At a Glance
| Feature | SkipCalls | Beside | Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-plan call allowance | Up to 200 calls a month on Starter (fair use), unlimited minutes for normal use | 30 AI-answered calls a month; unlimited on the higher plan | SkipCalls (more calls before you upgrade) |
| Calendars | Google, Outlook, Apple, Calendly, Cal.com, TidyCal and more | Google or Outlook | SkipCalls (books into more calendars) |
| Languages | Spanish and 10+ languages, detected automatically, even mid-call | English, Spanish, French and Portuguese | SkipCalls (more languages) |
| Spam calls | About 9 million known spam numbers blocked before your phone rings; saved contacts always get through | Spam-likely calls go to the receptionist to screen | Different approach |
| Appointment booking | Books during the call | Books during the call | Tie |
| Call transfers | Warm or cold; your teammate is briefed before the caller is connected | Hands off to a teammate or a number you set | Tie |
| After the call | Transcript, summary and call recording on your phone | Call summaries and transcripts | Tie |
| Voice | Natural voices; premium voices and voice cloning on PRO | Pick a tone, or clone your voice | Tie |
| Incoming texts | AI text replies on PRO | Answers inbound texts | Tie |
| Customer records | Built-in CRM; HubSpot, Salesforce, Jobber and more on PRO | Built-in CRM; HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zapier and more | Tie |
| Website chat | AI website chat on PRO | Not listed on their site | — |
| Beyond the phone | Email Receptionist on PRO | Website builder, reviews manager, Google Ads management | Beside (broader business suite) |
| Setup | About 5 minutes; forward your existing number | Forward your existing number from any carrier | Tie |
| Apps | iPhone, Android and web | iOS, Android and web | Tie |
Beside details come from its public AI receptionist, pricing and integrations pages, checked October 17, 2026, and can change. Current SkipCalls plans are on the pricing page.
Two Good Products, Built for Different Jobs
Beside has grown into an all-in-one business agent: a phone line and AI receptionist, plus a CRM, website builder, reviews manager and Google Ads management. It is a strong pick if you want one vendor to run your marketing as well as your phone.
SkipCalls is a dedicated AI receptionist. It answers every call 24/7, books the job into the calendar you already use, transfers urgent callers to you or your team, and texts you a summary of every call. It goes deeper on the phone itself: more calls on the entry plan, more calendars, more languages, and spam stopped before your phone rings.
If you mainly need your calls answered and booked, here is how the two compare.
Where SkipCalls Is Ahead
More calls before you upgrade. Beside's entry phone plan covers 30 AI-answered calls a month. SkipCalls Starter covers up to 200 calls a month under fair use, with unlimited minutes for normal use and no per-minute fees. For a busy trade, that is the difference between one plan all year and an upgrade in the first busy week.
Books into the calendar you already use. Beside's receptionist checks Google or Outlook. SkipCalls also books into Apple Calendar, Calendly, Cal.com, TidyCal, Housecall Pro and more. See all integrations.
More languages, no menu. Beside lists four languages. SkipCalls detects 10+ languages and switches automatically, even mid-call, on every plan. No "press 2 for Spanish."
Spam never reaches you. SkipCalls blocks about 9 million known spam numbers before the call is answered, and the people saved in your contacts always get through. You can also send family and friends straight to your voicemail so they never talk to the AI, on every plan.
Your phones can ring first. On PRO, with a US or Canadian SkipCalls number, up to four of your phones ring before the receptionist answers. Whoever picks up takes the call; if nobody does, the receptionist answers.
A second check on every call. Real-time supervision watches each conversation so the receptionist doesn't skip a question you need answered. On PRO you can also define the exact details to collect on every call.
More than the phone line, on PRO. The same receptionist answers website chat, replies to customer emails with the Email Receptionist, and connects to your own systems through API, webhooks and custom functions.
Where Beside Is Stronger
- A broader business suite. Beside also builds and maintains your website, manages reviews and runs Google Ads. SkipCalls doesn't do marketing.
- A wide integrations list. Beside connects to tools like QuickBooks, Shopify, Follow Up Boss and Monday CRM alongside HubSpot and Salesforce.
If you want one agent to handle marketing as well as calls, Beside is worth a close look.
Which Should You Choose?
Choose Beside if you want one vendor for your phone, website, reviews and ads, and your call volume fits its plans.
Choose SkipCalls if the phone is where your jobs come from and you want:
- More calls on the entry plan, with unlimited minutes for normal use
- Booking into Google, Outlook, Apple, Calendly, Cal.com and more
- Spanish and 10+ languages on every plan
- Spam blocked before your phone rings
- Setup in about 5 minutes on your existing number
The best test is a real one: forward your missed calls, place a test call from another phone, and see what your receptionist captures in the first week. See every SkipCalls feature, or compare more options in our Best AI Receptionist 2026 guide.
Last updated: October 2026