Does Zoom Phone Have an AI Receptionist? Yes, From $24.99 a Month
By Sharrk Team · November 2, 2026
Yes. Zoom sells an AI receptionist called Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist, which answers calls 24/7, answers questions and books appointments; Zoom lists it from $24.99 a month for 100 minutes on annual billing ($29.99 billed monthly), or as a Zoom Phone add-on starting at $0.25 a minute plus the cost of Zoom Phone.
We make Sharrk, so weigh our take accordingly; competitor details below come from each company's own site, checked November 2, 2026.
Does Zoom Phone have an AI receptionist?
It does. Zoom's AI receptionist product page calls it "a 24/7 AI receptionist that helps turn calls into customer opportunities" and names the product Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist. Zoom first brought its Virtual Agent to Zoom Phone as a phone "concierge" in an announcement dated August 18, 2025. On July 9, 2026, Zoom announced a standalone version that works with existing business phone systems and does not require Zoom Phone.
Per Zoom's product page, it can:
- Answer calls without a "press 1" menu, around the clock, in English, Spanish and "10+" other languages
- Answer questions from your website, FAQ pages or uploaded documents
- Book appointments and send SMS confirmations and reminders
- Capture lead details from callers
- Route calls by department, service or employee name, and transfer with context, or take a message when nobody is free
- Give you a transcript of every call plus analytics on volume and caller intent
The product page lists calendar connections for Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, Zoom Scheduler and Calendly.
How much does Zoom's AI receptionist cost?
Zoom publishes two prices. Here is what each page showed on November 2, 2026:
| Option | Price Zoom lists | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Standalone (any phone system) | $24.99/month billed annually, or $29.99/month billed monthly | 100 voice minutes a month, a dedicated phone number, add-on minutes available |
| Zoom Phone add-on bundle | Starting at $0.25/minute billed annually, plus the cost of Zoom Phone | For businesses already on Zoom Phone |
The product page rounds the standalone price to "starts at $25 per month (billed annually) for 100 minutes" and says its pricing is accurate as of October 2026. Zoom's main Zoom Phone page offers a free trial of the receptionist, and its footnote says the trial is "available to existing Zoom Phone customers at this time." Zoom Phone plan prices themselves did not display on that page when we checked, so we have left them out.
What is the difference between Zoom's auto receptionist and the AI receptionist?
Zoom Phone also has a separate auto receptionist, and it's a different thing. Zoom's support article describes it as a feature that answers incoming calls with a recording and routes them to a user, call queue, common area phone or voicemail, or to an IVR menu where callers pick an option. A Main Auto Receptionist is created on your company number when you set up Zoom Phone.
The AI version sits on top of that. Zoom's support FAQ for Virtual Agent Receptionist says you still configure business hours and routing in the Zoom web portal, and the AI can send callers to extensions, call queues, voicemail or outside numbers. It also notes a few limits worth knowing before you buy:
- Appointment scheduling needs a Zoom Scheduler license.
- Appointments can't be canceled or rescheduled during a call, per the FAQ (the product page lists rescheduling, so confirm with Zoom).
- Advanced Mode is needed for API calls, integrations and time-based greetings.
- Advanced setup and CRM integration go through paid implementation help from Zoom Support.
Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist vs Sharrk: how do they compare?
| Sharrk | Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist | |
|---|---|---|
| Answers calls 24/7 | Yes | Yes |
| Live transfer to a person | Yes | Yes, with conversation context |
| Booking | Sharrk's calendar, Calendly, Cal.com, ServiceTitan | Google Calendar, Outlook, Zoom Scheduler, Calendly |
| Lead sources | Angi, Thumbtack, Networx, web forms, webhooks; Jobber clients come in as leads | Captures caller details on the call |
| Follow-up on quiet leads | Strikes (automated follow-up sequences) | Not listed on Zoom's page |
| Past-customer campaigns | Hunts (needs consent to contact the list) | Not listed on Zoom's page |
| Entry price | Free plan with 2,500 one-time credits; Core $99/month | $24.99/month for 100 minutes (annual) |
Zoom's offer makes the most sense if your office already runs on Zoom Phone and you mostly need calls answered, questions handled and routing done. The gap for a home-service business is what happens after the call: the quote that never got a reply, the Angi lead that came in at 9 p.m., the job that needs to land in ServiceTitan. That is where Sharrk is built to work. For a wider look at what these tools cost, see our AI receptionist cost breakdown, or compare how Dialpad handles the same job.
What should a home-service AI receptionist say on the phone?
Whatever tool you pick, the call should end with a booked visit or a clear next step. A simple script for a plumbing or HVAC line:
- "Thanks for calling [Company], this is the virtual assistant. Is this an emergency, like water leaking right now or no heat?"
- "What's the address for the job?"
- "Can you tell me what's going on in a sentence or two?"
- "I can get a technician out [day] between [time window]. Does that work?"
- "You're booked. If anything changes, call back and we'll take care of it. Want me to connect you with someone now instead?"
Keep the emergency question first so urgent calls can go to a person right away.
How does Sharrk handle this?
Sharrk answers calls 24/7, asks your quote questions, and books the estimate or job onto Sharrk's calendar, Calendly or Cal.com, or into ServiceTitan. It can live-transfer a caller to a person when needed. New leads from Angi, Thumbtack, Networx, web forms and webhooks get a reply in under 30 seconds, and Jobber clients come in as leads. Strikes (automated follow-up sequences) chase quotes that went quiet, and Hunts can reach out to past customers on lists you have consent to contact. See how it works as an AI receptionist for service businesses.
Mako, the AI assistant inside Sharrk, builds your agents, follow-up and campaigns from plain English. Tell it "answer my after-hours calls, ask if it's an emergency, and book the next open slot on my Calendly" and it drafts the agent; you approve the changes before anything goes live.
Sharrk Free is $0 with 2,500 one-time credits to build and test agents with Mako, no card needed. Core is $99 a month ($990 a year) with 47,500 credits a month. There are no contracts or setup fees. Start free or schedule a demo.
Related on Sharrk: AI receptionist, AI receptionist for HVAC, Does Nextiva have an AI receptionist?
Sources
- Zoom, AI Receptionist: 24/7 Intelligent Phone Support, "Pricing accurate as of October 2026," checked November 2, 2026.
- Zoom, Deploy Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist across any telephony environment, July 9, 2026, checked November 2, 2026.
- Zoom, 24/7 concierge: Zoom's agentic AI and virtual agent now extends to Zoom Phone, August 18, 2025, checked November 2, 2026.
- Zoom Support, Frequently asked questions about Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist, no date shown, checked November 2, 2026.
- Zoom Support, Managing auto receptionists, no date shown, checked November 2, 2026.
- Zoom, Zoom Phone: VoIP Phone Service, no date shown, checked November 2, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Does Zoom Phone have an AI receptionist?
Yes, Zoom sells Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist, which answers calls 24/7, answers questions from your website or documents, books appointments and routes callers to staff. It works with Zoom Phone or, since July 2026, as a standalone product with other phone systems.
How much does the Zoom AI receptionist cost?
Zoom lists the standalone version at $24.99 a month for 100 minutes with annual billing, or $29.99 billed monthly. For Zoom Phone customers, Zoom lists an add-on bundle starting at $0.25 a minute billed annually, plus the cost of Zoom Phone.
Do I need Zoom Phone to use Zoom Virtual Agent Receptionist?
No, Zoom announced a standalone version on July 9, 2026 that works with existing business phone systems without Zoom Phone. It includes 100 voice minutes a month and a dedicated phone number, per Zoom's product page.
Is the Zoom auto receptionist the same as the AI receptionist?
No, the auto receptionist plays a recording and routes calls to users, queues, voicemail or an IVR menu, while the AI receptionist holds a conversation, answers questions and books appointments. The AI version still uses the auto receptionist's business hours and routing settings.
Can Zoom's AI receptionist book appointments?
Yes, but Zoom's support FAQ says appointment scheduling requires a Zoom Scheduler license. The same FAQ says appointments can't be canceled or rescheduled during a call, so confirm the current behavior with Zoom.