What is the difference between Spark and a traditional answering service?

A traditional answering service is a person who takes a message and passes it on. They do not know your prices, cannot book into your diary and never follow anybody up. An AI receptionist answers in your business's own words, books the job, and in Spark's case chases the quotes that went cold as well.

How much does Spark cost?

Spark costs A$99 per month per AI employee with seven days free and no lock-in contract. Emails are included. Phone calls and text messages come out of a small credit balance.

AI Receptionist vs Answering Service | Which Is Better in 2026?

Side by side

	a traditional answering service	Spark
Answers every call	Yes	Yes
Knows your prices and services	No	Yes
Books straight into your diary	Rarely	Yes
Available at 2am Sunday	Costs extra	Yes
Chases quotes and old customers	No	Yes
Cost per call	A$1.50-3	Included
Monthly cost	A$100-400+	A$99

Both answer the phone. The difference is what happens afterwards.

Where a traditional answering service is the better choice

A real human voice, which some customers prefer, and a person who can handle genuinely unusual situations with judgement.

Choose a traditional answering service if: Your calls are complex and emotional, or your customers would be put off by anything other than a person.

We would rather tell you that than have you sign up for the wrong thing and cancel in a fortnight.

Where Spark is different

Every AI receptionist answers the phone. Spark is the only one you give a goal to.

You write one sentence about what a good week looks like — “keep my Tuesdays full”, “get five more bathroom jobs a month” — and that becomes its north star. It reads your customer list, works out what would actually move that number, and starts on it.

It chases what went quietThe quote you sent six weeks ago gets a follow-up written for that person, not a template.

It runs your campaignsEmail, SMS and social posts, written in your voice and sent to the right group.

It watches the weekWeather, holidays, reviews, customers going quiet. It speaks up when something matters.

It earns its ropeAsks about everything at first. Once you have approved twenty in a row it asks to stop asking.

Common questions

What is the difference between Spark and a traditional answering service?: A traditional answering service is a person who takes a message and passes it on. They do not know your prices, cannot book into your diary and never follow anybody up. An AI receptionist answers in your business's own words, books the job, and in Spark's case chases the quotes that went cold as well.
How much does Spark cost?: A$99 per month per AI employee, seven days free, no lock-in. Emails are included. Calls and texts come out of a small credit balance you top up when it suits.
When should I choose a traditional answering service instead?: Your calls are complex and emotional, or your customers would be put off by anything other than a person.
Can I switch later?: Yes. There is no lock-in either way, and you can take your customer list with you whenever you like.

Try it for a week

Tell it what a good week looks like and watch what it does with your list. Seven days free, no card charged today.

Start free for 7 days

A$99/month after · cancel anytime