FrontDesk vs PATLive
PATLive alternative: FrontDesk — the AI receptionist that books the job, not just the message
FrontDesk is an AI receptionist for local businesses. Forward your existing number and it answers 24/7 in your business's own voice, using only the FAQ, hours, services and prices you approve. It checks your Google or Outlook calendar live and books the appointment while the caller is still on the phone, then emails you what happened. Setup takes about five minutes, and most owners start by forwarding only the calls they don't pick up. $49/mo Starter with 250 minutes included, or $99/mo Pro with 750, after a 14-day free trial. When it isn't sure of an answer it takes a message instead of guessing.
FrontDesk vs PATLive at a glance
| Feature | FrontDesk | PATLive |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Pure AI, in your business's own voice | Live-staffed: every call answered by a live receptionist, with no AI in the path |
| Price | $49/mo Starter (250 min) · $99/mo Pro (750 min) | $49/mo pay-as-you-go (no minutes) · $99/mo (50 min) · $189/mo (100 min) · $349/mo (200 min), rising to $6,899/mo (5,000 min) |
| Overage | $0.30/min beyond the included minutes | $2.99/min on pay-as-you-go, falling to $1.49/min on their largest plan |
| Books appointments live on-call | Yes — Google or Outlook, on every plan | Yes — appointment scheduling is a listed capability |
| Transfer a live call to you | No — it takes a message and emails you the details | Yes — a person is already on the line |
| Keep your existing number | Yes — forward every call, or only the ones you miss | Yes, via call forwarding |
| Onboarding | About five minutes self-serve, or a free 20-minute setup call with us | Not published on their pricing page |
| Free trial | 14 days | 14 days on any plan, per their pricing page |
PATLive figures read from their pricing page on 2026-09-06. Pricing changes — check theirs before you decide.
When to choose PATLive instead
- You want humans on every call with no AI in the path at all, and they say so plainly.
- Your volume is genuinely tiny and spiky: their entry plan carries no monthly minutes, so a quiet month costs little.
- You want a 14-day trial of a staffed service before committing.
When FrontDesk is the better fit
- Per-minute cost: FrontDesk's overage is $0.30 a minute, against per-minute rates measured in dollars — compare the Overage row.
- You keep the same answer quality at 3am as at 3pm, without paying a night rate for it.
- You want the caller booked into a real calendar slot during the call — on the $49 entry plan, not a higher tier.
- You won't change your published number: FrontDesk works by forwarding the line you already advertise, every call or only the ones you miss.
- You want strict grounding: it answers from the information you approved, and takes a message rather than improvising.
- You want a longer runway to evaluate: 14-day free trial.
Common questions
Does FrontDesk replace my phone number?
No — you keep the number you already advertise. You forward your existing line to FrontDesk, either every call or only the ones you don't pick up, and you can turn it off from your own phone settings.
Can I start with only the calls I miss?
Yes, and most owners should. Forward on no-answer and FrontDesk picks up the nights, weekends and rings-out that were already going to voicemail. Nothing about how you work today changes.
What happens when the AI doesn't know an answer?
It says so and takes a message. It answers only from the business information you approved and does not invent prices or policies. The call arrives in your dashboard with a summary and the full transcript.
How fast can I go live?
About five minutes: enter your business details or import your website, forward your number, and make a test call. You can also book a free 20-minute setup call and we'll build it with you.
What does FrontDesk cost?
$49/month for Starter with 250 call minutes included, or $99/month for Pro with 750, after a 14-day free trial. Minutes beyond the allowance are $0.30 each.
Hear it answer your own phone
Set it up in about five minutes and call your own line, or book 20 minutes and we'll build it with you. Start with only the calls you miss — the ones already going to voicemail.
Also compare: Rosie, Goodcall, Dialzara, Smith.ai, My AI Front Desk, Ruby.