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Answering service alternative

Stop paying hundreds a month
for slower replies.

Traditional answering services charge £100 to £500 per month, add per-call fees, and still can't reply in under a minute. TextBack Pro texts every missed caller back in under 30 seconds, for a flat £47 per month.

Start 14-day free trial → See pricing
No credit card required No contract Set up in 10 minutes Replies in under 30 seconds

Why trades businesses are switching away from answering services

The bills are unpredictable

Most answering services charge per call or per minute. A busy month means a surprise invoice. TextBack Pro is a flat monthly fee, however many calls you miss.

They still aren't instant

A receptionist takes a message, then emails or texts you later. The caller is still waiting. By the time you call back, they've often booked someone else. TextBack Pro replies in under 30 seconds.

The caller gets nothing in writing

When a receptionist takes a message, the caller has no record, no reference, and nothing to reply to. An SMS lands in their phone. They can reply, save your number, and book a time.

You're paying for cover you don't need

Most answering services bundle daytime cover you already handle yourself. You're paying for peak-hour capacity you don't use, instead of just capturing the calls you genuinely miss.

How TextBack Pro works

1

Call is missed

You're on a job, driving, or simply can't get to the phone. The call goes unanswered.

2

SMS sent in under 30 seconds

TextBack Pro automatically texts the caller in your name. They get a friendly message before they've even put their phone down.

3

AI captures the job details

If they reply, AI handles the conversation, captures the enquiry details, and can book directly into your Google Calendar. You get the lead in your dashboard.

The real cost comparison

What you actually pay per month to handle missed calls.

Answering service
£150/mo
Average UK small business cost, plus per-call charges
TextBack Pro
£47/mo
Flat monthly, no per-call fees, no contract
Virtual receptionist
£350/mo
Typical range £200 to £1,500, contract required

Feature comparison

TextBack Pro vs a traditional answering service vs a virtual receptionist.

TextBack ProBest Answering service Virtual receptionist Voicemail
Typical monthly cost£47 flat£100–£500+£200–£1,500+Free
Per-call or per-minute fees✓ None× Yes× Yes✓ None
Reply speedUnder 30 secondsMinutesMinutes× No reply
Works 24/7 automatically✓Depends on planDepends on plan✓
Caller gets written confirmation✓ SMS×××
Two-way AI conversation✓×Partial×
Google Calendar booking✓ Pro plan×Some×
No contract✓× Contract× Contract✓
Setup time10 minutesDaysDays to weeksInstant
14-day free trial✓×××

Common questions

Is TextBack Pro cheaper than a phone answering service?
Yes. Answering services for UK trades typically cost £100 to £500 per month, and often charge extra per call or per minute. TextBack Pro starts at £47 per month flat, with no per-call fees. Most businesses save over £100 per month by switching.
Will customers mind getting a text instead of speaking to someone?
Most customers prefer an instant text over leaving a voicemail or waiting on hold. Research shows people are 3x more likely to engage when they get a reply within 60 seconds. TextBack Pro replies in under 30 seconds, before the caller has even put their phone down.
Can I use TextBack Pro alongside my existing answering service?
Yes. Many businesses use TextBack Pro as a complement, so answered calls continue as normal and missed calls are recovered automatically. Once you see how many leads the SMS captures, most drop the answering service entirely within a few months.
Does it work out of hours?
Yes. TextBack Pro works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays, at no extra cost. Most answering services charge a premium for out-of-hours cover.
Do I need to change my phone number?
No. You keep your existing number. You set up call forwarding so missed calls route to TextBack Pro. Your callers always see your own number on their screen. Setup takes about 5 minutes on any UK mobile or landline.
Is there a contract?
No contract and no minimum term. All plans are billed monthly and you can cancel any time from your dashboard with no penalty.

Try it free for 14 days

Replace your answering service with instant SMS replies. Set up in 10 minutes, no contract.

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