Is there a free AI answering service?
A few AI answering services advertise free plans, but they typically cap calls at a very low number or require paid upgrades to unlock essential features like transfers, appointment booking, or multi-language support. If you only need to handle 1 to 3 calls per month, a free tier may be enough. Most businesses that actually need a receptionist exceed those limits by the second day of a busy week. Aira does not offer a free tier — the lowest paid plan is $24.95/mo for up to 30 calls, with every feature included and no long-term contract. For one or two calls a month, Google Voice's voicemail is effectively free, though it's a recording rather than a conversation. See free vs paid AI receptionist comparison.
Related questions
- How much does an AI receptionist cost?AI receptionists range from $24.95 to $300+/mo. Per-call pricing is predictable; per-minute pricing can spike. See full 2026 pricing breakdown.
- What is the cheapest AI answering service?Cheapest is the wrong question — lowest cost per answered call is the right one. Here's how entry plans actually compare on dollars per call.