Which booking software has a built-in AI receptionist? We checked 25 platforms

What's the short answer?

Last checked: 16 October 2026. We checked each platform's own website or help center.

• 12 platforms have a built-in AI that answers calls and books during the call.
• 1 platform has an AI that answers calls but books by sending a link.
• 12 platforms: we found no native AI phone receptionist.

Disclosure: CallPad is an AI receptionist. The AI receptionists built into SalonIQ (IQ Connect), Shortcuts and Salon Manager are powered by CallPad, and CallPad integrates with several other platforms on this list (marked "Works with CallPad").

Which platforms answer calls and book during the call?

• Fresha (AI Concierge). Answers calls, then books, reschedules and cancels in your Fresha calendar. It can transfer the call to a team member or take a message (Fresha).
• Treatwell (AI Receptionist). Answers calls day or night and handles bookings, reschedules and cancellations in your Treatwell calendar. From £69 a month, per Treatwell's page (Treatwell).
• GlossGenius (Reception). Handles calls, texts and booking requests. Works with CallPad (GlossGenius).
• Booksy (AI Receptionist, beta). Picks up when you can't and books the appointment, in English or Spanish. Current Booksy providers can request access (Booksy).
• Mangomint (Mira). Answers texts and phone calls, and helps clients book, reschedule and cancel appointments (Mira).
• Meevo (AI Receptionist in MeevoIQ). Picks up, "has a real conversation, and gets the client on the books" (Meevo).
• SalonBiz (Brook AI). Finds available appointments and books them directly in SalonBiz, and handles reschedules and cancellations (SalonBiz).
• Zenoti (AI Receptionist). Answers missed and after-hours calls 24/7, then books, reschedules and confirms appointments, with a handover to a person when needed. Works with CallPad (Zenoti).
• Shortcuts (AI Receptionist). Checks real-time availability and writes the appointment into your Shortcuts appointment book, and can take a deposit. Powered by CallPad. Works with CallPad (Shortcuts).
• SalonIQ (IQ Connect). Picks up when you're with a client, checks your diary and books directly into SalonIQ. Powered by CallPad. Works with CallPad (SalonIQ).
• Salon Manager (AI Receptionist). Answers calls and helps clients book, move or cancel in the live Salon Manager diary while they're on the phone. Powered by CallPad. Works with CallPad (Salon Manager).
• Pabau (AI receptionist in Engage). When nobody answers, the AI receptionist can pick up and book the caller in (Pabau support).

Which platform answers calls but books by link?

• Boulevard (Beau, beta). Answers calls. For a new appointment, it sends a booking link with the service selected; for reschedules and cancellations, it sends a client portal link. Boulevard says it can't currently book memberships, packages, gift cards, group appointments or bookings at another location (Boulevard support).

Which platforms have no native AI phone receptionist?

For these 12, we found no native AI phone receptionist on the vendor's own pages. Some have AI for texts or chat, and several work with outside tools.

• Vagaro. Its AI receptionist, Vera, is "an AI chatbot" that replies to messages and sends customers a link to book, reschedule or cancel (Vagaro). Works with CallPad: CallPad answers calls and captures booking requests (live booking into Vagaro is in the works: join the waitlist).
• Mindbody. AI Concierge covers website chat, two-way SMS and automatic texts after missed calls. On a forwarded missed call, it plays your voicemail greeting and transcribes the voicemail (Mindbody support). Works with CallPad.
• Phorest. Front Desk AI handles scheduling requests and FAQs via SMS and WhatsApp (Phorest). Works with CallPad.
• Timely. Its AI feature we found is Textie Bestie, an AI SMS generator (Timely). A CallPad integration with Timely is in the works (join the waitlist).
• Kitomba. Fully Booked is an AI-powered feature that texts clients to fill gaps in your appointment book (Kitomba). A CallPad integration with Kitomba is in the works (join the waitlist).
• Square Appointments. Square's AI-powered voice feature takes orders, not appointments (Square support). Works with CallPad.
• Setmore. Live Receptionist uses real people to answer calls and book appointments (Setmore). Works with CallPad.
• Acuity Scheduling (Squarespace). None found on the vendor's page (Squarespace).
• Rosy. Points salons to Girl Fridays, a virtual front desk service (Rosy).
• Salon Iris (DaySmart). None found on DaySmart's AI page (DaySmart).
• Cliniko. Lists third-party connected apps, such as Aeva, for AI call answering (Cliniko). Works with CallPad.
• Nookal. Its Clinical AI is voice-to-text for notes. We found no AI phone receptionist (Nookal).

Which platforms are common in the US?

Platforms commonly used by US salons, spas and med spas include Vagaro, Boulevard, Mindbody, GlossGenius, Square Appointments, Booksy, Mangomint, Zenoti, Meevo, SalonBiz, Rosy and Salon Iris, with Setmore and Acuity popular with solo businesses. Of these, GlossGenius, Booksy (beta), Mangomint, Zenoti, Meevo and SalonBiz have AI that answers and books in-call, and Boulevard answers and books by link.

This matters because US callers don't wait: only 42% of consumers say they leave a voicemail when a business doesn't answer, and 21% say they immediately call another business (CallRail, 2025).

Which platforms are common in the UK?

Commonly used UK salon booking systems include Phorest, Fresha, Treatwell, Booksy, Timely, SalonIQ, Salon Manager, Shortcuts and Square, with Pabau common among aesthetics clinics. Fresha, Treatwell, Booksy (beta), SalonIQ, Salon Manager, Shortcuts and Pabau have AI that answers and books in-call. The SalonIQ, Salon Manager and Shortcuts receptionists are powered by CallPad.

In the UK, only 6% of adults say they would leave a voicemail rather than wait for a business to answer (YouGov for Answer4u, 2026).

Which platforms are common in Australia?

Commonly used Australian platforms include Timely, Kitomba, Shortcuts, Fresha, Square and Phorest, with Pabau used by cosmetic clinics and Cliniko and Nookal by massage and allied health practices. Shortcuts (powered by CallPad), Fresha and Pabau have AI that answers and books in-call.

These lists are based on local software roundups and vendor market pages. They're signals of what's common, not market share.

Built-in AI or a specialist AI receptionist: how should you decide?

A built-in AI can be a good choice, especially if you're settled on your platform. Whichever you consider, ask:

1. Does it book during the call, or send a link? A link asks the client to finish the booking later.
2. Can it book a named stylist or practitioner? Regulars usually want their own.
3. Does it handle packages, deposits and memberships? Check the platform's list of what it can't do yet.
4. Which channels does it cover? Calls, texts, WhatsApp or chat.
5. What happens when a caller wants a person? Look for a transfer or a message your team can act on.
6. Will you switch booking software later? A built-in AI stays with its platform.

What if your software doesn't answer calls?

You have three main options: a human answering service, a specialist AI receptionist, or voicemail. CallPad is a specialist AI receptionist. It books in real time with a named stylist or practitioner on the platforms it supports (on Vagaro, live booking is in the works), it can transfer the call to a team member or take a message, and setup takes about 10 minutes. CallPad also works with Booker, Zoho Bookings, Simple Salon and Google Calendar. See the booking systems CallPad works with, or compare CallPad and BookingBee.

How did we check?

We checked each platform's own website, product page or help center, and linked the page we used for each one. We didn't rely on third-party reviews. Where we found no AI phone receptionist, we say so, rather than claiming a platform doesn't have one. We plan to re-check every quarter. If something has changed, tell us and we'll update the page.

Frequently asked questions

Does Fresha have an AI receptionist?

Yes. Fresha's AI Concierge answers calls and books, reschedules and cancels appointments in your Fresha calendar.

Does Vagaro have an AI receptionist that answers calls?

Vagaro's Vera is an AI chatbot that replies to messages and sends booking links. We found no native AI phone receptionist on Vagaro's pages.

Does Mindbody's AI Concierge answer the phone?

Not as a live conversation. Mindbody's AI Concierge covers website chat, two-way SMS and texts after missed calls, and it plays your voicemail greeting and transcribes voicemails.

What can't Boulevard's AI Receptionist do?

Boulevard's Beau is in beta and books by sending a link. Boulevard says it can't currently book memberships, packages, gift cards, group appointments or bookings at another location.

Does Phorest have AI phone answering?

Phorest's Front Desk AI handles scheduling requests and FAQs via SMS and WhatsApp. We found no native AI phone receptionist on Phorest's pages.

Does Square Appointments have an AI receptionist?

Square's AI-powered voice feature takes orders, not appointments. We found no native AI phone receptionist for Square Appointments.

Which booking software has an AI receptionist in the UK?

Fresha, Treatwell, Booksy (beta), SalonIQ, Salon Manager and Shortcuts, plus Pabau for clinics. The SalonIQ, Salon Manager and Shortcuts receptionists are powered by CallPad.

What if my booking software doesn't have one?

Your options are a human answering service, a specialist AI receptionist such as CallPad, or voicemail. CallPad works with Mindbody, Booker, Zenoti, Square, GlossGenius, Setmore, Zoho Bookings, Phorest, SalonIQ, Salon Manager, Shortcuts, Simple Salon, Cliniko and Google Calendar.

See if CallPad works with your system

See if CallPad works with your booking system, or hear CallPad answer a booking call.