Comparison
Marlie alternatives: 6 options compared
The usual reason to look past Marlie is in its plan table: the $49 plan doesn't book or put callers through, so for a business that books jobs, Marlie starts at $99. Its 35¢ overage adds to that in a busy month.
At 75 two-minute calls a month, Marlie costs $49 without booking and $99 with it (October 2026). Below, six AI receptionist and answering service alternatives, with what each would cost, who each suits, and the catch.
The alternatives at a glance
| Service | Best for | Entry price | At 75 calls | Books and puts calls through at that price? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Juney | Booking and transfers at the same price as Marlie's entry plan | $49 a month for 150 minutes | $49 | Yes |
| Rosie | Marlie's minutes with a companion app | $49 a month for 250 minutes | $49 | Booking links by text; no booking or transfers |
| Dialzara | A lower entry price with transfers | $29 a month for 60 minutes | $72.20 | Blind transfers; no calendar sync |
| Upfirst | Booking on every plan, billed per call | $24.95 a month for 30 calls | $59.95 | Yes |
| Frontdesk | Calls plus texting and a website chatbot | $99 a month for 200 minutes | $99 | Yes |
| Goodcall | No minute meter at all | $79 a month for 100 different callers | $79 | Yes |
US dollars a month, from each service's own pricing page (checked October 22, 2026). 75 calls of 2 minutes, on the cheapest plan for that month, before tax and carrier charges.
Why look for a Marlie alternative?
We found no Trustpilot page for Marlie (October 2026), so these reasons come from its pricing page, not from reviews.
- Booking and transfers start at $99. The $49 plan answers, takes messages and texts a link, and that's it.
- Some actions wait longer still. Canceling a booking for a caller, and transfers to more than one person, start on the $199 plan.
- Overage is 35¢ a minute on the two smaller plans.
- It's set up on the web, which suits a desk more than a job site.
When to stay with Marlie: you mostly need messages taken and use 150 to 250 minutes a month, you need booking and take about 175 to 320 calls a month (500 minutes for $99), you book in Calendly, or you want spam screened and a 14-day trial.
The 6 alternatives
Juney: best for booking and transfers at the same price as Marlie's entry plan
It costs what Marlie's entry plan costs, but that $49 includes what Marlie keeps for $99: booking, moving and canceling in Google Calendar, and putting urgent callers through. So 75 two-minute calls with booking come to $49 on Juney and $99 on Marlie. Extra minutes come as top-ups, $20 for 100, against Marlie's 35¢ a minute. Setup and settings are all in a phone app, with an option to ring you for about 15 seconds before she picks up.
The catch: 150 minutes instead of Marlie's 250, English only, Google Calendar only and no spam filter.
Rosie: best for marlie's minutes with a companion app
Rosie's entry plan sits close to Marlie's: $49 a month for 250 minutes, with no booking or transfers and an appointment link by text instead. What Rosie adds is a native iPhone and Android app beside the web dashboard, and English and Spanish on every plan. At 75 calls Rosie comes to $49. The difference shows when you go over: Marlie charges 35¢ a minute, while Rosie moves you up a plan.
The catch: Rosie's booking and transfers start at $149, against Marlie's $99.
Dialzara: best for a lower entry price with transfers
Dialzara starts lower, at $29 a month for 60 minutes, and that plan puts callers through (blind transfers) though it doesn't sync a calendar. Google or Outlook sync, warm transfers and Spanish start at $99, and it offers UK and Australian numbers on request. At 75 calls it's $72.20 without booking or $99 with it.
The catch: its $99 plan has 220 minutes against Marlie's 500 for the same price, and the entry plan's overage is 48¢ a minute.
Upfirst: best for booking on every plan, billed per call
Upfirst books on every plan, straight into Google, Outlook, Calendly, Acuity, Square or Clio, from $24.95 a month for 30 calls. It lists 35+ languages and doesn't bill spam or calls under 15 seconds. At 75 calls, booking included, it's $59.95.
The catch: it's per call, so a busy month climbs fast ($119.95 at 150 calls), and it's set up on the web.
Frontdesk: best for calls plus texting and a website chatbot
Frontdesk (formerly My AI Front Desk) sells one bundle at $99 a month: 200 voice minutes, with a website chatbot, two-way texting, transfers and 20+ languages included. Where Marlie's entry plan texts callers a link, Frontdesk can hold a conversation by text. Bookings go into a built-in calendar that syncs with Google. Seventy-five calls cost $99, and the trial is 7 days with no card.
The catch: fewer minutes than Marlie's $99 plan for the same money, and extra minutes come from credit top-ups.
Goodcall: best for no minute meter at all
Goodcall has no minute allowance to run past: it counts different callers, $79 a month for 100 different callers, and minutes are unlimited. Where Marlie's entry plan takes messages and texts a link, Goodcall's books into Google Calendar and transfers from the start, trying up to three people. A customer who rings three times counts once, so 75 calls from about 60 people are $79, against $99 on Marlie's booking plan.
The catch: English only, a $79 entry price, and a demo agent rather than Marlie's 14-day trial.
Which Marlie alternative should you pick?
- You want booking and transfers at $49: Juney.
- You want Marlie's plan with an app: Rosie, if you can wait for booking.
- You want to start below $49: Dialzara, which puts callers through on its entry plan.
- You book in Outlook, Calendly or Square, at under 90 calls: Upfirst.
- Customers also text or chat on your website: Frontdesk.
- Your calls run long: Goodcall.
Can an AI Answering Service Book Appointments in My Calendar? explains what to check before you rely on a service's booking, and Cheap Answering Service: What You'll Actually Pay in 2026 prices the low-cost plans line by line.
How do you switch from Marlie?
- Check last month's minutes in Marlie's call reports, and note how many calls should have been bookings.
- Price each option on the plan that books and transfers, not the entry plan.
- Start the new service's trial while Marlie is still answering.
- Test it with calls of your own: a booking, a reschedule, an urgent job.
- Move your forwarding from the Marlie number to the new service. Your own number stays the same.
- Cancel Marlie once you're happy. It has no long-term contract.
Frequently asked questions
Which Marlie alternative books appointments for $49?
Juney books into Google Calendar and puts callers through on its $49 plan (October 2026). Upfirst books on every plan from $24.95, billed per call. Marlie's and Rosie's $49 plans don't book.
What's the cheapest alternative to Marlie?
It depends on your calls. At 30 calls, Upfirst costs $24.95 and Dialzara $29 (October 2026). At 75 calls with booking, Juney costs $49 against Marlie's $99.
Is there a Marlie alternative with more minutes?
Rosie matches Marlie's 250 minutes for $49, and Goodcall has no minute limit, counting different callers instead (October 2026). For booking, Marlie's own $99 plan, with 500 minutes, is hard to beat on minutes.
Can I keep my business number if I leave Marlie?
Yes. With Marlie your number forwards to a Marlie number, so you change the forwarding to the new service. Juney works the same way: calls are forwarded from your number and nothing is ported.
