FAQ
AI front desk FAQ: straight answers on leads, setup and pricing.
How the InstantResponse.AI front desk replies to Yelp, Thumbtack, Google LSA and website chat leads in seconds, what it costs, how it connects to your CRM, and how fast you can go live.
14-day free trial · From $99/mo · No contracts
Yelp Advertising Platinum Partner and Google Partner
J. D. · Yelp Request
Demo Plumbing Co.
Hi, my water heater is leaking. Can someone help today?
Sorry to hear that, J.! Is it a slow drip or actively leaking? And what's the best number to reach you?
AI · replied in seconds
Actively leaking, in the garage. (555) 010-0142
Goal achieved: phone number captured
Thanks, J.! A technician from Demo Plumbing Co. will call you shortly.
Team alert viaWhatsAppSMSEmail
Demo Plumbing Co. - New lead qualified from InstantResponse!
Customer: J. D.
Phone: (555) 010-0142
Service: Water heater repair
Notes: Leaking in garage, wants service today.
Looking for one channel? Read about the Yelp auto responder, the Thumbtack auto responder, the Google LSA auto responder or the AI website chat widget. Comparing tools? See vs Hatch, vs LSArespond and vs Thumbtack Front Desk.
The product
What it is and how it works
- InstantResponse.AI is an AI front desk for local service businesses. It replies to message leads from Yelp, Thumbtack, Google Local Services Ads and your Website Chat Widget in seconds, 24/7, asks the qualification questions you configure, collects a phone number or confirms a preferred time, and keeps every conversation in one leads inbox. AI voice calls on your existing number are coming soon. Full calendar booking is in Beta.
- In seconds, at any hour, including nights, weekends and holidays. You can also set a reply delay from 0 to 300 seconds if you prefer replies to feel less instant.
- You set it up once: your goal, services, starting prices (optional), offers, hours, coverage area and answers to common questions. From then on it answers within those rules, follows up on your schedule, and stays silent rather than guessing when something isn't covered.
- A chatbot waits on your website. InstantResponse.AI also replies inside the lead channels you already pay for (Google LSA, Yelp and Thumbtack), qualifies with your intake questions, and hands qualified leads to your team or CRM.
- Yes. Every business profile has an AI Mode toggle. Non-AI mode sends your own scripted messages with exact wording; AI mode holds open conversations within your rules. With several locations, each business profile can use the mode that suits it.
- It hands off. When a conversation goes outside your rules, involves pricing you haven't set, or the customer asks for a person, InstantResponse.AI alerts your team by email, SMS or WhatsApp so someone can take over. You can review conversations in the inbox and adjust the AI settings at any time.
- Yes. Automatic spam detection keeps spam out of AI conversations, and on Google LSA you can review lead ratings and dispute spam leads.
Lead sources
Lead sources and calls
- Live today: Google Local Services Ads messages, Yelp Request a Quote, Thumbtack, and the Website Chat Widget, on every plan. For Google LSA calls you also get recordings, transcripts, AI summaries, lead ratings and spam disputes. Email, SMS and WhatsApp are team alert channels, not inbound lead sources. Website forms, Google Business Profile messages and Angi are not supported.
- Not yet. AI voice calls on your existing number are coming soon. Today, Google LSA call recordings, transcripts and AI summaries are available in your connected account.
- Yes. You keep your existing business number. When AI voice calls launch they will work on your current line.
- Customers on lead platforms often contact more than one business at the same time. A reply in seconds keeps the conversation going while the customer is still deciding, including after hours.
Setup & integrations
Setup, alerts and integrations
- About 10 minutes for a first lead source. Connect Yelp, Thumbtack or Google LSA, or add the chat widget to your site with one line of code, then set your goal and services.
- Workiz connects natively: add your Workiz API token and auth secret, map a Job Source per channel, and new leads are created in Workiz. It is one way; changes in Workiz do not sync back. ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber, GoHighLevel and other tools connect through Zapier or webhooks that you configure.
- Email alerts (up to 10 verified addresses) cover new lead, goal achieved, AI handed off and lead not replying after the minutes you set. SMS and WhatsApp group alerts also cover new messages. Send alerts for all your sources or only selected ones, with editable templates.
- Yes. Each location gets its own business profile and AI settings, and your team works from one leads inbox. Growth covers up to 3 locations and Scale covers unlimited locations with SSO.
- Home services such as plumbers, HVAC, electricians, roofers, cleaning, moving and junk removal, plus attorneys, accountants, dentists, salons and spas, real estate agents and caterers. Any local service business that gets leads from Yelp, Thumbtack, Google LSA or its website is a fit.
Pricing & trial
Pricing, trial and cancellation
- Starter is $99/mo for one location. Growth is $199/mo for up to 3 locations. Scale starts at $499/mo for multi-location teams. Every plan includes all four lead sources, unlimited leads and messages, and no per-lead fees.
- Yes. Every plan includes a 14-day free trial. You are not billed during the trial; billing begins only after the 14 days end.
- Yes. Every plan is month-to-month with no contracts. Cancel from the dashboard, and export your leads as CSV whenever you like.
Ready to stop losing leads to slow replies?
See InstantResponse.AI handle a live lead in your account. 15-minute demo, no pressure.
Book a demo and leave with your 14-day free trial running.