AI receptionist blog and product updates
Product updates and practical notes on AI phone answering, missed calls, appointment scheduling, call routing, lead follow-up, and open-source receptionist infrastructure.
How much can an AI receptionist save you?
Estimate AI receptionist savings from lower answering costs and fewer missed calls. Use the missed call calculator to run the numbers.
Our AI Voice Agent Now Runs on GPT-Live, the Model Behind ChatGPT Voice
ElevenLabs Reception alternative: minutes and ownership
LobbyStack Is Now MIT: Build and Sell Your Own
Why LobbyStack Is Moving Away From Convex
Upfirst alternative: LobbyStack vs Upfirst
My AI Front Desk alternative
Smith.ai alternative: AI and human coverage
Goodcall alternative: Compare the billing models
Rosie AI alternative: Plans and tradeoffs
Zoom AI Receptionist alternative
Dialzara alternative: Plans, add-ons, and control
RingCentral AI Receptionist alternative
Nextiva XBert alternative
Quo Sona alternative for AI call answering
CloudTalk AI Receptionist alternative
Moneypenny AI Receptionist alternative
AI vs virtual receptionist: A practical guide
AI receptionist vs voicemail
Best open-source AI phone answering services
Earn 20% with the LobbyStack affiliate program
Open-source AI receptionist stack
AI receptionist workflows without flowcharts
Should you build or buy an AI receptionist?
How to choose an AI receptionist
LobbyStack is live
Topics we cover
Open-source phone answering
Compare self-hosted stacks, Asterisk agents, LiveKit voice kits, and full receptionist platforms.
Choosing an AI receptionist
How to evaluate vendors, pricing models, and setup requirements before you turn on live call handling.
AI receptionist comparisons
Fair comparisons of Upfirst, Frontdesk, Smith.ai, Goodcall, and other phone-answering products.
Build vs buy
When it makes sense to self-host, buy hosted software, or build from scratch.
Missed-call economics
How much revenue walks away when calls go unanswered, and what recovery looks like in practice.
Open-source stack
How LobbyStack packages calls, booking, transcripts, dashboards, billing, and self-hosting in one receptionist stack.
Workflows without flowcharts
Why n8n and Zapier chains break on live calls, and what a receptionist product layer should own instead.
Affiliate program
Earn recurring commission by recommending an open-source AI receptionist to agencies, consultants, and local operators.
Solution guides
Trade-specific pages for plumbers, HVAC teams, dental offices, salons, and other call-heavy businesses.