Cloud Answering Machine vs Clara
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Virtual phone number
- Cloud-hosted
- Voicemail via email
- SMS messaging
- Enhanced privacy
- Call prioritization
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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
Clara
This AI receptionist handles incoming business calls, answers customer questions, and takes notes. It learns your business to provide professional service, ensuring no calls are missed and reducing interruptions for business owners.
- Automatic call answering
- Learns business details
- Handles customer questions
- Takes call notes and summaries
- Filters spam calls
- Improves over time
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Clara – the AI that answers the phone. Let Clara handle your calls, so you can focus on running your business. Clara is an AI receptionist that answers incoming calls, speaks naturally with customers, and manages conversations on your behalf. She learns how your business works and gets better with every call. Whether you are in a meeting, with a client, or off the clock, Clara makes sure every call is handled professionally. Two Ways to Get Started • Use Clara's number as your business line — every account comes with a unique local number • Or keep your existing number and simply forward your calls to Clara • Either way, every call is answered professionally, day or night • Great as a dedicated second line to keep work calls off your personal phone Answer Every Call • Automatically answers incoming business calls • Never miss a customer or opportunity • Works every day, without breaks • Pause Clara when you want Understands Your Business • Learns about your services, pricing, and policies • Answers common customer questions without your input • Communicates clearly and professionally with callers Smart Call Handling • Takes notes and summaries for every call • Sends follow up texts to engage the customer and share information like booking links or pricing • Prioritises calls based on potential revenue • Filters and blocks spam callers Live Call Transfers - You Stay in Control • Tell Clara which calls you want to take — urgent issues, job quotes, VIP customers • Clara answers first, then live transfers the right calls straight to you • Get the full context before you pick up — who's calling and what they need • Handle the calls that matter, let Clara handle the rest Improves Over Time • Learns your preferences and priorities • Adapts to how you run your business • Gets smarter and more helpful with every call Built for Small Businesses • Ideal for founders, solo operators, and small teams • Reduces interruptions while staying responsive • Helps you focus on growth instead of the phone Clara gives you peace of mind that your calls are handled, even when you are not available. Fewer interruptions. Better conversations. No missed calls. Privacy Policy: https://www.heyitsclara.com/us/privacy Terms of Use: https://heyitsclara.com/us/terms
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Clara at 4.6 against Cloud Answering Machine's 2.2. Clara also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and review sentiment (46% vs 11%). Cloud Answering Machine's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Cloud Answering Machine sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $14.99 per month and Clara sells 18 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Clara holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Clara has 1.3K ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 11% of Cloud Answering Machine's written reviews are positive against 46% of Clara's.
Cloud Answering Machine ships an update every 2 months, Clara every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cloud Answering Machine | Clara |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.2 (5 ratings) | 4.6 (1.3K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 11.1% of reviews | 45.7% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 5 | 1.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Subscription | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #174 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 38 MB | 144 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Infinite Loop Development Ltd | 44pixels |
Customer experience
Cloud Answering Machine
Clara
In-app purchases
Cloud Answering Machine
- Cloud Answering Machine Subscription$14.991 Month
- Cloud Answering Machine$49.991 Month
Clara
- Starter plan - Monthly7 Days trial2 variants$19.991 Month
- Starter plan - Monthly1 Month trial$19.991 Month
- Starter plan - Monthly7 Days trial$29.991 Month
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- Clara - Monthly7 Days trial$39.991 Month
- Pro plan - Monthly$49.991 Month
- Pro plan - Monthly1 Month trial$49.991 Month
- Pro plan - Monthly7 Days trial$49.991 Month
- Pro plan - Monthly3 Days trial$49.991 Month
- Monthly Access1 Month trial$49.991 Month
- Clara Pro - Monthly7 Days trial$69.991 Month
- Pro plan - Monthly7 Days trial$99.991 Month
- Monthly Access1 Month trial$99.991 Month
- Monthly Access3 Days trial$99.991 Month
- Starter Annual$199.991 Year
- 3 Months Access$249.993 Months
- Clara - Annual$399.991 Year
- Pro Annual$499.991 Year
- Clara Pro Yearly7 Days trial$699.991 Year
Questions
Is Cloud Answering Machine free?
Is Clara free?
Which has better reviews, Cloud Answering Machine or Clara?
Do Cloud Answering Machine or Clara have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cloud Answering Machine or Clara?
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