Technicians and front desk staff move between exam rooms and the phone. When the waiting room is full, calls go unanswered.
Owners of a sick animal call back repeatedly if they reach nobody. A receptionist that answers, captures the concern and alerts the team reduces repeat calls.
Calculated with 3 minutes per call, about 2,100 minutes a month, all answered by the AI. This profile is our estimate for a small business. At the median, providers charge $574 a month for this.
| Provider and plan | Per month | Simultaneous calls | Setup fee | Conditions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suzee AISuzee AI | $79 | not stated | $0 | flat fee; Unlimited minutes and calls, all features, one plan | Try free |
| BesideUnlimited | $99 | not stated | not stated | flat fee; Unlimited AI Receptionist calls; 1 line, extra lines $4.99/month | Try free |
| GoodcallGrowth | $181 | not stated | $0 | billed per caller, counted as one caller per call; Billed per unique caller per month, minutes not metered | Visit site |
| NextPhonePro | $199 | not stated | $0 | flat fee; Unlimited inbound calls, no overage; self-setup; annual $1,990/year | Try free |
| Simple PhonesPremium | $249 | not stated | $0 | 20 agents, languages, numbers | Try free |
| While You WorkBusiness | $299 | not stated | $0 | Calendar booking on the call only on this plan | Visit site |
| CallSphereAnswer | $334 | not stated | $0 | Plus usage at cost, estimated ~$0.15/min inbound; no booking on this tier | Try free |
| WithConnect AIGrowth | $349 | not stated | $499 | flat fee; Higher fair-use allowance (not quantified); setup $999 for medical/dental | Visit site |
| AIRAScale | $369 | not stated | not stated | Unlimited users | Visit site |
| UpfirstScale | $369 | not stated | $0 | Billed per call; includes white-glove onboarding | Try free |
Each provider's cheapest plan for this volume. Industry specialists appear only if they name this industry.
These providers have an industry page, case study or integration for this industry on their own website.
| Provider | Evidence | Starting price | Trial | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AgentZapSmall business | industry page source | $109/mo source$91/mo billed annually | No free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee | Visit site |
| AIRASmall business | industry page source | $24.95/mo source$19.96/mo billed annually | not stated | Visit site |
| AnswerHeroAnswering service with AI plan | industry page source | $19/mo source | no free trial; smaller plans offered to try the service | Visit site |
| DialIQSmall business | industry page source | $49/mo source | 7-day free trial | Try free |
| DialzaraSmall business | industry page source | $29/mo source | 7-day free trial on every voice plan | Try free |
| DigitailIndustry specialist | industry page source | on request | Tails AI modules: free trial for 1 month | Try free |
| EmitrrSmall business | industry page source | on request | not stated for AI Agent (terms mention free trials generally) | Visit site |
| EVS7Small business | industry page source | $49/mo source | free trial, no credit card required; length not stated | Try free |
| Front DeskIndustry specialist | industry page source | $299/mo source$249/mo billed annually | 7-day free trial of Pro or Elite, card required | Try free |
| My AI Front Desk (Frontdesk)Small business | industry page source | $99/mo source$79/mo billed annually | 7-day free trial | Try free |
| Novacall AISmall business | industry page source | on request | not stated | Visit site |
| PupPilotIndustry specialist | industry page source | on request | 1-week free trial, starts after a config call | Try free |
| TrueLarkIndustry specialist | industry page source | on request | not stated | Visit site |
| UpfirstSmall business | industry page source | $24.95/mo source$20/mo billed annually | 14-day free trial, no credit card | Try free |
| VetRecIndustry specialist | industry page source | $299/mo source | Free trial up to 7 days after demo, no credit card | Try free |
As of November 11, 2026, from provider websites. Other providers may fit as well, see all providers.
| Call | What the AI receptionist can do |
|---|---|
| Book or change an appointment | Books if connected to the practice software, otherwise captures the request |
| Medication refill | Records pet, owner and medication and passes it to the team |
| Possible emergency | Transfers to staff or gives the nearest emergency clinic per your instructions |
| Boarding and grooming | Captures dates and requirements |
| Hours, location, services | Answers directly |
Start with after-hours calls with a fixed emergency message, then add daytime overflow once the team trusts the summaries.
General information, not legal advice for your situation. See also two-party consent and E911 and emergencies.
HIPAA does not cover animal health records, so a BAA is usually not required for that reason. Confidentiality of client records still applies under professional rules and state law, so ask how call data is protected.
It should not. Configure it to capture symptoms, flag urgency and route the caller to staff or an emergency clinic.
Only with a working connection to your practice management system. Ask which systems are supported and test a booking.