Calldesk AI vs Poly AI (Tried, Compared) – Which is best?

See how Calldesk AI and Poly AI compare to each other (and to Ringly.io) to help you decide what is the best platform for you.
Last updated on
May 2, 2025
Maurizio Isendoorn, Co-Founder at Ringly.io
Maurizio Isendoorn
Co-Founder

Still on the fence between Calldesk AI and Poly AI, and tired of sorting through confusing features, unclear pricing, and mixed reviews? You’re definitely not alone—choosing the right tool can feel overwhelming with so many details and opinions competing for your attention. By the time you finish this article, you’ll know exactly which platform suits your needs best and finally put the guesswork to rest. We’ll break things down for you step-by-step, covering:

  • Key features of Calldesk AI and Poly AI
  • Real pros and cons—what works, what doesn’t
  • Pricing comparisons so you know what you’re paying for
  • User reviews and what actual customers have to say
  • Who each tool is best for—and a BETTER alternative you definitely don’t want to miss

Get comfy—we’re about to make your decision a whole lot easier. Let’s dive in!

Why Ringly.io is the better choice ; )

Built for e-commerce

With experience in both AI and e-commerce, we set out become the best AI phone agent platform for online stores.

Stupid-simple user interface

Super easy to work with, and you can set up things even if you're not tech savvy. If you create a free account you can see it for yourself though!

Quick and easy setup

Pre-built AI phone agents and will have your online store automated in minutes- not hours.

Calldesk AI vs Poly AI – TL;DR

Product Area Calldesk AI Poly AI Ringly.io
Setup & Integration Fast, user-friendly, limited integrations Easy, may need IT help Instant, no-code, auto sync
Conversation Quality Natural, handles accents well Lifelike, flexible open dialog Human-like, fast, dynamic replies
E-commerce Features No live order lookups Needs configuration for e-commerce Cart recovery, order tracking built-in
Pricing Model Fixed tiers, SMB focus Enterprise quote, per-minute billing Transparent, usage-based, free plan
Analytics & Reporting Basic, some dashboards Good, actionable insights Real-time, advanced analytics
User Reviews No major platform reviews Many, highly rated support 4.8 stars, praised simplicity
Best For SMBs, routine calls Large firms, complex needs Any size, e-commerce, fast start

Calldesk AI - a quick overview

Founded in Paris, France in 2015 by Vincent Gire and Aimé Dushimire, Calldesk is a pioneering conversational AI company that transforms customer service through AI-powered voice agents. Their innovative platform automates repetitive customer service calls with AI IVR, AI Receptionist, and AI Answering Service, allowing businesses to focus on high-value interactions while reducing operational costs and improving customer satisfaction.

With notable clients including La Poste, MGEN, Enedis, and CNP Assurances, Calldesk has established itself as a leader in the rapidly growing call center AI market. Their technology supports 54 languages and achieves impressive success rates of up to 95% for simpler use cases. In the following section, we'll explore Calldesk's features, pros and cons, pricing, and user reviews compared to Poly AI and Ringly.io.

Calldesk AI's features

  • AI Voice Agents for Customer Service
    Calldesk automates repetitive customer service calls using AI voice agents, handling tasks like answering FAQs and routing calls. This boosts productivity by freeing up human agents for complex issues. While Poly AI also offers conversational automation, Ringly.io goes further by integrating real-time business data and custom actions during calls, making it more dynamic for e-commerce and support.
  • Natural Language Processing (NLP)
    Calldesk’s advanced NLP enables smooth, natural conversations with callers—even in noisy environments or with diverse accents—ensuring accurate understanding without rigid menus. Poly AI is similarly strong in NLP, but Ringly.io leverages this to pull precise answers from your own knowledge base instantly, reducing misinformation and improving trust.
  • Quick Deployment via Studio Platform
    The ergonomic Studio platform allows businesses to deploy Calldesk voice agents within days rather than months. This rapid setup is similar to Poly AI’s fast onboarding but lacks the instant “just works” integration of Ringly.io’s knowledge base sync that updates daily without manual training.
  • AI IVR & Receptionist Automation
    Calldesk digitizes inbound call interactions through automated IVR (Interactive Voice Response) and receptionist services. It efficiently processes simple requests end-to-end or partially before escalating complex cases—a feature also found in Poly AI. However, Ringly.io adds smart call transfer with detailed context summaries so teams only handle relevant escalations.
  • Cost Efficiency & Scalability
    By automating high-volume repetitive tasks 24/7, Calldesk reduces cost per call and absorbs spikes in demand seamlessly—similar to both competitors. Yet unlike Ringly.io’s abandoned cart recovery automation that directly drives revenue growth for e-commerce stores while saving on support costs, Calldesk focuses mainly on operational savings.
  • High Understanding Rate in Challenging Scenarios
    Best-of-breed architecture ensures high comprehension even when callers have heavy accents or there is background noise—minimizing errors during conversations. While this matches industry standards set by Poly AI as well, it doesn’t offer the same level of real-time order lookups or personalized responses based on live business data as seen with Ringly.io.

In summary: Calldesk excels at automating routine phone interactions quickly and accurately for general customer service needs but lacks deep integration with live business systems (like order status checks or CRM updates) that make solutions like Ringly.io uniquely powerful for businesses seeking not just efficiency—but smarter revenue-driving automation too.

Calldesk AI Pros and Cons

  • User-friendly interface – Many users highlight that Calldesk AI is intuitive and easy to use, even for those without much technical experience.
  • Fast setup and smooth implementation – Reviewers often mention that getting started with the platform is quick, with minimal friction during onboarding.
  • Effective automation – The system handles routine customer queries autonomously, freeing up human agents for more complex tasks.
  • Real-time customer support access – Users appreciate being able to reach support quickly when needed; however, most find they rarely need it due to the product’s ease of use.
  • Versatile applications – The platform supports a wide range of use cases (e.g., marketing creativity tools, video creation), making it adaptable across industries.
  • Strong natural language processing (NLP) capabilities – Several reviewers note that its NLP features enable successful completion of many interactions without agent intervention.
  • Enhances team productivity – By automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows, teams can focus on higher-value activities.

Cons

  • Notification overload – Multiple users report that automated notifications can be excessive or distracting until they become accustomed to the system settings. Ringly.io’s notification management may offer a more streamlined experience here.
  • Occasional glitches or bugs – Some reviewers have experienced minor technical issues during processing or screen recording quality problems; these typically require updates or fixes from the vendor.
  • Limited integrations with third-party tools (e.g., Adobe, Canva) – Users mention challenges in connecting Calldesk AI seamlessly with other popular software platforms used in their workflow. Ringly.io emphasizes broader compatibility as a differentiator in this area.
  • Lack of local language options for some regions – There are requests for expanded language support so smaller organizations in non-English-speaking countries can benefit fully from the solution. Ringly.io’s multilingual capabilities may address this gap.
  • Product best suited for small/medium businesses only — Some feedback suggests larger enterprises might find limitations compared to their needs; scalability could be an issue as organizations grow beyond SMB size brackets.
  • No dark mode option yet — A few users would prefer additional UI customization such as dark mode backgrounds but note this is not currently available out-of-the-box.

These insights reflect what real customers are saying about using Calldesk AI day-to-day—highlighting both where it shines and where there’s room for improvement.

Poly AI - a quick overview

Founded in London in 2017 by Nikola Mrkšić, Tsung-Hsien Wen, and Pei-Hao Su, PolyAI builds AI-powered voice assistants that transform customer service through natural, human-like phone interactions. The company serves Fortune 500 clients like FedEx and Marriott with its conversational AI technology, which handles high call volumes while reducing operational costs.

In the following section, we’ll break down PolyAI’s features, pros and cons, pricing models (where available), and user reviews compared to Calldesk AI and Ringly.io. This comparison will help identify where each solution stands for businesses seeking advanced voice automation tools.

Poly AI's features

  • Advanced Conversational AI
    Poly AI delivers highly natural, lifelike voice interactions using proprietary speech recognition and synthesis models. Its platform is pre-trained on billions of real customer conversations, allowing it to understand intent and context without extensive custom training. This makes Poly AI ideal for enterprises needing scalable, human-like automation in high-volume call environments. While Calldesk also offers strong NLP capabilities, Poly AI’s focus on nuanced dialogue management often results in more flexible and realistic conversations—though it lacks the deep e-commerce integrations found in Ringly.io.
  • Seamless Integration with Existing Tech Stacks
    Poly AI integrates smoothly with enterprise systems such as CRMs and contact center platforms. It uses real-time spoken language understanding (SLU) to correct errors from speech recognition engines, ensuring accurate data capture during calls. This is comparable to Calldesk’s CRM integration but stands out for its ability to “fix” faulty transcriptions mid-conversation. However, unlike Ringly.io—which provides no-code connections for instant setup across thousands of business tools—Poly AI may require more technical resources for full customization.
  • Transaction Handling & Authentication
    The platform can authenticate callers using voice biometrics or multi-factor methods and complete transactions directly within the call flow. This capability is valuable for industries like banking or travel where secure self-service is critical. Calldesk supports similar transactional flows but typically relies on standard IVR logic rather than advanced authentication layers. For e-commerce use cases like abandoned cart recovery or order status checks—which are handled natively by Ringly.io—Poly AI would need additional configuration.
  • Flexible Dialogue Management
    Poly AI employs a patented approach that lets customers navigate conversations naturally instead of following rigid scripts. Users can change topics mid-call or ask follow-up questions without confusing the system—a significant advantage over traditional IVR solutions like those offered by some competitors. While Calldesk allows customizable workflows, its flexibility may not match Poly’s open-ended conversational design; however, neither solution matches the out-of-the-box workflow automations tailored specifically for online stores that Ringly.io provides.
  • High Call Resolution Rates
    With up to 50% of customer service calls resolved end-to-end without human intervention, Poly AI reduces operational costs while improving response times in large-scale deployments. Calldesk achieves similar automation rates but tends to focus more on inbound routine queries rather than complex transactional support. In contrast, Ringly.io combines high-resolution rates with specialized features (like SMS follow-ups and smart transfers) designed specifically to drive sales conversions—not just resolve support tickets.
  • Industry-Specific Pretraining
    Poly AI’s models are trained across sectors such as hospitality, logistics, finance, and utilities, making them well-suited for organizations seeking rapid deployment without lengthy onboarding periods. While this broad applicability benefits enterprises with diverse needs (similar to Calldesk), businesses looking for hyper-focused e-commerce functionality will find purpose-built solutions like Ringly.io better aligned with their goals.

In summary: Poly AI excels at delivering flexible conversational experiences at scale through advanced language technology and seamless integrations—but when it comes to specialized commerce automations (cart recovery calls or live order tracking), dedicated platforms offer a clear edge in both speed-to-value and ease of use.

Next, let's look at Poly AI's pros and cons. We studied dozens of reviews from real Poly AI users from platforms like G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. Then we identified commonalities and summarized the main pros and cons of Poly AI based on real user feedback for you here:

Pros

  • Exceptional call automation – Users consistently praise PolyAI’s ability to automate client calls efficiently, freeing up staff time for higher-value tasks.
  • User-friendly interface – The platform is noted for its simple setup and intuitive design, making it easy to use even for non-technical teams.
  • Lifelike voice quality – Many reviewers highlight the human-like quality of PolyAI’s voice assistant, which avoids sounding robotic and enhances customer engagement.
  • Seamless integrations – Businesses appreciate how easily PolyAI integrates with existing software systems such as CRMs or calendars without major technical hurdles.
  • High-quality customer support & collaboration – The support team receives strong marks for responsiveness and willingness to tailor solutions to specific business needs. Ringly.io also emphasizes hands-on onboarding but takes pride in offering more transparent pricing.
  • Rich data insights & analytics dashboard – Users value the analytics features that provide actionable insights into call trends, customer inquiries, and operational performance. This helps businesses refine their strategies over time.
  • Tangible ROI improvements in key sectors (like hospitality) – Several reviews mention improved call answering rates during staffing shortages or off-hours—delivering measurable ROI by reducing missed opportunities. Ringly.io similarly focuses on maximizing efficiency but also offers more flexible reporting options.
  • Bespoke customization options available – Reviewers note that PolyAI can be tailored closely to brand identity while maintaining consistent service levels across locations or departments.

Cons

  • Lack of advanced voice analytics features – Multiple users wish for deeper sentiment analysis or more granular conversation data; current analytics are seen as somewhat basic compared to what some teams need for continuous improvement.
  • Difficulties handling complex scenarios – While routine queries are handled well, some reviewers report that nuanced conversations or multi-part questions may confuse the system—sometimes requiring human intervention.
  • User acceptance challenges (perceived rudeness/impersonality) – Some customers remain skeptical about interacting with an AI assistant; unfamiliarity can lead them to perceive responses as impersonal—even when following a script.
  • No anonymous feedback option in surveys/conversations (for internal use cases) – For organizations wanting truly candid input from staff/customers via surveys or open-ended prompts within the platform itself, anonymity is hard to achieve.
  • Learning curve during implementation – Some users mention a moderate learning curve when first setting up custom flows or integrating advanced features; initial configuration may require extra support sessions.
  • Higher cost compared to simpler alternatives – A few businesses note that while value is high, pricing may be out of reach for smaller organizations seeking only basic automation capabilities.

Pricing - Calldesk AI vs Poly AI

Note: The pricing information below is accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, please visit each company's pricing page.

Calldesk AI pricing

Plan Name Price (Monthly) Key Features Contract Length Cancellation Fees Refund Policy
Small Business $65 Essential call routing, call recording, basic reporting Not specified; likely monthly or annual options Not specified Not specified
Starter $205 All Small Business features plus more integrations and support
Standard $360 Adds advanced analytics, IVR integration, CRM integration
Premium $535 Multi-channel support (voice/chat), customizable dashboards, advanced analytics tools See below See below

Poly AI pricing

Plan Name Price Structure Key Features Contract Length Cancellation Fees Refund Policy
Custom (Enterprise) Custom quote, per-minute billing - Advanced conversational voice assistants
- Handles >50% of calls
- Real-time analytics dashboard
- Seamless integrations
- Ongoing performance updates & 24/7 support
- Security & compliance
- Industry-specific solutions
Typically annual contracts; details vary by agreement Yes (non-cancellable except for cause) No refunds or credits for partial periods

Ringly.io pricing

Ringly.io delivers the perfect balance of affordability and features. Unlike competitors who force you into expensive tiers, Ringly.io includes all core features even in its free plan. The simple, transparent pricing scales based on your actual usage, with no surprise fees.

Plan Tiers Price Features Contract Length Cancellation Fees Refund Policies
Free $0 10 call minutes, all core features No contract No 110% money-back guarantee
Do It Yourself $21–$999/month based on minutes 1 phone number, all features included Monthly
Done With You $69–$1,179/month based on minutes 3 phone numbers, setup help, faster support Monthly
Done For You Custom pricing Custom setup, premium support Custom

Online customer reviews: Calldesk AI vs Poly AI

Calldesk AI vs Poly AI: Online Reviews Comparison

Looking at the online reviews for both Calldesk AI and Poly AI reveals interesting insights about how users perceive these AI voice assistant platforms. Here's what I found about both products from various review platforms.

Calldesk AI

Calldesk AI specializes in automating repetitive customer service calls with AI voice agents, helping businesses enhance productivity and customer satisfaction while freeing up human agents for more valuable interactions. The platform offers AI IVR, AI Receptionist, and AI Answering Service capabilities. However, there are currently no online user reviews available on G2, Capterra, Product Hunt, Trustpilot, or other major platforms. Potential customers should be careful when considering this product due to the lack of verified user feedback.

What users are saying about Calldesk AI:

Unfortunately, no user reviews could be found for Calldesk AI across the major review platforms. This lack of reviews makes it difficult to assess real-world performance and customer satisfaction with the product. Businesses considering Calldesk AI should request case studies or direct references from the company before making a decision.

Poly AI

Poly AI offers AI-powered voice assistants for automating client calls with natural-sounding voices. The platform has received positive feedback for its conversational capabilities and integration options. Poly AI has received numerous reviews across platforms, with particularly strong ratings on G2, where users praise its natural conversation abilities and customer support.

What users are saying about Poly AI:

"Exceptional capability to automate client calls" - Anonymous User. "I loved Poly AI for its exceptional capability to automate client calls. Their customer support is commendable. The interface is simple and very user friendly. We have been able to integrate it with various software systems. Provides human like voice that is of the highest quality imaginable..."

"Only downside is the public's acceptance" - Anonymous User. "Only downside is the public's acceptance of a voice assistant doing the job. Those not familiar with dealing with 'AI' tend to think of the assistant as rude although all it does is follow the script and adjust..."

Comparison Summary

When comparing these two AI voice assistant platforms:

  • Poly AI has established a presence on review platforms with users highlighting its natural-sounding voice capabilities and excellent customer support.
  • Calldesk AI lacks verified user reviews on major platforms, making it difficult to assess real-world performance and customer satisfaction.

For businesses looking for an AI voice assistant with proven user satisfaction, Poly AI appears to have more documented success based on available reviews. However, Calldesk AI may still be worth considering if its specific features align with your business needs, though you should request direct references or case studies before proceeding.

What users are saying about Ringly.io:

Ringly.io is known for its simplicity, and a focus on e-commerce, with features like abandoned cart recovery and order status lookups. It has a 4.8 star rating from 12 reviews on Product Hunt and other platforms.

"it stands out significantly ahead" - Bertrand, Director. We are at the initial stage of testing and have made only a few calls so far. Consequently, I have rated the product with four stars for now. However, I must express that the product has shown significant promise. When compared to competitors, it stands out significantly ahead.

"This is such a great product" - Jim Miranda, Founder. This is such a great product. I have been with you for less than a week and already closed 3 deals with it."

"It really sounds like a human" - Laix, Founder. Tried Ringly.io today and the quality of the phone calls surprises me! It really sounds like a human, and it reacts really fast. Will need to deploy it in action to see the full capabilities.

"How to automate customer service? -> Ringly.io" - Sidra Husnain, Founder.

Calldesk AI vs Poly AI: Which is best for you?

Who Calldesk AI is best for…

  • Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs) – If you’re a smaller business or a mid-sized team needing to quickly add AI phone agents for routine customer support, Calldesk AI’s simple interface and fast setup are a great fit.
  • Companies with lots of repetitive phone tasks – Calldesk shines where there are many simple, incoming calls—like answering FAQs, booking appointments, or routing calls—freeing up staff for more complex issues.
  • Businesses prioritizing cost savings – If cutting down costs on basic support calls and improving team efficiency is your main goal, Calldesk AI’s automation and 24/7 coverage can deliver savings and better customer satisfaction.
  • Organizations with straightforward needs – If you don’t need deep, live data integrations or advanced e-commerce actions (like order status), Calldesk covers all the basics well.

Who Poly AI is best for…

  • Large enterprises with high call volumes – If you handle thousands of calls a day or operate in sectors like hospitality, transport, or banking, Poly AI’s proven conversational strength and scalability make it a reliable choice.
  • Businesses seeking advanced, human-like conversations – Poly AI is ideal if your customers expect lifelike voice assistants, able to manage nuanced or challenging conversations without sounding robotic.
  • Companies needing secure or complex integrations – For those requiring authentication over the phone or deep integration with CRMs, Poly AI’s customization and enterprise-first features are especially valuable.
  • Organizations with a budget for premium automation – If you want the best and have the resources to pay for advanced AI solutions and custom onboarding, Poly AI delivers—but the pricing is generally best suited for larger budgets.

Who Ringly.io is best for…

  • Businesses of all sizes (from startups to large enterprises) – Ringly.io is flexible—it grows with you. Whether you’re just starting or running multiple brands, it adapts to your needs with easy onboarding and scalable plans.
  • Online retailers and e-commerce stores – If you want to recover abandoned carts, look up orders live, or even suggest products automatically, Ringly.io is built with these features out of the box—making it a go-to for shop owners.
  • Teams seeking simple, transparent pricing – No surprise bills or complicated contracts. Ringly.io includes core features on every plan (even free), with pricing that matches your actual call usage—making it easy to try and scale.
  • Anyone who loves easy setup and quick results – With no-code integration, instant sync with your store or helpdesk, and strong multilingual support, Ringly.io works almost instantly, with proven fast wins for support and sales teams.

Bottom line: While Calldesk AI and Poly AI are solid options for specific needs or larger custom projects, Ringly.io combines the best of both worlds—fast setup, affordable and transparent pricing, real business impact, and powerful features for every size of business. That’s why, if you want the biggest value and flexibility without the hassle, Ringly.io stands out as the overall best choice.

Why Ringly.io is a Better Choice

Highly Rated: 4.8/5

Founded in 2024 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by Maurizio Isendoorn and Ruben Boonzaaijer, Ringly.io is revolutionizing e-commerce customer service with AI phone agents. Designed for online businesses, Ringly handles customer calls on autopilot—solving support issues, recovering abandoned carts, and even boosting sales—at just 20% of the cost of human agents.‍

Ringly.io founders: Maurizio and Ruben
Ringly.io founders – Maurizio (left), Ruben (right)

With 1,300+ customers, Ringly.io is the go-to solution for e-commerce stores looking to scale without scaling their support team. With award-winning technology (BubbleCon 2024's "Most Innovative App"), Ringly.io transforms your phone system into a revenue-driving powerhouse—without the headaches of traditional call centers.‍

Features that make Ringly.io the #1 alternative to Calldesk AI and Poly AI:

No-code setup, instant results – Ringly.io is ready to go in minutes. Just add your website, docs, or text—no engineering required—and your AI phone agent instantly understands your business. It even updates automatically as your website changes.‍‍‍

Ringly.io page of user's AI phone agents

AI-powered sales & support – Ringly.io does both inbound and outbound calls. Recover 35%+ of abandoned carts with automated follow-up calls, provide real-time order tracking from Shopify, and convert more customers with personalized AI-driven conversations—not just reactive support.‍‍

Ringly.io Call History page

Advanced analytics for smarter decisions – Ringly.io gives you real-time call data, customer intent tracking, and performance reports—helping you optimize support and sales strategies.‍‍‍

Ringly.io Analytics of AI phone agent page

Scalable pricing without enterprise contracts – Ringly.io offers transparent, scalable pricing—pay for what you use, no locked-in contracts.‍

Final Thoughts: Calldesk AI vs Poly AI vs Ringly.io

Choosing the right AI-powered voice platform really comes down to your business goals, team size, and how much value you want from your investment. After comparing Calldesk AI, Poly AI, and Ringly.io in detail, here are the main takeaways for each one—and why Ringly.io might just be the smart move for most modern businesses.

  • Calldesk AI: Best for businesses needing quick, simple automation for routine support calls. It’s friendly for SMBs, easy to set up, and good if you mainly want to reduce costs on basic calls. However, it offers limited integrations and lacks advanced features for e-commerce or complex operations.
  • Poly AI: Ideal for larger enterprises looking for natural, flexible conversations at scale. It shines in sectors like banking and hospitality where lifelike voice agents and deep system integration matter most. Poly AI is powerful, but often comes with higher costs and a steeper onboarding curve—so it suits organizations with big call volumes and dedicated technical resources.
  • Ringly.io: The most flexible and modern choice for businesses of any size, especially online shops and brands. With instant no-code setup, live data integrations, cart recovery, transparent pricing, and real user praise, Ringly.io lets you automate support and sales calls without the headaches of custom builds, enterprise contracts, or technical bottlenecks.

When should you use each?

  • Pick Calldesk AI if you’re a small to mid-sized company needing fast, basic phone automation—and don’t require live integrations or sales features.
  • Pick Poly AI if you’re a large enterprise with complex call workflows, deep integration needs, and a budget for premium automation experiences.
  • Pick Ringly.io if you want to maximize support and sales, recover lost revenue, get running fast (even as a non-technical team), and scale affordably—no matter your current business size.

Bottom line: Calldesk AI and Poly AI both bring unique strengths, but Ringly.io combines all the essentials—speed, smart automations, advanced e-commerce support, and simple pricing—into one seamless package. If you want results today (not months from now), and a solution that grows with your business, Ringly.io is the standout choice.

Ready to see what Ringly.io can do? Get started for free and start automating your calls in minutes.

Want to compare other players in the market? Check out our other comparisons:

Like this? Share this post

Try Ringly.io for free

No money saved after 90 days = 110% money back
Works in 20 languages
1 minute sign-up
10 minute quick setup