Updated 1 October 2026 · Pludor team · 3 sources
AI Answering gives a business an AI voice receptionist on a platform-managed number (or your own Twilio number) plus a unified inbox for SMS, email, in-app chat and - once you connect a WhatsApp Business number - WhatsApp, so every customer conversation lives in one place staff can pick up from.
Small business owners miss calls and messages while they are working, and juggling WhatsApp, SMS, and a phone line with no shared record of the conversation makes it easy to lose a customer.
An AI receptionist and unified CRM that answers calls, texts, and chats for your business. You need a Pludor store - free to create.
You need a service that answers calls with AI and a place to manage the conversations. On Pludor, open Answering, enter your hours, prices and common questions, list your services, pick a voice and greeting, then forward your calls - every call, text and booking lands in a unified inbox and calendar.
It varies: human answering services typically charge per minute, and standalone AI lines charge monthly. Pludor includes AI Answering on every plan, including free - each month the first 100 AI replies, 10 answered calls, 20 texts and 30 bookings are free, then you pay as you go with credits (1 credit = 1 cent, never expiring).
Yes, if it's connected to a real calendar. On Pludor you add each service with its duration and price, set your working hours in the calendar, and the AI receptionist books callers straight into real free slots - no separate scheduling app needed.
Not necessarily. Pludor gives you a platform-managed business number, or you can connect your own Twilio account and number if you already have one.
Yes, once you connect your own WhatsApp Business number (through Twilio WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Cloud API). On Pludor, WhatsApp messages then land in the same unified inbox as your calls, SMS, email and in-app chats.
You get a low-credit warning first, so it won't fail silently. At zero, the AI receptionist and text concierge stop replying to new calls and texts until you top up, and you're told right away. Credits never expire, so anything you've already paid for stays usable.
A human service charges per minute and usually only takes messages; an AI receptionist costs a fraction of that and can book appointments directly. Pludor's receptionist answers from the business knowledge you enter, books into your own calendar, and feeds every conversation into a CRM with leads and follow-ups - though it only knows what you've told it, so keep your prices and policies up to date.
Standalone tools usually mean a separate AI line, a separate inbox tool, a separate scheduling app, and a CRM export afterwards. Pludor puts the voice receptionist, unified inbox, booking calendar, leads pipeline and follow-up campaigns on one platform, with pay-as-you-go credits instead of a fixed monthly subscription.
Yes. Pludor has a call-yourself demo where you describe your business and hear how the AI answers, books and takes messages - 8 runs an hour with no account. You can also open a free store (no card needed) and get 500 free credits to try the tools.
Both. Service businesses use it for calls and appointment bookings, while product stores use the same inbox to message customers about their orders. On Pludor, the receptionist, inbox, calendar and order management all live on the same platform.
Both. Service businesses use it for calls and bookings; product stores use the same inbox to message customers about orders.
No. Answering can use a platform-managed business number, or you can connect your own Twilio account and number.
Yes, once you connect your own WhatsApp Business number (through Twilio WhatsApp or the WhatsApp Cloud API) in Answering settings.
You get a low-credit warning first; at zero, the AI receptionist and text concierge stop replying to new calls and texts until you top up. Credits never expire.
On for every store, including the free plan: AI receptionist and call log, service listings, booking calendar, CRM leads and contacts, outreach campaigns, automation and the dialer. Each month the first 100 AI replies, 10 answered calls, 20 texts and 30 bookings are free; after that you pay as you go with credits (1 credit = 1 cent; 1,000 credits for $10; credits never expire).
1. Open Answering 2. Add your business knowledge 3. List your services 4. Choose a voice and greeting 5. Go live Full step-by-step guide: pludor.com/tutorials/ai-answering
The AI receptionist answers from the business knowledge you give it - it will not know prices or policies you have not entered. The first 100 AI replies and 10 answered calls each month are free; past that they use credits, and if credits run out the AI pauses and the owner is told right away.
The receptionist books into the same calendar, inbox and store your business already runs on, and you pay per use with credits. Answering calls: typically per-minute human service or a standalone AI line; on Pludor, aI voice receptionist on a platform-managed or your own number. Texts and WhatsApp: typically separate inbox or chatbot tool; on Pludor, same unified inbox as calls, orders and leads. Booking: typically separate scheduling app to integrate; on Pludor, books straight into your Pludor calendar and services. After the call: typically export to a CRM; on Pludor, leads pipeline, follow-ups and campaigns built in (Growth/Scale).
AI voice receptionist on a dedicated business number. Unified multi-channel inbox (WhatsApp, SMS, email, in-app). Appointment calendar and booking. Quick-reply templates. Works for both service businesses (appointments) and product sellers (order messaging). Platform-managed business phone number, or bring your own Twilio account. WhatsApp once you connect your own WhatsApp Business number (Twilio WhatsApp or WhatsApp Cloud API). Choose the receptionist's name and voice. Low-credit warning before the receptionist stops answering, with in-app top-up. Progressive dialer for calling your own leads.
Answered calls with an AI voice receptionist, A unified inbox across WhatsApp/SMS/email/in-app, A calendar of upcoming appointments and recent orders, Call and message logs staff can review.
Service businesses, restaurants, solo entrepreneurs, appointment-based businesses, product sellers who miss messages while fulfilling orders.
The AI receptionist answers from the business knowledge you give it - it will not know prices or policies you have not entered. The first 100 AI replies and 10 answered calls each month are free; past that they use credits, and if credits run out the AI pauses and the owner is told right away.
Service Booking: bookable services with a calendar, deposits and quotes. CRM, Inbox & Outreach: one inbox for WhatsApp, SMS, email and chat, with leads, templates and campaigns. Automation Rules: if-this-then-that rules for orders, leads and follow-ups. Online Store: a branded storefront with products, services, cart and checkout.
What it does, who it is for and what it costs: AI Answering.
On for every store, including the free plan: AI receptionist and call log, service listings, booking calendar, CRM leads and contacts, outreach campaigns, automation and the dialer. Each month the first 100 AI replies, 10 answered calls, 20 texts and 30 bookings are free; after that you pay as you go with credits (1 credit = 1 cent; 1,000 credits for $10; credits never expire).
Free to start - no card, no item limit. Pay only for what you use past the monthly free amounts.
Open my free storeChecked 1 October 2026. Fees and rules change; follow the links for the latest.