Honest comparisons

Thinking of switching? See how we stack up.

There are three kinds of tools people weigh us against: AI receptionists, human answering services, and business phone apps. We'll tell you what each does well, and where a flat $79 base with your team alongside the AI makes more sense.

What's different from forwarding calls to an AI receptionist?

Most AI receptionists just forward the calls you miss to their AI, so they only ever see those. Fast Response is the business line itself, so every call lands in one place.

Forwarding to an AI
Only the calls the AI takes are logged
Calls your team answers on a cell leave no record
Your phone line and their AI dashboard stay separate
Fast Response
AI-answered and team-answered calls in one log
Every call recorded, transcribed, summarized and filed on the contact
One business line and inbox, with the texts
See how the call inbox works →

Every comparison, in one place

18 honest head-to-heads, grouped by what the tool actually is. Pick the one you're weighing.

AI receptionists

AI that answers your phone. Most only ever see the calls you forward to them.
vs EliseAIEliseAI is the heavyweight of multifamily AI, deep PMS integration, real leasing automation, proven ROI across 10,000-unit portfolios.Compare vs PhonelyPhonely's AI voice is genuinely natural, and per-minute pricing is cheap if you only need a simple bot for overflow inbound.Compare vs BesideM1Beside is a slick AI receptionist, voice cloning, a cheap entry price, an iOS app, auto-trains from your website.Compare vs Reception.aiReception.ai is a clean, affordable AI receptionist, phone + web chat, calendar booking, Zapier/Webhooks/MCP integrations, and a genuinely cheap $22 entry point.Compare vs GoodcallGoodcall is a tidy, self-serve voice AI that's quick to stand up for a single-line business.Compare vs DialzaraDialzara is a solid AI answering service with a genuinely helpful hands-on setup and unlimited simultaneous calls.Compare vs RosieRosie is a polished AI answering service for solo and very small businesses, quick to set up, with native mobile apps and unlimited simultaneous calls.Compare vs My AI Front DeskMy AI Front Desk is a feature-rich AI receptionist with a CRM, SMS, and a chatbot, and an agency white-label program.Compare vs Ace AIfor Follow Up BossAce AI is a genuinely useful writing copilot for teams already on Follow Up Boss, it reads the thread and hands you a ready-to-send reply, with a Fair-Housing check on top.Compare vs StructurelyStructurely is a strong AI inside-sales agent, fast speed-to-lead, real qualification, and live transfer to your team.Compare vs PodiumPodium is a slick all-in-one for local business, reviews, payments, web chat, text-marketing.Compare

Human answering services

Live agents who take a message, usually billed per call or per minute.
vs Smith.aiSmith.ai is a strong, established AI + human receptionist, real US-based agents for complex calls, deep integrations, polished for law firms and agencies that want a human voice on the line.Compare vs Phone TendersPhone Tenders shut down, your line just rolls to voicemail now. Port your number and get every call answered again.Compare

Business phone apps

A phone line for your team, but the AI answering is bolted on or missing.
vs Quoformerly OpenPhoneQuo is a genuinely good business phone, shared numbers, clean texting, easy team collaboration.Compare vs RingCentralRingCentral is a powerful, feature-deep phone system, video, integrations, contact-center tooling.Compare vs NextivaNextiva is a capable, established UCaaS, solid voice, video, and contact-center tooling, and a recognized brand.Compare vs NextPhoneNextPhone is a capable, flat-rate AI receptionist, unlimited calls, clean booking, and a transfer-to-human step.Compare vs Follow Up Bossthe dialerFollow Up Boss is a best-in-class real-estate CRM, pipelines, follow-up, a solid dialer, and a great mobile app.Compare

Not sure how the numbers shake out? See what an answering service costs →

Stop sending customers to voicemail

Get your AI business line answering calls, texts, and chats in about five minutes.

No card needed · available on iOS, Android & web