AI receptionist vs answering service
Answering services put a person on the phone — many take a message, some can book. Greeta answers every call itself, books directly into your calendar, and texts back callers who hang up.
Free demo · 30 min of test calls · No credit card
Typical answering service vs. Greeta
| – | Typical answering service | Greeta |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | Live human agents | Greeta — identifies as your business’s automated assistant |
| Booking | Often takes a message; booking depends on the provider and setup | Books, reschedules & cancels in Square or the Greeta calendar during the call |
| Hours | Depends on the plan | 24/7 |
| Knows your services & team | Works from the script you provide | Uses your services, durations, buffers, staff hours & days off |
| Languages | Depends on the provider | English, Spanish & Polish on one line |
| Caller hangs up or the call drops | Varies | Automatic text so they can book by SMS |
| Confirmations, reminders & client app | Varies | SMS confirmations & reminders + free GreetaBook app |
| Pricing | Varies by provider and plan | From $139/month incl. 150 voice minutes (Complete Solo); $0.30/min after that |
“Typical answering service” is a generic category — individual providers differ.
When a human answering service may fit better
If many of your calls need human judgment — complaints, sensitive conversations, or questions far outside booking — or you simply want a human voice on every call, a staffed answering service may be the better fit.
If most calls are “Can I book…?”, “Can I move my appointment…?” or “Do you have time on Saturday?”, Greeta handles them end to end and puts the result straight into your calendar.
Frequently asked questions
Can a caller reach a real person?
Yes. Greeta can be set up so calls ring your business first; if nobody answers, after a short delay the call switches to Greeta. Call transfers to a human are also supported.
Who receives the follow-up text after a missed or dropped call?
Only people who called your business. The text is a service follow-up to their own call — they have already started a conversation with the business — and they can reply STOP at any time to stop messages (HELP for help).
How much does Greeta cost?
Complete plans (voice + AI text + calendar) are $139/month for Solo, $299 for Growth, and $499 for Pro; annual billing saves 15%. Booking, Text, and Voice plans start lower. Every plan starts with a free $0 demo.
Will my clients know they’re talking to an AI?
Yes. Greeta identifies itself as your business’s automated assistant, and our Terms don’t allow setting it up to claim it’s human.
Do I keep my business’s phone number?
Yes. On a paid plan you forward your existing business line to Greeta, so clients keep calling the number they already know. The free demo uses test calls only — no live number.
Try Greeta on a sample business — free.
The demo comes with a sample business, services, and team, plus 30 minutes of test calls. Guided setup is free for a limited time at your first checkout.