The Flat-Rate AI Receptionist for Small Business

Jodie's AI answering service costs $49, $99 or $199 a month before sales tax, with unlimited minutes (fair use up to 1,000 calls a month) and no per-call fees on every plan. Many US AI receptionists meter your calls instead: IONOS starts at $39 a month for 30 calls, then $0.49 a call (checked October 2026). A metered plan can cost less if your phone rarely rings, and a flat plan costs less once you are busy.

An AI receptionist, or AI phone answering service, answers your business phone in a natural voice, talks with the caller, takes their details or books an appointment, and passes the message on to you. Jodie does it around the clock for small businesses across the US, learning from your website or Google Business Profile, and sends a recap by email and in the Jodie app after every call.

Some have a free tier: Smith.ai's free plan covers 25 calls a month, then $3.00 a call (checked October 2026). Jodie has no free plan, but your first 7 days are free with no credit card, and if you do not pick a plan the service pauses with nothing charged. After that, every plan is month to month with no setup fee.

It usually is if calls go to voicemail while you are on a job site, with a client or closed for the night: one extra booked job a month will often pay for $49. If someone who can book the work already picks up every call within a few rings, you probably do not need one.

It can take over the phone side of the job: Jodie answers every call 24/7, takes messages and, on Professional, books appointments and transfers urgent callers to you. She cannot greet walk-ins or do anything away from the phone. Our receptionist cost calculator puts a receptionist's wages next to a Jodie plan.

Virtual receptionists are live agents at a company like Ruby who answer your calls remotely and bill by the minute or the call. Ruby starts at $250 a month for 50 minutes (checked October 2026). An AI receptionist, also called an AI virtual receptionist, is software that does the same job at any hour, and Jodie does it for one flat monthly fee.

It is up to you: her opening line can tell callers the call may be answered by an AI assistant and may be recorded. Either way, Jodie speaks naturally, answers with your business name and asks follow-up questions instead of sending callers through a phone tree.

She takes down the caller's details and question and gets them to you right away, by email and in the Jodie app, so you can call back. On Professional and Premium you can also set rules that transfer certain callers straight to you or a coworker.

Yes, your number stays the same. Turn on call forwarding from your cell or office line whenever you want Jodie to pick up: around the clock, after hours, or only when you miss a call. Our call forwarding guides cover 25 US carriers and phone systems, including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, and turning forwarding off takes a minute.

Jodie AI Limited processes recordings, transcripts and summaries on your behalf under our data processing addendum, which lists encryption in transit and at rest. Recordings and transcripts are processed in the United States and Ireland, and our privacy policy includes a section for California residents under the CCPA and CPRA. You can turn recording or transcription off.

Most businesses are live in under 10 minutes. Jodie reads your website or Google Business Profile, you check what she learned and add your questions, and you make a test call. Then you turn on call forwarding from your cell phone or office line.

Yes, on the Professional and Premium plans. She offers your open time slots and books the appointment while the caller is on the line, and transfers the callers you choose to you or a coworker. The Basic plan answers calls and takes messages.