Free AI Receptionist: Free Plans and Trials (2026)
By Adam Sandler · 2026-10-15
Short answer: most AI receptionists aren't free, but several let you try them free first. In our data, 3 services list a free plan or free option, 10 list a free trial of 7 to 15 days, and 3 offer a money-back guarantee instead. All of this comes from each vendor's pricing page, captured October 15, 2026.
Free plans
| Service | What's free | After that |
|---|---|---|
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Free plan with 25 calls | $3.00 per call on the free plan, or the $150 Pro plan with 75 calls |
| Phonely | Free plan listed | Paid plans from $50 a month for 200 minutes |
| Quo Sona | Free option listed (plus a paid Quo phone seat) | Paid tiers, including $49 for 100 calls |
A free plan with 25 calls is fine for testing or a very quiet business line. It covers less than one call per business day, so most businesses outgrow it fast.
Free trials
| Service | Trial | Entry price after |
|---|---|---|
| Dialzara | 7-day free trial | $29 a month, 60 minutes |
| Rosie | 7-day trial | $49 a month, 250 minutes |
| My AI Front Desk | 7-day free trial | $99 a month, 200 minutes |
| NextPhone | 7-day free trial | $199 a month, unlimited calls |
| Allô | 7-day trial | $45 a month plus a phone seat |
| Upfirst | 14-day free trial | $24.95 a month, 30 calls |
| Marlie | 14-day free trial | $49 a month, 250 minutes |
| OnCrew | 14-day free trial | $49 a month, 100 calls |
| AptaBook | 15-day free trial | $49 a month, 50 conversations |
| Goodcall | Free demo agent | $79 a month, 100 unique callers |
Money-back guarantees
| Service | Guarantee | Entry price |
|---|---|---|
| Trillet | 28-day money-back | $49 a month, 150 minutes |
| Ringly.io | 30-day money-back | $99 a month, 50 conversations |
| Nextiva XBert | 30-day money-back | $99 a month, 100 interactions |
How to get the most out of a free trial
- Set it up on day one. Write down your hours, services, price ranges and the 5 questions callers ask most. Load those in before you forward a single call.
- Call it yourself 10 times. Ask the normal questions, then the awkward ones: a complaint, a question it can't know, a request for a real person.
- Forward real calls for a few days. Start with after-hours or overflow so you're not risking your busiest hours.
- Check the bill math before the trial ends. Put your real call volume into the cost calculator and compare it with the plan you'd land on.
- Put a reminder on your calendar for the day before the trial ends.
For the full price comparison, see how much an AI receptionist costs or the leaderboard.
FAQ
Is there a free AI receptionist?
A few services have a free plan. Smith.ai's AI Receptionist has a free plan that includes 25 calls, and its pricing page lists $3.00 per call beyond that. Phonely and Quo also list a free option. Most others offer a free trial instead.
Which AI receptionists have a free trial?
Of the 16 services we track, Dialzara, Rosie, My AI Front Desk, NextPhone, Allô and Quo list a 7-day trial. Upfirst, Marlie and OnCrew list 14 days, and AptaBook lists 15 days. Goodcall offers a free demo agent.
Which AI receptionists have a money-back guarantee?
Trillet lists a 28-day money-back guarantee. Ringly.io and Nextiva XBert list 30 days.
Is a free AI receptionist good enough for a business?
For very low call volume, it can be. A free plan with 25 calls covers less than one call per business day, so most businesses will need a paid plan once they rely on it.