Guide
How to choose the best AI receptionist in the UK (2026)
An AI receptionist answers the calls you miss, takes the details and passes them on. Most UK services look similar on the surface. These are the things that make a difference once callers start ringing.
What to check
- UK numbers
- Check whether you get a local 01 or 02 number, a 03 number or a freephone number, and whether you can forward your existing number to it.
- British voices
- Listen to sample calls. A voice and speed that suit your callers matter more than the number of voices on offer.
- Booking
- Ask whether it can book into your own diary, only in free slots, or whether it just takes a message.
- Texts to callers
- A text confirming a booked visit cuts no-shows. Check which numbers it texts, as texts to landlines fail.
- Pricing per call or per minute
- Per-call pricing is easier to predict. Per-minute pricing can cost more when callers talk for longer. Check what happens when you go over the allowance.
- Contracts
- Look for monthly billing with no minimum term, and check whether there is a setup fee.
- GDPR and data location
- Ask where calls are processed and stored, what is kept and for how long, and what safeguards cover transfers outside the UK.
- Setup
- Questions written for your trade save time. Check how long setup takes and whether you can change the questions later.
UK AI receptionists compared, prices checked 3 November 2026
| 123 Answer | IONOS | Ringmere | Trade Receptionist | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | £89 a month, 100 calls | Flex: £39 a month, 30 calls, then £0.49 per call | Starter: £49 a month, 150 call minutes | Starter: £49 a month, up to 50 calls |
| Mid plan | £199 a month, 300 calls | Flex Pro: £69 a month, 100 calls, then £0.39 per call | Growth: £99 a month, 240 minutes across calls and chat | Pro: £89 a month, up to 150 calls; Business: £159 a month, up to 350 calls |
| Top plan | Business plan includes 100 calls | Unlimited: £99 a month | Pro: £249 a month, 700 minutes | Agency: £249 a month, up to 600 calls |
| Extra usage | 35p per call | £0.49 (Flex) or £0.39 (Flex Pro) per call | £0.25 per minute (£0.20 on Pro) | No per-call overage listed |
| How billed | Per call | Per call | Per minute | Per call allowance |
| Booking | Booking on every package | Flex Pro: appointment booking with calendar integration | In-call booking into Google Calendar or Outlook | Calendar booking from Pro |
| VAT shown | The price shown is the total you pay. | Prices exclude VAT | Prices exclude VAT | Site says no VAT is added |
Prices from IONOS, Ringmere, Trade Receptionist. IONOS, Ringmere and Trade Receptionist are trademarks of their owners. 123 Tenders is not affiliated with them. Prices change; check their sites.
See the full comparison and our AI receptionist cost guide.
Virtual receptionist UK: AI or a person?
"Virtual receptionist" usually means a person who answers your calls from somewhere else, often shared between several businesses. They can handle unusual calls and a caller who is upset. They tend to cost more per call and may work set hours. An AI receptionist answers at any hour, asks the same questions every time and costs less per call, but it cannot use judgement the way a person can, so it should pass anything unusual back to you.
Telephone answering service or AI?
A telephone answering service is a team of people taking messages for you. It is a good fit if your calls are sensitive or very varied. If most calls are new enquiries that need the same few questions and a booked visit, an AI receptionist can do that job for less. Some businesses use both: AI for everyday calls and a person for complex ones.
Questions
- What is the best AI receptionist in the UK?
- It depends on your call volume and what you need it to do. A low entry price suits a business that misses few calls, while booking and texts to callers suit trades that book visits.
- Is an AI receptionist the same as a virtual receptionist?
- Not quite. A virtual receptionist is often a person working remotely. An AI receptionist is software that answers calls, and some services mix the two.
- Is a telephone answering service better than AI?
- A human answering service handles unusual or sensitive calls better. AI is usually cheaper per call, answers at any hour and follows the same questions every time.
- Should I pay per call or per minute?
- Per-call pricing is easier to predict for short trade calls. Per-minute pricing can suit businesses whose calls are always very short.
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From £89 a month for 100 answered calls. Extra calls are 35p each. The price shown is the total you pay.
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