Top 10 Virtual Receptionist & Answering Services for Businesses

A virtual receptionist service is a professional, remote support solution that handles your business calls, messages, and customer inquiries on your behalf. It provides essential services like answering calls, scheduling appointments, and delivering key information. So, instead of hiring full-time staff, your business relies on trained receptionists who work off-site and manage communication through advanced phone and CRM systems.

Businesses need a virtual receptionist service to stay reachable at all times, cut staffing costs, deliver consistent customer care, manage calls efficiently, and maintain smooth communication even during peak hours or unexpected situations.

• 24/7 Availability: Ensures that calls are answered around the clock, even outside regular office hours.
• Cost-Effective: Reduces the need for hiring full-time staff, saving on labor costs and office space by opting for a receptionist as a service.
• Improved Customer Service: Provides a professional and consistent experience for every caller, boosting customer satisfaction.
• Improved Productivity: By handling routine calls and scheduling tasks, virtual receptionists free up your internal team to focus on core business activities.
• Business Continuity: Handles calls even during busy hours or emergencies, ensuring no calls are missed.

The top virtual receptionist services for businesses include Ruby, Nexa, Abby Connect, Smith.ai, Moneypenny, AnswerConnect, and MyOutDesk.

Ruby, formerly known as Ruby Receptionist, is one of the best virtual receptionist services for small and growing businesses. Their receptionists handle calls with a script you provide, allowing you to craft the perfect greeting and communicate with the touch of your brand tone. The company also offers live chat support, helping businesses improve their digital customer service and assist customers online, along with phone support.

Additionally, its bilingual support in English and Spanish helps you serve a broader customer base.
 

Key Features:

• Robocall Filtering
• Flexible Call Forwarding
• Appointment Scheduling
• Outbound Calling

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per Month):

• 50 minutes: $245
• 100 minutes: $385
• 200 minutes: $705
• 500 minutes: $1,695

Nexa is among the best virtual receptionist solutions tailored to legal, healthcare, real estate, and home services. From answering calls to managing leads, their service can be customized to fit a variety of business needs. They also provide a customer portal named NexaInsights, which allows businesses to track calls, manage reports, and access real-time data.

Initially launched as Answer 1 Communications, the company rebranded to Nexa after new leadership took over in 2015. Since then, the company has grown to over 600 employees and now serves more than 5,000 businesses across the United States.
 

Key Features:

• Text Messaging
• Live Chat
• Outbound Call Campaigns
• Mobile App and Desktop Portal

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per Month):

• Nexa 100: 100 voice minutes
• Nexa 300: 300 voice minutes
• Nexa 500: 500 voice minutes

Abby Connect is a US-based virtual answering service that combines skilled human receptionists with advanced technology to provide exceptional customer support. Each client is assigned a dedicated team that learns their business needs to ensure friendly and consistent service.

Abby Connect boasts a large and diverse client base, with its impressive track record of handling over one million calls. This clearly indicates its reach and reliability.
 

Key Features:

• Weekend Answering
• AI Call Summary
• Call Screening and Transfer
• Live Website Chat Support

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per Month):

• Essential (100 minutes): $329
• Professional (200 minutes): $599
• Growth (500 minutes): $1380

Smith.ai is recognized for its innovative blend of AI technology with live receptionist services. It serves various industries, including legal firms, home services, marketing agencies, and healthcare providers. By offering personalized and professional support, Smith.ai allows businesses to focus on growth while ensuring their customers receive timely and helpful assistance.

Key Features:

• AI-Assisted Call Answering
• Live Website Chat Support
• HIPAA-Compliant Communications
• Spam and Robocall Filtering

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per Month):

• Starter Plan (30 calls): $292.50
• Basic Plan (90 calls): $787.50
• Pro Plan (300 calls): $2,025 (Extra $8 per call, if over 300)
• Enterprise Plan: Contact the sales team for a quote.

Moneypenny is one of the leading virtual receptionist and phone answering services, combining real human receptionists with advanced AI to deliver seamless customer conversations. Designed for businesses of all sizes, it ensures every call is answered warmly and professionally, reflecting your brand voice perfectly.Besides that, its proprietary AI tools like KnowledgeBase and MessageMaker enhance accuracy and speed, helping agents deliver efficient, intelligent, and personalized interactions every time.
 

Key Features:

• AI Receptionist
• Online Dashboard
• Digital Receptionist
• Call Tracking

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per Month):

• The pricing plans of Moneypenny start from $145.

AnswerConnect is one of the top-rated virtual receptionist services across the US, serving over 6,000 businesses, from solo ventures to large companies. It allows you to craft your own communication style and workflow. You can decide how the calls and chats should be handled and instruct the live receptionists.Additionally, you can receive instant updates and review call recordings and chat transcripts via an easy-to-use app or website.
 

Key Features:

• Appointment Scheduling with Calendar Integrations
• CRM and Workflow Integrations
• Caller Recognition for Returning Customers

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per month):

• You must log in or directly contact the customer support.

MyOutDesk offers virtual receptionist answering services as part of its broader virtual assistant solutions. Designed to support businesses with day-to-day communication, it manages inbound calls, appointment scheduling, and general administrative tasks. With ongoing performance monitoring and support, MyOutDesk ensures reliable, high-quality receptionist services that improve client satisfaction.

Key Features:

• Secure Handling of Sensitive Data
• Ongoing Performance Monitoring
• Call Screening
• Appointment Scheduling and Calendar Management

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per month):

• Starting at $1988.

Connect Communications provides one of the best virtual receptionist services for small businesses. Its professional call handling ensures that every call, including cold calls, is answered with a courteous and professional voice.Connect Communications staff are well-trained to take and record messages from the customers, which they later forward to you via email or SMS. For any specialized inquiries, they can also transfer calls directly to you if needed.
 

Key Features:

• Standard Message Taking
• Call Transfers
• Custom Training Programs
• Interactive On-Screen Guidance

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per Month):

• Classic Plan: $19.19 (£14.99)
• Pro Plan: $88.69 (£69.29)
• Diary Plan: $102.77 (£80.29)

AnswerForce is a 24/7 live answering and virtual receptionist service provider based in Portland, Oregon. It focuses on personalized customer interactions, helping businesses maintain strong client relationships.Serving over 2,500 small and medium-sized businesses across the US, Canada, and the UK, AnswerForce has earned notable recognition, including the "Best Answering Service 2025" award from Forbes and the "Service of the Year 2024" from the RIA Contractor’s Choice Awards.
 

Key Features:

• After-Hours Call Handling
• Call Centre Solutions
• Order Taking
• Franchise Answering

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per month):

• Requires login or direct contact with the customer support.

My Receptionist is among the most affordable virtual receptionist services. It provides 24/7 virtual receptionist answering services for small and mid-sized businesses. Their core services include online scheduling, appointment reminders, and secure mobile messaging.My Receptionist follows your call handling instructions to serve your customers and maintain your brand image. Serving a wide range of industries, MyReceptionist also excels in message taking, call transferring, CRM integration, gift card processing, and more.
 

Key Features:

• Custom Scripting
• Customized Greetings
• Instant Message Delivery

Pros and Cons:

Plans & Pricing (Per Billing Period):

• Starter Plan (70 minutes): $110
• Cruising Plan (150 minutes): $195
• Express Plan (235 minutes): $275
• Enterprise Plan: Contact the sales team for higher call volume pricing.

To choose the right virtual receptionist service, check if it provides 24/7 support, strong call management tools, and has positive client feedback. Also, review pricing transparency and confirm they follow strict data security standards.

• Service Availability: Ensure the service offers round-the-clock availability if your business operates outside standard hours or serves customers in different time zones.
• Call Handling Features: Look for features like call screening, routing, voicemail, and call forwarding, which are essential in customer care centers.
• Reputation and User Reviews: Check third-party reviews and customer feedback to assess the service’s reliability and customer service quality.
• Pricing Plan: Review the cost structure carefully, whether it’s a per-minute charge or tier packages. Also, ensure there are no hidden fees.
• Security and Confidentiality: Confirm the provider has strict data protection protocols to safeguard customer information and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.

Delegating the responsibility of handling business calls to a virtual receptionist service can significantly streamline operations. By outsourcing this essential task, businesses can improve efficiency, reduce overhead costs, and ensure that every customer call is answered professionally and promptly.