7 Best Answering Services of 2024

VoiceNation is our top answering service for small business operations seeking an all-in-one receptionist service. It handles calls 24/7, follows scripted responses, and sends messages to businesses instantly through email or text, depending on the company’s preferred channel. Its bilingual answering service lets you connect with audiences speaking English and Spanish.

Moreover, it allows the unlimited capture of caller information and employee contacts. Agents take as much information as needed from customers and accommodate as many employees and call types as required. You can monitor all account activities on its intuitive mobile app, allowing you to call and text customers, monitor minute usage, and block specific contacts to prevent wasting calling minutes.

The downside of choosing VoiceNation is its limited third-party integrations. If you need to connect different business apps, AnswerConnect is a great option, as it works natively with various platforms, including CRM, email marketing, and scheduling apps.

• Online dashboard: Monitor your account, customize your script, view calls, and track minutes within a live dashboard. The report and analytics tool displays key metrics, such as call volume, type, time, location, and length.
• Call forwarding: All plans come with free call transfers, allowing you to decide which calls you take and which will be transferred to employees. Use call forwarding to send incoming calls from one phone line to another.
• Custom call scripts: Create tailored scripts that align with your brand identity. You can collect and provide all the necessary information using a well-crafted spiel.

The VoiceNation mobile app displays the remaining receptionist minutes on your account. (Source: VoiceNation)

Abby Connect is a business phone answering service that uses AI to ensure the accuracy and efficiency of documenting calls. It generates instant call summaries with an error-free synopsis, including caller details and action items. AI-generated call transcripts provide a play-by-play of calls, letting you review customer conversations quickly, as soon as you need them.

The Abby Intelligence engine draws on insights gathered from past phone calls and uses the data to optimize your account and improve call routing. It also analyzes customer sentiment, labeling calls as positive, negative, or neutral. This makes it easier to measure customer satisfaction and capture opportunities better.

Unfortunately, Abby Connect isn’t the lowest-priced solution, especially if you need 24-hour answering services. VoiceNation is cheaper than Abby Connect by $100 per month if you opt for 100 receptionist minutes. You also get the same number of live answering features for a much lower price.

• Custom call transfer tunes: Choose what your customers hear while transferring their calls. This ensures callers have a pleasant experience throughout the call journey.
• AbbyGo app: This powerful app gives you more control over your account and business calls even when you’re on the go. Track minute usage, view call trends, set call availability, and submit receptionist feedback from your phone.
• Live chat: Abby Connect offers live chat services with features like post-chat surveys, scheduling assistance, and multilanguage support. This allows you to cater to audiences who prefer messaging over calling.

View your account activities on the AbbyGo mobile app. (Source: Abby Connect)

Ruby, also known as Ruby Receptionists, is the best answering service for small businesses dealing with seasonal fluctuations in call volumes. Whether you need full-time, part-time, or backup support, Ruby offers the flexibility to meet your live answering needs. With these options, you can hire a virtual receptionist service only when you need to or would like to.

Bundled plans are available for those who wish to combine virtual receptionist and live chat services. However, if you need a multichannel plan that supports other messaging channels, you’re better off with Go Answer. It provides a team of virtual receptionists who will expertly handle your calls, emails, texts, and live chat messages.

• Mobile app: Get real-time notifications and stay on top of your answering system using the Ruby app. Update your status, check messages, access call records, and set up your caller ID.
• Flexible call forwarding: Determine who answers specific types of calls with flexible call forwarding. Answer only the calls you prioritize and send other calls to Ruby.
• Robocall filtering: Ruby automatically filters robocall voicemails so virtual receptionists don’t answer the calls or charge your business.

Monitor your call activities through your smartphone or smartwatch. (Source: Ruby)

Davinci Virtual extends its services beyond live answering by offering a virtual assistant to manage your administrative tasks. These include scheduling deliveries, planning travels, providing meeting support, facilitating customer assistance, and managing voicemails. If you’re not ready to take on a full-time office admin role, delegate office tasks to your receptionist to focus on more complex business concerns.

Additionally, Davinci Virtual offers virtual offices and meeting spaces. It’s ideal for solopreneurs and small teams looking for cost-effective business services like mail receipt and forwarding, a professional address, and meeting equipment use. Virtual office support allows businesses to keep overhead expenses and staffing low while gaining access to essential services as needed.

Unfortunately, Davinci’s live receptionist team only answers calls between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern time on weekdays. For 24-hour phone answering services, consider VoiceNation, which provides 24/7/365 call answering.

• Proactive live chat: Create and automatically send visitors a welcome message when they land on your webpage. It ensures customer engagement and gives a great first impression.
• Outbound calling: Improve customer outreach efforts so you can focus on more high-yield tasks. Davinci Virtual supports lead generation and follow-up calls.
• Voicemail management: Add your hold music, transfer messages, and introductions to your virtual voicemail. It also offers voicemail-to-email and voicemail-to-text services, helping you save time by reading messages at your convenience.

Davinci’s mobile app includes easy-to-use menu options for call features. (Source: App Store)

MAP Communications is a low-cost small business answering service with a base plan that costs only $49. Its pay-as-you-go package is a great option for companies with low call volumes. It doesn’t tie you to a monthly minute bundle; it only charges you for the minutes you consume.

The additional per-minute rate is $1.37, which is cheaper than other providers. The subscription plan includes valuable live answering features, such as bilingual answering services, compliance with HIPAA standards, free message delivery, and full account customization.

However, one disadvantage of MAP Communications you should consider is its outdated web portal design. Other answering services for small businesses have visually appealing interfaces that make configuring call handling more seamless. Abby Connect and Ruby are our top options, given their modern feel.

• Security compliance: All MAP Communication plans are HIPAA-compliant and certified by the Health Information Trust (HITRUST) alliance. This emphasizes its rigorous standards for handling confidential patient data.
• Live call transfer: Depending on your preference, the receptionists facilitate cold and warm call transfers to specific persons or departments. They screen all your calls and provide information or take messages as necessary.
• Custom scripts: Scripting ensures receptionists follow predefined talking points to ensure consistent interactions with all your customers, regardless of who answers the phone.

Account analytics display call answering activities in real time. (Source: MAP Communications)

Go Answer offers extensive answering solutions for email, SMS, and ticketing aside from its virtual receptionist and live chat services. It works with an outsourced contact center service that handles digital interactions across multiple channels. Go Answer also offers answering programs based on specific needs, including a help desk, after-sales, order-taking, hotline, and appointment scheduling.

While Go Answer offers a variety of answering services, it primarily focuses on customer interactions. If you’re looking for an all-in-one answering service to help you with daily admin tasks, check out Davinci Virtual. Subscribing to Davinci’s Premium plans provides access to virtual assistants who are trained to perform all the extra office work.

• Email response service: A team of email support specialists will manage your inbox and answer questions on your behalf. They will also respond to customer requests and filter out junk messages.
• Real-time dashboard: Subscribing to any Go Answer plan includes free access to your own client portal, allowing you to monitor real-time call data, ongoing calls, and call volume.
• Custom scripting: Receive expert assistance in crafting a personalized script tailored to your business’s specific goals. Editable scripts are available if you prefer to write your own.

Go Answer agents engage with your website visitors in real time. (Source: Go Answer)

AnswerConnect is the ideal answering service for companies with high-volume call traffic or scaling communication operations because of its large volume plans. Its base plan comes with a generous 200 minutes, and you can upgrade to 550 and up to a maximum of 100,000 minutes. All live answer plans have business features like custom scripts, CRM integrations, and access to desktop and mobile apps.

Streamline the process of generating and identifying potential customers by tapping AnswerConnect’s lead capture and lead intake form completion. All plans include live chat support, while other providers like Ruby charge an additional fee. However, it charges for services like bilingual support and HIPAA compliance, which other providers offer for free.

If you’re looking for affordable and straightforward billing, check out other phone answering services for small businesses. Consider MAP Communications’ pay-as-you-go plan, which already covers bilingual support and HIPAA and HITRUST compliance.

• Calendar management: Allow customers to make an appointment with your team and get instant updates about bookings in real time. Receptionists can add new appointments directly to your schedule.
• Client web access: All clients receive access to a client portal upon signing up. This all-in-one dashboard outlines all interactions, personalizes your account, and stores all your data.
• After-hours answering: Accommodate calls after business hours, even on weekends and holidays. This ensures you capture every call from potential clients and address existing customers’ concerns.

Monitor call handling activities on AnswerConnect’s web portal. (Source: AnswerConnect)