VeraDial vs Reception.ai
Reception by ElevenAgents is an AI receptionist that books appointments, from $29/mo + tax for 75 minutes with a 14-day free trial, on a US or Canadian number managed in the browser. VeraDial is a full business line you call and text from in native apps, with Vera built in, from $14.99/mo with a 7-day free trial. Lite includes 100 Vera-answering minutes (about 170 calls) and 150 calling minutes; Plus includes 300 Vera-answering minutes (about 500 calls), 300 calling minutes, and outbound AI. Here's how to decide which one fits.
By Graham Thomson · Updated October 5, 2026
Short Answer
If your deciding feature is built-in booking with a hosted booking page, 70+ languages, or several calls at once, pick Reception ($29–$199/mo + tax, then $0.45–$0.30/min overage; 14-day free trial). Otherwise, VeraDial gives you a 24/7 AI receptionist on a US or Canadian business line you call and text from: Lite has 100 Vera-answering minutes (about 170 calls) and 150 calling minutes for $14.99/mo; Plus adds 300 Vera-answering minutes (about 500 calls), 300 calling minutes, outbound AI, live translation, and Google Calendar booking for $29.99/mo.
VeraDialVerified business line with Vera, a 24/7 AI receptionist, built in — answers calls and texts, takes messages, and connects real callers through. A-level caller ID, voicemail transcription, business SMS — all in a mobile-first app from $14.99/mo per line, 100 AI-receptionist minutes (about 170 calls) on Lite.
ElevenLabs' AI receptionist. Answers inbound calls 24/7 in 70+ languages, books appointments, and includes a hosted booking page — managed in the browser on a US or Canadian number. Plans from $29/mo + tax with a 14-day free trial (verified on reception.ai 2026-10-05).
Bottom Line
Which should you pick?
Pick VeraDial if...
You want the receptionist and the business line in one product. Vera Lite includes 100 AI-receptionist minutes (about 170 calls) and 150 calling minutes for $14.99/mo. Vera Plus includes 300 receptionist minutes (about 500 calls), 300 calling minutes, outbound AI calling, live translation, and Google Calendar booking for $29.99/mo.
Pick Reception.ai if...
Your deciding feature is a built-in booking system — Reception by ElevenAgents supports services, staff, and resources and includes a public online booking page, answering in 70+ languages, with up to 10 simultaneous calls and 20 locations on its $199 Premium tier. Vera Plus books straightforward 30-minute appointments into Google Calendar instead. Reception's plans are minute-metered: $29/mo (75 min), $79/mo (275 min), $199/mo (1,000 min), then $0.45–$0.30/min, + tax, with a 14-day no-card trial and US or Canadian numbers (verified on reception.ai 2026-10-05).
The short version
Reception by ElevenAgents is an inbound AI receptionist with a built-in multi-resource booking system, sold in metered minutes ($29–$199/mo + $0.30–$0.45/min overage) behind a web dashboard. VeraDial is the verified business line itself: Lite includes 100 AI-receptionist minutes (about 170 calls) and 150 calling minutes for $14.99/mo; Plus includes 300 receptionist minutes (about 500 calls) and 300 calling minutes for $29.99/mo, plus Google Calendar booking, outbound AI calling, and live translation. Pick Reception for its broader booking system and language coverage; pick VeraDial for a line you can call and text from.
Feature comparison
Side by side
Reception facts verified from reception.ai/pricing, its published FAQ, and ElevenLabs' docs on 2026-10-05. VeraDial facts reflect its published plans as of October 2026 — Vera, the built-in 24/7 AI receptionist, is included on every plan.
| Feature | VeraDial | Reception.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Fully autonomous inbound call handling (24/7) | Yes | Yes |
| Autonomous appointment booking on a calendar | Yes (Vera Plus · Google Calendar) | Yes, every plan (Google Calendar, Calendly; books, reschedules, cancels) |
| Public online booking page included | No | Yes |
| AI answers inbound texts (SMS assistant, reads photos) | Yes | No — sends SMS reminders/confirmations; doesn't reply to texts |
| AI-powered outbound calling (estimates, follow-ups) | Yes (Vera Plus) | Not listed |
| Live two-way call translation | Yes (Vera Plus, 13 languages) | Not listed (answers in 70+ languages) |
| Answers callers in 70+ languages, switching mid-call | Partly | Yes |
| Call and text customers from the number yourself (app dialer) | Yes | Not listed — the number is for the AI receptionist |
| STIR/SHAKEN A-level outbound caller ID attestation | Yes | Not published |
| Native iOS / Android apps | Yes | No (installable web app) |
| Call summaries, transcripts, recordings | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Zapier and Make (Vera Plus); ChatGPT/Claude read-only connect | Every plan: Zapier, webhooks, MCP server, bring your own Twilio/SIP |
| US and Canadian local numbers | Yes | Yes (plus ~50 countries on request; no toll-free) |
| Per-minute overage charges | No — included plan allowances | $0.45 / $0.38 / $0.30 per min by plan |
| Entry pricing | From $14.99/mo ($149.99/yr) per line | $29/mo + tax (75 min, then $0.45/min); $24/mo billed annually |
| Free trial | 7 days on Vera Lite or Vera Plus | 14 days, 30 phone min, no card; all features except cloned voices |
Honest concession
Where Reception is genuinely the better pick
Reception has shipped capabilities that VeraDial does not have today. For the buyers below, Reception is the right product — not VeraDial.
Booking built in on every plan, with a hosted page
Every Reception plan — including the free trial — books, reschedules, and cancels appointments while the caller is on the line, syncs with Google Calendar or Calendly, and includes a hosted booking page tied to the same receptionist. Vera Plus books straightforward 30-minute appointments into Google Calendar, and VeraDial doesn't provide a booking page. For appointment-driven storefronts that want one synced front door, that's a genuine Reception advantage.
70+ languages, switching mid-call
Built on ElevenLabs' voice stack, Reception answers callers in 70+ languages and can switch languages mid-call on every plan. VeraDial answers in English or Canadian French, one language per line, plus live call translation in 13 languages on Vera Plus — but as a many-language inbound receptionist, Reception's coverage is broader today.
Concurrency, seats, and locations sold as explicit tiers
Reception's Plus tier handles up to 3 simultaneous calls on 3 numbers with 5 seats, and Premium handles up to 10 calls at once across 5 numbers, up to 20 locations, 3 receptionists, and 10 seats. If you're a multi-branch office where several callers hit at once and you want that capacity spelled out on the pricing page, Reception markets it directly.
Developer-friendly integrations on every plan
Every Reception plan includes Zapier, webhooks, an MCP server, and the option to bring your own Twilio or SIP number. VeraDial connects to Zapier and Make on Vera Plus, plus a read-only ChatGPT/Claude connection. If you want to wire the receptionist into your own systems from day one of the trial, Reception gives you more hooks.
Where VeraDial wins
Where VeraDial is the better pick
VeraDial covers the whole front desk — the line, the texts, the outbound — not just the inbound answer. If any of these is your bottleneck, VeraDial is the right tool.
A full business phone in native apps
Reception assigns a US or Canadian number for its agent to answer, managed in the browser or an installable web app — there's no App Store or Play Store app. VeraDial is a full business phone line: a US or Canadian number in native iOS and Android apps where you place calls with STIR/SHAKEN A-level caller ID, send business SMS, and get voicemail transcription — with Vera answering whatever you don't pick up.
Included allowances without per-minute overage charges
Reception includes 75, 275, or 1,000 phone minutes, then charges $0.45, $0.38, or $0.30 per minute. Vera Lite is $14.99/mo with 100 Vera-answering minutes (about 170 calls) and 150 calling minutes; Plus is $29.99/mo with 300 Vera-answering minutes (about 500 calls) and 300 calling minutes. VeraDial does not add per-minute overage charges.
Vera replies to texts, not just reminders
Reception sends SMS reminders and confirmations (directly on Canadian numbers; US numbers need your own Twilio number) but doesn't reply to texts conversationally. On VeraDial, Vera answers inbound texts 24/7 on every plan — it even reads photos customers send, like a broken part or a job site.
Outbound AI calling and live translation
Vera Plus ($29.99/mo) places calls for you — estimate follow-ups, appointment confirmations, supplier calls — with a transcript and summary of each one, and adds live call translation in 13 languages. Neither is listed on Reception's plans, which focus on answering and booking inbound calls.
Try before you buy
Hear both receptionists before you pay
Both products let you hear the receptionist first. Reception lets you talk to yours in the browser before starting its 14-day free trial. With VeraDial, you build your receptionist from your website or business name and talk to it live, before creating an account. Run the same test call on both and compare how each one handles your real questions.
Reception pricing
Reception's current tier structure
Tier names, prices, minute allowances, and trial terms verified from reception.ai/pricing on October 5, 2026 — prices are shown "+ tax". Annual billing saves 2 months ($24, $66, or $166 per month). Quoted here for buyer reference — please verify with Reception before purchasing.
Basic
$29/mo + tax
75 phone minutes / month, then $0.45/min
1 phone number, 1 call at a time, 3 team seats. Booking, transfers, Zapier, webhooks, and MCP included.
Plus (Most Popular)
$79/mo + tax
275 phone minutes / month, then $0.38/min
3 phone numbers, up to 3 calls at once, 5 team seats, priority support.
Premium
$199/mo + tax
1,000 phone minutes / month, then $0.30/min
5 phone numbers, up to 10 calls at once, up to 20 locations, 3 receptionists, 10 team seats, priority support.
Enterprise
Custom
Quoted by sales
SSO, DPA, and SLAs for larger organizations.
Every plan, including the trial, includes booking, transfers (up to 10 rules), 70+ languages, Google Calendar and Calendly, Zapier, webhooks, an MCP server, and call transcripts, summaries, and recordings. Phone minutes, web chat, and assistant messages draw from one monthly allowance that resets each period with no rollover. US and Canadian numbers are assigned instantly; about 50 more countries are available on request.
FAQ
VeraDial vs Reception.ai, answered
How much does Reception.ai cost in 2026?
Reception by ElevenAgents costs $29/mo + tax for Basic (75 phone minutes, then $0.45/min), $79/mo for Plus (275 minutes, then $0.38/min), and $199/mo for Premium (1,000 minutes, then $0.30/min); Enterprise is custom. Annual billing saves 2 months — about $24, $66, or $166 per month. Prices verified on reception.ai/pricing on 2026-10-05.
Does Reception.ai have a free trial or free plan?
Yes, a 14-day free trial with no credit card: it includes 30 phone minutes and every feature except custom cloned voices, and answering stops when those minutes run out. Reception doesn't list a free plan. VeraDial offers a 7-day free trial on Vera Lite and Vera Plus.
What is Reception by ElevenAgents (reception.ai)?
Reception is ElevenLabs' AI receptionist for small businesses, sold at reception.ai. It answers inbound calls 24/7 in 70+ languages, books, reschedules, and cancels appointments, and includes a hosted booking page, on a US or Canadian local number (about 50 more countries on request) managed in the browser. Facts verified on reception.ai on 2026-10-05.
Which is cheaper — Reception.ai or VeraDial?
VeraDial at both entry points. Vera Lite is $14.99/mo with 100 Vera-answering minutes (about 170 calls) and 150 calling minutes versus Reception Basic at $29/mo + tax for 75 minutes; Vera Plus is $29.99/mo with 300 Vera-answering minutes (about 500 calls) versus Reception Plus at $79/mo for 275 minutes plus $0.38/min overage. Reception's advantages are built-in booking on every plan, 70+ languages, and explicit multi-location capacity.
Does VeraDial book appointments on a calendar like Reception?
Yes. On Vera Plus, Vera can offer and confirm 30-minute appointments during inbound calls and add them to a separate VeraDial Bookings calendar connected to Google Calendar. VeraDial doesn't include a hosted booking page or Calendly sync, which Reception has on every plan. Choose based on whether straightforward Google Calendar booking or a broader booking setup fits your operation.
Can Reception answer my texts or make calls for me?
Reception sends SMS reminders and confirmations — directly on Canadian numbers, while US numbers need your own Twilio number — but it doesn't reply to texts conversationally, and outbound AI calling isn't listed on its plans. On VeraDial, Vera answers inbound texts on every plan, and Vera Plus adds outbound AI calling with transcripts of every call.
Does Reception.ai work in Canada?
Yes. Reception assigns US and Canadian local numbers instantly, offers about 50 more countries after a regulatory request, and lets you bring your own number over Twilio/SIP or forward your existing line; it doesn't offer toll-free numbers. VeraDial also offers US and Canadian numbers, so the choice comes down to features rather than country.
Keep digging
Related guides and comparisons
Try VeraDial
Verified business line. AI receptionist included.
From $14.99/mo per line, 100 AI-receptionist minutes (about 170 calls) on Lite. Vera answers your calls and texts 24/7, plus voicemail transcription, business SMS, and STIR/SHAKEN A-level caller ID. 7-day free trial, no contract.
Hear Vera in action.
Play a short sample call, follow the transcript, and move into a personalized live demo when you're ready.