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AI receptionist tools for hair and beauty salons in the UK

In a salon the phone rings when everyone's hands are in a client's hair. Missed calls are often bookings that go to the salon down the road, or to a marketplace app. An AI receptionist or answering service picks up, answers questions about prices and availability, and sends the caller your booking link or takes a message.

Prices were re-checked on each provider's own page; the date is next to each one. Rules and figures from GOV.UK are linked where they're used.

Send callers to your booking link

Most salon clients can book themselves once they have the link. Set the receptionist to answer common questions (opening hours, price ranges, parking) and text the caller your Fresha, Booksy or Timely link. Compare those apps in our salon booking software guide.

Patch tests, age checks and cancellations

Tell the receptionist to mention allergy alert tests for colour, and to explain your cancellation policy in your own words; keep fees proportionate, as an unfair term isn't binding on a consumer (legislation.gov.uk). If you offer injectables, it should ask for date of birth: in England a business mustn't arrange botox or fillers for under-18s for cosmetic purposes (legislation.gov.uk).

Price per call or per minute

Smith.ai has a free tier of 25 calls a month; Upfirst starts at $24.95 for 30 calls; Rosie charges by minutes; Moneypenny is a UK provider from £49 a month (checked 15 October 2026). Count your missed calls for a week before choosing.

The options, with prices

Tool	Price and free plan	UK notes and source
Moneypenny AI Receptionist A UK answering company offering an AI receptionist with the option of real receptionists.	From £49 a month according to its AI Receptionist page; you get a quote for your needs. No call or minute allowance published. No free plan.	UK company. Source, checked 15 October 2026
Smith.ai AI Receptionist An AI receptionist that answers calls 24/7, qualifies leads and books appointments, with live human backup available.	Free: 25 calls a month, then $3.00 a call. Pro: $150 a month (75 calls, about $2.00 a call). Enterprise: from $500 a month. 25 calls a month with 24/7 answering, recordings, transcripts, summaries and calendar booking.	US company, priced in dollars; confirm UK number support. Source, checked 15 October 2026
Rosie An AI answering service that takes messages, sends booking links and, on higher plans, books and transfers calls.	Professional: $49 a month for 250 minutes. Scale: $149 a month for 1,000 minutes. Growth: $299 a month for 2,000 minutes. 7-day free trial. No free plan; 7-day free trial.	Confirm UK number support before signing up. Source, checked 15 October 2026
Upfirst An AI receptionist that answers, summarises and transfers calls and books appointments.	Starter: $24.95 a month for 30 calls ($20 billed annually), then $1.50 a call. Premium: $59.95 for 90 calls ($48 annually), then $1 a call. Pro: $159.95 for 300 calls ($128 annually). Scale: $299 for 600 calls ($240 annually). 14-day free trial. No free plan; 14-day free trial with all features.	US company, priced in dollars. Source, checked 15 October 2026
Goodcall An AI phone agent billed per unique customer rather than per minute.	Starter: $79 a month for 100 unique customers, then 79¢ each. Growth: $129 a month. Scale: $299 a month. Free demo agent; you pay when you connect a number. Build and test a demo agent free; you pay when you connect a number.	US company, priced in dollars. Source, checked 15 October 2026

What to check before you choose

UK number or forwarding from your mobile?
Can it text a booking link during the call?
Billing per call, per minute or per customer?
Recordings include client names and numbers: check UK GDPR storage.
US-based tools price in dollars.

A prompt to start with

Paste this into ChatGPT or Claude, or use it as your AI receptionist's instructions, filling in the brackets:

You answer the phone for [salon name] in [town] while our team is with clients. Our services and price ranges are: [list]. Answer questions about services, prices, opening hours and parking. For bookings, text the caller our booking link: [link]. Remind colour clients they'll need an allergy alert test first. For injectables, ask the caller's date of birth and don't book anyone under 18. Take a message for anything else. Don't promise results.

Free tools

Price a job with the quote and VAT calculator (20%, 5%, 0% and reverse charge), or work out your day rate (see how much to charge per hour). When you do pick up yourself, see how to answer the phone professionally. Deposit, rebooking and tipping-policy prompts: ChatGPT prompts for salons. Before paying for a tool, check it pays for itself with the AI tool break-even calculator.

Questions

Can an AI receptionist book straight into my salon app?

Check each provider's integrations. The simplest set-up is for it to text callers your booking link.

What's the cheapest option to try?

Smith.ai's free tier covers 25 calls a month, then $3 a call (checked 15 October 2026).

Are these prices in pounds?

Not all. Where a provider only publishes US dollar prices we show dollars, so check the price in pounds at checkout.

Do you get paid if I sign up?

Some links may become affiliate links, and we'll label them when they do. It doesn't change what we list. See how we make money.

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