Alternatives / Jodie
Jodie or While You Work: which suits your business?
Jodie is a UK AI receptionist for small businesses. Plans are £49, £99 and £199 a month before tax, which Jodie adds at checkout, all with unlimited minutes, a 7-day free trial with no card, no contract or set-up fee, and an annual option with two months free. Its own comparison table lists bookings, call transfers and team members from the £99 Professional plan, and Zapier integrations and priority support on the £199 Premium plan; every plan includes the iOS and Android app. Its website also lists one receptionist for calls, website chat, WhatsApp and email, a follow-up text to every caller, 32 languages and a memory of returning callers.
Prices checked on heyjodie.com on 1 November 2026. Always confirm current prices with each provider.
The short answer
Jodie and While You Work are close. Choose Jodie if you get a lot of calls and want unlimited minutes, a mobile app, or the same receptionist on website chat, WhatsApp and email. Choose While You Work if you want a lower starting price (Starter is £39 a month + VAT against Jodie’s £49 + VAT, though Starter covers 50 calls where Jodie has no minute limit), urgent calls put through to your phone on Pro at £69 + VAT rather than a £99 plan, and a receptionist set up for your kind of business. Our website chat is on Pro and email replies on Business. Jodie includes bookings from £99; booking into your diary is on our £129 Business plan.
Side by side
Jodie and While You Work compared
| Jodie | While You Work | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £49, £99 or £199 a month before tax; Jodie says tax is added at checkout based on your billing location | Starter £39, Pro £69 or Business £129 a month + VAT. The first 50 UK businesses get Pro for £49 a month + VAT for their first 12 months, then £69 |
| How you pay | Flat monthly, annual option with two months free | Flat monthly plan with a set number of calls, then a set price for each extra call. A call counts once however long it lasts, up to 10 minutes |
| Calls included | Unlimited minutes on every plan | 50 calls on Starter, 150 on Pro, 400 on Business, each counted once up to 10 minutes; extra calls 60p, 50p or 40p + VAT |
| Who answers | AI receptionist | AI receptionist with a separate script and set-up form for each kind of business |
| Hours | 24/7 | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Trial | 7-day free trial, no card | 7-day free trial with no card, up to 30 calls or 60 minutes, then a card keeps the line or it stops. Once you pay, a money-back guarantee: cancel within 14 days of your line going live for a full refund |
| Contract | None, no set-up fee, cancel any time | None, cancel any time |
| After the call | Email notifications, recordings and the mobile app | Details by email a minute after the call on every plan, and on Pro and Business a text straight away for urgent calls, which can also be put through to your phone |
| Call transfer | From the £99 Professional plan, not on the £49 Basic plan | Urgent calls put through to your phone on Pro and Business, if you switch it on |
| Booking | From the £99 Professional plan, not on the £49 Basic plan | Booking links sent to callers on Pro (£69 + VAT); booking into your diary on the call, with your deposit link, on Business (£129 + VAT) |
| Website chat | Its website lists one receptionist for calls, website chat, WhatsApp and email, in 32 languages | AI website chat that answers like your receptionist on Pro and Business; AI email replies on Business |
| Follow-up text to the caller | Texts every caller after the call | The caller gets a text confirming you will ring them back, on every plan |
| App | iOS and Android app on every plan | The app opens in your phone browser; notifications are coming. Details by email on every plan and by text on Pro and Business |
| Type of service | AI receptionist | AI receptionist |
Choose Jodie if
- You get a lot of calls and want unlimited minutes
- You want a mobile app
- You want the same receptionist on website chat, WhatsApp and email
Choose While You Work if
- You want to start at £39 a month + VAT, not £49
- You want urgent calls put through to you on a £69 plan, not £99
- You want a receptionist set up for your kind of business, including driving instructors
- You want booking links texted to callers on Pro, and Facebook and Instagram messages answered on Business
Switching
How to switch in three steps
Check your notice
Look at your current provider’s terms for any notice period or unused credit.
Tell us about your business
A short form for your kind of business: hours, area, services and what callers should be told.
Change your divert
Point divert-on-no-answer at your While You Work number. Your callers keep ringing the same number.
Want the full picture on UK prices? Read how much a call answering service costs in the UK. And how ours works: the While You Work AI receptionist.
Other comparisons: Moneypenny, ReceptionHQ, Cyberstaff, Answer.co.uk, Face For Business, Answer4u, IONOS AI Receptionist, Fasthosts AI Receptionist, The Answer Centre, Vocalenda, Team Connect, AnswerConnect.
Questions
Jodie alternative FAQs
How much does Jodie cost?
Jodie’s UK plans are £49, £99 and £199 a month before tax, with unlimited minutes and a 7-day free trial with no card. Its pricing page says tax is added at checkout based on your billing location. Its comparison table lists bookings and call transfers from the £99 plan.
What is the difference between Jodie and While You Work?
Both are UK AI receptionists that answer 24/7 and show prices before VAT. Jodie’s plans are £49, £99 and £199 a month with unlimited minutes and an app; its comparison table lists bookings and call transfers from the £99 Professional plan, and its website lists chat, WhatsApp and email answering, a follow-up text to every caller and 32 languages. While You Work is £39, £69 or £129 a month + VAT for 50, 150 or 400 calls, with each call counted once up to 10 minutes. Urgent calls can be put through to your phone from Pro at £69, booking into your diary is on Business at £129, and each kind of business gets its own receptionist and set-up form. If you get a lot of long calls, Jodie’s unlimited minutes may work out better for you.
Can I try both?
Yes. Both offer a 7-day free trial with no card. The While You Work trial covers up to 30 calls or 60 minutes; after 7 days you add a card to keep it or the line stops, and once you pay there is a 14-day money-back guarantee. You can also ring 01202 144997 to hear our own receptionist first.
Sources, checked 1 November 2026: Jodie UK pricing. Jodie is a trademark of its owner. While You Work is not connected with Jodie.
See what it does with your own missed calls
Start a free 7-day trial with no card, or ring 01202 144997 and hear our own receptionist answer. Priced per call, not per minute: Starter £39 and Pro £69 a month plus VAT, with a 7-day trial first and a 14-day money-back guarantee once you pay.