AI receptionist that answers every call and books the job
An AI receptionist answers your business phone on the first ring with a natural voice, says it is an AI, asks what the caller needs, takes their details and books the job or routes the call to a person. It handles every call at once, even at 2 am.
Honest status: outbound speed to lead is the core product and live for every client. Inbound answering is set up per client today, on request.
The calls you are already losing
of 70 million tracked business calls went unanswered in an Invoca analysis.
Invoca, via JustCall missed-call statisticsUS searches a month for "AI receptionist", up 86% year over year. Owners are looking.
DataForSEO, June 2026, via findskill.aiour outbound call-back target when a web lead arrives, so inbound and outbound meet in the middle.
How speed to lead worksTwo directions, one assistant
Most "AI receptionist" products only answer. Most speed-to-lead products only dial. Lily does both, with the same voice, the same script and the same calendar.
Inbound (per setup)
A dedicated number or a forward from your main line. Greeting, intent detection, details capture, booking, routing to a person, voicemail transcription. Available to clients on request today.
Outbound (core, live)
A web lead arrives, the email goes in seconds, Lily calls in about a minute, scores the lead and books it. This is what every plan includes.
Appointment settingMissed call, call back
If a caller hangs up before the greeting finishes, the system can call them back within 60 seconds. Text-back follows once carrier registration is done.
Missed-call text-backPer-call, per-minute or per-caller?
AI receptionists are priced three ways. The right one depends on how long your calls run and how many are repeat callers. Public prices below are from the vendors' own pricing pages on the date noted; check them before you buy.
| Model | Example | Public price | Favors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per call | Smith.ai (AI-first plan) | From $1.60 per call; human escalation adds $3 per call; 25 free calls a month on some plans | Long calls. A 9-minute troubleshooting call costs the same as a 40-second one. |
| Per minute | Dialzara | $29, $99, $199, $349 a month for 60, 220, 500, 1,000 minutes; overage $0.35 to $0.48 a minute; outbound agents from $750 a month | Short calls. Good for "are you open?" and booking-only lines. |
| Per unique caller | Goodcall | From $79 a month; tiers reported at $79, $129, $249 for 100, 250, 500 unique callers, then $0.50 each (sources differ; verify) | Repeat customers who call several times about one job. |
| Part of the plan | AI Speed to Leads | Quoted with your outbound volume on a 15-minute call. No published inbound price yet. | Businesses that want one assistant, one script and one calendar for both directions. |
Sources: smith.ai, dialzara.com/pricing, goodcall.com and CloudTalk's Goodcall pricing summary, checked October 2026. See the full pricing page and comparison.
An inbound call, start to booked
Lily: "Thanks for calling Front Range Plumbing. I'm Lily, an AI assistant, and this call may be recorded. How can I help?"
Caller: "My water heater is leaking all over the garage. Can someone come today?"
Lily: "Yes, let's get that handled. Can you shut off the cold-water valve on top of the heater for now? And what's the address?"
Caller: "I did. 4120 Garrison Street, Lakewood."
Lily: "Got it. I have a technician open at 11 this morning or 2 this afternoon. Which do you want?"
Caller: "11. How much will it be?"
Lily: "The technician gives the price on site once he sees the unit. You're booked for 11 with Luis. What's the best number for a text when he's on the way?"
Inbound rules
- AI disclosure and recording notice in the greeting, in English or Spanish.
- Real openings only. Lily reads the dispatch calendar; she never promises a time that is not there.
- No prices. Service-call fees can be stated if you provide them; repair quotes belong to the tech.
- Transfer or call-back on request. "I want a person" routes to your number during your hours and schedules a call-back outside them.
- Every call summarized and recorded, with a transcript in your inbox or CRM.
Also see after-hours lead response, med spas and clinics (inbound-first), integrations, and compliance.
AI receptionist, answered
What is an AI receptionist?
Software that answers your business phone with a natural voice, says it is an AI, asks what the caller needs, takes their details, and either books an appointment, routes the call to a person, or takes a message. Unlike a voicemail it holds a conversation; unlike a human answering service it is available on every call at the same time.
Is inbound answering part of your standard plans?
Not yet as a self-serve feature. Outbound speed to lead (email plus an AI call within about 60 seconds of a web form) is the core product and is live for every plan. Inbound answering is offered to clients on a per-setup basis today: we configure a dedicated number, your greeting, your routing rules and your calendar. Ask on the sales call.
Per-call, per-minute or per-caller: which pricing is better?
It depends on your call length. Per-call (Smith.ai from $1.60 per AI call) favors long calls. Per-minute (Dialzara, $29 to $349 a month for 60 to 1,000 minutes) favors short ones. Per-unique-caller (Goodcall, from $79 a month) favors repeat callers. We quote inbound answering as part of your overall plan, based on expected call volume.
Can it answer in Spanish?
Spanish is available on request for both inbound answering and outbound speed-to-lead calls. The greeting can offer both languages, or a separate Spanish line can route to a Spanish-speaking assistant. The AI disclosure is given in the language of the call.
Will callers know it is an AI?
Yes. The greeting says it is an AI assistant for your business and that the call may be recorded. Anyone who asks for a person is routed to your number or has a call-back scheduled. See the compliance page.
See it on your own leads.
15-minute call with a real person. Or have Lily, our AI, call you first.