Compare answering service prices side by side: published 2026 rates, setup fees and plans from 20 providers, then get free quotes from services near you.
Most answering services charge $1.15 to $2.50 per minute or $0.85 to $2.10 per call on entry plans, and most small businesses pay $50 to $350 per month. Among the 20 providers we compared, starting plans range from about $35 to $350 per month. Premium receptionist brands work out to $3 to $5 per minute or about $10 per call, while pay-as-you-go services start around $44 to $49 a month plus $1.37 to $1.54 per minute.
Answering service companies price their plans in different ways: some by the minute, some by the call, some every 28 days instead of monthly. That makes quotes hard to compare. Below, we convert each provider’s published 2026 plans into an effective cost per minute or per call, so you can see who is really cheaper. When you are ready, request pricing from answering services in your area and compare real quotes. For general price ranges, see our answering service cost guide.
Answering Service Price Comparison Table (2026)
Starting plans for all 20 providers, sorted from lowest to highest effective rate. Prices were last checked on October 3, 2026.
| Provider | Billing | Starting plan | Effective rate | Setup fee | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo Answering Service | Per minute | $119 per 28 days — 100 min + $2.00/min | ~$1.19/min | $0 listed | Published by provider |
| AnswerForce | Per minute | $349/mo — 200 min + $2.00/min | ~$1.30–$1.75/min | $75 (reported) | Reported by third party |
| AnswerConnect | Per minute | $350/mo — 200 min + $2.50/min | ~$1.32–$1.75/min | $49.99 (reported) | Reported by third party |
| LEX Reception | Per minute | $375/mo — 150 min + $1.75/min | ~$1.32–$2.50/min | Not stated | Reported by third party |
| MAP Communications | Per minute | $49/mo + $1.37/min (pay-as-you-go) | ~$1.37–$1.43/min | $0 listed | Published by provider |
| Specialty Answering Service | Per minute | $44/mo + $1.54/min (pay-as-you-go) | ~$1.54–$1.59/min | $0 | Published by provider |
| Constant Link | Per minute | $239.95/mo — 100 min + $2.39/min | ~$2.15–$2.40/min | Not stated | Published by provider |
| Moneypenny (formerly VoiceNation) | Per minute | $165/mo — 50 min + $2.28/min | ~$2.65–$3.30/min | Not stated | Published by provider |
| Belles Receptionists | Per minute | $214/mo — 50 min | ~$3.25–$4.28/min | $95 | Published by provider |
| AbbyConnect | Per minute | $165/mo — 50 min (reported) | ~$3.29–$3.30/min | Not stated | Reported by third party |
| Ruby | Per minute | $250/mo — 50 min | ~$3.95–$5.00/min | $0 | Published by provider |
| Community Answering Service | Per call | $35 — up to 20 calls | ~$0.75–$1.75/call | Not stated | Published by provider |
| Answer 24 Live | Per call | From $69.50/mo — 80 calls | ~$0.87/call | Not stated | Published by provider |
| Answer America | Per call | $0/mo + $1.47/call (pay-as-you-go) | ~$1.14–$1.47/call | $0 | Published by provider |
| Flat Answering Service (now Answer Our Phone) | Per call | $62.95/mo — 30 calls + $1.35/call | ~$1.97–$2.10/unit | $0 | Published by provider |
| Smith.ai | Per call | $300/mo — 30 calls + $11.50/call | ~$9.00–$10.00/call | $0 | Published by provider |
| Answering Innovations | Quote | Custom quote | Request a quote | Quote | Quote only |
| Live Voice | Quote | Custom quote | Request a quote | Not stated | Quote only |
| Contact One Call Center | Quote | Custom quote (online cost calculator) | Request a quote | Not stated | Quote only |
| Westpark Communications (now AnswerNet) | Quote | Custom quote | Request a quote | Quote | Quote only |
How to read this: a per-call price and a per-minute price aren’t directly comparable. If your calls average 2 minutes, a $1.47 per-call rate works out to about $0.74 per minute. If your calls average 5 minutes, per-call pricing is usually the better deal.
Answering Service Prices by Provider
Each card shows the provider’s setup fee, two lowest published plans, effective rate, 24/7 coverage and contract terms. Labels show whether a price comes from the provider’s own website or a third-party report.
Apollo Answering Service
Bills every 28 days (13 bills a year); 14-day free trial
Specialty Answering Service
Per-second billing; 14-day free trial
MAP Communications
24/7 on every plan
AnswerForce
Third-party sources disagree; confirm before signing
AnswerConnect
Setup reportedly waived on higher plans
LEX Reception
Legal-focused; official site quotes on request
Constant Link
Bilingual English/Spanish included; no weekend or holiday surcharge
Moneypenny (formerly VoiceNation)
VoiceNation was acquired by Moneypenny; voicenation.com now redirects to Moneypenny.
AI plans from $69/mo for 25 calls
Belles Receptionists
$19.99/mo phone number add-on
Ruby
Overage rate not published
AbbyConnect
Small dedicated receptionist teams
Answer 24 Live
Only a starting price is published
Community Answering Service
Also $85 (100 calls) and $150 (200 calls); basic messaging rates
Answer America
$50 minimum credit purchase; one call credit used monthly
Flat Answering Service (now Answer Our Phone)
flatansweringservice.com now redirects to Answer Our Phone; prices shown are Answer Our Phone’s.
Forwarding numbers $7.50–$15/mo extra
Smith.ai
AI receptionist plans from ~$150/mo
Answering Innovations
Current prices not published
Live Voice
7-day free trial
Contact One Call Center
Says service can cost “as little as $5 a day”
Westpark Communications (now AnswerNet)
Westpark Communications is now part of AnswerNet.
Quote forms only
What Changed: 2025 vs. 2026 Answering Service Prices
We last updated this comparison in January 2025. Since then, several providers raised prices, one changed hands, and a few stopped publishing rates:
| Provider | January 2025 | October 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby | $245/mo (50 min); $385/mo (100 min) | $250/mo (50 min); $395/mo (100 min) | Up 2–3% |
| Specialty Answering Service | $38/mo + $1.39/min | $44/mo + $1.54/min | Up ~11% per minute |
| Belles Receptionists | $85 setup; $250/mo (100 min) | $95 setup; $325/mo (100 min) | Up 30%; new $214 starter plan |
| Constant Link | $239.95/mo (100 min) | $239.95/mo (100 min) | No change |
| Answer America | $1.50/call | $1.47/call | Down slightly |
| Apollo Answering Service | $200/mo (160 min) | $119 per 28 days (100 min) | Restructured; now 28-day billing |
| VoiceNation | $70/mo (20 min) | Now Moneypenny: $165/mo (50 min) | Brand retired |
| Westpark Communications | $60/mo + $1.89/min | Now part of AnswerNet; quote only | Pricing withdrawn |
| Flat Answering Service | $79.99/mo (50 calls) | Site redirects to Answer Our Phone: $62.95/mo (30 calls) | Brand changed |
The trend: per-minute rates at many live answering services rose roughly 5–15% since 2025, and more providers now hide pricing behind quote forms. That makes comparing several quotes more valuable than ever.
How to Compare Answering Service Quotes
- 1Estimate your monthly usageMultiply calls per month by average call length. Example: 120 calls × 2.5 minutes = 300 minutes.
- 2Convert every quote to one unitDivide the plan price by included minutes or calls. Add the overage rate for usage above the plan.
- 3Check the billing cycleA 28-day cycle means 13 bills a year. Multiply by 13 and divide by 12 to compare with monthly plans.
- 4Add the extrasSetup fees, phone numbers, transfer fees, holiday surcharges and integrations can add 20–30%.
- 5Compare coverageConfirm 24/7 live agents, bilingual support and contract terms before choosing on price alone.
Pay-as-you-go at $44 + $1.54/min = $506200-minute plan at $350 + 100 × $2.50 overage = $600300-minute plan at $395 = $395Same usage, a $211 difference each month. Matching the plan size to your real usage matters more than the headline price.
Answering Service Pricing Models Compared
For more on how plans are structured, see answering service pricing plans. Industry pricing: attorneys, physicians, property managers, real estate, restaurants and small businesses.
10 Questions to Ask Before Comparing Answering Service Prices
- Do you charge per minute, per call or a flat monthly rate?
- How many minutes or calls does the plan include, and what is the overage rate?
- What billing increments do you use — 60-second, 30-second, 6-second or per-second?
- Do you bill monthly or every 28 days?
- Is there a setup or activation fee?
- Do you charge extra for holidays, nights or weekends?
- Is there a fee for transferring or patching calls, and does billing continue after the transfer?
- Do spam calls, hang-ups and wrong numbers count against my plan?
- Is there a contract, monthly minimum or early-termination fee?
- Is there a free trial, and do unused minutes roll over?
Hidden Fees That Change the Real Price
| Fee | Typical cost | Where we saw it |
|---|---|---|
| Setup / activation | $0–$95 (up to $500 for custom scripts) | Belles $95; AnswerForce ~$75 (reported); AnswerConnect ~$49.99 (reported) |
| Overage minutes | $1.30–$2.50/min; $11.50/call at premium brands | Constant Link $2.39/min; Smith.ai $11.50/call |
| 28-day billing | ~8% more per year than the monthly price suggests | Apollo |
| Phone number / forwarding | $7.50–$19.99/mo | Belles $19.99; Answer Our Phone $7.50–$15 |
| Holiday surcharges | 1.5–2× at some providers | Constant Link says it charges no weekend or holiday premium |
| Minimum purchase | e.g., $50 in prepaid call credits | Answer America |
Compare Answering Service Quotes for Free
Published prices are a starting point. Tell us about your business once and answering services that cover your area send real quotes, so you can compare plans, rates and fees side by side with no obligation.
Answering Service Price Comparison FAQs
How do I compare answering service prices?
Convert every quote to an effective cost per minute or per call by dividing the plan price by the included minutes or calls. Then add overage rates, setup fees, billing-cycle differences such as 28-day billing, and extras like holiday surcharges before comparing.
What is the average price of an answering service?
Most small businesses pay $50 to $350 per month. Among the 20 providers we compared in 2026, starting plans range from about $35 to $350 per month, with effective rates of about $1.15 to $2.50 per minute at most live answering services.
Which answering service is the cheapest?
On published 2026 prices, low-cost options include Answer 24 Live from $69.50 for 80 calls, Community Answering Service from $35 for up to 20 calls, Answer America at $1.47 per call, and pay-as-you-go plans from Specialty Answering Service and MAP Communications starting at $44 to $49 per month plus per-minute fees. The cheapest choice depends on your call volume and call length.
Why are some answering services so much more expensive?
Premium virtual receptionist brands such as Ruby and Smith.ai work out to about $4 to $5 per minute or $10 per call because they include more customization, scheduling and receptionist-style service. Message-taking services cost much less per minute.
Is per-minute or per-call pricing cheaper?
Per-minute pricing is usually cheaper when calls are short, under about 2 minutes. Per-call pricing is usually cheaper when calls are long, such as intake or order calls, because you pay the same price no matter how long the call lasts.
What is 28-day billing?
Some answering services, including Apollo Answering Service, bill every 28 days instead of monthly. That produces 13 bills a year instead of 12, which raises the annual cost by about 8 percent compared with the same monthly price.
Do answering services charge setup fees?
Some do. Among the providers we compared, setup fees ranged from $0 to $95, with third parties reporting about $49.99 to $75 at some larger services. Many providers, including Ruby and Specialty Answering Service, list no setup fee.
Why don’t some answering services publish their prices?
Services that build custom scripts or serve larger businesses often quote by call volume, hours and features. Answering Innovations, Live Voice, Contact One and Westpark (now part of AnswerNet) currently provide prices only by quote.
Did answering service prices go up in 2026?
Many did. Since January 2025, Ruby’s starter plan rose from $245 to $250, Specialty Answering Service’s pay-as-you-go rate rose from $1.39 to $1.54 per minute, and Belles Receptionists’ 100-minute plan rose from $250 to $325. Constant Link’s prices did not change.
How often is this price comparison updated?
We review published prices regularly. This comparison was last checked on October 3, 2026. Prices can change at any time, so always confirm current rates with the provider before signing.
How do I get answering service quotes?
Submit a free request on AnsweringServiceCost.com with your call volume, the hours you need covered and your industry. Answering services that cover your area respond with pricing so you can compare quotes side by side with no obligation.
How we compare prices: AnsweringServiceCost.com is an independent buying guide that has compared answering service prices since 2017. Prices on this page come from each provider’s public website where available, labeled “Published by provider.” Where a provider does not publish prices, we use recent third-party reports, labeled “Reported by third party,” or show “Quote only.” Effective rates are our calculations. Last checked October 3, 2026. We are not affiliated with the providers listed, and listing does not imply endorsement. Logos are trademarks of their respective owners. About us
