10 Best AI Receptionists for Small Business in 2025

You're fielding calls, juggling appointments, and trying to grow your business—all at the same time. Meanwhile, 62% of calls to small businesses go unanswered, according to research from Numa. Every missed call is a missed opportunity worth $200 to $1,000 or more depending on your industry. Hiring a full-time receptionist costs $35,000–$45,000 annually before benefits. That's where the best AI receptionist platforms come in—but with dozens of options flooding the market, how do you pick the right one?

We tested and researched the top 10 AI receptionists for small businesses, digging into real features, actual pricing, and the details that matter when your livelihood depends on every phone call. This isn't a list of paid placements. It's an honest comparison designed to help you make a smart decision.

What to Look For in an AI Receptionist

Before diving into the reviews, here's what separates a genuinely useful AI receptionist from an expensive voicemail system:

• Call handling quality: Can it understand natural speech, handle complex requests, and sound professional—not robotic?
• Appointment scheduling: Does it integrate directly with your calendar and booking software?
• Integration depth: Will it sync with your CRM, practice management tools, or industry-specific software?
• After-hours coverage: Does it provide true 24/7 virtual receptionist capabilities?
• Scalability: Can it handle call surges during peak season without cracking?
• Compliance: For healthcare businesses, is it HIPAA compliant?
• Pricing transparency: Are there hidden fees, overage charges, or long-term contracts?

With those criteria in mind, here's how the top 10 platforms stack up.

The 10 Best AI Receptionists for Small Business in 2025

Feature Comparison Matrix

Note: Pricing is based on publicly available information as of early 2025 and may vary by plan, usage, and add-ons. Always confirm current rates directly with each provider.

1. Dialiq — Best Overall for Small Businesses

Pricing: Starts at $99/month (Starter) | $699/month (Business) | Custom (Enterprise)

Dialiq is purpose-built as an AI phone answering service for small and medium businesses. Where most AI receptionists handle calls the same way regardless of context, Dialiq's standout feature is its Triage Engine—an intelligent prioritization system that distinguishes a routine appointment request from a genuine emergency and routes accordingly.

What sets it apart:

• Triage Engine: Automatically assesses call urgency based on caller history, keywords, and business rules. If a patient calls an after-hours veterinary clinic describing a pet emergency, the system escalates instantly rather than offering voicemail. No other platform on this list offers comparable AI urgency assessment.
• HIPAA compliance: One of the only AI-first platforms that meets healthcare privacy standards out of the box, with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) available—critical for medical, dental, and veterinary practices.
• Custom voice: Your AI receptionist sounds like your brand, not a generic bot.
• Deep integrations: Connects to Salesforce, HubSpot, ServiceTitan, Clio, Google Calendar, and 5,000+ apps through Zapier.
• Multilingual support and SMS/email follow-ups: Serve diverse customer bases and reduce no-shows with automated reminders.

Pros:

• Intelligent call triage that competitors lack
• HIPAA compliant for healthcare use cases
• Custom voice branding
• Generous Starter plan at $99/month for up to 50 calls
• Strong analytics and conversation intelligence

Cons:

• No live human receptionist fallback (fully AI)

Best for: Small businesses that need intelligent call handling—especially healthcare practices, home services companies, and legal firms where call urgency and compliance matter. If you need more than a basic phone answerer, Dialiq's feature set is hard to beat at this price point.

🔗 See Dialiq's full pricing and start a free trial →

2. Smith.ai — Best Hybrid AI + Human Option

Pricing: Starts at $292.50/month for 30 calls

Smith.ai combines AI technology with live human receptionists who step in when calls get complicated. It's a strong choice for businesses that want AI efficiency but aren't ready to go fully automated.

Pros:

• Human backup for complex conversations
• Excellent CRM integrations (Clio, Salesforce, HubSpot)
• Outbound calling capabilities
• Intake form completion during calls

Cons:

• Significantly more expensive than AI-only solutions
• Per-call pricing adds up quickly for high-volume businesses
• No HIPAA compliance
• Limited after-hours AI-only coverage

Best for: Law firms and professional services that handle nuanced client conversations and want human oversight. If budget isn't a primary concern and you value the human-AI blend, Smith.ai delivers.

3. Ruby — Best for Established Brand Trust

Pricing: Starts at $245/month for 50 minutes

Ruby has been in the virtual receptionist space for years, recently adding AI capabilities to complement its core human receptionist team. It's a polished, reliable option—though you pay a premium for the brand name.

Pros:

• Long track record and established reputation
• Live receptionists backed by AI tools
• Bilingual English/Spanish support
• Mobile app for managing calls on the go

Cons:

• Minute-based pricing can be expensive for chatty industries
• AI features are supplementary, not core
• No HIPAA compliance
• Limited customization compared to AI-native platforms

Best for: Businesses that prioritize human interaction and want AI as a support tool rather than the main receptionist. Works well for boutique law firms and high-touch professional services.

4. Goodcall — Best Budget AI Receptionist

Pricing: Starts at $59/month

Goodcall offers a straightforward AI receptionist at a competitive price point. It handles inbound calls, captures leads, and integrates with basic business tools without the complexity of enterprise-grade platforms.

Pros:

• Affordable entry point
• Easy setup process
• Google Business integration
• Decent natural language understanding

Cons:

• Limited integration ecosystem
• No HIPAA compliance
• Basic call routing without intelligent triage
• Fewer customization options

Best for: Solopreneurs and very small businesses that need basic call answering without bells and whistles. If your primary need is to stop calls from going to voicemail, Goodcall covers the basics.

5. My AI Front Desk — Best for Appointment-Heavy Businesses

Pricing: Starts at $55/month

My AI Front Desk focuses heavily on appointment scheduling, making it a natural fit for salons, spas, and service businesses where booking is the primary reason customers call.

Pros:

• Strong appointment booking capabilities
• Text-based follow-ups
• Multilingual support
• Simple onboarding process

Cons:

• Limited CRM integrations
• Less sophisticated call handling for complex inquiries
• No HIPAA compliance
• Basic analytics

Best for: Salons, spas, fitness studios, and appointment-driven businesses that need a simple booking assistant rather than a full-featured receptionist.

6. Rosie — Best for Home Services

Pricing: Starts at $49/month

Rosie markets itself toward home services businesses and trades, offering AI call answering with SMS follow-up capabilities. It's a simple, focused tool.

Pros:

• Affordable pricing
• SMS and email follow-up capabilities
• Multilingual support
• Built with contractors and trades in mind

Cons:

• Limited integration options
• No HIPAA compliance
• No call triage or urgency detection
• Less polished voice AI compared to competitors

Best for: Independent contractors and small home services businesses that need affordable after-hours call capture with text follow-up.

7. Nexa — Best for Large Teams Needing Live + AI

Pricing: Starts at $239/month

Nexa provides virtual receptionist services combining live agents with AI technology. It's positioned for slightly larger businesses that need multi-channel support including live chat, text, and phone.

Pros:

• Live agent + AI combination
• HIPAA-compliant options available
• Multi-channel support (phone, chat, text)
• Industry-specific solutions

Cons:

• Higher starting price for the hybrid model
• Contracts may be required
• Complex pricing structure with add-ons
• AI capabilities less advanced than AI-native platforms

Best for: Mid-sized businesses and medical practices that want human agents supported by AI across multiple communication channels.

8. Dodo AI — Best Ultra-Budget Option

Pricing: Starts at $35/month

Dodo AI is one of the most affordable AI receptionist options available. It covers basic call answering and simple scheduling at a price point accessible to almost any small business.

Pros:

• Very low entry price
• Basic call handling works as advertised
• Quick setup
• Multilingual capabilities

Cons:

• Limited features compared to fuller platforms
• Minimal CRM integrations
• No compliance certifications
• Less natural conversational AI

Best for: Micro-businesses and startups that need something—anything—better than voicemail, and want to spend as little as possible.

9. RingCentral AI Receptionist — Best for Existing RingCentral Users

Pricing: Starts at $20/user/month (part of RingCentral phone plans)

RingCentral's AI receptionist feature is built into its broader business communications platform. It's not a standalone product—it's an add-on to an already robust phone system.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with RingCentral phone system
• Enterprise-grade reliability and uptime
• HIPAA-compliant options
• Strong analytics and reporting

Cons:

• Requires a RingCentral subscription as the base
• AI receptionist features are supplementary, not the core product
• Per-user pricing adds up for teams
• Overkill for businesses that just need call answering

Best for: Businesses already using RingCentral for their phone system that want to layer on AI receptionist capabilities without adding another vendor.

10. Dialpad AI — Best for AI-Powered Business Phones

Pricing: Starts at $15/user/month

Similar to RingCentral, Dialpad builds AI features into its business phone platform. Its AI handles transcription, call summaries, and basic receptionist duties.

Pros:

• Affordable per-user pricing
• Excellent call transcription and AI summaries
• Native business phone system included
• HIPAA-eligible plans available

Cons:

• AI receptionist is part of a larger phone system, not standalone
• Less focused on receptionist-specific workflows
• Customization is limited compared to dedicated AI receptionist platforms
• Better suited as a phone system than a receptionist replacement

Best for: Small teams looking for a modern business phone system that includes AI features. Less ideal if your primary need is a dedicated virtual receptionist.

How We Evaluated These Platforms

We assessed each AI receptionist across six weighted categories:

1. Call handling quality (25%): Natural language understanding, voice quality, and ability to manage complex conversations.
2. Feature depth (20%): Appointment scheduling, lead capture, call routing, CRM integration, and specialized capabilities like triage.
3. Pricing and value (20%): Cost relative to features, transparency of pricing, and absence of hidden fees.
4. Ease of setup (15%): Time from signup to live call handling, onboarding experience, and learning curve.
5. Compliance and security (10%): HIPAA readiness, data encryption, and privacy protections.
6. Customer support (10%): Responsiveness, documentation quality, and ongoing assistance.

Quick Verdict: Which AI Receptionist Is Right for You?

Choosing the best AI receptionist depends on your specific situation. Here's a quick decision guide:

Choose Dialiq if you want the most capable AI-only receptionist with intelligent call triage, HIPAA compliance, and deep integrations—all starting at $99/month. It's the strongest value for businesses that take phone calls seriously. Start a free trial here.

Choose Smith.ai if you need human receptionists backed by AI and budget isn't your primary concern. Ideal for law firms handling sensitive client intake.

Choose Ruby if brand reputation and live human interaction matter most to you, and you're willing to pay premium pricing for it.

Choose Goodcall or Dodo AI if you're a solopreneur on a tight budget who just needs basic call answering to stop losing calls to voicemail.

Choose My AI Front Desk if your business runs on appointments and you need a focused booking assistant.

Choose Rosie if you're in home services and want affordable after-hours call capture with text follow-ups.

Choose RingCentral or Dialpad if you need a complete business phone system with AI features baked in, rather than a standalone receptionist.

Choose Nexa if you're mid-sized and want live agents plus AI across phone, chat, and text channels.

📊 Not sure how much missed calls are costing you? Use our free Missed Call Revenue Calculator to see the real impact on your bottom line.

Why Call Triage Is the Feature Most Businesses Overlook

Most AI receptionist comparisons focus on the basics—can it answer calls, can it book appointments? But the feature that actually changes your business outcomes is intelligent call triage.

Consider this scenario: It's 9 PM on a Saturday. Your AI receptionist fields three calls within ten minutes. One is a routine appointment request. One is a pricing question. And one is an urgent situation that could cost you a customer—or worse, put someone at risk.

A basic AI receptionist treats all three calls identically: take a message, send a notification. But a system with true call triage recognizes the urgency difference and acts accordingly—booking the appointment, answering the pricing question, and immediately escalating the urgent call to your on-call staff.

This is Dialiq's Triage Engine in action. It analyzes caller intent, cross-references business rules, and makes routing decisions in real time. For medical practices, veterinary clinics, property managers, and home services companies, this isn't a nice-to-have—it's the difference between retaining a client and losing one permanently.

Making the Switch: What to Expect

Transitioning to an AI receptionist is simpler than most business owners expect. Here's a realistic timeline:

Day 1: Sign up, configure your business profile, and set up call handling rules. Most platforms—including Dialiq—can be operational within 10–15 minutes.

Week 1: Monitor call logs and adjust scripts, greetings, and routing rules. You'll quickly see which calls the AI handles perfectly and which need fine-tuning.

Week 2–4: Integrate with your CRM, calendar, and industry-specific tools. Set up automated SMS reminders and follow-up workflows.

Month 2+: Review analytics, optimize call flows, and measure ROI. Businesses typically see the full impact—reduced missed calls, increased bookings, and lower staffing pressure—within 30–60 days.

🚀 Ready to stop missing calls? Start your free 14-day Dialiq trial—no credit card required →

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does an AI receptionist cost for a small business? Pricing ranges from $49/month for phone-system add-ons to $200+/month for hybrid human-AI services. Dedicated AI receptionists typically cost $49–$99/month for small business plans.

Can an AI receptionist replace a human receptionist?For most small businesses, yes. AI receptionists handle 80–90% of routine calls—scheduling, FAQs, lead capture—without human intervention. Complex or emotionally sensitive calls can be escalated. Read our full AI vs. human receptionist cost comparison for detailed analysis.

Are AI receptionists HIPAA compliant?Not all of them. If you're in healthcare, verify HIPAA compliance and ask for a BAA before signing up. On this list, Dialiq, Nexa, RingCentral, and Dialpad offer HIPAA-compliant options.

How long does it take to set up an AI receptionist?Most can be configured in 10–30 minutes. Full optimization with CRM integrations and custom workflows typically takes one to two weeks. Check out how to set up an AI phone agent for a step-by-step guide.

Will callers know they're talking to an AI?Modern AI receptionists are remarkably natural. Most callers won't notice the difference, especially for routine tasks like booking appointments or getting business hours. Platforms like Dialiq with custom voice branding sound even more natural.

The Bottom Line

The best AI receptionist for your small business isn't necessarily the cheapest or the most feature-packed—it's the one that solves your specific problems without creating new ones.

If you need basic call answering on a tight budget, Goodcall or Dodo AI will get the job done. If you want the reassurance of human backup, Smith.ai or Ruby are solid choices at a premium. And if you want an AI receptionist that actually thinks—triaging calls by urgency, complying with healthcare regulations, and integrating deeply with your existing tools—Dialiq delivers the best combination of intelligence and value on the market today.

Your phone is ringing. The question is: who's answering?

📞 Try Dialiq free for 7 days and see the difference intelligent call handling makes →