| AI Office | Live answering service | |
|---|---|---|
| Answers 24/7 | Yes | Yes, at overtime rates |
| Books into your calendar | Yes, live | Usually a message to call back |
| Quotes from your price list | Yes | No |
| Reads your email and documents | Yes | No |
| Cost model | Setup plus flat monthly, usage at cost | Per minute, $1 to $2 and up |
| Waits when busy | Never, every call is answered at once | Callers wait in a queue |
| Knows your systems | Connected to calendar, CRM, books | Reads a script |
| Hand-off to a person | On request, emergency words, uncertainty | They are the person, then they message you |
The honest verdict
Use a live service if callers must hear a human on every call and you do not mind the message-taking. Use AI Office if you want the call handled, not just taken, and the inbox and paperwork with it.