Side by side.
How Vicem compares
What each kind of product does when you can’t pick up. Only things Vicem does today are listed.
The four kinds
- Built-in call screening
- Free on newer phones: it asks unknown callers who they are, while your phone is on.
- AI voicemail apps
- Monthly apps that screen calls or take a voicemail with AI, then stop there.
- Business AI receptionists
- Services that answer for a company and its customers, priced per business.
- Vicem
- An AI that answers for you, on its own number, and always says it’s an AI.
When you can’t pick up
| What it does | Built-in call screening | AI voicemail apps | Business AI receptionists | Vicem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Works when your phone is off | Built-in call screeningNo | AI voicemail appsSome | Business AI receptionistsYes | VicemYes |
| Emails the caller back | Built-in call screeningNo | AI voicemail appsNo | Business AI receptionistsSome | VicemYes |
| Its own number, email and page | Built-in call screeningNo | AI voicemail appsNo | Business AI receptionistsA number only | VicemYes |
| Speaks the caller’s language | Built-in call screeningSome | AI voicemail appsOne or two | Business AI receptionistsEnglish and Spanish | Vicem16 languages |
| Asks you before anything important | Built-in call screeningNo | AI voicemail appsNo | Business AI receptionistsVaries | VicemYes |
| Anyone can check what it did | Built-in call screeningNo | AI voicemail appsNo | Business AI receptionistsNo | VicemYes |
| Works on any phone | Built-in call screeningNewer phones only | AI voicemail appsYes | Business AI receptionistsYes | VicemYes |
| Spam and silent calls never count against your minutes | Does not apply | Does not apply | Business AI receptionistsVaries | VicemYes |
Each column describes the usual product of its kind in October 2026; some products do more. “Varies” means products of that kind differ. An empty cell means it doesn’t apply.
- Apple support: “If you’re roaming, phone calls are not screened, regardless of settings.”
- Google support: “Call Screen won’t screen calls automatically during roaming.”