Alternatives / ReceptionHQ
ReceptionHQ is a human answering service with published call bundles. Message-taking (MessageExpress) runs from £15 a month plus £1.10 a call, or £25 for 25 calls, £49 for 50 and £85 for 100. Call transfers (MyReceptionist) run from £16 a month plus £1.35 a call, or £36 for 25 calls, £60 for 50 and £110 for 100. Extra calls cost £1.10 to £1.30. All prices are plus VAT. It offers a 7-day free trial, 24/7 cover with no after-hours surcharge and no long-term contract.
Prices checked on receptionhq.co.uk on 11 September 2026. Always confirm current prices with each provider.
The short answer
Choose ReceptionHQ if you want a real person on every call, call transfers to your team, or you only miss a handful of calls a month. Choose While You Work if you miss more than about 40 calls a month, want one price that includes VAT whatever your volume, and want the job texted to you.
Side by side
| ReceptionHQ | While You Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From £15 a month plus £1.10 a call, or bundles: 25 calls £25, 50 calls £49, 100 calls £85 (message-taking), all plus VAT | £49 a month including VAT (founding members, locked for as long as you stay) |
| How you pay | Monthly bundle of calls, extra calls £1.10 to £1.30 each | Flat monthly, no per-call or per-minute charges |
| Who answers | Human receptionists | AI receptionist with a separate script and set-up form for each trade |
| Hours | 24/7, no after-hours surcharge | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Trial | 7-day free trial | First week free once your line is live, full refund if you cancel in that week |
| Contract | None, rolling monthly | None, cancel any time |
| After the call | Message by email or SMS, call transfers on MyReceptionist | Text to you with name, number, postcode and the job, plus a confirmation text to the caller |
| Type of service | Human receptionists | AI receptionist |
| Available | Now | Taking founding members now. Lines go live for each trade by 31 October 2026, or a full refund |
Switching
Look at your current provider’s terms for any notice period or unused credit.
A short form for your trade: 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.
Questions
On its website, ReceptionHQ message-taking starts at £15 a month plus £1.10 a call, with bundles of 25 calls for £25, 50 for £49 and 100 for £85. Call-transfer plans start at £16 a month plus £1.35 a call. All prices are plus VAT.
At low volumes, yes. 25 calls a month on MessageExpress is £30 including VAT. At 50 calls it is £58.80 including VAT and at 100 calls £102, while While You Work stays at £49 including VAT up to 150 answered calls.
Yes, ReceptionHQ uses human receptionists. While You Work uses an AI receptionist, which answers every call at once and costs one flat price.
It depends on how many calls you miss. For a sole trader who wants every missed call answered and the job texted to them for one flat price including VAT, While You Work is £49 a month for founding members. Choose ReceptionHQ if you want a real person on every call, call transfers to your team, or you only miss a handful of calls a month. Choose While You Work if you miss more than about 40 calls a month, want one price that includes VAT whatever your volume, and want the job texted to you.
Sources, checked 11 September 2026: ReceptionHQ pricing, ReceptionHQ MessageExpress plans, ReceptionHQ MyReceptionist plans. ReceptionHQ is a trademark of its owner. While You Work is not connected with ReceptionHQ.
Founding price locked for as long as you stay. No contract. Lines go live for each trade by 31 October 2026, or a full refund.