Honest comparison · facts checked 2026-07-11
The AI Front Desk alternative
without the credit math.
AI Front Desk (now “Frontdesk”) packs a lot in at $99 — but the $20 Basic plan answers zero calls, and everything meters in credits: 25 per voice minute, 4 per SMS, 5 per chat. PhoneMachine Starter is $49/month for 75 answered calls, 100 SMS segments, 2 team members and 1 number. Business is $99/month for 200 calls, 300 SMS segments, 5 team members and 2 numbers. Additional calls are $0.50 and SMS segments are $0.03. Business Pro, including power dialing and outbound campaigns, is quoted. Carrier registration and campaign fees are separate at cost.
Frontdesk’s Basic plan ($20/mo, $16 annual) includes no voice minutes — AI call answering effectively starts at the $99/mo Business-in-a-Box plan (200 voice minutes), with overage in credits (25 credits/min, $10 per 1,000 credits ≈ $0.25/min). PhoneMachine Starter is $49/month for 75 answered calls, 100 SMS segments, 2 team members and 1 number. Business is $99/month for 200 calls, 300 SMS segments, 5 team members and 2 numbers. Additional calls are $0.50 and SMS segments are $0.03. Business Pro, including power dialing and outbound campaigns, is quoted. Carrier registration and campaign fees are separate at cost.
WHY PEOPLE LOOK FOR AN ALTERNATIVE
Where AI Front Desk costs you
more than money.
The $20 plan doesn’t answer the phone
Frontdesk’s Basic tier covers chatbot conversations, SMS, and email drafts — zero voice minutes. If you came for an AI receptionist, the real entry price is $99/mo. PhoneMachine Starter is $49/month for 75 answered calls, 100 SMS segments, 2 team members and 1 number. Business is $99/month for 200 calls, 300 SMS segments, 5 team members and 2 numbers. Additional calls are $0.50 and SMS segments are $0.03. Business Pro, including power dialing and outbound campaigns, is quoted. Carrier registration and campaign fees are separate at cost.
Credits are per-call math with extra steps
Voice at 25 credits/minute, SMS at 4 credits, chats at 5, form leads at 4, refills at $10 per 1,000 credits — you’re maintaining a currency conversion to know what a busy week cost. PhoneMachine Starter is $49/month for 75 answered calls, 100 SMS segments, 2 team members and 1 number. Business is $99/month for 200 calls, 300 SMS segments, 5 team members and 2 numbers. Additional calls are $0.50 and SMS segments are $0.03. Business Pro, including power dialing and outbound campaigns, is quoted. Carrier registration and campaign fees are separate at cost.
A receptionist plus the rest of the phone system
PhoneMachine includes what Frontdesk’s bundle doesn’t emphasize: warm transfer with a yes/no screening gate, missed-call instant text-back, voicemail with transcription, digital fax, team seats with shared numbers, and outbound power-dial campaigns on Business Pro.
AT A GLANCE
AI Front Desk vs PhoneMachine.
| AI Front Desk | PhoneMachine | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Tiers + credit-metered usage | Starter $49/month: 75 calls; Business $99/month: 200 calls; Pro quoted |
| Cheapest plan that answers calls | $99/mo (Basic $20 has 0 voice minutes) | Starter $49/month: 75 calls; Business $99/month: 200 calls; Pro quoted |
| Included voice minutes | 200/mo on $99 plan | Starter $49/month: 75 calls; Business $99/month: 200 calls; Pro quoted |
| Overage | 25 credits/min ($10 per 1,000 credits ≈ $0.25/min) | $0.50/additional answered call; $0.03/additional SMS segment |
| Two-way texting | ✓ SMS included (40–400/mo by tier) | 100 SMS segments on Starter; 300 on Business (inbound + outbound) |
| Missed-call instant text-back | ✗ | ✓ |
| Warm transfer with screening gate | Call transfers available | ✓ "Connect?" yes/no before your phone rings |
| Team seats | 1 editor seat (Basic) | 2 team members on Starter; 5 on Business; Pro quoted |
| Voicemail, fax, video links | ✗ | ✓ included |
| Free trial | ✓ 7 days | Sign up online in minutes |
Competitor details from their published pricing as of 2026-07-11 — always confirm on their site.
THE PRICING, SIDE BY SIDE
What each one actually costs.
AI Front Desk
- Basic: $20/mo ($16 annual) — 10 chatbot conversations, 40 SMS, no voice minutes
- Business-in-a-Box: $99/mo ($79 annual) — 200 voice minutes, 100 chats, 400 SMS, 20 outbound calls/day
- Partner/Enterprise: custom — volume discounts, voice as low as 7 credits/min
- Overage credits: voice 25/min, SMS 4, chatbot 5; $10 per 1,000 credits, auto-reload
- 7-day free trial; annual billing saves 20%
PhoneMachine
- Starter: $49/month — 75 answered calls, 100 SMS segments, 2 team members, 1 number
- Business: $99/month — 200 answered calls, 300 SMS segments, 5 team members, 2 numbers
- Business Pro: contact us for power dialing, outbound campaigns and larger allowances
- Additional answered calls: $0.50 each; additional SMS segments: $0.03 each
- Additional standard numbers: $5/month; carrier registration and campaign fees separate at cost
- Sign up online in minutes. Existing subscriptions retain their terms.
WHEN AI FRONT DESK IS THE RIGHT CALL
Frontdesk earns its traction: Business-in-a-Box bundles voice, chatbot, SMS, and outbound at $99 with a 20% annual discount, and their white-label reseller program is genuinely unique if you’re an agency packaging AI receptionists for clients. If you want one cheap bundle across chat and voice and don’t mind tracking credits, it’s a capable product.
SWITCHING IS A FORWARDING RULE
Try it before you
move anything.
Call the demo line
Dial (888) 729-0139 right now — no signup — and grill the AI the way your customers would.
Trial on a test line
7 days free on a sandbox number. Your real line, and your AI Front Desk service, stay untouched.
Forward your number
One forwarding rule and you’re live. Port the number fully whenever you’re ready — it stays yours either way.
FAIR QUESTIONS
AI Front Desk vs PhoneMachine, asked plainly.
What’s the main difference between PhoneMachine and AI Front Desk?
Metering and scope. Frontdesk prices usage in credits across voice, SMS, and chat, and its cheapest voice-enabled plan is $99/mo. PhoneMachine Starter is $49/month for 75 answered calls, 100 SMS segments, 2 team members and 1 number. Business is $99/month for 200 calls, 300 SMS segments, 5 team members and 2 numbers. Additional calls are $0.50 and SMS segments are $0.03. Business Pro, including power dialing and outbound campaigns, is quoted. Carrier registration and campaign fees are separate at cost.
Is AI Front Desk the same as Frontdesk?
Yes — My AI Front Desk rebranded as Frontdesk (AI Front Desk, Inc., myaifrontdesk.com). Same product line; you’ll see both names used. Facts on this page were verified against their published pricing on July 11, 2026.
Which is cheaper at real usage?
It depends on mix. Frontdesk’s $99 plan includes 200 voice minutes (~$0.25/min in credits after); PhoneMachine Starter is $49/month for 75 answered calls, 100 SMS segments, 2 team members and 1 number. Business is $99/month for 200 calls, 300 SMS segments, 5 team members and 2 numbers. Additional calls are $0.50 and SMS segments are $0.03. Business Pro, including power dialing and outbound campaigns, is quoted. Carrier registration and campaign fees are separate at cost.
Can I hear PhoneMachine before signing up?
Yes — call (888) 729-0139 and the AI answers, no signup. Then sign up online before routing your real calls.
THE ONLY DEMO THAT MATTERS
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