Alternatives / Answer4u
Answer4u is a long-running UK telephone answering company with human agents answering 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It does not publish any prices. Its own site describes a small monthly subscription to keep the line active, then payment per call or through call bundles, with per-second billing and dedicated agents charged per hour as options, and says the exact figure comes from a quote. It advertises a 30-day free trial, going live in about 15 minutes, and no long-term contracts.
Prices checked on answer-4u.com on 12 September 2026. Always confirm current prices with each provider.
The short answer
Choose Answer4u if you want human agents on the phone around the clock, a long free trial before you commit, and you do not mind asking for a quote. Choose While You Work if you want to know the price before you ring anyone and would rather not pay per call at all.
Side by side
| Answer4u | While You Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Not published. A monthly subscription plus per-call, per-second or bundle charges, set by quote | £49 a month including VAT for founding members, locked for as long as you stay (£69 after the first 20 of each type of business) |
| How you pay | Monthly line fee plus calls, or a call bundle | Flat monthly, no per-call or per-minute charges |
| Who answers | Human call handlers | AI receptionist with a separate script and set-up form for each kind of business |
| Hours | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Trial | 30-day free trial | First week free once your line is live, full refund if you cancel in that week |
| Contract | No long-term contract | None, cancel any time |
| After the call | Message passed on by its team, details set when you are quoted | Details by email a minute after the call and a text straight away for urgent calls (or every call, if you prefer), plus a confirmation text to the caller |
| Type of service | Human call handlers, 24/7 | AI receptionist |
| Available | Now | Taking founding members now. Each line switches on as soon as the set-up form is finished, usually within minutes |
Switching
Look at your current provider’s terms for any notice period or unused credit.
A short form for your kind of business: hours, area, services and what callers should be told.
Point divert-on-no-answer at your While You Work number. Your callers keep ringing the same number.
Want the full picture on UK prices? Read how much a call answering service costs in the UK.
Other comparisons: Moneypenny, ReceptionHQ, Jodie, Cyberstaff, Answer.co.uk, Face For Business.
Questions
Answer4u does not publish its prices. Its site says you pay a small monthly subscription to keep the line active and then pay for the calls it handles, either per call or through bundles, with the figure set by a quote. Third-party comparison sites quote numbers, but we only rely on prices a provider publishes itself. While You Work is £49 a month including VAT, published.
Yes. It says its team answers 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. So does While You Work, on every plan and with no after-hours surcharge.
Yes. Point your divert-on-no-answer at your While You Work number instead, check any notice period in your Answer4u agreement, and your callers carry on ringing the same number they always have.
It depends on how many calls you miss. For a small business that wants every missed call answered and the details sent to them in a minute for one flat price including VAT, While You Work is £49 a month for founding members. Choose Answer4u if you want human agents on the phone around the clock, a long free trial before you commit, and you do not mind asking for a quote. Choose While You Work if you want to know the price before you ring anyone and would rather not pay per call at all.
Sources, checked 12 September 2026: Answer4u pay as you go answering services, Answer4u home. Answer4u is a trademark of its owner. While You Work is not connected with Answer4u.
Founding price locked for as long as you stay. No contract. Your line switches on as soon as you finish the set-up form.