# AI receptionists for New York businesses

An AI receptionist answers a call in Queens the same way it answers one in Ohio. What changes in New York is the law on recording calls, the state’s data security rule for the details callers give you, and the consent you need before an AI calls anyone back. Here are those facts from official sources, then every AI receptionist we track, compared for a New York business.

> **We make Vocenya. Here’s how we rank, and where others may fit you better.** Every vendor here, ours included, is shown with the same fields, sourced from its own website and ordered by the same published rule. Nobody pays to be listed. Where another tool may fit you better, we say so.

- **Call recording: One-party consent.** New York Penal Law § 250.00 defines wiretapping as recording a phone call by someone who is not a party to it, without the consent of either party. A business recording calls on its own line is a party to those calls. Source: New York State Senate, Penal Law § 250.00, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/250.00 (checked 2026-10-05).
- **Callers from New Jersey: One-party consent.** New Jersey also allows a party to a call to record it (N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-4(d)). A bill introduced in January 2026 (A1211) would require the consent of all parties; it had not become law when we checked. If you serve callers in all-party states, a short recording notice at the start of the call is the safe default. Source: NJ Legislature, Assembly Bill A1211 (2026–2027), showing current N.J.S.A. 2A:156A-4(d), https://pub.njleg.gov/bills/2026/A1500/1211_I1.HTM (checked 2026-10-03).
- **Data security: SHIELD Act.** Any business that owns or licenses computerized private information of a New York resident must keep reasonable safeguards for it (General Business Law § 899-bb), with a scaled standard for small businesses. “Private information” covers details such as Social Security, driver’s license and account numbers, and medical or health insurance information, combined with a name. If callers give your receptionist those details, ask each vendor how recordings and transcripts are protected and who can see them. Source: New York State Senate, General Business Law § 899-bb, https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/GBS/899-BB (checked 2026-10-05).
- **Outbound AI calls: Consent required.** The FCC confirmed in February 2024 that AI-generated voices count as an "artificial or prerecorded voice" under the TCPA, so AI calls to customers generally need their prior express consent. This applies to outbound calling, not to answering your own line. Source: FCC Declaratory Ruling FCC 24-17, https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/FCC-24-17A1.pdf (checked 2026-10-03).

## Compared

Ordered by how many of these checks each vendor meets with a published fact: Spanish listed, Transfers calls to a person, Books appointments, Publishes a price, Free trial or free plan. Ties go to vendors that publish a price, then alphabetical. Method: https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/methodology

| Vendor | Starting price | Free trial | Books appointments | Transfers to a person | HIPAA / BAA | Languages |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Allo](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/allo) | $32/month per seat + $32/month AI Receptionist | 7 days | Yes | Yes | Yes | English, French, Spanish |
| [Dialzara](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/dialzara) | $29/month | 7 days | Yes | Yes | Not published | English, Spanish |
| [FrontDesk](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/frontdesk-care) | $299/month | 14 days | Yes | Yes | Yes | English, Spanish |
| [Rosie](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/rosie) | $49/month | 7 days | Yes | Yes | Not published | English, Spanish |
| [Smith.ai](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/smith-ai) | Free plan | Free plan | Yes | Yes | No | English, Spanish |
| [Vocenya](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/vocenya) (our product) | $49/month | 14 days | Yes | Yes | No | English, Spanish |
| [AgentZap](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/agentzap) | $109/month | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | English, Spanish |
| [Chatbase](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/chatbase) | Free plan | 7 days | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not published |
| [Intercom](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/intercom-fin) | $29/seat/month | 14 days | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| [MedReception AI](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/medreception) | $299/month | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Creole |
| [My AI Front Desk](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/my-ai-front-desk) | $79/month | 7 days | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20+ languages (not listed by name) |
| [Upfirst](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/upfirst) | $24.95/month | 14 days | Yes | Yes | Yes | 35+ languages (not listed by name) |
| [WebFront AI](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/webfront-ai) | $85/month | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | English, Spanish |
| [Retell AI](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/retell-ai) | $0.07/minute | $10 free credits | Yes | Yes | Yes | English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Chinese, Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Arabic |
| [Synthflow](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/synthflow) | From $30,000/year | Free to build | Yes | Yes | Yes | English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Dutch, Hindi, Russian, Japanese, Mandarin, Korean |
| [Goodcall](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/goodcall) | $66/month | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| [Moneypenny](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/moneypenny) | $69/month | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| [Sameday AI](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/sameday) | $449/month | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| [Voksha](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/voksha) | $14/month | Not published | Yes | Yes | Yes | English |
| [Bland AI](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/bland-ai) | $0.14/minute | Free credits on sign-up | Yes | Yes | Yes | 40+ languages (not listed by name) |
| [Vapi](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/vapi) | $0.05/minute | $5 free credits | Yes | Yes | Yes | 40+ languages (not listed by name) |
| [Hatch](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/hatch) | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| [Numa](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/numa) | Not published | Not published | Yes | Yes | Not published | Not published |
| [Podium](https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/podium) | Not published | Not published | Yes | Not published | Not published | Not published |

## What this means when you choose

- **Ask where recordings and transcripts live.** Under the SHIELD Act you are responsible for reasonable safeguards over the private information callers give you. A vendor should be able to say who can open a recording and how long it is kept.
- **A recording notice you control.** New York and New Jersey are one-party consent states, but callers from all-party states may reach you. Pick a receptionist that lets you play a short notice.
- **Languages on your plan.** New York City callers speak dozens of languages. Check which languages each vendor lists, and on which plan, not just on the home page.
- **A person for the calls that need one.** A tenant with no heat in January or a patient who is upset needs a human. Check whether the receptionist can transfer to your phone or to a staffed team.
- **Consent before any AI call-back.** If you want the receptionist to call leads back, it has to keep consent records and respect Do Not Call lists.

This page is general information, not legal advice. If you record calls across state lines, handle health or financial details, or run outbound campaigns, talk to a New York attorney.

## Where Vocenya fits

Vocenya is a New Jersey company that focuses on New Jersey and New York City businesses, from Manhattan offices to Queens contractors. Read our [New York City page](/locations/new-york-city), the guide to an [AI receptionist in NYC](/blog/ai-receptionist-nyc) and [bilingual answering in NJ and NYC](/blog/bilingual-answering-nj-nyc), or see [why we publish what we do](/why-vocenya). The table below includes Vocenya with the same fields as everyone else.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is it legal for an AI receptionist to record calls in New York?

New York Penal Law § 250.00 treats recording a call as wiretapping only when it is done by someone who is not a party to the call, without the consent of either party. Your business is a party to calls on its own line. Callers in all-party consent states are a reason to play a short recording notice. This is general information, not legal advice.

### Does the SHIELD Act apply to an AI receptionist?

The SHIELD Act (General Business Law § 899-bb) applies to any business that owns or licenses computerized private information of New York residents, such as account numbers or medical information combined with a name. If your callers share those details, the recordings and transcripts that hold them need reasonable safeguards, so ask each vendor how they are protected. This is general information, not legal advice.

### Can an AI receptionist call New York customers back?

Only with consent. The FCC treats AI-generated voices as artificial voices under the TCPA, so outbound AI calls to customers generally need their prior express consent, plus Do Not Call checks. Answering your own line is different and needs no special consent.


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Source: https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/ai-receptionists/new-york
Published by Vocenya, which makes an AI receptionist. How this directory is built: https://vocenya.com/ai-tools/methodology