Is there a free AI receptionist?
- The short answer
- A free AI receptionist exists only in a small form. Smith.ai lists a $0 tier for 25 calls, then $3.00 a call, as of September 2026. Most vendors in the category offer a trial instead. GreetKeeper starts every plan with a 14-day free trial, every feature on and no card needed. After that, Starter is $49 a month for 200 answered calls.
The longer answer
When people search for a free AI receptionist, they usually find one of three things. There's the capped free tier, the time-limited trial, and the do-it-yourself build on a developer voice platform. Each one is free in a different way, and each one ends in a different place.
A capped free tier is free until the cap. Smith.ai's is 25 calls. Past that, every call is billed at the published rate. A busy week moves you onto a paid plan whether you expected it or not.
A trial is free for a set time. Dialzara offers seven days. GreetKeeper offers 14, with the full product switched on. You judge it on real calls from your own customers, not on a cut-down version.
A developer build is free to start and costs you in hours. You write the prompts, wire the phone number and pay the platform by the minute once calls flow. That suits a team with an engineer. Most shop owners want the phone answered this week.
What to check before you pick a free option
Look at what happens on the first call past the free limit. That's the number that shapes your bill, and it's easy to miss when the headline says $0.
Ask whether booking is part of the free version. A receptionist that only takes messages leaves you calling everyone back, which is the job you wanted off your plate.
Check whether you need a card to start. If a trial asks for one, put the end date in your calendar the day you sign up.
Count your own calls first, because the right option depends on volume more than on price. Pull last month's call log from your carrier and note how many were real customers. If you take around eight calls a working day, you'll use a small free tier in about three days.
How GreetKeeper handles it
GreetKeeper's 14-day trial turns on every feature from the first call. It answers at any hour and books into Google Calendar or Outlook. It transfers callers to your team when they ask, and every call arrives as a transcript and a short summary. You don't enter a card to start.
You get a dedicated local number with the area code you choose at signup. Forward your existing line to it and GreetKeeper answers the moment the call arrives. Robocalls and spam calls are screened out before the greeting and never count toward your plan.
When the trial ends you pick a plan. Starter is $49 for 200 answered calls, Professional $149 for 750, Scale $349 for 2,000. There's no setup fee, and the overage rate for each plan is printed on the pricing page.
Free AI receptionist questions
Does GreetKeeper have a free plan?
GreetKeeper offers a 14-day free trial on every plan, with every feature on and no card needed to start. After 14 days you choose a plan, starting at $49 a month for 200 answered calls. There's no setup fee on any plan.
Can I use a free AI receptionist for my business number?
Yes, as long as you can forward your number to it. With GreetKeeper you forward your existing line to your dedicated local number, so customers keep dialling the number they already have.
What happens when my GreetKeeper trial ends?
You choose Starter, Professional or Scale, or you stop. Starter covers 200 answered calls for $49 a month. Annual billing gives you two months free on any plan.
Hear it take one of your calls
Two minutes, your own scenario, no card.