The short answer
An answering service answers calls and takes messages. A virtual receptionist also screens calls, answers questions, books appointments and routes calls. An AI receptionist does the same job with a voice AI instead of a person, at any hour, and can take several calls at once. They are priced differently: per minute, per call, or a monthly plan.
Side by side
| Feature | Answering service | Virtual receptionist | AI receptionist (Reign AI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who answers | A person at a call centre | A person, usually working remotely | A voice AI |
| What it does | Answers and takes a message | Answers, screens, answers common questions, books and routes calls | Answers, screens, answers common questions, books and routes calls |
| Hours | Set by the provider and its staffing | Set by the provider and its staffing | Every hour of the day |
| Calls at the same time | Limited by staff on shift | Limited by staff on shift | Several at once |
| Judgment calls | A person can improvise | A person can improvise | Follows the rules you set; transfers to your team or takes a message |
| Your phone number | Usually kept, by call forwarding | Usually kept, by call forwarding | Kept, by call forwarding |
| How cost is usually set | Often per minute or per call, or a monthly plan with included minutes | Often a monthly plan with included minutes, or per minute | A one-time setup fee and a monthly plan with included minutes; extra minutes billed per minute |
The first two columns describe the service in general and vary by provider; check each provider's terms. The last column is Reign AI.
What each one is
- An answering service picks up when you cannot. Its job is that no call goes unanswered and every message reaches you.
- A virtual receptionist does a front-desk job without a front desk: it greets callers in your business's name, finds out what they need, answers common questions, books appointments and puts the call through to the right person.
- An AI receptionist is a virtual receptionist run by a voice AI. Reign AI's answers in your business's name, books into your calendar and passes calls to your team when a person is needed.
What drives the cost
This page names no prices, because what you pay depends on your business and on each provider. These are the things that move the cost, whichever kind of service you choose:
- How many minutes of calls you get. Most plans include a set number of minutes, and calls beyond that are billed per minute.
- Whether the service only answers, or also books appointments and connects to your calendar or CRM.
- Whether a person or a voice AI answers. A person on a headset is a staffing cost; a voice AI is not.
- Setup. Some providers charge a one-time fee to set up call forwarding and train the service on your business.
Which fits
If you only need messages taken, an answering service may be enough. If callers need answers, bookings and routing, you want a virtual receptionist, and an AI receptionist gives you that at any hour and for several callers at once. Many small offices use an AI receptionist for the phone and keep staff for the front counter.
What stays with a person
No phone service signs for deliveries or greets visitors at the door. Calls that need judgment or a personal touch go to you by transfer, or arrive as a message with the details already written down.
Canadian businesses
Reign AI Solutions handles personal information in line with Canada's PIPEDA. Some service providers, such as cloud hosting and telephony, are outside Canada, and a list of subprocessors is available on request. The team works from North York, Toronto, Ontario and serves businesses across Canada.
Common questions
What is the difference between an answering service and a virtual receptionist?
An answering service is mostly about making sure calls are answered and messages are taken. A virtual receptionist also screens callers, answers common questions, books appointments and routes calls.
Is an AI receptionist the same as a virtual receptionist?
It does the same job. The difference is who does it: a virtual receptionist is usually a person working remotely, and an AI receptionist is a voice AI. Reign AI offers the AI version.
How much does each one cost in Canada?
It depends on call volume and the provider, so this page names no price. Human services are often priced per minute, per call or as a monthly plan with included minutes. Reign AI is a one-time setup fee plus a monthly plan with included minutes, with extra minutes billed per minute. Use the ROI calculator for an estimate or book a call for a written quote.
Can an AI receptionist replace my answering service?
For most calls, yes: it answers, answers questions, books and transfers. Some businesses keep a person for calls that need a personal touch and use the AI for everything else, including outside business hours.
Can I keep my phone number?
Yes. Reign AI works through call forwarding on your current phone system, so you keep your number and your provider.
Can I hear it before I decide?
Yes. Try the live voice demo and talk to a Reign AI voice assistant, or book a call.