Australian buyer's guide

Best AI receptionists in Australia

Deskie AI Reception is Deskie's AI receptionist service for Australian small businesses. This guide compares four AI receptionist products with current Australian relevance: Deskie, Sophiie AI, Hooroo AI and Johnni AI. It uses official product information, shows unavailable facts instead of estimates, and does not use ratings or paid-review scores.

Product research checked 13 July 2026. Last updated 13 July 2026.

How we selected and compared the shortlist

A product had to show current Australian availability or a clear Australian business focus on its official website. We then checked published pricing, included calls or minutes, after-hours coverage, message capture, owner summaries, appointment booking, call transfer, setup model and relevant limitations. No product was scored on testimonials, star ratings or claims from a third party.

  • Official product website checked on the research date
  • Australian relevance shown publicly
  • Unknown facts marked unavailable
  • No invented price, allowance, rating or market share

Our result depends on what you need

For an eligible Australian small business that wants a published standard price, an allowance measured in answered calls, SMS summaries and a fast missed-call setup, Deskie is our preferred fit in this shortlist. That is a specific criterion, not a claim that one product is best for every buyer.

Hooroo may suit a buyer who prefers a published minute allowance and self-service setup. Sophiie may suit a team that wants a broader front-office platform. Johnni may suit a trade or service business seeking more customised workflows and integrations.

Australian AI receptionist comparison

Prices and features below reflect what each official site showed on 13 July 2026. Check the linked source before buying because product plans can change.

CriterionDeskieSophiie AIHooroo AIJohnni AI
Australian availabilityYesYesYesYes
Australian business focusAustralian small businessesTrades and service businesses, with an Australian locationAustralian businessesAustralian trade and service businesses
Published pricing$149/month standard priceNot published on the official site$149 AUD/month for Pro$99/month shown on the homepage
Included calls or minutes60 answered callsNot published300 minutes on ProNot clearly published
After-hours coverage24/724/724/724/7
Message capture and owner summaryOwner SMS summary plus caller confirmation SMSLead details and summaries to inbox or CRMInstant SMS summary plus dashboard, recording and transcriptDetailed summaries, recordings and dashboard
Appointment bookingYes, when configuredYesSends appointment linksYes, into calendar or CRM
Call transferYes, when configuredYes, smart call transfersYes, transfer rulesYes, routing and transfer workflows
Setup modelConfigured with the business in about three minutes; existing number staysOnline signup and business knowledge configurationSelf-service setup advertised in 30 secondsCustom business setup with a local forwarded number
Relevant limitationAllowance is measured in answered calls; top-ups apply after 60Price and included allowance are not publicly shownAllowance is minute-based and overage is $0.20/minuteIncluded usage and plan-to-price mapping are not clearly shown

What each product may suit

Deskie

Best fit in this shortlist

Australian small businesses that want an allowance measured in answered calls, a published standard price and a fast missed-call setup.

Published price

$149/month for 60 answered calls.

Verified capabilities

24/7 answering, owner SMS summaries, caller confirmation SMS, optional appointment booking and optional call transfer. Setup is completed with the business in about three minutes.

Limitation to check

Usage is measured in answered calls rather than minutes. Top-ups are needed when the included 60 calls are used, and not every business category is eligible.

Deskie official site

Sophiie AI

Best fit in this shortlist

Trades and service teams looking for a broader front-office platform spanning calls, scheduling, jobs, customer records, quoting and invoicing.

Published price

Public price and included call or minute allowance not found.

Verified capabilities

The official site states 24/7 call answering, lead capture, summaries sent to an inbox or CRM, appointment booking and smart call transfers. Online signup is available and responses can be configured through a business knowledge base.

Limitation to check

The public site does not show a price or included call allowance, so buyers need a direct quote before comparing total cost.

Sophiie AI official site

Read the detailed Sophiie AI vs Deskie comparison

Hooroo AI

Best fit in this shortlist

Australian businesses that prefer a clearly published minute allowance and a self-service setup.

Published price

$149 AUD/month for Pro with 300 minutes, then $0.20 per minute over the allowance.

Verified capabilities

24/7 answering, SMS summaries, recordings and transcripts, appointment links, custom text links and call transfer rules. The official site advertises free self-service setup in 30 seconds.

Limitation to check

The Pro allowance is measured in minutes, so call length affects usage. Its appointment feature is described as sending booking links rather than conducting every booking inside the call.

Hooroo AI official site

Read the detailed Hooroo AI vs Deskie comparison

Johnni AI

Best fit in this shortlist

Australian trade and service businesses seeking customised call workflows and connections to calendars, CRMs or job-management systems.

Published price

$99/month is shown on the homepage; a clearly defined included call or minute allowance was not found.

Verified capabilities

24/7 answering, detailed summaries and recordings, appointment booking into a calendar or CRM, call routing and custom integrations. The site says each setup is designed around the business and uses a local forwarded number.

Limitation to check

The public plan presentation does not clearly define the included usage allowance or how the displayed plan levels map to the $99 price, so those details need direct confirmation.

Johnni AI official site

Read the detailed Johnni AI vs Deskie comparison

How to choose for a small service business

Start with a month of real call data. Count calls, estimate typical duration, note after-hours demand, and list the questions that must be captured. Then decide whether an answered-call allowance or a minute allowance makes more sense.

A plumber or locksmith may receive short urgent enquiries. A cleaner, landscaper, removalist or mechanic may need longer conversations about location, timing and job details. The right product is the one whose allowance, booking process and summary format match those calls.

Before signing up, confirm overage charges, setup work, number forwarding, transfer rules, calendar support, data access and which business categories the provider accepts.

If the first decision is whether to pay for call answering at all, compare a free missed-call auto-reply SMS with an AI receptionist.

Compare Deskie against your call pattern

See the verified $149 plan, 60-call inclusion and live demo on the Deskie homepage, or call now to hear the AI receptionist answer.

See Deskie pricing and demoCall 0485 017 007

Frequently asked questions

How were these AI receptionists selected?

The shortlist includes products with current official websites showing Australian availability or a clear Australian business focus. We checked Australian relevance, published pricing, included usage, after-hours coverage, summaries, booking, transfers, setup and limitations on 13 July 2026.

What is the best AI receptionist in Australia?

There is no universal best option. Deskie is our preferred fit for an eligible Australian small business that wants a published $149 standard price, 60 answered calls, SMS summaries and a fast missed-call setup. Hooroo may suit minute-based buyers, Sophiie may suit broader office automation, and Johnni may suit customised integrations.

Which AI receptionist has the clearest published allowance?

Deskie publishes 60 answered calls for $149 per month. Hooroo publishes 300 minutes for its $149 AUD Pro plan and a $0.20 per-minute overage. Sophiie does not publish an allowance, and Johnni's included usage was not clearly shown on its public site when checked.

Do these AI receptionists work after hours?

Yes. The official websites for Deskie, Sophiie AI, Hooroo AI and Johnni AI each describe 24/7 or round-the-clock call answering.

Can Australian AI receptionists book appointments and transfer calls?

It depends on the product and configuration. Deskie supports booking and transfer when configured. Sophiie states that it books appointments and supports smart transfers. Hooroo publishes appointment links and transfer rules. Johnni states that it can book into calendars or CRMs and route calls.

What should a trade or service business compare first?

Start with real monthly call volume, average call length, the questions callers need answered, summary format, booking system, transfer rules, setup support and overage charges. A plumber with many short urgent enquiries may value an answered-call allowance differently from a cleaning or landscaping business with longer booking conversations.