Virtual Receptionist: AI, Human, or Answering Service?
The three options compared honestly: costs, availability, limits. And why Nova, our bilingual AI virtual receptionist, wins the math for most SMBs.
Hear Nova now: 506-797-7979
The basics
What is a virtual receptionist?
The first form is the oldest: a dedicated assistant who answers remotely as if they were at your front desk. Excellent service, but it's a salary — around $3,000 to $3,750 per month with benefits — for business hours only.
The second, the answering service: call center agents shared between dozens of businesses, following generic scripts and billing per call or per minute. It works in a pinch, but the agent doesn't really know your business, and the bill climbs with volume.
The third is the most recent: an AI agent that converses in natural language. It's configured to your rules, responds in under two seconds, handles multiple calls simultaneously, and costs a fixed monthly rate. This is the category this page compares to the other two — honestly, because AI doesn't win everywhere.
The real comparison
Three options, three cost realities
per month: that's what a full-time front desk position can cost in Canada, salary and benefits included.* Estimate based on the median receptionist wage in Canada (Job Bank, Government of Canada: $22/h in N.B.), including payroll costs.
The real cost
A position: about $3,800/mo, payroll costs included. An answering service: per minute, unpredictable. AI: a fixed subscription from $199.
Availability
A human covers business hours. Your clients also call evenings, Saturdays, and during rush.
Consistency
Vacations, turnover, bad days on the human side; generic scripts on the call center side. Quality varies.
Languages
Finding truly bilingual staff is hard, and most answering services are English-only.
The AI option in practice
What an AI virtual receptionist looks like
Concretely, here's the journey of a call with Nova — from ring to your dashboard.
Your line redirected
Your current number points to Nova according to your rules.
Immediate answer
Under 2 seconds, in the caller's language.
Action completed
Order, appointment or message — confirmed by SMS.
Full trace
Transcript and analytics in your dashboard.
- Configured for your businessUnlike a call center's generic script, Nova knows your services, hours, prices and transfer rules.
- Multiple calls at onceWhere a human takes one call at a time, Nova handles several simultaneously — peak hour no longer creates a queue.
- Bilingual without frictionLanguage is detected from the first words; the conversation continues in French or English, local accents included.
- Humans stay in the loopSensitive call? Nova transfers to the right person or takes a structured message. You take back control when you want.
You keep control of every call
Nova doesn't work in a black box. From your dashboard, you follow what's happening in real time — and you take back control when you want.
- See incoming calls live, as they come in
- Listen to Nova silently and read the live transcript
- Take over any call with a single click
The decision guide
Which virtual receptionist to choose?
Honest answer: it depends on your situation. Here's when each option makes sense.
A dedicated human, if…
Your calls are few but high-value: consultative sales, complex files, relationships where every nuance matters. And if a full salary budget is justified.
An answering service, if…
You mainly need overflow message-taking, generic scripts are fine, and your call volume stays low.
AI (Nova), if…
Your calls are repetitive — orders, appointments, common questions — they also come after hours, bilingualism matters, and you want a fixed SMB cost.
Honestly: AI doesn't win everywhere
A human is still better for complex negotiation, emotionally sensitive situations, and consultative sales where you need to read between the lines. If that's the bulk of your calls, hire someone — sincerely.
But for most SMBs, phone reality is repetitive volume: taking an order, booking a table, giving business hours, taking a message. There, AI wins across the board — 24/7 availability, multiple simultaneous calls, automatic bilingualism, fixed cost. And the smartest setup is often hybrid: your team during the day, Nova for evenings, weekends, and overflow. You're not choosing between human and AI — you're giving your team a safety net that never sleeps.
Judge for yourself — call Nova: 506-797-7979By industry
The industries we serve with Nova
Each deployment is customized to your industry and business rules.
Restaurants
Phone order taking, menu and hours info. Nova sends an SMS confirmation to the customer.
Learn moreHotels & inns
Room reservations, service requests, amenity info. Ideal for small hotels without 24/7 staff.
Learn moreClinics & dentists
Appointment booking, reminders, service info. Reduces the load on your support staff.
Learn morePharmacies & accountants
Renewal calls, follow-ups, and structured message-taking for repetitive requests.
Learn moreOther SMBs
Lawyers, salons, spas… any business receiving repetitive calls can benefit from Nova.
Let's talkThe Nelvox difference
Why choose Nelvox over a generic solution
Built for bilingual Canada
Fluent French and English, with an understanding of New Brunswick and Quebec realities.
Local support
Nelvox is in Moncton. You talk to a real person, not an overseas call center.
Full customization
Your script, your voice, your business rules. Nova isn't a generic product — it's your receptionist.
Fast onboarding
Your Nova can be live in 24 hours, with no complex integrations.
PIPEDA compliance
All data is handled according to Canadian privacy laws.
Not a black box
Full visibility on every call, with live monitoring and transcripts.
Pricing
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Three plans, based on your call volume. No commission on your orders. Switch plans anytime.
/ month · 400 minutes included
- 400 call minutes / month
- $0.20 / min beyond
- No commitment
- Dedicated 506 number · bilingual FR/EN
/ month · 1,000 minutes included
- 1,000 call minutes / month
- $0.20 / min beyond
- No commitment
- Everything in Essential + live monitoring
/ month · 3,000 minutes included
- 3,000 call minutes / month
- $0.20 / min beyond
- No commitment
- Ideal for high volume / peak season
All prices in CAD, taxes extra. Money-back guarantee — 14 days after activation, on all plans.
Head to head
AI Receptionist vs Dedicated Human vs Answering Service
| Criteria | AI Virtual Receptionist (Nova) | Dedicated Human | Answering Service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | From $199, fixed | ≈ $3,800 | Per call or per minute — variable |
| Availability | 24/7/365 | Business hours | Often 24/7, with queues |
| Simultaneous calls | Unlimited | One at a time | Limited to available agents |
| Service consistency | Identical on every call | Variable (vacations, turnover) | Generic scripts |
| Bilingual FR / EN | Native, auto-detection | Depends on employee | Often English only |
| Knows your business | Configured to your rules | Yes, in depth | Superficially |
| Fine human judgment | Transfers to your team when needed | Yes | Partial |
| Setup time | 24 hours | Recruiting — weeks | A few days |
Proof in the field
Already in production
* Results observed during initial production deployments.
Frequently asked questions
Everything we get asked
What is a virtual receptionist?
It's a service that manages your calls remotely. There are three forms: a dedicated remote person, an answering service (shared call center), or an AI agent. They differ mainly in cost, availability, and service consistency.
What's the difference between an AI virtual receptionist and an answering service?
An answering service uses human agents shared between dozens of businesses, with generic scripts and per-call or per-minute billing. An AI virtual receptionist like Nova is configured for your business, answers 24/7 at a fixed monthly rate, and handles multiple calls simultaneously.
How much does a virtual receptionist cost?
A full-time human position costs about $3,800/month. An answering service bills per call or per minute, which adds up fast with volume. An AI virtual receptionist like Nova starts at $199/month.
Will my clients know it's an AI?
Nova speaks with a natural voice and responds in under two seconds. It can introduce itself as a virtual assistant, depending on your preference and applicable requirements. In practice, what your clients remember is getting an immediate, useful response.
Can I combine my team and the AI?
Yes, it's actually the most common setup: your team answers during business hours, and Nova takes over evenings, weekends, and when lines overflow.
Is it really bilingual French-English?
Yes. Nova identifies the caller's language from the first words and continues the conversation in French or English — no menu or button to press, even if the caller switches languages mid-call.
Do I need to change my phone number?
No. Your current line is simply forwarded to Nova's dedicated number according to your rules: permanently, after hours, or only when busy.
What happens if the AI doesn't understand?
Nova first rephrases to clarify. If the request is beyond its scope, it transfers the call to a human or logs a structured message — the caller is never left without an answer.
Ready to start?
Ready to never miss a call again?
Free 30-minute consultation. We analyze your call volume and show you exactly what Nova can handle in your business.
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