UK callers expect a friendly, local voice. A telephone answering service gives small firms and growing companies a professional reception without hiring, and many UK providers have decades of experience.
We ranked the services below on UK-based staffing, coverage hours, pricing clarity and the range of services beyond message taking.
Quick answer: The top uk answering services in 2027 are Moneypenny, AnswerConnect UK and alldayPA. Moneypenny is best for growing firms that want a named PA team and AI features, AnswerConnect UK is best for businesses that want round-the-clock live answering in the UK, and alldayPA is best for small businesses wanting an established UK provider.
UK Answering Services At A Glance
#
Company
Best For
Answering Model
Coverage
1
Moneypenny
Growing firms that want a named PA team and AI features
Live plus AI
24/7/365
2
AnswerConnect UK
Businesses that want round-the-clock live answering in the UK
Live receptionists
24/7/365
3
alldayPA
Small businesses wanting an established UK provider
Live receptionists
24/7/365
4
JAM
Businesses wanting a bespoke, long-established service
Live receptionists
24/7/365
5
Verbatim
SMEs wanting call and web chat answering from one UK team
Live receptionists plus chat
24/7/365
6
Face For Business
Professional and property firms wanting a personal touch
Live receptionists plus chat
Business hours and extended
7
ReceptionHQ
Sole traders and low-volume businesses
Live receptionists
Business hours and extended
Best UK Answering Service Options For 2027
1. Moneypenny — The UK’s Best-Known Answering Service, With Named Teams
Moneypenny was founded in 2000 and handles more than 20 million calls a year. It employs more than 1,250 people across UK and US offices.
Clients get a named receptionist team, and AI capabilities are sold as part of a telephone answering subscription.
Best for: Growing firms that want a named PA team and AI features
AnswerConnect’s UK operation is headquartered in Edinburgh and offers 24/7 virtual receptionists, appointment scheduling, lead capture, out-of-hours answering and live chat.
Its parent company has been named best overall answering service by Forbes.
Best for: Businesses that want round-the-clock live answering in the UK
3. alldayPA — UK Call Handling Since 1999 For Tens Of Thousands Of Businesses
alldayPA was founded in 1999 by Reuben Singh and is based in Salford. It answers calls for more than 28,000 businesses across sectors from legal to property and retail.
Services include message taking, virtual reception, customer service lines and diary management.
Best for: Small businesses wanting an established UK provider
4. JAM — The UK’s Longest-Running Answering Service, Since 1977
JAM was founded in Hertfordshire in 1977 by Jackie Millman to help musicians who were missing bookings. It now runs a 24-hour communication centre.
JAM offers pay-as-you-go messaging, monthly receptionist and flagship services.
Best for: Businesses wanting a bespoke, long-established service
5. Verbatim — Newbury-Based Call And Web Chat Answering Since 1997
Verbatim was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire. It offers virtual receptionists, call answering, web chat answering, 24/7 call handling and lead qualification.
A generous trial period lets businesses test the service before committing.
Best for: SMEs wanting call and web chat answering from one UK team
Face For Business is a UK telephone answering and live chat provider that has grown since 2011. It is popular with estate agents and financial firms that value a warm, personal service.
Best for: Professional and property firms wanting a personal touch
ReceptionHQ has offered outsourced receptionist services since 2003 and operates across the UK and Australia.
Low monthly fees with per-call charges suit businesses with modest call volume.
Best for: Sole traders and low-volume businesses
How To Choose A UK Answering Service
Are The Receptionists UK-Based?
Ask where calls are answered. UK-based teams are usually better at local names, places and accents.
Per-Call Or Per-Minute?
UK providers price in many ways, from pay-as-you-go per call to monthly bundles. Match the model to your volume.
Do You Need Out-Of-Hours Cover?
Not every UK service answers 24/7 as standard. Confirm evenings, weekends and bank holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best telephone answering service in the UK?
Moneypenny and AnswerConnect UK lead for scale and 24/7 coverage, while alldayPA and JAM bring decades of UK experience.
How much does a UK answering service cost?
UK providers charge per call, per minute or through monthly bundles. Low-volume plans can start at a small monthly fee plus a charge per call.
Do UK answering services answer out of hours?
Many do, but not all include evenings, weekends and bank holidays as standard. Check before you sign.
Conclusion
Moneypenny and AnswerConnect UK lead for coverage and scale, with alldayPA and JAM bringing decades of UK experience. Verbatim, Face For Business and ReceptionHQ give smaller firms flexible, personal options.
For more rankings and guides on outsourced call handling, explore our Answering Services hub.
