A virtual receptionist, or an AI receptionist?
Both answer your calls when you can't. One is a trained person in a call center, paid by the minute; the other is software that answers every call at once.
Free for 3 days with up to 10 answered calls. No card.
A virtual receptionist service puts a trained person on your calls from a remote office. You usually buy a bundle of receptionist minutes each month and pay more per minute beyond it. An AI receptionist answers with software: every call at the same moment, day or night, from your business details. Nerro starts at $49 a month with 300 minutes included and $0.15 a minute after that. A person is better for calls that need judgement or a human touch; the AI is cheaper per minute and never puts a caller on hold. Many businesses use the AI first and transfer to a person when it matters.
Side by side.
Typical virtual receptionist service and Nerro, side by side.
| Question | Virtual receptionist | Nerro AI receptionist |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | A trained person, often one of a shared team | Software that says it's an AI at the start of the call |
| How it's billed | Bundles of receptionist minutes; extra minutes cost more | From $49 a month with 300 minutes; $0.15 a minute after |
| Busy moments | Callers can wait for a free receptionist | Answers every call at once |
| Knows your business | From the script and notes you give them | From your website and business details |
| Booking | Depends on the service and your calendar | Books into your Google Calendar on the call |
| Hard or upset callers | A person reads the mood and adapts | Transfers to your number, or takes a message |
| What you get after | A message or call notes | A transcript and summary of every call |
| Robocalls and hang-ups | Often billed; ask before you sign | Not billed: robocalls, silent calls and calls under 15 seconds don't count |
Use the AI first, a person when it matters.
You don't have to pick one for every call.
- Answer everything
- The AI takes every call, including the rush and the middle of the night.
- Hand over the hard ones
- Set a transfer number for calls that need a person: you, your team, or the service you use today.
- Keep your number
- Forward your line to Nerro; your number stays with your carrier.
- Cap the bill
- Usage emails at 80% and 100% of your minutes, and an optional spend cap.
When a virtual receptionist is the better fit.
Where the other option is the better choice.
- Your callers expect a person every time, and the extra cost per minute is worth it to you.
- Calls often need judgement a script can't cover, like sensitive conversations.
- You want the service to do tasks beyond the call, such as chasing payments or managing a diary for you.
Questions, answered.
Something else? Ask us.
What is a virtual receptionist?
A person who answers your business calls from a remote office instead of your front desk. They greet callers in your business's name, take messages, transfer calls and often book appointments, and you pay for the minutes they spend on your calls.
Is an AI receptionist the same as a virtual receptionist?
No. A virtual receptionist is a person working remotely. An AI receptionist is software that holds the conversation itself. Some services mix both.
Which costs less?
Usually the AI. Virtual receptionist services charge for each receptionist minute, and their published prices are listed on the alternatives page. Nerro starts at $49 a month with 300 minutes included. Compare with your own call volume.
Will callers know it's an AI?
Yes. Every Nerro greeting says it's an AI. A caller who wants a person can ask, and the call is transferred or a message is taken.
Can I use both?
Yes. Let the AI answer, and set a transfer number for calls that need a person, which can be your current service.
Can I switch from a virtual receptionist without changing my number?
Yes. Forward your line to your Nerro number. Your number stays with your carrier, and you can switch the forwarding back at any time.
Are spam calls charged?
Not by Nerro: robocalls, calls where nobody speaks and calls under 15 seconds don't count as minutes. With any service, ask how they bill these before you sign.
How do I try it?
Start a 3-day free trial with up to 10 answered calls and no card.
Comparisons describe typical options, not any specific provider. Cost figures use the public sources shown and the assumptions stated; your costs will differ. Nerro prices as of the date above.
Put an AI employee on your line for 3 days.
Tell Nerro about your business. It builds and tests your AI employee, and you decide when it goes live.
Free for 3 days with up to 10 answered calls. No card. Then from $49 a month.