AI receptionist vs virtual receptionist
A virtual receptionist is a person working remotely who answers your calls. An AI receptionist is software that does the same job. Here is how they compare on hours, busy periods, bookings and cost.
How they compare, point by point.
| Virtual receptionist | AI receptionist (Johnni) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | A remote human receptionist, often shared across several businesses | Your AI receptionist, trained on your business |
| Hours | Usually business hours, with after hours as an extra | 24/7 on every plan |
| Busy periods | One person handles one call at a time | Every call answered at once |
| Bookings | Can book if given access to your calendar | Books into your calendar during the call |
| Consistency | Depends on who picks up | The same answers every time, from your business knowledge |
| Cost model | Often monthly packages with a call limit, then per-call fees | From $49 a month plus GST with minutes included, then a per-minute rate |
| Getting started | Briefing the team on your business | Import your website, then review your services, hours and FAQs |
| After the call | Notes or a message | Recording, transcript and summary in your portal |
When a virtual receptionist is the better fit.
A person on the phone still has a place. A virtual receptionist can suit you better when:
- Most calls need genuine human judgement or empathy
- Enquiries are complex and rarely follow a pattern
- Clients insist on speaking to a person every time
- You need someone to handle tasks beyond the phone
Always on, never busy, always on record.
Always on
Nights, weekends and public holidays are answered the same way as a Tuesday morning.
Never busy
Five callers at once are five answered calls, not one answered and four in a queue.
Every call on record
Recordings, transcripts and summaries let you check exactly what was said and change it yourself.
Keep a person for the calls that need one.
You do not have to choose one or the other. Johnni can answer every call, handle the routine ones and warm transfer the calls that need a person to you or your team.
- Warm transfers on every plan
- Rules for which calls go straight to a person
- Takes the details if the transfer is not answered
- Everything recorded in one place
Virtual receptionist or AI receptionist?
What is the difference between a virtual receptionist and an AI receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is a person answering your calls remotely. An AI receptionist is software trained on your business that answers calls itself, around the clock, and can answer many calls at once.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a virtual receptionist?
For most small businesses, yes. Virtual receptionist packages are usually priced per month with a call limit. Johnni starts at $49 a month plus GST with 60 minutes included, and larger plans include more minutes at a lower rate.
Can an AI receptionist book appointments?
Yes. Johnni checks your calendar during the call, offers times that suit your rules and books the appointment before the caller hangs up.
What if a caller wants a real person?
Johnni can warm transfer the call to you or your team, and takes the details if nobody answers.
How long does it take to set up?
You can start with your website address. Johnni imports your services and FAQs, you review them, set your hours and rules, then forward your number.
Try an AI receptionist for a week.
Seven days free, no lock-in. Set it up from your website, forward your number and listen to the calls in your portal.
Plans from $49 a month plus GST, or $44 paid annually. No lock-in contract.