AnswerForce vs
Ambs Call Center

Ambs Call Center

US-based, 24/7 live answering with flexible setup: AI-only, human-only, or hybrid. Emphasis on reliability, compliant processes, and practical scripting that fits how your business actually runs—no matter the industry. 

AnswerForce

Offering 24/7 live reception, minute bundles, and live chat for service professionals. Markets itself as tech-enabled and growth-focused, but per-minute pricing, setup fees on some plans, and a distributed team (including non-U.S. overflow) can make it less appealing for businesses that want a simpler, fully U.S.-based, predictable answering service like Ambs Call Center.

24/7 Live Answering / Coverage

Yes. Offers live human answering 24/7. Also offers hybrid and AI-only options.

Yes.

AI / Automation

Yes. Offers “Smart AI” options plus “Real People + Smart AI” plans so routine calls can be automated while complex ones go to trained US-based agents.

No dedicated AI-receptionist or AI call-handling solution.

Lead Qualification & Intake

Yes. Custom call flows and scripts with message taking, screening, and appointment setting—built to mirror your business rules.

Yes.

Appointment Scheduling / Calendars

Yes. Handles appointment scheduling needs through the appointment calendars you use, synced so callers get confirmed times without back-and-forth.

Yes.

Call Routing / Transfers

 Yes, Time-of-day routing, transfer trees, directories, and custom escalation paths tuned to your on-call rules.

Yes.

Call Recording / Transcription

Yes, Core focus on accurate message capture and delivery; advanced transcript/AI summarization available by plan and setup. Ask for specifics.

Yes.

Customization / Scripting

Yes. Detailed scripting, greetings by day/time, and step-by-step workflows that reflect your escalation and compliance policies.

Yes.

Compliance / Security

Yes, Ambs emphasizes HIPAA compliance, trained agents, US-based, secure systems.

HIPAA compliance available.

Geography / Agent Base

Yes. US-based agents, multiple US call centers, agents with no accents.

US-based.

Billing basis

Per‑minute model (minutes used) in many plans; increments by 30 seconds etc. Also offer AI‑only / hybrid options with different rates.

Per-minute bundles that include call minutes and a limited number of live chats.

Entry / Low‑volume plans

Human‑only answering: US$149/ mo for 100 minutes. AI‑only plan: US$19 / mo + per minute for small usage.

Intro plans start around $349/month for roughly 200 minutes and 50 chats—positioned as affordable, but relatively expensive on a per-minute basis for low-volume usage.

Mid / Higher‑volume plans

250‑minute plan (~US$330/mo), 500 minute plan ~US$600/mo etc.

Plans scale to roughly 300 minutes at about $389/month, 500 minutes at about $669/month, and 800–1,000 minutes at well over $1,000/month. Per-minute rates fall slightly at higher tiers but still sit on the higher side compared to many answering services.

Overage Charges

Overage minutes at different rates depending on plan, e.g. $1.29/min for lowest, $1.22/min for higher minute tiers.

Overage minutes are typically billed around $1.85–$2.00 per minute, which is expensive by industry standards—especially if you underestimate usage or experience call spikes.

Contract / Setup / Hidden Fees

No hidden fees. Month‑to‑month.

No long-term contract, but some plans add a separate setup fee on top of the monthly rate, and total cost still depends heavily on usage, overages, and how many calls and chats your team generates each month.

Strengths

• Over 90 years of experience delivering dependable, U.S.-based answering services that blend human care with modern technology.

• Live agents available 24/7, trained to sound like an extension of your business—never scripted or robotic.

• True industry versatility with specialized support for healthcare, property management, home services, and corporate accounts.

• HIPAA-compliant medical answering and secure message delivery for healthcare clients.

• Flexible plan options that scale with your call volume, including new AI-assisted tiers for cost efficiency.

• No hidden fees or long-term contracts—plans are straightforward and easy to adjust as you grow.

• In-depth reporting, message tracking, and call analytics to help businesses improve customer response and ROI.

• Family-owned and service-driven—customers get direct access to leadership and real support, not a ticket system.

• Integrations with major CRMs, scheduling platforms, and notification tools for seamless workflows.

• Proven reliability and award-winning customer service recognized year after year.

• 24/7 live answering with virtual receptionists.

• Bilingual support and live chat included with plans.

• HIPAA-compliant options for healthcare practices.

Weaknesses

• Does not offer the lowest “bare-bones” minute rates in the market—focus is on quality and reliability, not being the cheapest.

• No instant set up—Setup and onboarding are more hands-on to ensure customization, creating better alignment with your business.

• Limited international coverage; all agents are U.S.-based to preserve service quality and compliance standards.

• Per-minute bundles starting around $349/month for about 200 minutes are relatively expensive compared to many other answering services, especially for small teams.

• Overage charges often fall in the $1.85–$2.00 per-minute range, so underestimating call volume can lead to higher-than-expected bills.

• Multiple tiers with different minute and chat allocations add complexity and make it harder for small and mid-sized businesses to quickly see their true monthly cost.

• Some plans include separate setup fees, increasing upfront cost before you even know how well the service will perform for your account.

• Calls are handled by a distributed team, including some non-U.S. receptionists, which may not be ideal for businesses that want calls handled exclusively in the United States.

• Public comparisons and reviews note that overall pricing is steep for the minutes provided, and value depends heavily on keeping call duration and volume tightly controlled.

• Online feedback is mixed, with some reviewers citing inconsistent call quality, “robotic” agents, or script deviations, suggesting that experience may vary by account and usage level..