Auto-attendants greet incoming callers with a recorded message, enabling the caller to self-serve through artificial intelligence (AI) or choosing an extension to speak with a human. This is a must-have feature of modern-day business phone systems, but the best multilevel auto-attendant phone systems are also budget-friendly, customizable, and rich in customer experience-building features.
We found the best auto-attendant phone systems to be:
- Nextiva: Best overall for businesses looking for an auto-attendant with a free customized, professional recorded greeting
- RingCentral: Great choice for large teams needing a robust, multilevel auto-attendant to support high call volumes
- 8×8: Perfect for companies that need a sophisticated multilevel auto-attendant to smoothly lead domestic and international callers through multiple menus
- Vonage: Ideal option for small teams that want to create the ideal auto-attendant phone system with a la carte add-on features
- Grasshopper: Recommended for solopreneurs and small businesses that need a low-cost auto-attendant with professional greeting packages or the option for a real-life receptionist
- Phone.com: Excellent option for small businesses that need a budget-friendly auto-attendant to handle low call volumes
How We Evaluated the Best Auto-attendant Phone Systems
Auto-attendants are a common feature of most modern business phone systems, but some are better than others. We looked at pricing, features, ease of use, and user feedback to determine our top picks for the best auto-attendant phone systems.
After narrowing down our options to six, we found Nextiva to provide the best overall auto-attendant with a high score of 4.63 out of 5. Nextiva’s auto-attendant is robust and easy to use—plus, all of its premium plans come with a free professionally recorded voice greeting. RingCentral came in a close second with a score of 4.42 out of 5 thanks to its feature-rich attendant and high-volume friendly pricing.
Here’s how we evaluated the best auto-attendant phone systems:
25% of Overall Score
Auto-attendant features shouldn’t break the bank. The best voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) providers include auto-attendants in their entry-level plans and don’t require users to buy expensive tiers to access this feature. Higher-priced attendants should have more sophisticated options.
25% of Overall Score
The best auto-attendant phone systems provide more advanced interactive voice response (IVR) technology to enable humans to respond via voice or keypad input. These systems can do more than route calls—they can collect data, answer questions, and help customers self-serve without human intervention.
25% of Overall Score
Auto-attendants are a helpful solution for handling incoming call traffic. However, many leading systems also offer additional phone features like toll-free numbers, mobile apps, and video chat. We looked for any additional features that solutions have and accounted for them here.
25% of Overall Score
We tried the products ourselves and dove deep into the customer reviews to learn about user experiences, likes, and dislikes.
Nextiva
PROS
- Sophisticated multilevel auto-attendant
- Free professional voice recording greeting
- Affordable premium pricing plans
CONS
- Clunky user interface
- Weak international calling services
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Added Benefits | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
Nextiva is one of the industry leaders in the VoIP space. Its platform provides affordable, easy-to-use features to provide top-notch end-to-end experiences for both your inbound callers and your agents. Nextiva’s auto-attendant outperforms the competition with intelligent routing, low-cost entry-level plans, and a free professional recorded voice greeting.
Nextiva Pricing*
- Essential: $21.95 per user, per month for access to auto-attendants, unlimited calling (within the U.S. and Canada), and a free local or toll-free number
- Professional: $25.95 per user, per month for a professionally recorded voice greeting, which is a feature that costs extra in other services or isn’t offered at all, as well as conference calling for up to four people, team messaging, and peer-to-peer video calling
- Enterprise: $35.95 per user, per month for voicemail transcription, voice analytics, and call recording
- Ultimate: $65.95 per user, per month for automated surveys, customer journey analytics, and 12,500 toll-free minutes
*Pricing calculated using an estimated five to 19 users on the annual pricing plan.
Nextiva Features
- Professionally recorded voice greeting: Professional, Enterprise, and Ultimate plans include a professionally recorded voice greeting. Nextiva uses voice actors to read a script you provide—check out our auto-attendant script templates if you need help getting started.
- Voice menu builder: Build and deploy the perfect auto-attendant in minutes with Nextiva’s easy-to-use voice menu builder.
- Smart routing: Set up predetermined rules and protocols to prioritize calls from your toll-free numbers to create a more intentional experience for your call centers.
Check out our Nextiva review for more information on how this software works.
RingCentral
PROS
- Smooth, easy-to-use interface
- Ideal for high call volumes
- Most robust VoIP features
CONS
- Most robust VoIP features
- Overkill for small teams
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Added Benefits | 4.05 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.63 | OUT OF | 5 |
RingCentral provides one of the most robust business phone systems on the market today. Everything from the pricing plans to the easy-to-use interface to the feature-rich functionality makes it perfect for handling the highest call volumes. While it might be a bit overkill for smaller teams, RingCentral provides one of the best auto-attendants you’ll find on the market.
RingCentral Pricing*
- Essentials: $19.99 per user, per month for up to 20 users, 100 toll-free minutes, unlimited calling, and unlimited texting, making it a more affordable solution compared to Nextiva for mid-sized teams, but not as economical as other options on this list for teams of less than five
- Standard: $24.99 per user, per month for multilevel auto-attendant, unlimited audio conferencing, 1,000 toll-free minutes, and video meetings for up to 100 participants
- Premium: $34.99 per user, per month with unlimited call recording, 2,500 toll-free minutes, analytics, and integrations with outside business software
- Ultimate: $49.99 per user, per month with device status reports, 10,000 toll-free minutes, and unlimited storage
*Pricing calculated using an estimated two to 20 users on the annual pricing plan.
RingCentral Features
- IVR system: Upgrade your multilevel auto-attendant into a voice-engageable virtual receptionist.
- Call center features: Transform your VoIP system into an all-out call center with dial-by-name directories, call queuing, live transfer, and more.
- Scalability: With open APIs, affordable plans, and all the features you could ever need, RingCentral is the epitome of scalable VoIP communications.
For more details on what RingCentral offers small business customers, check out our RingCentral review page.
8x8
PROS
- Unlimited calls to almost 50 countries
- Call center features available on advanced plans
- Inexpensive basic auto-attendant
CONS
- Multilevel auto-attendant locked behind premium tiers
- Outdated user interface
- Occasional customer support delays
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Added Benefits | 4.45 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.75 | OUT OF | 5 |
8×8 provides a budget-friendly auto-attendant for as little as $12 per user, per month. Place unlimited calls to 47 countries, and receive large call volumes with call center features on the premium plans. While the basic plan comes with a standard auto-attendant, you’ll have to upgrade to 8×8’s expensive tiers to access the more advanced interactive voice response (IVR) functionality.
8x8 Pricing*
- Express: $12 per user, per month for unlimited domestic calling and a basic automated attendant
- X2: $24 per user, per month for unlimited calling for up to 14 countries, which makes it a less expensive option for teams that make a number of international calls compared to services that charge by the minute for overseas communication; it also comes with VoIP faxing, call reports, and call recording
- X4: $44 per user, per month for the international calling of up to 47 countries
You’ll have to upgrade to 8×8’s voice-centric Contact Center to get access to the IVR auto-attendant and advanced reporting features.
*Pricing calculated based on an estimated fewer than 100 users on an annual plan. Volume discounts don’t apply until you reach a 100-user minimum.
8x8 Features
- International calling: Make unlimited calls to up to 47 different countries on one of the most affordable global communications VoIP plans.
- Call center features: 8×8 provides several premium call center packages to empower you to upgrade your business VoIP plan.
- Inexpensive auto-attendant: Access a basic auto-attendant for just $12 per user, per month—one of the most affordable options on the market.
Vonage
PROS
- Inexpensive entry-level plans
- A la carte feature pricing
- Support for large video conferencing
CONS
- Feature requests can get expensive
- Old, clunky user interface
- No annual pricing discounts
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 4.50 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Added Benefits | 3.50 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.05 | OUT OF | 5 |
Vonage delivers a no-frills, easy-to-use auto-attendant that’ll provide more than enough functionality for basic business needs. Its a la carte pricing allows you to pick and choose the features you want, empowering businesses to pay for exactly what they need and use. However, extensive features can add up to an expensive solution, and an outdated interface makes Vonage lag slightly behind competitors.
Vonage Pricing*
- Mobile: $17.99 per user, per month for unlimited calling, mobile app, and team messaging
- Premium: $27.99 per user, per month for multilevel auto-attendant, video calling for up to 100 people, and software integrations
- Advanced: $37.99 per user, per month for 15 hours of on-demand call recording, visual voicemail, and company-guided setup of your system
*Pricing calculated using an estimated 15 users. Annual pricing is unavailable, but volume discounts are available as you add more users.
Vonage Features
- A la carte pricing: Pay for the exact features you need and nothing more with a la carte pricing options for individual features, toll-free numbers, call recording functionality, and more.
- Robust knowledge center: Vonage provides all the fantastic FAQs, how-tos, and resources to keep you problem-solving and moving forward.
- Vonage Reach: Set up the perfect SMS automation campaigns to keep your customers engaged and progressing.
Grasshopper
PROS
- Low-cost VoIP system
- Intuitive auto-attendant builder
- No tier-specific feature restrictions
CONS
- Need an existing phone line
- No video conferencing
- Lacks advanced VoIP features
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 4.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Added Benefits | 2.65 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 4.06 | OUT OF | 5 |
Grasshopper provides the best auto-attendant phone system for solopreneurs and small teams on a budget. The auto-attendant builder is straightforward and easy to use, and it’s available with any Grasshopper license. In fact, all of Grasshopper’s features are available without restriction, no matter which plan you purchase. However, Grasshopper’s advanced features are somewhat lacking, especially when compared to Nextiva or RingCentral.
Grasshopper Pricing*
- Solo: $26 per month for one number and three extensions, which can be a savings for small teams compared to other plans that charge by the user
- Partner: $44 per month for three numbers and six extensions
- Small Business: $80 per month for five numbers and unlimited extensions
*Pricing calculated on an annual basis.
Grasshopper Features
- Voice Studio: Hire one of Grasshopper’s professional voice talents to record your auto-attendant greeting.
- Virtual receptionist: Use Grasshopper’s auto-attendant or bring in a real-life receptionist to add a flair of personality and professionalism.
- Toll-free numbers: Grasshopper gives you the option between a local number and a toll-free number with a 1-800 prefix.
For more details on the solution and its features, check out our Grasshopper review.
Phone.com
PROS
- Budget-friendly plans for low call volumes
- Most features available across all plans
- Apps for mobile and desktop
CONS
- Pay-per-minute plans get expensive with high call volume
- Unlimited plans get pricey
- Non-intuitive interface
| RATING CRITERIA | Pricing | 5.00 | OUT OF | 5 |
| General Features | 3.00 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Added Benefits | 4.05 | OUT OF | 5 | |
| Expert Score | 3.44 | OUT OF | 5 |
Phone.com delivers the perfect business VoIP system and auto-attendant setup for small businesses with low call volumes. Most of the platform’s essential features are available on any paid plan, but a few are available through a la carte add-ons. If you need a VoIP system but don’t want to pay for unlimited calling and texting (that you’ll never need), then Phone.com is the right solution for you.
Phone.com Pricing*
- Base: $10.39 per user, per month for 300 monthly minutes and auto-attendant
- Plus: $15.99 per user, per month for unlimited monthly minutes
- Pro: $23.99 per user, per month for advanced features like call recording, analytics, and customer relationship manager (CRM) integrations
*Pricing calculated on an annual basis. Monthly plans are available for an additional fee.
Phone.com Features
- Limited minute plans: The ability to buy bundles of minutes makes Phone.com one of the more flexible options on the market.
- Mobile and web apps: Use Phone.com wherever it suits you—desktop or mobile, Android, or iOS.
- Hold music: Personalize your waiting rooms by adding simple hold music.
Bottom Line
Auto-attendants are a must-have feature for today’s modern businesses. Fortunately, they’re standard across voice-over-internet-protocol (VoIP) phone systems, simple to set up, and easy for customers to use. However, finding the best auto-attendant for your business can be a challenge with so many available options.
We recommend Nextiva for almost every small business use case. It’s powerful, affordable, easy to use, and provides a feature-rich auto-attendant capable of handling customized caller workflow. Plus, it includes a free professional recorded voice greeting from a talented voice actor, a feature you’d have to pay top dollar for through a third-party vendor.
