AI Receptionist Free Trials and Free Plans (2026)

Updated October 13, 2026 · Sources are vendor pricing pages unless noted · Disclosure

The best way to pick an AI receptionist is to hear it handle your own calls. These are the free plans, trials and free build options listed by vendors in our directory, plus a 7-day test plan so you don't waste the trial.

Free: the Missed-Call Playbook (PDF). Call scripts, a missed-call cost checklist and AI receptionist setup steps. Get the playbook →

Free plans and trials (from our vendor data)

Vendor	What's free
Smith.ai	AI-first plan $0 for 25 calls (verified)
OnCrew	14-day trial
XBert AI	14-day trial
bevado	7-day trial
Goodcall	Free demo agent; pay when you connect a number (verified 2026-10-14) (visit Goodcall, affiliate link)
echowin	Free to build, about $5 in credits (unverified, third-party source)
Vapi	$5 free credits (developer platform)

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What it costs after the trial

Vendor	Published pricing	Source	Checked
Smith.ai	AI-first Free $0 (25 calls, $3.00/call after); Pro from $150/mo (75 calls, $2.00/call); Enterprise from $500/mo (300 calls, $1.67/call)	smith.ai	2026-10-13
OnCrew	Starter $49/mo (100 calls); Pro $149/mo; Multi-Truck $349/mo; $0.99 per extra call; $0.05 per extra alert text	oncrew.ai	2026-10-13
XBert AI (Nextiva)	$99/mo includes 100 interactions, then $0.99 per interaction	www.nextiva.com	2026-10-13
bevado (formerly Frontdesk)	Business-in-a-Box $99/mo ($79/mo billed annually); Partner/Enterprise custom	www.bevado.com	2026-10-13
Goodcall	Starter $79/mo (100 unique customers, then $0.79 each); Growth $129/mo (500, then $0.26 each); Scale $299/mo (2,000, then $0.15 each); Enterprise custom	www.goodcall.com	2026-10-14
echowin	Free to build (~$5 credits); bundles from $45/mo (250 min) (unverified: unverified (secondary source))	toolchase.com	2026-09 (per source)
Vapi	Usage-based: $5 free credits, then pay per minute (provider costs listed separately); Core success package $29/mo	vapi.ai	2026-10-13

A 7-day trial test plan

Day 1: Load your service area, services, hours and emergency rules.
Day 2: Place 5 test calls yourself (booking, emergency, price shopper, wrong number, existing customer).
Day 3: Fix wrong answers; connect your calendar or field-service software.
Days 4-6: Forward after-hours calls only. Read every transcript each morning.
Day 7: Count calls answered, jobs booked and minutes/calls used. Price that against the paid plan.

Trial terms change often; confirm on the vendor's site before signing up. Some links are affiliate links; see our disclosure.

Not sure which tool fits? Take the 1-minute matching quiz or run the missed-call calculator.

FAQ

Is there a free AI receptionist?

Smith.ai's AI-first plan is listed at $0 for 25 calls ($3.00 per call after), verified on its pricing page. Other vendors offer time-limited trials or free build credits rather than a free plan.

Which AI receptionists offer a free trial?

Per our vendor data: OnCrew and XBert AI list 14-day trials, bevado a 7-day trial, Goodcall a free demo agent you can build and test before you connect a number, echowin is free to build with about $5 in credits (unverified third-party data), and Vapi gives $5 of free credits.

How should I test during a trial?

Forward only after-hours or unanswered calls, then place your own test calls: a routine booking, an emergency, a price shopper and a wrong number. Read every transcript.