Grasshopper alternative
A Grasshopper alternative that is just the receptionist.
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system for small teams, and it sells Virtual Receptionists (AI, human, or hybrid) as a paid add-on. Leap is the receptionist on its own: it works with the number you have, knows your business from your website, captures booking requests, and can text back callers it misses.
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system for small teams: a business number, extensions, forwarding, recording, and transcription, from $14 a month as of October 5, 2026. It also sells Virtual Receptionists (AI, human, or hybrid) as a paid add-on that can book appointments and cover after hours. Leap is a receptionist-only product on your existing number, for $149 a month, first 100 calls included, then $0.99 a call.
Receptionist only. Leap is just the receptionist, so you don't need to change phone systems to get calls answered.
Editable knowledge. Leap answers questions about hours, services, and pricing from your website and documents, and you can edit every fact.
Captures bookings. Leap takes the appointment request on the call and texts the caller your booking link, or writes it to your calendar once connected.
Texts back. Leap can text back callers it misses, so the conversation can continue by text.
100 calls included. Leap is $149 a month with the first 100 calls included, then $0.99 a call, with no contract.
5 min. Leap goes live in about five minutes on your existing number, with no new hardware.
Does Grasshopper answer your calls?
Grasshopper's core product is a virtual phone system: a main number, extensions, and forwarding rules that send calls to your real phones, where your team answers. As of October 5, 2026, Grasshopper also sells Virtual Receptionists as a paid add-on, with AI, human, or hybrid options that can book appointments and cover after hours. Its Instant Response feature sends an automatic text to first-time callers you miss.
So Grasshopper can answer your calls if you add its receptionist service. The question is whether you want that alongside a new phone system, or a receptionist that works with the one you have.
Where Leap is different
Leap is an AI receptionist and nothing else. It answers in a natural voice, works from a knowledge base built out of your website, captures booking requests, and can text back callers it misses. Each call Leap answers comes with a recording, transcript, and summary.
Works with your phones
Leap forwards from your existing number and carrier, so nothing changes for your team.
Knows your business
Leap learns hours, services, and pricing from your website, and you can edit what it learned.
Captures bookings
Leap takes the appointment request and texts your booking link, or writes to your calendar once connected.
Follows up on misses
Leap can text back callers it misses, so the conversation can continue.
Can you use Leap with Grasshopper?
Yes. Keep Grasshopper's number and extensions for your team and forward overflow, missed, and after-hours calls to Leap. The calls your team can take ring through; Leap answers the rest.
Leap forwards from your existing number, so adding it does not change how your team uses Grasshopper.
Leap vs Grasshopper, side by side
| Feature | Leap | Grasshopper |
|---|---|---|
| Answers calls for you | Yes | Paid receptionist add-on |
| After-hours coverage | Yes | Add-on |
| Answers questions from your website | Yes | Not stated |
| Handles booking requests | Yes | Add-on |
| Missed-call text-back | Yes | Auto text, first-time callers |
| Call recording and transcription | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual extensions and call forwarding | Not the focus | Yes |
| Keeps your existing number | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | $149/mo, 100 calls included | Phone plan, plus receptionist add-on |
Grasshopper details checked against their public site on . Plans change, so confirm current pricing with them.
Grasshopper fits a small team that wants a business number and extensions, with a receptionist add-on if it needs one. Leap fits a business that wants only the receptionist, on the number and carrier it already has, at $149 a month with 100 calls included. Leap also works behind Grasshopper for overflow and after hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grasshopper an answering service?
Grasshopper is a virtual phone system. As of October 5, 2026, it also sells Virtual Receptionists (AI, human, or hybrid) as a paid add-on. Leap is a receptionist only, and it works with the number you already have.
What is a good Grasshopper alternative for answering calls?
If you only need calls answered, Leap is a simple option: an AI receptionist on your current number for $149 a month with 100 calls included. If you also want a new business number and extensions, Grasshopper with its receptionist add-on is worth comparing.
Can Leap work alongside Grasshopper?
Yes. Keep Grasshopper for your team's number and extensions and let Leap answer overflow, missed, and after-hours calls. Leap forwards from your existing number, so it is additive.
Does Leap use a press-one phone menu?
No. Leap has a natural conversation with the caller and routes based on what they say, instead of asking them to choose from a recorded menu.
Can I keep my number with Leap?
Yes. Leap forwards from your existing number with no port, so your team keeps using Grasshopper as it does today.
How long does Leap take to set up?
About five minutes. Paste your website, review the knowledge base Leap builds, set your transfer rules, and forward your number. No hardware required.
How much does Leap cost compared to Grasshopper?
As of October 5, 2026, Grasshopper's pricing page lists True Solo from $14 a month, with Virtual Receptionists sold as a paid add-on. Leap is $149 a month, first 100 calls included, then $0.99 a call, with no contract.
What happens when Leap does not know an answer?
Leap tells the caller it doesn't have that answer, takes their name and number, lets you know, and saves the question so you can add the answer. You can also set rules to transfer the call to a person.
Does Leap answer two calls at once?
Yes. Leap answers more than one call at the same time, so callers aren't stuck in a queue during a rush. Each call it answers is logged and summarized.
Keep exploring
Never miss another call.
Paste your website. Leap builds your receptionist from your hours, services, and policies while you watch. Live in five minutes for $149/month.