What's The Cheapest Answering Service in 2025?
The cheapest answering service plans range from $39/month – $139/month, or between $1.30 to $1.39 a minute of operator time used.
Affordable Answering Services: A Cost-Conscious Buyer’s Guide
If you're a business looking to hire an answering service without a large upfront investment, this guide will help you find affordable options. While a few “pay-as-you-go” services exist, most low-cost plans start at around $39/month, which is ideal for businesses with a low call volume. As your call volume increases, your total cost will go up—but the price per call or per minute typically decreases, offering better value at scale.
What Impacts the Cost of an Answering Service?
Several factors influence your final price. To find the most affordable solution, consider these questions:
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Which calls must be handled by the service—and which can you manage in-house?
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Do you need 24/7 coverage or only during off-hours?
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Are bilingual or multilingual agents required?
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How should calls and messages be routed or delivered to your team?
The more selective you are about when and how you use the service, the easier it is to control your costs. Features like 24-hour support, multilingual capabilities, and advanced dashboards or portals can raise your monthly rate—but they also expand your reach and improve efficiency.
3 Smart Tips for Getting the Cheapest Answering Service
Finding the best budget-friendly answering service means striking the right balance between price and performance. Here are three tips to help you save:
1. Choose Shared Agent Plans
Shared agents handle calls for multiple businesses, making this a cost-effective solution for smaller companies. You’re only billed for the time agents spend on your calls—no flat salaries or wasted minutes.
2. Go with a Flexible Pricing Model
Select a provider that offers pay-per-call or pay-per-minute options. These plans scale with your actual usage, ideal for businesses with seasonal or inconsistent call traffic.
3. Use Automation to Cut Costs
Many services now include automated greetings, voicemail routing, and IVR (interactive voice response) to handle basic tasks. This reduces the need for live agents and keeps your bill low—just ensure it doesn't compromise the caller experience.
A bargain answering service will work with you to provide you with the exact package that you need to meet your needs. For instance, you may only need calls answered outside of your normal operating business hours. In that instance, a cheap answering service will ensure that you’re only paying to have calls handled during those hours – you pay for what you use in these scenarios, helping to save you money on the one hand and helping you to increase your profits via satisfied customers on the other.
10 Things to Look for in a Low-Cost Phone Answering Service?
When choosing a budget-friendly answering service, price is only one piece of the puzzle. The key is to find a provider that offers reliable service, customizable features, and transparent pricing without sacrificing professionalism. Here's what to evaluate:
1. Transparent and Predictable Pricing
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Look for services that clearly outline their fees—no hidden charges for holidays, long calls, or message delivery.
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Favor plans that let you pay per call or per minute to control costs if your call volume is low.
2. Professionalism of Agents
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Even on a budget, your callers should speak with trained, courteous, and professional agents.
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Ask if the service offers industry-specific training, especially for legal, medical, or technical fields.
3. Availability (24/7 vs. Business Hours)
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Do you need full 24/7 coverage or just overflow support during lunch, after hours, or weekends?
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Low-cost services may limit hours, so choose one that fits your required availability window.
4. Message Delivery Options
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Can they email, text, or send messages directly to your CRM or team members?
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Some providers include real-time portals or mobile apps—ideal for on-the-go businesses.
5. Custom Call Scripting
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Ensure the service lets you create or customize scripts to reflect your brand's voice.
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Avoid providers with rigid, generic call scripts that can harm customer experience.
6. Scalability and Flexibility
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Choose a service that lets you adjust your plan as your call volume changes.
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Look for options that scale up or down without locking you into long-term contracts.
7. Free Trials or Short-Term Contracts
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A reputable answering service will often provide a free trial or low-commitment plan to test the service.
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Avoid companies that require long-term commitments upfront unless you're sure they meet your needs.
8. Tech Features & Integrations
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Some budget-friendly services offer call recording, voicemail, or CRM integration even at lower price points.
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Look for platforms that let you manage your account and monitor calls from a user-friendly dashboard.
9. Multilingual Support (if needed)
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If your customer base speaks multiple languages, make sure the provider offers bilingual or multilingual agents—this may cost more, but it's essential for broader outreach.
10. Positive Reviews & Industry Reputation
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Research customer reviews on Google, Trustpilot, or G2 to gauge reliability and satisfaction.
5 Cheapest Answering Service Companies with Discounted Prices
Here are 5 affordable answering service companies, each offering budget-friendly plans ideal for small to mid-sized businesses. Prices may vary slightly depending on call volume and features, but the rates listed below are based on the latest publicly available data or verified user reports:
🏷️ 1. MAP Communications
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Starting Price: $39/month
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Description: MAP Communications is a U.S.-based answering service known for its reliability and 100% U.S.-based agents. They offer 24/7 live answering, message taking, and appointment scheduling. Custom call scripting is included even at entry-level tiers.
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Per Minute Pricing: Plans start around $1.13 per minute with bulk discounts available.
🏷️ 2. AnswerFirst
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Starting Price: $25/month base fee + usage
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Description: AnswerFirst is a flexible, pay-as-you-go answering service that charges based on usage, making it ideal for companies with low or unpredictable call volumes. They offer 24/7 service, live operators, and message delivery via SMS, email, or API.
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Per Minute Pricing: Around $1.25 per minute with volume-based discounts.
🏷️ 3. PATLive
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Starting Price: $59/month for 75 minutes
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Description: PATLive is a 24/7 answering service with friendly, U.S.-based agents. Their plans include call scripting, lead collection, and message forwarding. Their easy-to-use dashboard makes setup and call management simple.
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Per Additional Minute: Starts at $1.29, but lower with larger plans.
🏷️ 4. SAS (Specialty Answering Service)
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Starting Price: $38/month + $1.29/minute
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Description: SAS is known for its affordability and customizable call handling options. With both shared and dedicated agent options, it's popular among startups, law firms, and medical practices. They also offer bilingual services.
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Special Features: CRM integration, appointment scheduling, and HIPAA-compliant plans.
🏷️ 5. AnswerConnect
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Starting Price: $99/month for 100 minutes
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Description: While a bit higher in starting cost, AnswerConnect is known for premium features like 24/7 answering, mobile app access, live chat support, and appointment scheduling. It's a great value if you need reliable, professional support.
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Per Minute After Allowance: Around $1.10–$1.30/minute
Telephone Answering Services Don’t Need to be Expensive
As you can see, with a little careful shopping you can find a very inexpensive answering service that will meet your needs perfectly. Just take the time to do some research and to carefully identify how you see the service fitting into your current business operations, and you should be able to find an excellent fit at a reasonable price.
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