WordPress AI Receptionist Plugin: Add Phone Answering to Your Site

WordPress runs 43.4% of all websites on the internet. That's over 850 million sites—more than Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace combined.

With over 60,300 plugins available, WordPress users can add almost any feature imaginable. SEO optimization? There's Yoast. Ecommerce? WooCommerce. Security? Wordfence. Contact forms? Gravity Forms.

But here's what's missing: actual phone answering.

Sure, you can add click-to-call buttons. You can embed chatbots for text conversations. But when a potential customer picks up their phone and calls your WordPress site, who answers?

In our analysis of 13,175 customer service calls from 47 home services contractors over 7 months, we found that 74.1% of calls went completely unanswered. That's three out of every four potential customers calling someone else.

This guide shows you how to add true AI phone answering to your WordPress site—no coding required, integrates like any other plugin, and costs a fraction of hiring a receptionist.

Why WordPress Is the Largest Integration Opportunity

WordPress Powers 43% of the Internet

Let's put that 43.4% number in context.

According to the 2025 WordPress market share report, WordPress's dominance has grown steadily from 27.3% in 2017 to 43.6% in January 2025. Among websites with a known content management system, WordPress holds 61.3% of the market.

This isn't a small niche. This is the internet's infrastructure.

Your potential customers are building their businesses on WordPress. Marketing agencies, consultants, contractors, law firms, medical practices, real estate agents, local service businesses—they're all on WordPress.

The WordPress Plugin Ecosystem

WordPress users think in plugins. According to WordPress plugin statistics, 80% of WordPress websites use at least one plugin. The top 10 plugins account for 27.6% of all plugin installations.

What does this mean for phone integration?

WordPress users expect a familiar workflow: find plugin, install, activate, configure, done. They don't want to learn new platforms or leave their WordPress dashboard to manage features.

They've added plugins for email marketing (Mailchimp), appointment booking (Calendly), live chat (Intercom), and customer relationship management (HubSpot). Phone answering should work the same way.

Why WordPress Sites Need Phone Integration

Who's using WordPress? Here's the reality:

Marketing agencies spend 4-6 hours daily on Zoom client calls. When a potential client calls, it goes to voicemail.

Consultants are in back-to-back meetings. Their beautiful WordPress portfolio site lists their phone number, but they can't actually answer it.

Contractors are on job sites with hands covered in drywall mud or up on ladders installing HVAC units. Their WordPress site generates leads, but they miss the calls.

Local service businesses close at 5 PM. Emergency calls come in at 9 PM (burst pipe, no AC, broken lock). They lose the high-value urgent work to competitors who answer.

Every one of these businesses has a WordPress site. None of them can actually answer their phone consistently.

The Current State of WordPress Phone Integration

Click-to-Call Buttons: The Status Quo

The most popular WordPress phone solution is the click-to-call button. Call Now Button alone has over 200,000 active installations.

Here's what these plugins do: they create a clickable phone number that triggers a phone dial on mobile devices. Tap the button, your phone dials the business.

Simple. Effective for what it is. But limited.

What Click-to-Call Actually Does

Click-to-call plugins make it easier for customers to initiate a call. That's where their job ends.

The call still goes to your regular business phone. If you're available, you answer. If you're busy, in a meeting, on another call, or after-hours, the call goes to voicemail.

The plugin didn't answer the call. It just made dialing easier.

The Problem: Forwarding ` Answering

Let me show you what this looks like in practice.

You're a marketing agency owner presenting a website redesign to a client on Zoom. A potential customer finds your WordPress site, loves your portfolio, and clicks "Call Now" at 2 PM.

Your phone rings. You're mid-presentation. You ignore it.

The caller hears ringing, then voicemail. They hang up. They Google "marketing agency [your city]" again. They call the next one. That agency answers (or their AI receptionist does). You just lost a $15,000 website project.

Our data tells this story at scale. In our analysis of 13,175 calls:

• 25.4% of callers explicitly requested callbacks (632 calls out of 2,487)
• 15.9% contained urgency language like "emergency," "urgent," or "ASAP"
• 6.2% were true emergencies requiring immediate response

Click-to-call buttons don't capture callback requests. They don't recognize urgency. They don't qualify leads or book appointments. They just forward.

That worked fine in 2015. But we can do better now.

What Is an AI Receptionist for WordPress?

AI Receptionist vs Chatbot vs Click-to-Call

Let's clarify what we're talking about, because there's confusion around these terms.

Click-to-call button: Makes your phone number clickable. Forwards incoming calls to your phone. Works great when you're available. Useless when you're not.

Chatbot: Handles text conversations on your website. Answers FAQs via typing. Can't handle phone calls at all—different technology, different use case.

AI receptionist: Actually answers voice phone calls 24/7. Has conversations with callers. Qualifies leads, books appointments, routes emergencies, captures callback requests.

Think of it this way: click-to-call was step 1 (making calls easier). AI receptionist is step 2 (actually answering those calls).

How AI Receptionist Technology Works

Modern AI receptionists use natural language processing to understand what callers are saying and respond conversationally.

You train the AI with your business information: what services you offer, your pricing, your hours, common questions you get. The AI learns this context.

When someone calls, the AI:

1. Answers in under 5 seconds
2. Greets the caller with your business name
3. Asks how it can help
4. Understands the caller's request (even if phrased differently than expected)
5. Provides accurate answers based on your training
6. Collects information (name, phone, email, project details)
7. Books appointments if you've connected a calendar
8. Routes urgent calls to your mobile phone if it detects emergency language
9. Sends you a summary via email with call recording and transcript

This happens whether you're in a meeting, on a job site, asleep, or on vacation.

The Evolution: From Forwarding to Answering

Here's the comparison in plain terms:

• Click-to-Call Button:

• Handles: Phone calls

• When it works: During business hours (if you answer)

• What it does: Forwards call to your phone

• Cost: Free to $50/year

• Calls answered: Only when you're available

• WordPress Chatbot:

• Handles: Text conversations

• When it works: 24/7

• What it does: Responds to typed questions

• Cost: $0-200/month

• Calls answered: None (different technology)

• AI Receptionist:

• Handles: Voice phone calls

• When it works: 24/7, 365 days

• What it does: Answers, qualifies, books, routes

• Cost: $50-500/month

• Calls answered: 100%

The best WordPress sites use all three: click-to-call for visibility, chatbot for web visitors who prefer typing, AI receptionist for phone calls.

Why WordPress Sites Need Phone Answering (The Data)

The Missed Call Crisis

We analyzed 13,175 calls from 47 home services contractors over 7 months. These are real businesses with professional WordPress sites, contact forms, and click-to-call buttons.

The data is brutal: 74.1% of calls went completely unanswered.

Not "went to voicemail and got a callback later." Completely unanswered. The customer called, got voicemail or endless ringing, hung up, called a competitor.

Why does this happen?

You're busy running your business. You're in client meetings. On job sites. Handling current customers. In the field. On Zoom calls. Driving. At lunch. After hours.

Your WordPress site works 24/7 generating leads. Your phone answering capability works maybe 6 hours a day if you're disciplined.

What Happens to Unanswered Calls

Let's look at what those missed calls actually contained.

Of the calls we analyzed, 25.4% of callers explicitly requested a callback. That's 632 people out of 2,487 who said things like:

• "Give me a call back when you get a chance"
• "Have someone call me to schedule an estimate"
• "Call me at this number"

Without a system to capture and track these requests, most never get called back. The business owner listens to voicemail at the end of the day, means to call everyone back, gets distracted with current work, and forgets.

The customer moves on.

Even worse: 15.9% of calls contained urgency language. "Emergency," "urgent," "ASAP," "right now," "immediately."

Emergency calls average $4,200 in revenue—significantly higher than routine work. Missing one emergency call per week costs $16,800 per month in lost revenue.

WordPress Site Owner Scenarios

Let me show you what this looks like for real WordPress users.

Scenario 1: Marketing Agency

You run a 3-person agency. Beautiful WordPress portfolio site, great SEO, strong local presence. You get 35 calls per month from your website.

You're in client meetings 4-6 hours daily. Those 35 calls come in randomly. You answer maybe 12 of them (the ones that happen to call when you're at your desk).

The other 23 go to voicemail. Some leave messages. Most don't. They call the next agency on Google.

23 missed calls — 30% close rate — $12,000 average project = $82,800 per month in lost revenue.

For a $0 click-to-call button that doesn't actually answer calls.

Scenario 2: HVAC Contractor

You installed Call Now Button on your WordPress site. Works great—you get 42 calls per month.

But you're on ladders installing AC units 6-8 hours daily. Your phone's in your pocket. You can't answer when you're carrying a compressor or working with refrigerant.

At 9 PM, a customer's AC dies. It's 95 degrees. They're panicking. They call every HVAC company on Google. The one that answers (or whose AI answers) gets a $3,500 emergency job.

Your call goes to voicemail. You check it at 10 PM. You call back. They already booked someone else.

42 calls/month — 74.1% missed = 31 missed calls. If just 20% would have converted at $3,500 average:

31 missed — 20% — $3,500 = $21,700 per month lost. That's $260,400 per year.

Scenario 3: Business Consultant

You have an impressive WordPress site showcasing your expertise. You charge $10,000 for 90-day consulting engagements.

You're on Zoom calls with current clients 4-6 hours daily. That's your delivery model—you can't exactly pause a strategic planning session to answer your phone.

You get 15 calls per month from your WordPress site. You miss 11 of them because you're in meetings.

11 missed — 25% close rate — $10,000 = $27,500 per month lost.

One customer told us: "I didn't even know I was missing that many calls until I saw the data. I just thought business was slow."

Business wasn't slow. His phone answering was.

How AI Receptionist Integration Works for WordPress

Three Integration Methods

Adding an AI receptionist to WordPress is simpler than you'd think. There are three methods, all no-code:

Method 1: Custom HTML Block (Easiest for Modern WordPress)

If you're using the Gutenberg block editor (WordPress 5.0+), this is your best option. You add a Custom HTML block and paste the embed code. Done.

Works exactly like embedding a Google Map or YouTube video.

Method 2: Widget Areas (Traditional WordPress)

Add the code to your sidebar, footer, or header widget areas. This is the classic WordPress approach—go to Appearance — Widgets, add a Custom HTML widget, paste code.

Method 3: Shortcode

Some AI receptionist services (including NextPhone) provide a shortcode you can paste anywhere in your content. Want it on your contact page? Paste the shortcode. Homepage? Paste it there.

All three methods take less than 5 minutes.

The Embed Code Approach (Easiest)

Here's the step-by-step for modern WordPress:

1. Get your embed code from your AI receptionist dashboard (we'll cover this in the setup section)
2. In WordPress, go to the page where you want the widget (usually Contact page or Homepage)
3. Click the '+' icon to add a block
4. Search for "Custom HTML"
5. Paste your embed code
6. Click Publish

The widget appears on your site. Customers can see your phone number. When they call, the AI answers.

This works exactly like adding a Calendly scheduler or Mailchimp signup form to WordPress. If you've done either of those, you already know how to add an AI receptionist.

WordPress Widget Areas

Prefer the traditional widget approach? Here's how:

1. Go to Appearance — Widgets in your WordPress dashboard
2. Choose your widget area (sidebar, footer, header—depends on your theme)
3. Add a Custom HTML widget
4. Paste your embed code
5. Save

The advantage of widget areas: the phone widget appears on every page automatically. Customer can call from anywhere on your site.

Performance note: The widget loads asynchronously, meaning it doesn't slow down your page load time. It loads after your main content, just like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel.

We've tested this on sites with GTmetrix and Google PageSpeed Insights. Typical impact: less than 0.1 seconds (imperceptible to users).

Compatibility: Works with any WordPress theme—Divi, Elementor, Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, Avada, all of them. If your theme supports Custom HTML blocks or widgets (they all do), it works.

Benefits of AI Receptionist for WordPress Sites

24/7 Availability (Never Miss a Call)

Your WordPress site works around the clock. Your AI receptionist should too.

According to our call data, 73% of calls to home services businesses happen outside standard 9-5 hours. People research service providers in the evening after work. Emergencies happen at midnight. Weekend projects generate Monday calls.

A traditional receptionist costs $35,000 per year, works 40 hours per week, and takes holidays, sick days, and vacations.

An AI receptionist works 168 hours per week, every week, for $199-500 per month depending on the service.

When someone calls your WordPress site at 2 AM because their pipe burst, the AI answers. When a prospect researches agencies at 10 PM on Sunday, the AI books a consultation for Monday morning.

You wake up to qualified leads in your inbox.

Lead Qualification and Capture

Here's what makes AI receptionists different from dumb call forwarding.

The AI asks qualifying questions:

• "What type of project are you working on?"
• "What's your budget range?"
• "What's your timeline?"
• "How did you hear about us?"

It collects structured information:

• Full name
• Phone number
• Email address
• Company name (for B2B)
• Project details
• Preferred contact time

This data flows into your WordPress ecosystem. If you're using WooCommerce, it can create a customer record. If you have a CRM plugin, it can push the lead there. If you use Gravity Forms or WPForms, it integrates via webhook.

One agency owner told us they went from "random voicemails I couldn't track" to "qualified leads with budget, timeline, and project scope in my CRM within 30 seconds of the call ending."

Callback Request Tracking

Remember that 25.4% statistic—one in four callers requests a callback?

Click-to-call buttons don't capture this. The customer leaves a voicemail saying "call me back" with their phone number spoken quickly. You miss a digit when transcribing. You call the wrong number. They don't answer. You both play phone tag for three days.

The lead goes cold.

AI receptionists capture callback requests systematically:

• "What's the best number to reach you?"
• "What time works best for a call back?"
• "Can I get your email in case we need to reschedule?"

You get a notification: "John Smith requested callback, (555) 123-4567, best time: tomorrow 2-4 PM, interested in kitchen remodel, budget $30-50K."

You call once, at the right time, with context. Close rate goes up.

Emergency Call Routing

Not all calls are equal. Some need a human immediately.

AI receptionists detect urgency keywords:

• "Emergency"
• "Urgent"
• "ASAP"
• "Right now"
• "Immediately"
• "No heat" (HVAC)
• "Burst pipe" (plumbing)
• "No power" (electrical)

When detected, the AI can transfer the call to your mobile phone mid-conversation. The customer talks to the AI, explains the emergency, AI says "Let me connect you with our emergency technician right away," and rings your phone.

You answer already knowing: emergency, what kind, customer's name and number, location.

These calls average $4,200 in revenue. You don't want to miss them.

ROI for WordPress Site Owners

Let's do the math for a typical contractor with a WordPress site.

• Current state:

• 42 calls per month from website

• 74.1% missed (31 calls)

• 20% would have converted (conservative estimate)

• $3,500 average project value

• 31 — 20% — $3,500 = $21,700/month lost

• Annual: $260,400 lost

• With AI receptionist:

• Same 42 calls per month

• 100% answered

• 20% conversion (same rate, now applied to all calls)

• 42 — 20% — $3,500 = $29,400/month revenue

• AI receptionist cost: $199/month

• Net gain: $29,400 - $199 = $29,201/month

• Annual net: $350,412

The AI receptionist costs $2,388 per year and generates $350,412 in captured revenue.

That's a 14,600% ROI.

Even if only 10% of missed calls would have converted (half our estimate), you're still capturing $130,200 per year for a $2,388 investment.

Pricing: WordPress Plugin vs AI Receptionist vs Traditional Service

The WordPress Plugin Price Expectation Gap

Here's the first thing WordPress users ask: "How much?"

And they're expecting plugin prices: $0-50 per year.

Why? Because that's what WordPress plugins cost:

• Yoast SEO: Free (premium $99/year)
• WooCommerce: Free (extensions vary)
• Gravity Forms: $59/year
• Wordfence: Free (premium $119/year)

But AI receptionist isn't a plugin you install and forget. It's a service—more like web hosting than a one-time plugin.

You're paying for:

• AI technology that processes natural language
• Phone infrastructure (Twilio integration)
• Cloud storage for call recordings
• Transcription services
• Email notifications
• 24/7 uptime
• Ongoing training and updates

Think of it like hosting. You don't pay Bluehost once and host forever. You pay monthly because they're providing ongoing infrastructure.

What You Actually Pay For

Let's compare what you get with different approaches.

• Free click-to-call plugin:

• Cost: $0/year

• Calls answered: Only when you personally answer

• After-hours: Voicemail

• Lead capture: None (just voicemail messages)

• Qualification: None

• Result: $260,400/year lost in missed calls

• AI receptionist service:

• Cost: $199/month ($2,388/year for NextPhone)

• Calls answered: 100%, 24/7

• After-hours: Fully answered

• Lead capture: Structured data (name, phone, email, project details)

• Qualification: Yes (budget, timeline, needs)

• Result: $350,000+/year captured revenue

• Traditional answering service:

• Cost: $500-800/month ($6,000-9,600/year)

• Calls answered: 100% during contracted hours

• After-hours: Depends on plan

• Lead capture: Basic (name, phone)

• Qualification: Limited to script

• Result: Similar capture to AI, 3-4— higher cost

Cost Comparison Breakdown

The question isn't "Can I afford an AI receptionist?"

The question is "Can I afford to keep missing $260,400 per year in calls?"

How to Add AI Receptionist to Your WordPress Site

Before You Start: Best Practices

Following WordPress integration best practices, you should test new integrations on a staging site first.

A staging site is a private copy of your WordPress site where you can test changes without affecting live visitors. Most WordPress hosts (WP Engine, Kinsta, SiteGround) offer one-click staging.

Why stage first?

• Test that the widget displays correctly on your theme
• Verify mobile responsiveness
• Check that it doesn't conflict with other plugins
• Confirm load time impact (should be <0.1 seconds)

Once verified, push to production.

Plugin compatibility: AI receptionist widgets use standard HTML/JavaScript embed codes. They don't conflict with other plugins because they don't modify WordPress core or database. But testing is still smart.

Step-by-Step Integration Tutorial

Here's exactly how to add an AI receptionist to your WordPress site:

Step 1: Sign Up for AI Receptionist Service

For this tutorial, I'll use NextPhone as the example (it's designed for WordPress users, offers $199/month pricing, and provides embed codes).

Go to NextPhone and create an account. You'll get a 14-day free trial—no credit card required.

Step 2: Configure Your AI

In the NextPhone dashboard, you'll configure your AI receptionist:

• Enter your business name
• Add your services/offerings
• Set your business hours
• Upload FAQs (or the AI will analyze your WordPress site and extract them automatically)
• Connect your calendar if you want appointment booking
• Add your mobile number for emergency call transfers

The setup takes 10-15 minutes. The AI website analyzer will scan your WordPress site and pre-populate most of this information.

Step 3: Get Your Embed Code

Once configured, go to the "Integration" section in the dashboard.

You'll see embed code that looks like:

<div id="nextphone-widget"></div>
<script src="https://widget.getnextphone.com/v1/widget.js"></script>
<script>
  NextPhoneWidget.init({
    businessId: 'your-business-id',
    position: 'bottom-right'
  });
</script>

Copy this code.

Step 4: Add to WordPress

Now in WordPress:

1. Go to your Contact page (or wherever you want the widget)
2. Click Edit
3. Click the '+' icon to add a new block
4. Search for "Custom HTML"
5. Select the Custom HTML block
6. Paste your embed code
7. Click Preview to see how it looks
8. Adjust position if needed (widget settings let you choose bottom-right, bottom-left, etc.)
9. Click Publish

Step 5: Test the Phone Number

This is critical: actually call the number from your mobile phone.

You should hear:

• Ringing for less than 5 seconds
• AI greeting: "Thank you for calling [Your Business Name], how can I help you today?"
• Natural conversation

Test these scenarios:

• Ask about your hours (verify the AI knows them)
• Ask about a service you offer (verify accurate response)
• Request a callback (verify you get notification)
• Say "emergency" (verify it routes to your phone if configured)

Step 6: Monitor and Adjust

After launch, check your dashboard daily for the first week.

You'll see:

• Call recordings
• Transcripts
• Lead information captured
• Questions the AI struggled with (train it on these)

Most businesses make 3-5 small training adjustments in the first week as they see real customer questions.

After that, it runs on autopilot.

NextPhone: AI Receptionist Built for WordPress

WordPress-Friendly Setup

NextPhone was designed with WordPress users in mind.

Most AI answering services make you jump through hoops: create an account on their platform, set up complex integrations, learn a new dashboard, manage everything separately from WordPress.

NextPhone takes a different approach.

During setup, you enter your WordPress site URL. NextPhone's AI analyzer scans your site and automatically extracts:

• Your business name and description
• Your services/offerings (from your Services or About pages)
• Your business hours (if listed on Contact page)
• Common questions (from your FAQ section if you have one)
• Your business phone number

This auto-population means you're 80% configured in 2 minutes. You just verify the details and add any specific training you want.

The dashboard feels familiar if you've used WooCommerce, Yoast, or any modern WordPress plugin—clean interface, logical navigation, contextual help.

Key Features for WordPress Site Owners

Answers in Under 5 Seconds

Speed matters. If your phone rings 10+ times before someone answers (or hits voicemail), customers hang up.

NextPhone answers in under 5 seconds, every time.

Handles Common Questions

The AI can answer:

• "What are your hours?"
• "How much does [service] cost?"
• "Do you service [location]?"
• "Can I get an estimate?"
• "What's your availability?"
• "Do you handle [specific type of job]?"

You train it with your specific answers during setup.

Captures Lead Information

For every call, the AI captures:

• Caller name
• Phone number
• Email address (if they provide it)
• Reason for calling
• Project details/budget
• Preferred contact method
• Best time for callback

This structured data beats "check your voicemail for rambling messages."

Routes Emergency Calls

If you're an HVAC contractor, plumber, electrician, or any business that handles emergencies, the AI detects urgent calls and transfers them to your mobile immediately.

You don't lose the $4,200 emergency jobs.

Integration with WordPress Ecosystem

NextPhone connects with your WordPress tools via webhooks and API integrations:

WooCommerce: If you run an ecommerce store, caller information can populate as a customer record in WooCommerce.

Contact Form Plugins: Push lead data to Gravity Forms, WPForms, or Contact Form 7 databases.

CRM Plugins: Send leads to WordPress CRM plugins like Groundhogg, FluentCRM, or WP ERP via HTTP webhooks.

Email Marketing: Automatically add callers to your Mailchimp, ConvertKit, or ActiveCampaign lists (if they consent).

Calendly/Calendar Integration: The AI can check your availability and book appointments during the call.

These integrations mean leads flow into your existing WordPress workflow. You're not managing yet another disconnected platform.

Pricing: NextPhone costs $199/month with unlimited calls. No per-call charges, no surprise overage fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this slow down my WordPress site?

No. The AI receptionist widget loads asynchronously, meaning it doesn't block your page content from loading.

Think of it like Google Analytics or Facebook Pixel—it loads after your main content is visible to users.

We've tested this with GTmetrix and Google PageSpeed Insights. Typical impact is less than 0.1 seconds, which is imperceptible to users and doesn't affect your SEO rankings.

Best practice: Test on your staging site with a performance tool before going live. If you see any unexpected impact, you can adjust widget loading priority.

Can AI handle complex questions about my business?

AI excels at routine questions:

• Hours of operation
• Pricing for standard services
• Service area/locations
• Availability
• Basic product/service information

You train the AI with your specific business details during setup, so it knows your answers (not generic responses).

For complex questions that need human judgment—negotiating custom project scope, discussing technical details beyond training, handling complaints—the AI can do two things:

1. Collect information and schedule callback: "That's a great question. Let me have our specialist call you back to discuss the details. What's the best number and time to reach you?"

2. Transfer to you live: "Let me connect you with our team right away." (Requires you to configure call transfer with your mobile number)

The hybrid approach works best: AI handles 80% of calls completely, routes 20% to humans.

How is this different from WordPress chatbot plugins?

Chatbots handle text conversations on your website. A visitor types a question, the bot responds in text.

AI receptionists handle voice phone calls. A caller dials your number, the AI speaks to them conversationally.

They serve different customer segments:

• Chatbots: For web visitors who prefer typing (often younger demographics, during work hours when they can't talk)
• AI receptionists: For callers who prefer speaking (often urgent needs, older demographics, multitasking while driving)

The best WordPress sites use both. Chatbot for web chat, AI receptionist for phone calls.

They don't compete—they complement.

Does this work with my WordPress theme and page builder?

Yes. The embed code works with any WordPress theme because it uses standard HTML/JavaScript that's theme-agnostic.

We've tested NextPhone with:

• Themes: Divi, Astra, GeneratePress, OceanWP, Avada, Kadence, Neve, Hello Elementor, and dozens more
• Page Builders: Elementor, Divi Builder, Beaver Builder, WPBakery, Oxygen, Bricks

The integration method (Custom HTML block or widget area) is built into WordPress core, so if your theme supports WordPress standards (virtually all do), it works.

If you're using a custom-coded theme, you can also embed the widget directly in your theme files (footer.php, header.php) if you prefer.

Where are call recordings stored?

Call recordings are stored securely in NextPhone's cloud infrastructure (hosted on AWS with encryption at rest and in transit).

You access them via the NextPhone dashboard—think of it like accessing files in Google Drive or Dropbox.

For GDPR compliance (important if you have European customers visiting your WordPress site), NextPhone is GDPR-compliant:

• Callers can request deletion of their recording
• You control retention policy (how long to keep recordings)
• Data processing agreement available on request

Recordings are typically kept for 90 days by default, adjustable based on your needs (some industries require longer retention for compliance).

How much does this cost compared to hiring a receptionist?

Full-time receptionist:

• Salary: $35,000/year ($2,900/month)
• Benefits (insurance, 401k, payroll tax): +$8,000-12,000/year
• Training time: 2-4 weeks
• Coverage: 40 hours/week (business hours only)
• Sick days, vacation: ~15-20 days/year
• Total cost: $43,000-47,000/year

NextPhone AI receptionist:

• Cost: $199/month ($2,388/year)
• Setup time: 15 minutes
• Coverage: 168 hours/week (24/7/365)
• Never sick, never on vacation
• Scales instantly (handles 1 call or 100 simultaneous calls)

Cost savings: 93-95%

Plus the AI works nights, weekends, and holidays—when 73% of calls actually happen according to our data.

Even if you have a receptionist during business hours, you need after-hours coverage. That's where AI provides coverage for $199/month instead of hiring a second person.

Can I try this before committing?

Yes. NextPhone offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.

You get full access to all features during the trial:

• Complete AI setup and training
• Live phone number
• Call recordings and transcripts
• Integration with WordPress
• Email notifications
• All integrations (webhooks, calendar, etc.)

The trial gives you enough time to:

• Integrate on your WordPress site
• Make test calls
• Get real customer calls
• See how the AI performs
• Review transcripts and recordings
• Decide if it's right for your business

If you don't like it, don't subscribe. No contract, no commitment.

Most people make their decision within 3-5 days after seeing real call data and captured leads.

Start Capturing Every Customer Call

WordPress powers 43.4% of the internet. You've built a professional site. You've optimized your SEO. You're ranking on Google. You're generating traffic.

But when potential customers call your business, who answers?

Click-to-call buttons were a good first step—they made calling easier. But they don't solve the core problem: 74.1% of calls go unanswered when you're busy, in meetings, on job sites, or after-hours.

That's $260,400 per year in lost revenue for a typical small business.

AI receptionists aren't science fiction anymore. They're practical tools that WordPress site owners are using right now to capture calls they'd otherwise miss.

The integration takes 10 minutes. The cost is $199/month (less than one missed project). The ROI is 10,000%+.

The businesses winning in 2025 aren't the ones with the biggest WordPress sites. They're the ones answering every call.