Virtual Receptionist Services: Human, AI, or Both
Every call answered in your business name, 24/7. Plans from $165/mo with a free trial.
Abby Connect’s virtual receptionist services give small businesses a professional front desk without the hire. U.S.-based human receptionists, our AI Receptionist, or a mix of the two answer your calls, screen and transfer callers, take messages, capture leads and book appointments. One plan, no setup fee, English and Spanish included, and more than 20 years of answering for over 6,200 businesses.
What Is a Virtual Receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is a trained receptionist who answers your business calls remotely, in your company’s name, exactly as an in-house receptionist would: greeting callers, screening and transferring calls, taking messages, capturing new-lead details and scheduling appointments, without a desk in your office. The service is billed by the minute, so you pay for the calls that are handled rather than a salary.
Despite the word “virtual”, Abby’s virtual receptionists are real people: U.S.-based receptionists working in small dedicated teams that learn your business. Abby also offers an AI Receptionist, and both are part of the same subscription, so you decide which one answers which calls. That is the difference between a virtual receptionist and a traditional answering service or call center: the caller experiences your front desk, not a message-taking desk.
What does a virtual receptionist do?
- Answers and transfers calls in your business name, to the right person or department (or to voicemail when you prefer).
- Screens calls, so solicitations and spam never reach you.
- Takes messages, delivered within seconds by email, text, or in the AbbyGO app and my.abby.com portal.
- Captures and qualifies leads by following your intake script, so every new caller’s details are recorded.
- Books appointments: human receptionists schedule through Calendly, and the AI Receptionist books directly into hundreds of scheduling platforms.
- Answers common questions about hours, directions, services and pricing, using the FAQs you provide.
- Handles urgent calls with priority protocols for emergencies and VIP callers.
- Makes outbound calls: appointment confirmations and follow-ups on your behalf, available on any plan.
What a virtual receptionist is not: an in-house assistant. They won’t run errands, manage your inbox or greet visitors at your door. They make sure the phone is never the reason you lose a customer.
One Plan, Twice the Minutes: How Human + AI Pricing Works
Most providers sell a human service and an AI service separately. Abby sells one subscription and lets you use it three ways: just human receptionists, just the AI Receptionist, or a mix you can change at any time. Usage is measured in Abby Minutes: a minute with a human receptionist uses one Abby Minute, a minute with the AI Receptionist uses half. The same plan goes twice as far when the AI takes the routine calls.
| Essential plan, $329/mo, 100 Abby Minutes | What it covers |
|---|---|
| All human | 100 minutes of calls answered by your receptionist team |
| All AI | 200 minutes of calls answered by the AI Receptionist |
| A mix, for example 60 human + 80 AI | 140 minutes of calls: 60 human (60 Abby Minutes) plus 80 AI (40 Abby Minutes) |
Route new-client calls and sensitive conversations to people, send after-hours and routine calls to the AI, or let the AI answer first and hand complex calls to a human receptionist. Every plan is month-to-month with a free trial and no setup fee, and 24/7 coverage carries no weekend or after-hours upcharge. See plans and pricing.
Human, AI, or Both: One Service, Used Three Ways
Abby is one subscription. You decide how each call is handled: by a human receptionist, by our AI Receptionist, or by AI first with a warm handoff to a person, and you can change the mix at any time.
| Human receptionists | AI Receptionist | Human + AI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Complex, sensitive or high-value calls: legal intake, patient calls, sales conversations | High call volumes, after-hours coverage, routine questions and message taking | Speed on routine calls and a person on the calls that matter |
| Availability | 24/7 with custom answering hours, no weekend or after-hours upcharge | 24/7, unlimited simultaneous calls | 24/7 |
| How usage is billed | 1 minute of call = 1 Abby Minute | 1 minute of call = 0.5 Abby Minute, so AI goes twice as far | Each portion of a call at its own rate |
| Personal touch | A dedicated team that learns your business | A natural voice trained on your business information | AI answers instantly; a human receptionist takes over when needed |
| Appointment scheduling | Yes, through Calendly | Yes, into hundreds of scheduling platforms | Yes |
| Learn more | Human Receptionist | AI Receptionist | Human + AI |
Whichever mix you choose, every plan includes bilingual English/Spanish answering, the AbbyGO app and portal, call recordings and AI call summaries, and a free trial with no setup fee.
How Abby’s Virtual Receptionist Service Works
- Tell us how to answer. In a short onboarding call we capture your greeting, the questions to ask, who calls go to, what to do after hours and the FAQs your callers ask most.
- Forward your line. Keep your phone number and provider; forward calls to Abby all day, after hours only, or just when your lines are busy.
- We answer in your name. A human receptionist or the AI Receptionist, whichever you have chosen for that type of call, greets the caller, follows your instructions, and transfers, takes a message or books the appointment.
- You see everything. Messages arrive by email or text within seconds, and every call’s recording, AI summary, caller sentiment and notes are in the AbbyGO app and my.abby.com portal.
See everything Abby’s receptionists do once your calls reach us.
Why Thousands Trust Our Virtual Receptionist Solutions
From solo entrepreneurs to growing teams, small businesses rely on Abby’s virtual receptionist services to deliver consistent, professional call handling. Our virtual receptionists act as an extension of your brand, answering calls live, providing helpful information, booking appointments, and ensuring no opportunity slips through the cracks. Whether it’s during business hours or after, we’re here to represent your company with excellence.
Tailored Virtual Receptionist Services for Every Business and Industry
Customize call handling, scheduling, and client intake to meet your business’s unique needs, no matter your industry.
What You Can Expect With Abby’s Virtual Receptionist Services
Every feature is designed to help your business sound professional, stay responsive, and focus on what matters most. We help small businesses all across the US – from local shops in New York and family-owned firms in Florida to growing companies in California and Texas
Custom greetings and call scripts
Appointment scheduling and reminders
Your Office, Wherever You Are
With the AbbyGO mobile app, you’re always connected to your live virtual receptionist, even when you’re on the go.
Real-Time Notifications: Instantly know when a call or message comes through.
Call Summaries: Review key details of every conversation in seconds.
Call Recordings & Transcripts: Access full recordings and AI-powered transcripts anytime.
Status Control: Update your availability with just one tap.
Contact Management: Easily review and manage recent and priority contacts.
Sentiment Insights: See how callers are feeling based on tone and content.
ADVANTAGES
Why Small Businesses Choose Abby’s Virtual Receptionist Services
Experience unmatched support, technology, and service that scales with your success.
Always Answered Calls
Never miss a lead again with 24/7 professional call coverage.
Get professional receptionist support without the cost of in-house staffing.
Bilingual Virtual Receptionists
LIVE RECEPTIONIST FEATURES
24/7 Live Call Answering
Your phone is always answered by either a professional human receptionist or AI receptionist.
Receptionists Powered by AI Technology
Receptionists are backed by AI technology such as AI-generated call summaries, transcripts, recordings, and customer sentiment score.
Enjoy White-Glove Onboarding and Ongoing Support
From the moment you sign up, our team delivers a seamless virtual receptionist experience tailored to your business. Client Success Managers and Solutions Engineers ensure your live virtual receptionist service is configured to match your exact needs, from daytime call coverage to after-hours and weekend support. With continuous optimization powered by Abby Intelligence, you’ll enjoy professional call handling that saves time, boosts efficiency, and ensures you never miss a call.
Virtual Receptionist vs. Answering Service vs. Call Center
The three are often confused because all of them answer the phone. The difference is in how the call is handled and what the caller experiences.
| Virtual receptionist | Answering service | Call center | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What the caller experiences | Your front desk: a receptionist who knows your business, greets in your name and can act on the call | A message-taking desk: an operator or automated menu that records the caller’s details | A large, scripted operation built to resolve high volumes of simple issues |
| Typical tasks | Screening, transfers, appointment booking, lead intake, FAQs, messages | Taking messages, relaying basic information, after-hours coverage | Customer support, order taking, tech support, outbound campaigns |
| Who handles the calls | A small dedicated team (and/or AI) trained on your business | Rotating operators or an IVR menu | Large pools of agents working from scripts |
| Best for | Small and mid-sized businesses that want every caller treated like their best customer | Businesses that only need calls captured when no one can answer | Enterprises with very high volumes of repetitive calls |
| Pricing model | Per minute; Abby plans from $165/mo | Per call or per minute | Per agent hour or per seat |
Abby’s answering service and call center pages cover those models in depth. Most businesses that compare the three choose a virtual receptionist: the cost is close to an answering service, and the caller experience is what an in-house receptionist would give.
INDUSTRIES WE SERVICE
Legal
Never miss a potential client or intake opportunity. Abby’s receptionists capture leads, handle screening, and schedule consultations with professionalism and compliance.
Home Services
From HVAC to plumbing, we help you respond to urgent calls, book more jobs, and keep customers informed, even after hours or between site visits.
E-commerce & Retail
Deliver timely, knowledgeable support for your customers, answering product questions, managing order-related inquiries, and creating a smooth buying experience around the clock.
Real Estate
Capture buyer and seller leads, schedule showings, and stay available, without missing opportunities during client meetings or weekends.
Healthcare
Deliver warm, HIPAA-compliant patient experiences, whether you’re a private practice, specialist, or clinic. Abby supports appointment booking, inquiries, and overflow call handling.
Beauty & Wellness
Can route and transfer calls according to your call handling instructions.
TESTIMONIALS
What Small Businesses Say About Abby
Our virtual receptionist solutions support small businesses and professionals across the United States, helping them capture every opportunity.
Product Demo
Hear Our Virtual Receptionists in Action
Want to know how Abby sounds to your callers? Click below to listen to real virtual receptionist call samples: professional, friendly, and always on brand.
Legal Services
HUMAN RECEPTIONIST
Home Services
HUMAN RECEPTIONIST
Business Services
HUMAN RECEPTIONIST
Financial Services
HUMAN RECEPTIONIST
Healthcare
HUMAN RECEPTIONIST
Beauty & Wellness
HUMAN RECEPTIONIST
ABBY INTEGRATIONS
Bring Abby into Your Existing Workflow
Running your business has never been simpler! Our custom integrations seamlessly sync calls and customer insights with your existing workflows. Stay connected, the Abby way.
PRICING
STARTER
BEST FOR
Small offices catching overflow or after-hours calls
essential
BEST FOR
A solid baseline for most small businesses
PROFESSIONAL
BEST FOR
Growing teams that need full-time coverage
Most Popular
Growth
BEST FOR
High-volume coverage with support and bulk savings
ENTERPRISE
Need more than the Growth Plan?
We build custom plans fit for your business needs.
BEST FOR
Higher call volumes and tailored workflows beyond Growth
Overage is billed at your plan's Abby Minute rate. You can move up a plan at any time.
No Setup Fee
•
Free Trial On Every Plan
•
24/7 Coverage
•
Human Quality Assurance
•
20+ Year Reputation
•
1,000+ Integrations
•
US-Based
•
Month-To-Month
•
No Setup Fee
•
Free Trial On Every Plan
•
24/7 Coverage
•
Human Quality Assurance
•
20+ Year Reputation
•
1,000+ Integrations
•
US-Based
•
Month-To-Month
•
THE HUMAN + AI ADVANTAGE
How Abby Minutes Work
Usage on every plan is measured in Abby Minutes, which cover both Human and AI answering. Overage is billed at your plan's Abby Minute rate. You can move up a plan at any time.
Human Answering
1 Abby Minute = 1 minute
AI Answering
1 Abby Minute = 2 minutes
goes 2× further
Human + AI Answering
ON THE SAME CALL
The AI portion bills at the AI rate, the human portion at the human rate.
Example of Abby Minutes: Professional Plan
Abby minutes cover both Human and AI answering. The more you use AI, the further your plan will stretch.
ALL HUMAN
200
minutes answered
200 Human Minutes
A MIX OF BOTH
300
minutes answered
100 Human Minutes + 200 AI Minutes
ALL AI
400
minutes answered
400 AI Minutes
FAQs
Your Virtual Receptionist Questions Answered
What is a virtual receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is a professional receptionist who answers your business calls remotely, in your business name, and handles them the way an in-house receptionist would: greeting callers, screening and transferring calls, taking messages, capturing leads and booking appointments. At Abby, virtual receptionists are U.S.-based people, and the same subscription also includes an AI Receptionist.
How does a virtual receptionist work?
You forward your business line to Abby: all the time, after hours or only on overflow. When a call comes in, a human receptionist or the AI Receptionist answers in your business name and follows your call-handling instructions: transfer, take a message, answer a question or schedule an appointment. You get the details by email, text, or in the AbbyGO app and my.abby.com portal.
How much does a virtual receptionist cost?
Abby plans start at $165 a month for 50 Abby Minutes and go up to $1,380 a month for 500 Abby Minutes, with Enterprise plans on request. One minute with a human receptionist uses one Abby Minute; one minute with the AI Receptionist uses half. Every plan is month-to-month with a free trial and no setup fee. See the full virtual receptionist pricing.
Can I use human receptionists and the AI Receptionist on the same plan?
Yes. Abby is one subscription used three ways: just human receptionists, just the AI Receptionist, or a mix. Because AI minutes count as half an Abby Minute, routing routine calls to the AI stretches the same plan further, and you can change the mix at any time.
What is the difference between a virtual receptionist and an answering service?
An answering service captures messages when you can’t pick up. A virtual receptionist acts as your front desk: screening callers, transferring calls, booking appointments, running your intake script and answering questions in your name. Abby offers both experiences on one plan; see our answering service page for the comparison.
Can a virtual receptionist schedule appointments?
Yes. Human receptionists book, confirm and reschedule appointments through Calendly, and the AI Receptionist books directly into hundreds of scheduling platforms, 24/7.
Is the service really 24/7?
Yes. You choose your answering hours: business hours only, extended hours, or 24/7/365. Round-the-clock coverage carries no weekend or after-hours upcharge, and overnight calls can go to human receptionists, the AI Receptionist, or both.
Do you answer calls in Spanish?
Yes. Bilingual English/Spanish answering is included on every plan, for both human receptionists and the AI Receptionist, at no extra cost.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. Every plan includes a free trial with no setup fee, and service is month-to-month. You can change plans or the human/AI mix at any time.
How quickly can we get started?
Fill out the quick sign-up form and a specialist walks you through onboarding: your greeting, call-handling instructions and FAQs. Most businesses are taking calls within a few days.
How long has Abby been answering calls?
More than 20 years. Abby Connect started as a live receptionist company and has answered calls for over 6,200 businesses; the same experience now trains our in-house AI Receptionist, which is part of the same subscription.
Is your virtual receptionist service HIPAA compliant?
Yes. Abby’s human receptionist service offers HIPAA-compliant options for medical, dental and other healthcare practices, including secure message handling.
Which industries do you serve?
Law firms, dental and medical practices, home-services companies, accountants, real estate, e-commerce, salons and spas, franchises and professional services: over 6,200 businesses in total. Each industry page describes the call-handling setup that works best.
Further reading on virtual receptionists
Never Miss a Call Again with Abby’s Virtual Receptionists
Human receptionists, AI, or both, answering in your business name from day one. Start your free trial: no setup fee, month-to-month, plans from $165/mo.