Comparison

Cloud Answering Machine vs Answering Machine

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cloud Answering Machine

This app provides a secondary virtual phone number hosted in the cloud, allowing you to manage calls and texts privately. Voicemails and SMS messages are delivered directly to your email or app, helping you avoid interruptions and prioritize work communications.

Highlights
  • Virtual phone number
  • Cloud-hosted
  • Voicemail via email
  • SMS messaging
  • Enhanced privacy
  • Call prioritization
Features
Read full description

Cloud Answering Machine.com allows you to have a second virtual phone number, hosted in the cloud - geographically located anywhere in the world. So, if you are too busy to handle all your phone calls, and don't want nuisance calls interrupting your work, you can have them delivered via voicemail via email, and via this app. SMS messages sent to your second phone number, so you can use this to handle text messages sent to you. Great for privacy, great for prioritising work calls. Get a second phone number today ! Registration requires subscription to an auto-renewable in-app-purchase, which price varies depending on your country. This subscription is billed monthly, and will run indefinitely, until cancelled. Further terms and conditions can be read here; http://www.cloudansweringmachine.com/termsandconditions.aspx – Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase – Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period – Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal – Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase – Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable

About

Answering Machine

This AI-powered service answers your business phone calls, learning about your company from your website. It handles inquiries, takes information, and triages callers, ensuring no missed opportunities and improving customer satisfaction. Compatible with all U.S. carriers, it offers a human-like voice and seamless integration with your existing number.

Highlights
  • AI-powered call answering
  • Learns business information from website
  • Handles inquiries and takes information
  • Triage callers
  • Human-like voice
  • Compatible with all U.S. carriers
  • Retains current phone number
Features
Read full description

Finally: an app that answers your business phone. Here's how it works: 1. We first learn about your business from your website automatically. You can edit and add info, of course. 2. You forward calls from your business phone number to Answering Machine. 3. When someone calls your business, a kind, knowledgeable AI picks up on your behalf. Answering Machine listens well and talks in "normal" English, doing most things a trained receptionist can do: take callers through an intake flow, answer questions, take down information, triage, talk about your services, etc. We are compatible with all U.S.-based carriers. Your first 10 minutes of test calling are included for free so you can get a feel for the AI. After the first 10 minutes of test calling, and to receive a real, unique phone number to forward your incoming phone calls to, Answering Machine membership is a month-to-month subscription. No long-term contracts or cancelation fees. Download Answering Machine and set it up in minutes. If you want help, our California-based team will be happy to get you up and running. Why use an AI Answering service like Answering Machine? - Every caller happy. Stop leaking revenue to missed calls. Convert rings to transactions. - Sayonara, 1-star reviews. Many local business reviews complain about poor responsiveness. Not yours. - Keep your current number. No need to switch phone numbers, carriers, or anything else. What can it do? Imagine what a trained human receptionist would do. Most of those things, Answering Machine can do as well. Commonly: take callers through an intake flow, answer questions, take down information, triage, talk about your services, etc. What does the voice sound like? Human. We put deep technical craftsmanship into making the voice sound kind, knowledgable, and... like a person. Will my callers like it? Yes. We think traditional missed call, voicemail, and IVR/phone tree systems are so crappy that your callers will love something that works better. Can I use it for all calls? Yes. You can direct all inbound calls to Answering Machine, or you can have it pick up only when you don't answer first. The app contains instructions for immediate forwarding of all calls. Forwarding only missed calls, only busy calls, or based on other rules is possible. Your carrier will have instructions for how to, and we help with this as well on an as-needed basis. By downloading this app, you agree to the Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Cloud Answering Machine4 screens
Answering Machine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Answering Machine at 100% against Cloud Answering Machine's 11%. Answering Machine also leads on rating (4.3 vs 2.2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Cloud Answering Machine's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Cloud Answering Machine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Answering Machine sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $34.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Answering Machine holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of Cloud Answering Machine's written reviews are positive against 100% of Answering Machine's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cloud Answering Machine ships an update every 2 months, Answering Machine every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Cloud Answering Machine versus Answering Machine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCloud Answering MachineAnswering Machine
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.2 (5 ratings)4.3 (24 ratings) — better
Positive reviews11.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings524 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size38 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInfinite Loop Development LtdAnswering Machine, Inc.

Customer experience

Cloud Answering Machine

All ratings5 ratings
Positive20.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative60.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive11.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative88.9%

Answering Machine

All ratings21 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral0.0%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews14 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Cloud Answering Machine

Subscriptions2
  • Cloud Answering Machine Subscription$14.991 Month
  • Cloud Answering Machine$49.991 Month
3 purchases

Answering Machine

Subscriptions3
  • Starter$34.991 Month
  • Pro$169.001 Month
  • Ultimate$579.001 Month

Questions

Is Cloud Answering Machine free?
Cloud Answering Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Answering Machine free?
Answering Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Cloud Answering Machine or Answering Machine?
Answering Machine is rated higher. Cloud Answering Machine averages 2.2 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Answering Machine averages 4.3 from 24 ratings.
Do Cloud Answering Machine or Answering Machine have ads?
Neither Cloud Answering Machine nor Answering Machine shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cloud Answering Machine or Answering Machine?
Cloud Answering Machine ships an update every 2 months, and Answering Machine every 3 weeks. Most recently, Cloud Answering Machine was updated on October 29, 2026 and Answering Machine on October 24, 2026.

Other comparisons