How We Compare
The same job — done without the gaps.
Most businesses already have some way of handling calls. Here's how a fully managed AI front desk stacks up against the alternatives — fairly.
Answers every call — 24/7, after-hours & holidays
Books appointments into your calendar — not just messages
Speaks in your business's voice, with your scripts & rules
New-customer intake & qualification
Handles call spikes without hold times or busy signals
Call minutes included up front — not metered from the first second
Nothing to install, staff, train, or learn
No sick days, turnover, or hiring
Escalates to your team when a call needs a human
| Luna Front | Answering service | In-house front desk | Voicemail | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Answers every call — 24/7, after-hours & holidays | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Books appointments into your calendar — not just messages | Yes | Limited | Yes | No |
| Speaks in your business's voice, with your scripts & rules | Yes | Limited | Yes | No |
| New-customer intake & qualification | Yes | Limited | Yes | No |
| Handles call spikes without hold times or busy signals | Yes | Limited | No | No |
| Call minutes included up front — not metered from the first second | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Nothing to install, staff, train, or learn | Yes | Limited | No | Yes |
| No sick days, turnover, or hiring | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Escalates to your team when a call needs a human | Yes | Limited | Yes | No |
The Cost Guide
What a 24/7 front desk actually costs.
Four ways to cover your phone, side by side — including the costs that don't show up on the invoice.
What it costs
What it buys
The cost that hides
Go deeper
| Hire another receptionist | Answering service | DIY AI receptionist app | Luna Front | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What it costs | $38,010/yr median salaryBLS, May 2024 — before payroll taxes, benefits, PTO coverage, and turnover | Usually per-minute or per-callthe bill scales with your call volume — busy months cost more | Low sticker — often under $100/moself-serve software; you run it | $449–$1,199/mo + $299 one-time setupevery price is published on the pricing page, each tier with call minutes included |
| What it buys | One shift, five days — minus lunch, breaks, and time off | The phone gets picked up; you usually get a message, not a booking | An AI that answers — once you've configured, tested, and tuned it yourself | Answering, intake, qualification and booking, 24/7 — built, tested, monitored and tuned for you. 1,000–4,000 minutes by tier; social DMs and ad lead capture on Growth and Pro. |
| The cost that hides | Hiring time, training time, rehiring when they leave | The callback work — your staff still has to return it, reach the caller, and book | Your hours: prompts, testing, monitoring calls, fixing odd behavior — ongoing, forever | Minutes past your plan's allowance, at our published rates — allowances are sized so most businesses stay inside them |
| Go deeper | vs. hiring → | vs. answering services → | vs. DIY AI tools → | See the plans → |
And the row that isn't in the table: the phone nobody answers. The after-hours caller who books elsewhere, the new customer who won't leave a voicemail, the busy-stretch call that never rings twice — every column above costs less than that one. Put your own numbers in →
And what the alternatives cost you personally → benefits beyond ROI
If it doesn't cover its plan fee in 30 days, you aren't charged it.
Month-to-month, no cancellation fee. The one-time $299 setup is not refundable, so it is the most you can be out. How the guarantee works →