Upfirst has made a name for itself as an affordable AI receptionist starting at $24.95 per month.
It's a solid choice for small businesses that need basic call answering without breaking the bank. But one size doesn't fit all when it comes to phone support.
Some businesses need human receptionists. Others require deep e-commerce integration or multi-language support.
And some are willing to pay more for advanced features like voice cloning or white-glove service.
We researched and tested the leading alternatives to help you find the right fit. Here's what we found.
Editor’s note: Want to hear some sample AI support calls made for your Shopify store?
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What to look for in Upfirst alternatives
Before comparing options, let's clarify what matters most in an answering service.
Pricing structure varies significantly. Some charge flat monthly rates. Others bill per minute or per call.
Overages can add up fast if you exceed your plan limits, so calculate your total cost based on actual call volume.
Setup complexity ranges from 10-minute no-code setups to multi-day configurations requiring technical expertise.
Be honest about your team's technical comfort level.
Call handling capabilities should match your needs. Basic services take messages and transfer urgent calls.
Advanced options handle appointment scheduling, order lookups, returns processing, and payment collection.
Integration requirements matter if you use CRMs, calendars, or e-commerce platforms.
Native integrations save hours of manual work compared to generic solutions.
Quick comparison: Upfirst alternatives at a glance
1. Ringly
Best for: E-commerce stores on Shopify
Ringly takes a different approach from generic answering services.
Instead of handling calls for any business type, they built their AI agent "Seth" specifically for online stores.
The deep Shopify integration means Seth can pull real-time order data, process returns and exchanges, and answer "where's my order" questions without human intervention.
This isn't just message taking, it's actual problem resolution.
According to their data, Seth resolves approximately 73% of calls without needing to escalate to a human agent.
For e-commerce businesses, this translates directly to fewer support tickets and happier customers.
Setup takes under three minutes. You connect your Shopify store, choose a phone number, and Seth starts answering calls immediately.
The AI learns your store's policies, products, and common questions from your existing data.
Key features:
- Real-time Shopify order lookup
- Automated returns and exchanges
- 40+ languages supported
- 24/7 availability
- Call recordings and analytics
- Knowledge base uploads for custom policies
Pricing:
Overage minutes cost $0.19 each. A 14-day free trial lets you test the full feature set before committing.
Pros:
- Purpose-built for e-commerce workflows
- Handles returns/exchanges automatically
- Resolves most calls without human help
- Fast, no-code setup
Cons:
- Higher starting price than Upfirst
- Best suited for Shopify stores
- Limited value for non-e-commerce businesses
2. Moneypenny
Best for: Businesses wanting human receptionists with AI backup
Moneypenny (formerly VoiceNation) offers something increasingly rare: real human receptionists available 24/7.
Their team of trained receptionists answers calls in your company name, follows custom scripts, and transfers urgent calls to your team.
But they didn't stop at human-only service. Moneypenny also offers an AI Receptionist option that handles routine calls and transfers to human receptionists when needed.
This hybrid approach gives you scale and speed from AI with the personal touch of humans for complex situations.
The company serves specific industries including legal, real estate, healthcare, and finance.
Receptionists receive training relevant to your field, so they understand industry terminology and common caller concerns.
Key features:
- 24/7 live receptionists
- AI Receptionist with human handoff
- Industry-specific training
- Bilingual English/Spanish service
- CRM integration
- Call transfers and detailed message taking
Pricing:
Moneypenny starts at $99 per month for phone answering services.
Some promotional pricing brings this down to $56 per month with a 20% discount. AI Receptionist and Live Chat services require custom quotes based on volume.
Pros:
- Real human connection on every call
- Industry-trained receptionists
- Flexible AI + human hybrid options
- Strong reputation (4.7 Trustpilot rating)
Cons:
- More expensive than AI-only options
- Less scalable than pure AI for high volumes
- Custom pricing can be opaque
3. Smith.ai
Best for: Law firms and professional services needing intake and scheduling
Smith.ai focuses on a specific use case that Upfirst doesn't handle well: new client intake and appointment scheduling.
Their virtual receptionists (both AI and human) are trained to qualify leads, ask intake questions, and book appointments directly on your calendar.
The service integrates with popular legal and business tools including Clio, HubSpot, Salesforce, Calendly, and Acuity.
Call details sync automatically to your CRM, saving hours of manual data entry.
Unlike basic answering services, Smith.ai receptionists can accept payments over the phone, check for conflicts of interest, and send follow-up text messages or emails based on your criteria.
Key features:
- New client intake with custom questions
- Appointment scheduling
- Lead qualification
- Payment collection (Square, PayPal, LawPay)
- CRM integrations
- Call recording and transcription
- Outbound calling campaigns
- 24/7 live North America-based agents
Pricing:
Smith.ai starts at $95 per month. Their pricing uses a per-call model with add-ons:
Monthly add-ons include business caller ID ($10) and additional transfer destinations ($15 each).
Pros:
- Excellent for intake and scheduling workflows
- Professional service focus
- Strong integration ecosystem
- Quality human backup when AI can't handle a call
Cons:
- Higher price point than basic alternatives
- Overkill if you just need message taking
- Per-call add-ons can increase costs
4. My AI Front Desk
Best for: Multi-language businesses and those wanting voice cloning
My AI Front Desk stands out for two features most competitors don't offer: voice cloning and extensive multi-language support.
You can clone your own voice (or choose from 100+ premium voices) so callers hear a familiar voice rather than a generic AI.
The platform supports complex workflows with up to 6,000 integrations on enterprise plans.
You can build custom call flows that handle everything from basic FAQs to appointment booking and ticket creation.
However, these advanced features come at a price. Even the starter plan costs significantly more than Upfirst, and the workflow builder has a learning curve.
Key features:
- Voice cloning technology
- 100+ premium voices
- 100+ languages supported
- Visual workflow builder
- 6,000+ integrations (Enterprise)
- Over-the-phone booking
- Advanced analytics
Pricing:
Annual pricing (20% savings):
Overage costs $0.12 per minute. The Starter plan limits you to 2 parallel calls and 2 workflow actions, which can feel restrictive.
Pros:
- Voice cloning creates familiar caller experience
- Extensive language support
- Powerful workflow customization
- Good for international businesses
Cons:
- Expensive compared to Upfirst
- Plan limits on parallel calls and actions
- Setup complexity higher than simple alternatives
- Knowledge base limited to 10 pages on Starter
5. Phonely
Best for: Budget-conscious businesses needing affordable AI answering
Phonely offers the lowest entry point of any alternative on this list. At $33 per month (billed annually), you get 200 included minutes, 100+ voices and languages, and unlimited concurrent calls.
The platform works well for small businesses that want to test AI answering without a significant financial commitment.
All plans include core features like call transferring, email and SMS notifications, and AI summaries.
Higher-tier plans add voice cloning, outbound calling, and advanced integrations with Salesforce, HubSpot, and GoHighLevel.
Key features:
- 100+ voices and languages
- Voice cloning (Professional+)
- CRM and scheduling integrations
- Outbound calling
- AI SMS
- Unlimited concurrent calls
- REST API access
Pricing:
Annual pricing (33% off):
Overage rates range from $0.05 to $0.35 per minute depending on your plan.
Pros:
- Most affordable option with real features
- Excellent language coverage
- Unlimited concurrent calls on all plans
- Good for testing AI answering concepts
Cons:
- Less established than competitors
- Starter plan lacks advanced integrations
- Newer company with shorter track record
6. AnswerConnect
Best for: Businesses that refuse to compromise on human service
AnswerConnect provides 100% human receptionists with no AI involved.
Every call is answered by a trained professional who follows your custom scripts, qualifies leads, and schedules appointments.
The company was voted Best Answering Service for 2026 by Forbes and maintains a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot from over 1,300 reviews.
They answer 99.43% of calls within four rings, even during peak times.
The trade-off is price. At $350 per month for just 200 minutes, AnswerConnect costs significantly more than AI alternatives.
But for businesses where human connection is non-negotiable, the premium may be worth it.
Key features:
- 100% human agents, 24/7
- Customizable call scripts
- CRM integrations
- Desktop and mobile app
- Live Chat (Growth+ plans)
- Appointment scheduling
- 99.43% answer rate within four rings
Pricing:
Overage costs $1.85 to $2.50 per minute depending on your plan.
Pros:
- Genuine human connection on every call
- Highly trained, professional agents
- Custom scripts tailored to your business
- No AI awkwardness or limitations
Cons:
- Most expensive option by far
- No AI efficiency benefits
- Less scalable for high call volumes
- Setup fees on some plans
How to choose the right Upfirst alternative
With six solid options, how do you pick? Start by identifying your primary need.
Choose Ringly if you run a Shopify store and need order management, returns processing, or "where's my order" call handling.
The deep e-commerce integration justifies the higher price for online retailers.
Choose Moneypenny if you want human receptionists with optional AI backup. It's the best of both worlds for businesses that value personal connection.
Choose Smith.ai if you're a law firm, consultant, or agency needing new client intake and appointment scheduling.
Their focus on professional services shows in the feature set.
Choose My AI Front Desk if you need voice cloning or extensive multi-language support.
The workflow builder rewards technical users who want customization.
Choose Phonely if budget is your primary concern. At $33 per month, it's the most affordable way to get started with AI answering.
Choose AnswerConnect if only human agents will do for your business. The premium price buys genuine human connection.
Which Upfirst alternative fits your business?
Upfirst earned its reputation by offering simple, affordable AI answering at $24.95 per month.
It works well for businesses that need basic message taking and call transfers without complexity.
But the alternatives above serve different needs better. E-commerce stores get more value from Ringly's Shopify integration.
Professional services benefit from Smith.ai's intake workflows. Budget-conscious businesses can start with Phonely for even less than Upfirst.
The key is matching the tool to your actual requirements. Don't pay for features you'll never use.
But don't settle for limitations that will frustrate you six months from now.
If you run a Shopify store and want to see what deep e-commerce integration looks like, try Ringly free for 14 days.
Seth handles orders, returns, and customer questions automatically, so your team can focus on growing the business instead of answering repetitive calls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best Upfirst alternatives for small businesses?
The best alternatives depend on your needs. For e-commerce, Ringly offers deep Shopify integration. For human touch, Moneypenny provides live receptionists. For budget, Phonely starts at just $33 per month. For professional services, Smith.ai excels at intake and scheduling.
Are there any free Upfirst alternatives?
Phonely offers the closest to a free tier among dedicated answering services, with paid plans starting at $33 per month. Most alternatives including Moneypenny, Smith.ai, and AnswerConnect offer free trials but require payment for ongoing service.
Which Upfirst alternatives offer human receptionists?
Moneypenny, Smith.ai, and AnswerConnect all offer human receptionists. Moneypenny and Smith.ai use hybrid AI + human models, while AnswerConnect provides 100% human agents. Expect to pay $95 to $350 per month for human answering services.
What Upfirst alternatives work best for Shopify stores?
Ringly is purpose-built for Shopify with deep integration for order lookups, returns, and exchanges. The AI agent Seth resolves approximately 73% of calls without human intervention, making it ideal for e-commerce businesses.
Which Upfirst alternatives support multiple languages?
My AI Front Desk and Phonely both support 100+ languages. Ringly supports 40+ languages with specific optimization for e-commerce terminology. These options work well for businesses with international customers.
How do Upfirst alternatives compare on pricing?
Phonely is most affordable at $33 per month. Upfirst starts at $24.95. Smith.ai and Moneypenny start around $95-99 per month. My AI Front Desk starts at $79 per month (annual). AnswerConnect is premium at $350 per month. Ringly starts at $99 but includes e-commerce features others lack.
