What is an AI Receptionist?
An AI receptionist is software that answers your phone calls and chats. It uses artificial intelligence to understand what callers need, answer questions, and take action like booking appointments.
Modern AI receptionists sound natural and can handle complex conversations. They work 24/7 without breaks, sick days, or overtime.
What is an Answering Service?
A traditional answering service employs human operators who answer calls on behalf of multiple businesses. They follow scripts, take messages, and may transfer urgent calls to your team.
Quality varies by provider and by operator. Peak times may mean longer hold times.
Cost Comparison
Answering services typically charge per minute or per call. Costs vary by provider.
AI receptionists often use flat-rate pricing. Cochago charges $399/month for Answer or $799/month for Book, with no per-call fees.
Appointment Booking
Answering services usually take messages. You or your team must call back to book the appointment.
AI receptionists like Cochago can book appointments directly. The AI assistant offers available slots from your calendar and confirms on the spot.
Emergency Handling
Answering services rely on operator judgment to identify emergencies. Response quality varies.
AI receptionists detect emergencies automatically using keyword recognition. Cochago texts your on-call tech within seconds of hearing "no heat" or "flooding."
Availability
Answering services may have limited capacity during peak times.
AI receptionists answer every call, 24/7, without hold times.
Industry Knowledge
Answering services handle many industries. Operators may not know HVAC, plumbing, or electrical terminology.
AI receptionists built for the trades know service types, common problems, and emergency keywords specific to your industry.
The Bottom Line
Answering services work for businesses that prefer human interaction and have predictable call volume.
AI receptionists are built for trades businesses that need real appointment booking, emergency detection, and flat monthly pricing.