A PA for your company, or an AI for you?
Moneypenny vs Vicem: when each fits
Moneypenny is a UK answering service: UK-based PAs, with an AI receptionist, answer a business’s calls. Vicem is an AI that answers your own phone, for everyone who calls you, and says it’s an AI.
Dated.
What are the facts?
| Question | Moneypenny | Vicem |
|---|---|---|
| Price | MoneypennyPAs: quote on request, free trial; AI Receptionist from £49 a month | VicemFrom $24 a month, your US or Canadian number included. Free for 3 days. |
| Countries | MoneypennyNot stated on the pages we read | VicemLocal numbers: 68 countries. Forwarding in many countries |
| Languages it answers in | MoneypennyNot stated on the pages we read | Vicem37 languages |
| A number of its own to give out | MoneypennyA divert number; business numbers from £10 a month | VicemYes, with an email and a page |
| Works with your phone off | MoneypennyOffice hours as standard; 24/7 on request | VicemYes |
| Answers the caller, or only screens | MoneypennyPAs answer in your company name; AI takes routine calls | VicemAnswers and talks with the caller |
| Tells callers it’s an AI | MoneypennyNot stated for its AI; PAs are people | VicemYes, on every call |
| Books appointments | MoneypennyYes, straight into your diary | VicemYes, into your calendar |
| Tells you what happened | MoneypennyMessages by email or text; AI call summaries | VicemA summary of every call; urgent ones reach you at once |
Checked on October 14, 2026
When the other is better.
Which one fits you?
Choose Moneypenny when:
- You want UK-based people answering in your company’s name. Moneypenny telephone answering
- Your team needs calls transferred to each person. Moneypenny telephone answering
- You want AI for routine calls and people for the rest. Moneypenny AI Receptionist
Choose Vicem when:
- You want a UK number of its own, in a minute.
- You want every caller told it’s an AI.
- You want it to ask you before anything important.
Credit where it’s due.
What does Moneypenny do well?
- UK-based PAs answer in your company’s name, 24/7 on request. Moneypenny telephone answering
- PAs work in teams of five who know your business. Moneypenny telephone answering
- They book appointments straight into your diary. Moneypenny telephone answering
- They can take payments and qualify enquiries. Moneypenny telephone answering
- Its AI Receptionist hands harder calls to a real person. Moneypenny AI Receptionist
In their own words.
Where does Moneypenny stop?
- Smaller answering schemes have a three-month minimum contract.Moneypenny telephone answering
- Answering prices are quoted, not listed.Moneypenny telephone answering
Checked on October 14, 2026
Your company, or you?
Moneypenny’s PAs answer as part of your team.
Vicem answers as your AI, and says so.
How do they compare?
| What it does | Moneypenny | Vicem |
|---|---|---|
| Works when your phone is off | MoneypennyOffice hours; 24/7 on request | VicemYes |
| Books into your calendar during the call | MoneypennyInto your diary | VicemYes |
| Emails the caller back | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Its own number, email and page | MoneypennyA divert number | VicemYes |
| Speaks the caller’s language | Does not apply | Vicem37 languages |
| Asks you before anything important | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Anyone can check what it did | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Works on any phone | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Calls for you | Does not apply | VicemYes, with Vicem Plus |
| Waits on hold for you, up to the time you set | Does not apply | VicemYes, with Vicem Plus |
| Cancels a subscription for you and gets the reference | Does not apply | VicemYes, with Vicem Plus |
| Spam calls it turns away never count against your minutes | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Junk calls and texts are handled without interrupting you | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Tell it who you’re expecting: they ring straight through | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Always an AI, never a call center | MoneypennyNo: UK-based PAs, plus an AI | VicemYes |
| Never gives out your passwords or codes | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Never says yes to extras you didn’t approve | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Never gives out your address or where you are without asking you | Does not apply | VicemYes |
Only what Vicem does today; a dash means not stated or doesn’t apply.
Step by step.
How do you switch?
- If your calls divert to Moneypenny, turn that divert off.
- Get your Vicem: your first US or Canadian number is included.
- Forward missed calls to that number with your phone company’s codes.
- Call yourself from another phone and let it ring out.
What do people ask?
Is Vicem a Moneypenny alternative?
For one person, yes: Moneypenny staffs a company line; Vicem answers you.
Keep my number?
Yes: calls you miss divert to Vicem.
Does Vicem say it’s an AI?
Yes: every call starts by saying it’s an AI.
Want it answering your calls?
Vicem is an AI that answers your phone when you can’t. Free for 3 days.
Start free trial