


January 21, 2026
12 MINUTES

Written by
Emma Houlihan
Key Points
With Central AI, anything unresolved can go to Central’s live receptionists, while Bland AI leans on scripted pathways, so unusual requests often mean a transfer back to you.
Monthly costs with Bland AI shift as calls run longer, since pricing is per minute, while Central AI pricing is based on how many calls you receive.
Once Central AI is set up, it’s meant to run consistently, while Bland AI often requires you to keep updating how calls are handled as callers ask new or unexpected things.
Key Points
With Central AI, anything unresolved can go to Central’s live receptionists, while Bland AI leans on scripted pathways, so unusual requests often mean a transfer back to you.
Monthly costs with Bland AI shift as calls run longer, since pricing is per minute, while Central AI pricing is based on how many calls you receive.
Once Central AI is set up, it’s meant to run consistently, while Bland AI often requires you to keep updating how calls are handled as callers ask new or unexpected things.
Features
Features


Starting Price
Monthly cost to get started
Starting Price
Monthly cost to get started
$49/month
75 calls included
$49/month
75 calls included
Pricing Model
How you're billed each month
Pricing Model
How you're billed each month
Flat-rate per month
Predictable billing
Flat-rate per month
Predictable billing
Setup Time
From signup to first answered call
Setup Time
From signup to first answered call
60 seconds
Answer first call immediately
60 seconds
Answer first call immediately
Built-in CRM
Contact management included
Built-in CRM
Contact management included
No external CRM needed
No external CRM needed
Appointment Scheduling
Book appointments during calls
Appointment Scheduling
Book appointments during calls
Books directly to calendar
Books directly to calendar
Knowledgebase Training
How AI learns your business
Knowledgebase Training
How AI learns your business
Auto-crawl
Learns from website automatically
Auto-crawl
Learns from website automatically
Integration Ecosystem
Connect with your existing tools
Integration Ecosystem
Connect with your existing tools
8,000+ apps
via Zapier
8,000+ apps
via Zapier
Concurrent Calls
Handle multiple calls at once
Concurrent Calls
Handle multiple calls at once
Unlimited
No call volume limits
Unlimited
No call volume limits
Lead Qualification
Screen and qualify callers
Lead Qualification
Screen and qualify callers
Custom forms
Qualification logic included
Custom forms
Qualification logic included
Multilingual Support
Languages your AI speaks
Multilingual Support
Languages your AI speaks
30+ languages
All major languages covered
30+ languages
All major languages covered
Platform Dependency
Works with existing phone system?
Platform Dependency
Works with existing phone system?
Standalone
No platform switching required
Standalone
No platform switching required
Call Documentation
Works with existing phone system?
Call Documentation
Works with existing phone system?
Full
Recording, transcription, AI summary
Full
Recording, transcription, AI summary
Spam Filtering
Block robocalls and spam
Spam Filtering
Block robocalls and spam
Proactive
20M+ spam numbers blocked
Proactive
20M+ spam numbers blocked
Outbound Calling
Make calls to customers
Outbound Calling
Make calls to customers
Yes, fully featured with appointment reminders & callback scheduling
Yes, fully featured with appointment reminders & callback scheduling
Bookipi
Pros
Bookipi
Cons
Central Pros
Central Cons
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Central's AI Receptionist, and how does it work?
Central is an AI-powered virtual receptionist and answering service that answers calls 24/7, just like a trained human. It answers every incoming call instantly, provides accurate information about your business, books appointments in real time, and captures key lead details — all without needing a human on the line. This ensures that your clients receive prompt and professional assistance at all times. Central sounds human, works instantly, and only escalates to a real person when needed, so you never miss a lead or opportunity.
What is Central's AI Receptionist, and how does it work?
Central is an AI-powered virtual receptionist and answering service that answers calls 24/7, just like a trained human. It answers every incoming call instantly, provides accurate information about your business, books appointments in real time, and captures key lead details — all without needing a human on the line. This ensures that your clients receive prompt and professional assistance at all times. Central sounds human, works instantly, and only escalates to a real person when needed, so you never miss a lead or opportunity.
How customizable is the AI Receptionist to fit my business needs?
Very customizable. You can define how Central greets callers, how it sounds, what it says, how it handles bookings, and when it should escalate. You can even upload your website or documents to train it instantly on your services, pricing, and FAQs.
How customizable is the AI Receptionist to fit my business needs?
Very customizable. You can define how Central greets callers, how it sounds, what it says, how it handles bookings, and when it should escalate. You can even upload your website or documents to train it instantly on your services, pricing, and FAQs.
Can the AI Receptionist integrate with my existing calendar and booking systems?
Yes. Central connects directly to your calendar, checks availability, avoids conflicts, and books appointments live during the call. It supports all major booking platforms like Cal.com, Calendly, and Google Calendar, and can sync across time zones.
Can the AI Receptionist integrate with my existing calendar and booking systems?
Yes. Central connects directly to your calendar, checks availability, avoids conflicts, and books appointments live during the call. It supports all major booking platforms like Cal.com, Calendly, and Google Calendar, and can sync across time zones.
Will my clients know they're speaking with an AI, and how natural is the interaction?
Your AI Receptionist is designed to interact with callers in a human, natural and conversational manner, making it difficult for clients to distinguish it from a human receptionist. We use advanced conversational AI, speech synthesis and understanding to mimic human tone, flow, and intent — including pauses, empathy, and context. Most callers can't tell the difference. However, if you prefer transparency, you can configure the AI to introduce itself as AI. The goal is to provide a seamless and professional experience for your clients.
Will my clients know they're speaking with an AI, and how natural is the interaction?
Your AI Receptionist is designed to interact with callers in a human, natural and conversational manner, making it difficult for clients to distinguish it from a human receptionist. We use advanced conversational AI, speech synthesis and understanding to mimic human tone, flow, and intent — including pauses, empathy, and context. Most callers can't tell the difference. However, if you prefer transparency, you can configure the AI to introduce itself as AI. The goal is to provide a seamless and professional experience for your clients.
What happens if the AI cannot handle a caller's request?
In situations where the AI Receptionist encounters complex or uncommon inquiries beyond its programmed capabilities, it is programmed to escalate the call to a human receptionist. This ensures that your clients receive the assistance they need without frustration. The transition from AI to human support is designed to be smooth and unobtrusive, maintaining a high standard of customer service.
What happens if the AI cannot handle a caller's request?
In situations where the AI Receptionist encounters complex or uncommon inquiries beyond its programmed capabilities, it is programmed to escalate the call to a human receptionist. This ensures that your clients receive the assistance they need without frustration. The transition from AI to human support is designed to be smooth and unobtrusive, maintaining a high standard of customer service.
How do call routing and transfers work?
Central knows when to escalate. If it hits a question it can't answer, or the caller asks for a real person, it automatically hands off to your live receptionist, with a seamless, professional transition. We support multi-department transfers.
How do call routing and transfers work?
Central knows when to escalate. If it hits a question it can't answer, or the caller asks for a real person, it automatically hands off to your live receptionist, with a seamless, professional transition. We support multi-department transfers.
How does Central compare with Smith AI, Ruby Receptionist or RingCentral AI Receptionist?
Central offers a more affordable, fully AI-powered solution with no agents or call centers involved unless needed. Unlike competitors that rely on live agents, Central offers instant responses 24/7, real-time appointment booking, natural conversation, automatic lead qualification, and 0 wait times, all for a fraction of the cost.
How does Central compare with Smith AI, Ruby Receptionist or RingCentral AI Receptionist?
Central offers a more affordable, fully AI-powered solution with no agents or call centers involved unless needed. Unlike competitors that rely on live agents, Central offers instant responses 24/7, real-time appointment booking, natural conversation, automatic lead qualification, and 0 wait times, all for a fraction of the cost.
How does the phone number work for Central’s AI receptionist? Do I get a new number, or can it use my existing business line?
Central gives you a dedicated phone number for your business. All calls to this number are automatically answered by your AI receptionist (like me!).
You can forward your existing business number or advertise the new one.
Want to see it in action? Dial +19498321178 to try our AI receptionist now!
How does the phone number work for Central’s AI receptionist? Do I get a new number, or can it use my existing business line?
Central gives you a dedicated phone number for your business. All calls to this number are automatically answered by your AI receptionist (like me!).
You can forward your existing business number or advertise the new one.
Want to see it in action? Dial +19498321178 to try our AI receptionist now!
Is the AI Receptionist multilingual?
Yes, your voice receptionist built on Central is multilingual and operates in English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Dutch, and more.
Is the AI Receptionist multilingual?
Yes, your voice receptionist built on Central is multilingual and operates in English, Spanish, French, German, Hindi, Russian, Portuguese, Japanese, Italian, Dutch, and more.
Does Central integrate with my CRM system?
Yes. Central integrates with over 6,000+ tools through Zapier, and direct CRM integrations (like HubSpot and Salesforce) are coming soon. You can export call data or push it to your systems automatically.
Does Central integrate with my CRM system?
Yes. Central integrates with over 6,000+ tools through Zapier, and direct CRM integrations (like HubSpot and Salesforce) are coming soon. You can export call data or push it to your systems automatically.
How much does your answering service cost?
Pricing starts at $89/month for 90 calls. All plans include appointment booking, lead capture, call summaries, and 24/7 service. You can try Central free for 10 days. We also offer human support and live receptionists at additional costs.
How much does your answering service cost?
Pricing starts at $89/month for 90 calls. All plans include appointment booking, lead capture, call summaries, and 24/7 service. You can try Central free for 10 days. We also offer human support and live receptionists at additional costs.
AI vs Hybrid: Which approach do you use?
Central is AI-first with optional human backup. The AI handles 90–95% of calls, and escalates to a live receptionist only when needed. This gives you speed, coverage, and consistency, without the overhead.
AI vs Hybrid: Which approach do you use?
Central is AI-first with optional human backup. The AI handles 90–95% of calls, and escalates to a live receptionist only when needed. This gives you speed, coverage, and consistency, without the overhead.
"We were drowning in calls and website chats, missing about 40% of them during patient appointments. Central's Voice and Chat agents handle everything now. We've booked 60+ new patients in the last month alone, and our front desk can finally focus on the people actually in our office."
Dr. Sarah Chen, Founder, Riverside Family Medicine
Get started for free today
Get your AI receptionist set up in 60 seconds and start accepting calls.
Products
Industries
Copyright © Central AI. All rights reserved, 2025.
Products
Industries
Copyright © Central AI. All rights reserved, 2025.
Products
Industries
Copyright © Central AI. All rights reserved, 2025.








