VocalReception vs Moneypenny: 2026 comparison
Verdict
Moneypenny suits US businesses that want live receptionists, or an AI receptionist with human escalation, billed per call: from $99 a month for 50 AI calls. VocalReception suits European businesses that want a multilingual AI receptionist set up for them: €79 excl. VAT for 400 minutes, then €0.25 per started minute.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | VocalReception | Moneypenny |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price, monthly billing | €79 excl. VAT | $99 AI Receptionist (50 calls); $165 live receptionists (50 minutes) [1] |
| AI plans | One plan: 400 minutes | 50 / 100 / 250 / 500 calls for $99 / $199 / $435 / $775 [1] |
| Beyond the plan | €0.25 per started minute, cap set by you | AI: $2.39 to $1.69 per extra call; live: $2.85 to $2.09 per extra minute [1] |
| Cost at 100 / 400 / 1,000 minutes a month | €79 / €79 / €229 | AI scenario at 2 minutes a call: $99 / $418 / $775 [1] |
| Human backup | Transfer to your own team | Human escalation included on every AI plan [1] |
| Setup | Done by our team: €199 excl. VAT, credited on invoice 7 after 6 paid months | Managed service; setup fee not public [1] |
| Languages | 7: French, Dutch, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German | Bilingual answering on live plans; language list not public [1] |
| Commitment | None | No contract; 30 days' notice, effective from the next billing date [1] |
| Company | AlphaOscar, Paris (France) | VoiceNation LLC dba Moneypenny, Duluth, Georgia (USA) [2] |
When to choose Moneypenny
- Live receptionists are available when you want a person on every call, and AI plans include escalation to a human.
- Per-call billing on AI plans favours long calls: a 6-minute call counts once, which can cost less than a per-minute plan.
- A long track record: Moneypenny was founded in 2000 and has a US base in Atlanta.
When to choose VocalReception
- Short calls: at 2 minutes a call, 400 minutes cost €79 excl. VAT with us against $418 on Moneypenny's AI plans.
- Seven languages including French and Dutch, with automatic switching, for businesses in France and Belgium.
- Setup is done by our team and its price is public: €199 excl. VAT, credited back after six paid months.
- A monthly report lists the questions left unanswered, so the receptionist knows the answer the next month.
The two offers in one sentence
Moneypenny is a phone answering company founded in 2000 that sells live receptionists and an AI receptionist; in the US it is operated by VoiceNation LLC, with AI plans from $99 a month for 50 calls (source 1, source 2, source 3). VocalReception is an AI receptionist set up for you by our team: €79 excl. VAT a month for 400 minutes, in seven languages (pricing).
Cost by call volume
Moneypenny’s AI plans count calls and ours counts minutes, so we assume an average call of 2 minutes: 100 minutes is 50 calls, 400 minutes is 200 calls, 1,000 minutes is 500 calls. Monthly billing, one business, inbound calls only, no SMS, setup or VAT. For Moneypenny we took the lowest-cost AI option at each volume, plan plus extra calls when that is cheaper (source 1).
| Minutes a month (calls) | VocalReception | Moneypenny AI Receptionist | Moneypenny live receptionists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 (50) | €79 | $99 (50 calls) | $265 (100 minutes) |
| 400 (200) | €79 | $418 ($199 + 100 × $2.19) | $900 ($422 + 200 × $2.39) |
| 1,000 (500) | €229 | $775 (500 calls) | $2,030 ($985 + 500 × $2.09) |
Formulas: VocalReception = €79 + €0.25 × (minutes - 400). Moneypenny = plan price + extra calls (AI) or extra minutes (live) × the plan’s rate. Prices stay in their own currency.
The call length changes the result. With 5-minute calls, 400 minutes is 80 calls and costs $170.70 on Moneypenny ($99 + 30 × $2.39). Measure your average call before you compare: our guide to AI receptionist pricing explains how, and the pricing simulator does our side of the sum.
People, AI, or AI set up for you
Moneypenny’s strength is choice: live receptionists, an AI receptionist with human escalation on every plan, or a mix of both (source 1). If your callers expect a person, that matters, and our guide to AI receptionist vs virtual receptionist helps you decide.
The US pricing page does not publish a setup fee or a language list for the AI plans. Live plans include bilingual answering (source 1). Ask for both in writing before you sign up.
At VocalReception, setup is part of the plan. After a one-hour workshop, our team writes the script, sets up transfers to your team, tests the calls and goes live in 7 days. The €199 setup fee is credited on your seventh invoice after six paid months. Every month, a report lists the questions the receptionist could not answer.
Customer reviews
On Trustpilot, the moneypenny.com profile, named Moneypenny UK, shows 4.8 out of 5 from 1,350 reviews as of 5 November 2026 (source 4). It covers the UK business, not only the US AI plans. VocalReception does not publish customer reviews yet.
Our advice
If you are in the US, take long calls or want live receptionists on hand, Moneypenny is a good pick. If your business is in Europe, your callers speak French or Dutch and your calls are short, start with VocalReception or try the demo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Moneypenny's AI receptionist cost?
On 5 November 2026, Moneypenny US listed AI Receptionist plans at $99 for 50 calls, $199 for 100, $435 for 250 and $775 for 500 calls a month. Extra calls cost $2.39 to $1.69 depending on the plan.
Does Moneypenny charge per minute or per call?
Both, depending on the service. Live receptionist plans include minutes ($165 for 50 minutes up to $985 for 500). AI Receptionist plans include calls. VocalReception bills per started minute only.
Do I need to sign a contract with Moneypenny?
No. Moneypenny's pricing page says there is no long-term contract and 30 days' notice is needed to cancel, effective from the next billing date.
Sources
- Moneypenny US: pricing (people and AI answering) and FAQ (moneypenny.com)
- Moneypenny US: AI Receptionist terms and conditions (VoiceNation LLC) (cdn.prod.website-files.com)
- Moneypenny US: about us (founded 2000, Atlanta) (moneypenny.com)
- Trustpilot: Moneypenny UK reviews (trustpilot.com)
- VocalReception: pricing (vocalreception.com)
Written by VocalReception, so not neutral. Every competitor fact comes from their public pages, cited below, on the date shown. Prices exclude VAT unless stated; offers change, so check the vendor’s site. Spotted an error? Email us and we fix it within 48 hours.