Restaurant Phone Orders |
| Maple AI Phone Orders | Answers every call and takes the full order, toppings and all. | Restaurants; pizzerias | Maple Voice $85/mo yearly ($150 monthly, answering and FAQs only); Maple Pro $220/mo yearly ($350 monthly, adds ordering). Check site | Easy | ~21 hrs/wk | Source for Maple AI Phone Orders |
| Loman AI Restaurant Phone Answering | Answers every call, even before you open. | Restaurants; pizzerias | Check site (the case study says the shop pays $300/month) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Loman AI Restaurant Phone Answering |
| Maple | Answers phone calls and takes pickup, delivery and call-ahead orders, then sends them into the shop's register (Clover). | Bagel shop | Maple Pro $350/mo | Easy | 12 hrs/wk (maker's claim) | Source for Maple |
| Mira Salon AI Receptionist | Answers salon calls and texts 24/7 and books, moves, or cancels appointments. | Local Shops & Restaurants | Monthly add-on to a Mangomint plan; price shown in your Mangomint account (no setup fee) | Easy | 20 hrs/wk (maker's claim) | Source for Mira Salon AI Receptionist |
| VoiceController Auto Shop Phone Answering | Picks up the phone after it rings for a set time. | Auto repair shops | Starter $119/mo; Advanced $179/mo; $100 setup fee on all plans. Free trial. Check site | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for VoiceController Auto Shop Phone Answering |
| Auto Shop Phone Agent | Answers shop calls, notes the car problem, books a time, and texts to confirm. | Auto repair shop | Check site | Needs setup | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Auto Shop Phone Agent |
| Agency Call Answerer | AI answers agency calls and types quote details in while you talk. | Insurance & Financial Advisors | Check site | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Agency Call Answerer |
| Showing-Time Phone Receptionist | Answers calls during showings, asks key questions, and books the meeting. | Realtor | Check site | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Showing-Time Phone Receptionist |
| Real Estate Call Bot | Answers calls, finds out what the client wants, and collects budget and area. | Realtor | Check site | Needs setup | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Real Estate Call Bot |
Costs and hours come from each tool’s own source. “Our estimate” is our guess from similar tools, not a measured number. The directory is free to search; prices come from each maker and change often.
Questions people ask
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Of the 16 tools here, 4 show a price, 2 list a free plan or free self-hosting next to a paid price, and 10 don't show a clear price in our listing. See the Cost column for each one. Prices come from each maker and change often, so check the maker's site before you buy.
Is an AI receptionist worth it?
It depends on how many calls you miss and what one new customer is worth to you. Several listings link to case studies with results, like the restaurant tools. Those numbers come from the tool makers, so treat them as the maker's claim. A good test is to turn one on after hours first and check the calls it handled.
Is there an AI receptionist with real people?
Ruby uses live, trained receptionists who answer calls 24/7. The other tools on this list use AI.
How does BusyWorkBots pick these?
Every listing links to a real source, a case study, a builder's post, or the maker's page. Numbers from the company selling the tool are labeled as a maker or vendor claim. We don't test every tool.
