AnsweringService.com SmartMessage (AI Call Answering with Live Receptionist Backup)
AI phone answering with live US receptionist takeover, from $10/month on call-count plans.
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In short
Best for small businesses wanting cheap AI answering with a human receptionist still on the call
AnsweringService.com SmartMessage is an AI phone receptionist that answers calls 24/7 in English or Spanish, takes messages and transfers callers. A live receptionist takes over any call the AI cannot handle.
At a glance
Partlyfrom MyAssistant
Books appointments
The AI product is described as message-taking and transferring only
Yes
Transfers to a person
The AI can transfer a caller through to you, and the vendor states its human receptionists always introduce the caller first…
Partly
After-hours rules
The AI answers around the clock, so there is no out-of-hours gap, but the vendor publishes no separate out-of-hours script or routing rules for the…
Yes
Call summary by text
A full call summary with caller name, contact details and reason for calling is sent by email, SMS or both, with SMS billed at five cents per message
Partly
Calendar and CRM
Calendly, Acuity, Keap and 2 more
Partly
Languages
English and Spanish
Yes
Human receptionists as backup
A live receptionist takes over whenever the AI is stuck or a caller asks for a person, which is the whole premise of this product
Yes
Hear it before you buy
A dedicated live demo number lets you talk to the Ginger AI agent about the service, and recorded voice samples sit beside each persona on the page
Good to know
Watch out
- The only free way in is a time-limited trial of the AI answering service (seven days on the product page, described as one month in the AI FAQ). The cheapest standing plan is SmartMessage 10 at $10/month for ten calls; there is no $0 plan that keeps answering calls.
- The vendor states it serves only the United States and Canada, and the numbers it sells are US local or toll-free numbers (plus Canadian coverage from Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver). A UK, EU or Australian business gets no local number, is billed in USD plus US sales tax, and no GDPR terms are published; UK and Australian staff appear only as overflow receptionists for US accounts.
All 33 answers
Every answer comes from AnsweringService.com SmartMessage (AI Call Answering with Live Receptionist Backup)’s own pages. Open “Their words” for the quote and the page it is on.
What it costs at your call volume
5 answers
- Cost at 100 calls a month
Partlyfrom SmartMessage 100
$90 a month on SmartMessage 100 for 100 calls of 2.5 minutes. SmartMessage 100 is bought through sales.
Their words
SmartMessage 100 $90* per month Monthly subscription includes 100 calls^ No set-up fee
answeringservice.comAI answering service pricing, SmartMessage 100 card
- Cost at 500 calls a month
Partlyfrom SmartMessage 150
$450 a month on SmartMessage 150 for 500 calls of 2.5 minutes. SmartMessage 150 is bought through sales.
Their words
SmartMessage 150 150 $135 $0.90 per call
answeringservice.comSection 6.2, SmartMessage table, SmartMessage 150 row
- What it bills by
Plans are counted in whole answered calls, not minutes: each SmartMessage tier is named for its monthly included call count and excess is priced per call.
Their words
SmartMessage 10 10 $10 $1.10 per call SmartMessage 25 25 $25 $1.10 per call SmartMessage 50 50 $45 $1.10 per call
answeringservice.comSection 6.2 Subscription Charges, SmartMessage table
- Past your allowance
Yes
Calls past the plan allowance keep being answered and are billed as overage at $1.10 each, falling to $0.90 on the 150-call plan; unused allowance does not roll over.
Their words
Excess calls charged at $1.10 per call.
answeringservice.comAI call answering solutions, SmartMessage card footnote
- Spam calls not billed
Partly
Telemarketing and promotional calls are excluded from the allowance and from excess charges, as are calls under five seconds, but the vendor disclaims accuracy of that identification.
Their words
Calls identified by ANS as being from telemarketers or promotional companies will not be deducted from subscription allowances or incur the excess call rates stated above
answeringservice.comSection 6.2, Telemarketing Calls paragraph
What it does on the call
6 answers
- Books appointments
Partlyfrom MyAssistant
The AI product is described as message-taking and transferring only; appointment setting appears as a MyAssistant live-receptionist feature, so booking needs that separate product line.
Their words
Additional MyAssistant features: ... Appointment setting
answeringservice.comLive call answering services, MyAssistant card, Additional MyAssistant features list
- Transfers to a person
Yes
The AI can transfer a caller through to you, and the vendor states its human receptionists always introduce the caller first, which is a warm transfer rather than a blind one.
Their words
Our receptionists always provide a warm call transfer, rather than a blind call transfer.
answeringservice.comLive call answering FAQs, 'On a call transfer, will the receptionist state who the caller is?'
- After-hours rules
Partly
The AI answers around the clock, so there is no out-of-hours gap, but the vendor publishes no separate out-of-hours script or routing rules for the AI product.
Their words
Never miss a call again, with our AI receptionist answering calls instantly for your business, around the clock.
answeringservice.comBenefits of our AI call answering service, '24/7 availability' card
- Human receptionists as backup
Yes
A live receptionist takes over whenever the AI is stuck or a caller asks for a person, which is the whole premise of this product.
Their words
If your AI assistant gets stuck or a caller asks to speak to a human, the call is transferred to a live receptionist.
answeringservice.comBenefits section, 'Human backup' card
- Answers about your business
Yes
The AI answers common caller questions using information drawn from your own website, so hours, services and similar details can be handled without a transfer.
Their words
Answers common questions - Use info from your website
answeringservice.com'Some of our features' bullet list
- Texts your callers
No
Outbound SMS exists only to deliver messages to your own listed staff mobiles and is charged per message; nothing on the site offers texting the caller or a text conversation.
Their words
Message by SMS $0.05 per message ($0.10 multi segment) for each mobile listed to receive messages.
answeringservice.comSection 6.2 Usage Charges, Messaging and Call Transfer table
What you get after the call
1 answer
- Call summary by text
Yes
A full call summary with caller name, contact details and reason for calling is sent by email, SMS or both, with SMS billed at five cents per message.
Their words
You receive a full call summary by email, SMS or both.
answeringservice.com'How it works' section, 'We message' step
What it connects to
5 answers
- Google Calendar
No
Google Calendar and Outlook are not named anywhere.
Their words
Note: Our receptionists can learn to use most web-based tools, so please contact us if the software you use isn't listed above. Software use requires a MyAssistant plan.
answeringservice.comFootnote below the 'Utilizing the software you already use' integration grid
- Outlook
No
Google Calendar and Outlook are not named anywhere.
Their words
Note: Our receptionists can learn to use most web-based tools, so please contact us if the software you use isn't listed above. Software use requires a MyAssistant plan.
answeringservice.comFootnote below the 'Utilizing the software you already use' integration grid
- Calendly
Yes
Calendly, Acuity Scheduling, Setmore and Square Appointments are supported, but only on the MyAssistant live plans
Their words
Note: Our receptionists can learn to use most web-based tools, so please contact us if the software you use isn't listed above. Software use requires a MyAssistant plan.
answeringservice.comFootnote below the 'Utilizing the software you already use' integration grid
- CRM, Zapier and webhooks
Partlyfrom MyAssistant
Keap, Clio, Zendesk and Freshdesk entry is offered, but lead entry into CRMs or forms is a MyAssistant live plan feature, and no Zapier or webhook route is published.
Their words
Additional MyAssistant features: ... Leads entered into CRMs or forms
answeringservice.comLive call answering services, MyAssistant card feature list
- Your trade’s software
Partlyfrom MyAssistant
Trade tools named are Clio for law firms and ResDiary for hospitality; ServiceTitan, Jobber, Housecall Pro, Dentrix and Mindbody are absent, and any software use needs MyAssistant.
Their words
Clio + live call answering ... Have your call-answering virtual assistants qualify inbound leads, capture important information and input it into Clio directly via intake forms.
answeringservice.comIntegration grid, Clio tile
Trying it, starting and leaving
4 answers
- Free trial or free plan
Partly
A seven-day AI call answering free trial runs on your real diverted line, though the vendor sets it up for you after you submit the sign-up form.
Their words
Submit the form below and we'll contact you to get you set up on your 7-day AI call answering free trial!
answeringservice.com'Sign up today' section below the AI answering service pricing table
- Sign up without a sales call
No
Every SmartMessage plan button is an inquiry form and the trial sign-up ends with the vendor contacting you to set the service up; there is no online checkout.
Their words
Sign up now and we'll contact you to get you set up on your 7-day AI call answering free trial!
answeringservice.com'Sign up today' panel, mobile variant
- Setup fee
No
Each published SmartMessage tier states no set-up fee, unlike the MyAssistant live plans where setup starts at $50 depending on complexity.
- Contract and cancelling
Yes
Billing is a rolling monthly subscription with no lock-in and no cancellation fee, but the vendor requires thirty days' notice to cancel.
Their words
At AnsweringService.com your subscription simply continues month-to-month until you cancel and you only need to provide 30 days' notice. There's no lock-in contracts. And no cancellation fees.
answeringservice.comLive call answering FAQs, 'Do I need to commit for a minimum number of months or pay cancellation fees?'
Which languages it speaks, and how it sounds
3 answers
- Languages
Partly
Two languages only: the AI receptionists answer in English and Spanish and can switch mid-call, with no other language published on any plan.
Their words
Our AI receptionists speak English and/or Spanish fluently to ensure nothing is lost in translation.
answeringservice.comBenefits section, 'Bilingual answering' card
- Choose or clone the voice
Partly
You pick one of three published AI personas (Ginger, Piper, Eric) and name it for callers; there is no voice cloning or upload of your own voice.
Their words
Consistent Voice Choose a name for your receptionist to deliver a consistent caller experience.
answeringservice.com'Start with a 7-day free trial' feature block, Consistent Voice item
- Hear it before you buy
Yes
A dedicated live demo number lets you talk to the Ginger AI agent about the service, and recorded voice samples sit beside each persona on the page.
Their words
Call our dedicated number to speak with Ginger!
answeringservice.com'Talk to Ginger' pop-out block with phone number 672-6555
Your phone number and where it works
5 answers
- Keep your number
Yes
You keep your advertised business number and divert it to the receptionist number issued with the account; forwarding is the documented way calls reach the AI.
Their words
Your incoming calls are forwarded to your AI receptionist.
answeringservice.com'How it works' section, 'You divert' step
- Move your number in
Yes
Local and toll-free numbers can be ported in from your existing provider and ported back out at any time if you leave the service.
Their words
Yes! Local phone numbers and toll-free numbers can also be ported out at any time, should you ever choose to discontinue using AnsweringService.com's services.
answeringservice.comOther services FAQs, 'Can I still use my phone number if I cancel my services?'
- United States
Yes
Sold in the United States and Canada only, with local or toll-free US numbers and multiple area codes
Their words
AnsweringService.com currently provides answering services within the United States and Canada.
answeringservice.comLive call answering FAQs, 'Do you provide answering services globally?'
- Canada
Yes
Sold in the United States and Canada only, with local or toll-free US numbers and multiple area codes
Their words
AnsweringService.com currently provides answering services within the United States and Canada.
answeringservice.comLive call answering FAQs, 'Do you provide answering services globally?'
- Australia
Yes
the vendor states no UK, EU or Australian service.
Their words
AnsweringService.com currently provides answering services within the United States and Canada.
answeringservice.comLive call answering FAQs, 'Do you provide answering services globally?'
Who it is built for
2 answers
- Industries it is set up for
Partly
Each AI persona is pitched at named verticals (healthcare, legal, finance, real estate, HVAC, trades, retail, hospitality), but no scripts or templates are published per trade.
Their words
Best fit industries. - Real estate - HVAC - Building & trades
answeringservice.com'How we sound' section, Meet Eric card
- Several locations or numbers
Partlyfrom Phone Numbers add-on
Extra local or toll-free numbers can be added at $10 a month each, and extra message recipients are priced in bands, but no per-location account structure is described.
Their words
Choose a virtual inbound number with a local area code or a toll-free number to bundle with live call answering or Call Divert. Only $10/month
answeringservice.comOther business communication solutions, Phone Numbers card
Getting set up and getting help
2 answers
- Setup help
Yes
The vendor contacts you to set the AI trial up, and for its answering services activation is instant with calls answered within minutes of diverting your number.
Their words
A few minutes, in most cases! Our answering service free trial includes instant activation.
answeringservice.comLive call answering FAQs, 'How soon can I start to have receptionists answer my calls?'
- Support
Partly
A sales phone line plus separate sales and support email addresses are published, and portal changes are immediate, but no support hours or chat channel are stated.
Their words
Inquiries about our services: sales@answeringservice.com Customer support: support@answeringservice.com
answeringservice.com'Email us' block beside 'Speak with our team' phone number
Sources
- answeringservice.com/service/ai-call-answering-with-live-receptionist-backupCost at 100 calls a month, After-hours rules, Human receptionists as backup, Answers about your business and 9 more
- answeringservice.com/faqsTransfers to a person, Contract and cancelling, Move your number in, United States and 3 more
- answeringservice.com/terms-conditionsCost at 500 calls a month, What it bills by, Spam calls not billed, Texts your callers
- answeringservice.com/pricingPast your allowance, Books appointments, CRM, Zapier and webhooks, Several locations or numbers
- answeringservice.com/tools-we-useGoogle Calendar, Outlook, Calendly, Your trade’s software
- answeringservice.com/contactSupport
All read on October 14, 2026.
