Alternatives / Moneypenny
Moneypenny is the best-known UK answering company, with human receptionists and, more recently, an AI Receptionist. It does not publish receptionist prices on its website; you ask for a quote. Its AI Receptionist is listed "from £49 a month", and its website does not say whether that includes VAT.
Prices checked on moneypenny.com on 16 October 2026. Always confirm current prices with each provider.
The short answer
Choose Moneypenny if you want a dedicated human team, call transfers to staff and a large, established provider, and you are happy to get a quote. Choose While You Work if you are a small business that wants every missed call answered and the details sent to you in a minute for a published monthly price. Moneypenny’s AI Receptionist is listed from £49 a month, without saying whether VAT is included, and its smaller receptionist plans have a three-month minimum. While You Work starts at £39 a month + VAT, Pro is £69 + VAT for up to 150 calls, and there is no minimum term.
Side by side
| Moneypenny | While You Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Quote on request for human receptionists. AI Receptionist from £49 a month (VAT not stated) | Starter £39, Pro £69 or Business £129 a month + VAT. The first 50 UK businesses get Pro for £49 a month + VAT for their first 12 months, then £69 |
| How you pay | Set by quote | Flat monthly plan with a set number of calls, then a set price for each extra call. A call counts once however long it lasts, up to 10 minutes |
| Who answers | Human receptionists, or the AI Receptionist | AI receptionist with a separate script and set-up form for each kind of business |
| Hours | Check your quote | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Trial | Free trial offered, details on request | Money-back guarantee: cancel within 14 days of your line going live for a full refund |
| Contract | Three-month minimum on its smaller receptionist plans | None, cancel any time |
| After the call | Messages and call transfers, depending on the service | Details by email a minute after the call on every plan, and on Pro and Business a text straight away for urgent calls, which can also be put through to your phone |
| Type of service | Human receptionists, plus an AI Receptionist product | AI receptionist |
| Available | Now | Taking new customers 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: ReceptionHQ, Jodie, Cyberstaff, Answer.co.uk, Face For Business, Answer4u, IONOS AI Receptionist, The Answer Centre, Vocalenda, Team Connect, AnswerConnect.
Questions
Moneypenny does not publish its receptionist prices; you request a quote. Its AI Receptionist is listed from £49 a month on its website, which does not say whether VAT is included. While You Work publishes its prices: Starter £39, Pro £69 and Business £129 a month + VAT, each with a set number of calls.
Moneypenny serves businesses of every size. Sole traders who mainly need missed calls answered and the details passed on often want a simpler, flat-priced service, which is what While You Work is built for.
Yes. Point your divert-on-no-answer at your While You Work number instead of Moneypenny’s, check your notice period with Moneypenny, and your callers keep ringing the same number.
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 a set monthly price counted per call, not per minute, While You Work starts at £39 a month plus VAT for 50 calls, with Pro at £69 plus VAT for 150. Choose Moneypenny if you want a dedicated human team, call transfers to staff and a large, established provider, and you are happy to get a quote. Choose While You Work if you are a small business that wants every missed call answered and the details sent to you in a minute for a published monthly price. Moneypenny’s AI Receptionist is listed from £49 a month, without saying whether VAT is included, and its smaller receptionist plans have a three-month minimum. While You Work starts at £39 a month + VAT, Pro is £69 + VAT for up to 150 calls, and there is no minimum term.
Sources, checked 16 October 2026: Moneypenny virtual receptionist service, Moneypenny AI Receptionist. Moneypenny is a trademark of its owner. While You Work is not connected with Moneypenny.
Starter £39, Pro £69 and Business £129 a month, plus VAT. The first 50 UK businesses get Pro for £49 plus VAT for their first 12 months. No contract, and cancel within 14 days of your line going live for a full refund.