MayaAI vs ReceptionHQ

ReceptionHQ is one of Australia's best-known live virtual receptionist services: human operators answer your calls and pass on messages, billed against a per-call or per-minute plan. MayaAI is an AI voice receptionist on a flat monthly rate that answers every call instantly, handles unlimited calls at once, and books appointments straight into your practice management system.

This guide is our own comparison based on publicly available information. ReceptionHQ is not affiliated with MayaAI — check their current plans directly before deciding.

How the billing models differ

Live virtual receptionist (e.g. ReceptionHQ)

  • Plans include a set number of calls or minutes each month
  • Calls beyond the allowance are charged as overage
  • Busy months and after-hours spikes cost the most
  • Operators take a message; your team calls the patient back
  • Concurrent calls wait for the next available operator

    • MayaAI

  • From $199/month, flat — no per-call or per-minute charges
  • No overage, no after-hours surcharge, no setup fee
  • Every call answered on the first ring, however many arrive at once
  • Appointments booked during the call, not after it
  • Full transcript and summary of every conversation

    • Feature-by-feature comparison

    Which one suits your practice?

    A human answering service makes sense if…

  • You take only a handful of calls a month
  • Message-taking is all you need — no booking, no records
  • You have no practice management system to integrate with

    • MayaAI makes sense if…

  • Calls arrive in bursts and patients hang up on hold
  • You want appointments booked, not messages taken
  • You need predictable costs regardless of call volume
  • You run Cliniko or Halaxy

    • Frequently asked questions

    What is the difference between MayaAI and ReceptionHQ?

    ReceptionHQ is a live virtual receptionist service where human operators answer your calls and pass on messages, typically billed per call or per minute on a plan with included call allowances. MayaAI is an AI voice receptionist on a flat monthly rate that answers every call instantly, handles unlimited calls at the same time, and can book appointments straight into your practice management system.

    Is an AI receptionist cheaper than ReceptionHQ?

    It depends on volume. Per-call and per-minute plans stay cheap at very low call volumes but climb quickly once you exceed your included allowance, and after-hours or overflow periods are usually where costs spike. MayaAI charges a flat monthly fee from $199, so a busy month costs the same as a quiet one. Always check current ReceptionHQ pricing directly, as plans change.

    Can MayaAI book appointments like a human receptionist?

    Yes. MayaAI connects to Cliniko, Halaxy and Best Practice (Bp Premier) and can create, move or cancel appointments during the call. Message-taking services generally hand the message back to your team, who then call the patient back.

    What happens when several patients call at once?

    MayaAI answers every call at the same time — there is no hold queue and no overflow to voicemail. With a human answering service, concurrent calls queue until an operator is free.

    Can I keep a human in the loop?

    Yes. MayaAI can warm-transfer urgent or complex calls to your team or an on-call number, and escalates anything it is not configured to handle.

    See MayaAI handle your calls

    Book a free 30-minute demo and hear how Maya answers a patient call end to end.