Moneypenny alternative
The Moneypenny alternative that isn't billed per minute or per call.
Moneypenny gives you two meters: human minutes from $165 a month, or AI answering at $99 for 50 calls plus setup. Ody gives you one flat seat with the AI receptionist inside.
7-day free trial on every plan · No per-minute charges · Moneypenny facts verified September 2026
THE QUICK ANSWER
Moneypenny, which absorbed VoiceNation, is one of the few brands selling both kinds of answering. People plans are minute bundles with published overage: $165 for 50 minutes, $265 for 100, $422 for 200, at $1.67-2.28 per extra minute, with no contract and one month's written notice. AI Answering bills per call regardless of length: $99/mo for 50 calls, $199 for 100, $435 for 250, plus a $99 one-time setup fee and $1.99 per minute if a human takes over. Neither is a phone system, and US reviews cite minutes billed above call length and billing that continues after verbal cancellation. Ody is $19/mo for a phone system with a 24/7 AI receptionist and no per-minute or per-call meter. At 100 three-minute calls a month, Moneypenny is $613 with people or $199 with AI; Ody is $19.
PRICING
What you'll actually pay.
Moneypenny US (people plans + AI Answering)
Moneypenny's US operation is built on the VoiceNation acquisition. People plans: minute bundles with published overage ($1.67-2.28), 'no contract', one month's written notice to cancel, no setup fee shown. AI Answering plans bill per call regardless of length, carry a $99 one-time setup fee and $1.99/min for optional human escalation. The virtual-receptionist page advertises 'from $132/mo', which appears promotional. A 7-day free trial is reported but not stated on the pricing page. Billing continuing after verbal cancellation is the most consistent negative review theme; the UK Trustpilot profile (4.7/5) is a different operation from the US one (~4.0-4.6/5, formerly VoiceNation).
Ody
One number per user included; extra local or toll-free numbers $5/mo each. Business texting needs one-time 10DLC registration ($20 setup + $4/mo per texting number, handled during onboarding). International calling is a $5/mo add-on with $5 of usage included. Plans are billed monthly or prepaid annually (annual saves up to 30%). Taxes apply; there are no per-minute charges and no AI credits.
Try for free →THE MATH
100 answered calls a month, about 3 minutes each
People: 300 minutes is the 200-minute plan at $422 plus 100 extra minutes at $1.91 ($191), for $613. AI: the 100-call plan is $199/mo regardless of length, plus a $99 one-time setup fee and $1.99 per minute for optional human transfer. Ody Starter is $19/mo for one user with unlimited AI answering, a number, calling and texting. Taxes excluded for both.
SIDE BY SIDE
Ody vs Moneypenny, feature by feature.
Moneypenny US (people plans + AI Answering) facts from their published pricing & docs, verified September 2026.
| Feature | Moneypenny US (people plans + AI Answering) | Ody |
|---|---|---|
| Answering | ||
| Who answers | MoneypennyHumans with AI assist, or AI with optional human transfer | OdyYour AI receptionist, your team when you want |
| Coverage hours | Moneypenny24/7/365 on both product lines | Ody24/7, included |
| Books appointments | Moneypenny✓ | Ody✓ |
| AI texts back missed calls | MoneypennyAI can follow up callers by SMS | Ody✓ |
| AI call summaries & transcripts | MoneypennyMessageMaker real-time summaries, caller recognition, analytics | OdyGrowth+ |
| What you pay | ||
| Pricing model | MoneypennyPer minute / per call | OdyPer user, flat |
| Starting price | Moneypenny$165/mo people; $69/mo AI | Ody$19/user/mo ($15 annual) |
| Overage | Moneypenny$1.67-2.28/min people; $1.69-2.39/call AI | OdyNone |
| Fees above list price | Moneypenny$99 AI setup; $1.99/min human transfer on AI plans | OdyTaxes only. No recovery or E911 line items |
| Contract | MoneypennyNone; one month's written notice | OdyBilled monthly or annually. Change plans in-app |
| Free trial | Moneypenny7 days reported, unconfirmed | Ody7 days, every plan, full product |
| Phone system | ||
| Business phone system included | Moneypenny— | Ody✓ |
| Business texting (SMS/MMS) | MoneypennyMessages to you by email or text | OdyUS & Canada, 10DLC handled |
| Phone number included | MoneypennyFree local or toll-free number | Ody1 per user; extras $5/mo |
| Toll-free numbers | Moneypenny✓ | Ody✓ |
| Shared team inbox | Moneypenny— | Ody✓ |
| CRM integrations | MoneypennyCRM integrations included (leads pushed to your CRM) | Ody43 integrations, every plan |
| Beyond the call | ||
| ChatGPT / Claude (MCP) | Moneypenny— | Ody✓ |
| Developer API & webhooks | Moneypenny— | OdyEvery plan |
| Analytics & reporting | MoneypennyPortal analytics | OdyGrowth+ |
| Support | MoneypennyProactive account management | OdyEmail (Starter), live chat (Growth), phone + onboarding (Enterprise) |
WHY TEAMS SWITCH
Where Ody pulls ahead of Moneypenny.
One price instead of two meters
Moneypenny makes you choose between paying per human minute or per AI call, with overage on both and a $99 setup fee on the AI plans. Ody's AI receptionist is part of a $19 seat with nothing metered, so you never choose between talking to callers and staying on budget.
The phone system is included
Moneypenny answers calls you forward to it; the line your business runs on is a separate bill, and there is no team inbox or texting for staff. Ody is the phone system: a number per user, unlimited US & Canada calling and texting, a shared inbox, 43 integrations and the receptionist built in.
Cancel in the app, not by letter
Moneypenny's people plans need one month's written notice, and billing continuing after a verbal cancellation is the most consistent negative US review theme. Ody bills monthly or annually, and you change or cancel your plan yourself in the app.
AN HONEST TAKE
Which one is right for you?
You want an established brand that can start you on AI answering and move you to named human receptionists, or mix the two, with 24/7 bilingual coverage, published overage and leads pushed to your CRM. At 50-100 calls a month, Moneypenny's AI plans are fairly priced for a forwarding-based service.
You want answering and the phone system in one place at a flat price, with no setup fee, no per-call count to watch and no written notice to leave. Ody's AI answers 24/7, books, texts back and drops every conversation into a shared inbox from $19 per user.
EVERYTHING INCLUDED
The whole phone system,
with the AI built in. One price.
Scroll through what every Ody workspace ships with: a number, calling and texting, a shared inbox, and a receptionist that never clocks out.
ChatGPT
Claude
CursorGo deeper, feature by feature.
All features →SWITCHING IS EASY
Move from Moneypenny without missing a call.
Start your free trial
Create your workspace in minutes. Every plan starts with a 7-day free trial | you get a live number, calling, texting, and your AI agent from day one.
Port your number free
Porting is free on every plan and your existing line keeps working the whole time | no downtime, no lost calls while the port completes.
Turn on the AI (or don't)
Set your hours and decide exactly when the AI answers | per number, per hour, per team. The rest of the time, it's the best softphone you've used.
Moneypenny people plans require one month's written notice; AI plans are portal-managed. Send notice in writing, keep a copy, and redirect your forwarding to Ody once the notice period ends. Ody plans are billed monthly or annually, after a 7-day free trial.
FAQ
Ody vs Moneypenny, answered.
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