Fullday vs an answering service: which fits a local business?
By the Fullday team. Published
An answering service answers your phone, takes messages and, on some plans, books. Fullday answers and books, follows up leads that went quiet, builds your website, and on Growth and Pro runs your ads. For a local business that wants a person on every call, or careful triage for sensitive calls, an answering service is the better fit.
What job are you hiring for?
Start with the job, not the tool. If calls go to voicemail, either one will answer them. If people call, ask a question and never book, answering is only the first step.
Live operators at an answering service pick up in your name, follow your script and pass urgent calls on. Calling back, quoting and chasing the lead stay with your office.
What does Fullday do after the call?
Fullday answers calls, texts, Facebook and Instagram messages and website chat, then keeps going. It books into your calendar, texts and emails leads who didn't book until they book or say no, and puts everyone in one list. Every plan includes a website on your own domain.
On Growth and Pro it also makes Facebook and Instagram ads from your website. You pick the ones you like and set the budget, and it runs them in your own ad account, judged on cost per booking.
How do they compare?
The rows below cover the whole job, from the first ring to the booked appointment. Read them against what your office does today after a call ends.
| Answering service | Fullday | |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | Live operators, in your business name | An AI voice agent, day and night |
| Booking | Some can, depending on the plan | Books into Google Calendar or Calendly during the call |
| Leads that went quiet | Your office follows up | Texts and emails them until they book or say no |
| Ads and website | Not part of the service | Website on every plan, ads on Growth and Pro |
| Sensitive or complex calls | A trained person uses judgment | Puts it through to you or texts you |
| How it's priced | Per minute, per call or a monthly block | Monthly plan with minutes, texts and credits included |
When is an answering service the better pick?
Choose an answering service if you want a human voice on every call, no exceptions. It's also the better fit when calls need scripted triage that a trained person follows carefully, such as distressed callers or sensitive intake, or when you don't want AI talking to your customers.
How do you try Fullday before you decide?
Start a 7-day free trial, with a card up front. Setup takes about 3 minutes: it reads your website and Google listing and asks six quick questions, then a live onboarding call follows. Plans are $497, $1,497 and $2,997 a month, with no contract. It won't give medical, legal or technical advice, and it quotes only prices you approve.
What Fullday sets up for this
- Voice agent. Answers your phone day and night, books the visit and puts urgent calls through to you.
- Calendar booking. Books appointments into Google Calendar or Calendly while the customer is on the line, and texts the confirmation.
- Follow-up agent. Texts every lead who hasn't booked, on days 1, 3, 7 and 14, until they book or say no.
- Ads agent. Makes and runs your Facebook and Instagram ads in your own ad account, on the Growth and Pro plans.
- Website. A website that books, built for you on your own domain.
Plans start at $497 a month with a 7-day free trial, no contract. Ads and the search agent are on Growth, $1,497 a month.
A screen from the demo business. The people and numbers are sample data.
Related questions
Can I switch from an answering service and keep my number?
Yes. You forward the number customers know with a code from your phone carrier, or forward only the calls nobody picks up. Codes differ by carrier, so check yours.
Does Fullday include ad spend?
No. On Growth and Pro, the ads agent runs Facebook and Instagram ads in your own Meta ad account, and Meta bills the ad spend to your card. You set the daily budget and a monthly limit.
What happens when a caller wants a real person?
Fullday puts the call through to your cell or texts you, as it does for emergencies, billing or insurance questions and upset callers. You can read a summary of every call and take over yourself.
Every call answered. Every lead followed up.
Fullday answers calls, texts and chats, books into your calendar and follows up every lead. Try it free for 7 days.