The best IVR software answers incoming calls, asks callers what they need by keypad or voice, and sends them to the right person, queue or self-service answer. Traditional press-one menus still work, but many tools now add AI voice agents that understand natural speech. Eleven options follow in no particular order.
Nobody enjoys a phone menu with nine options and no way out. A good IVR does the opposite: it'll get callers to the right place quickly, it'll answer simple questions without a wait, and it won't trap anyone who'd rather talk to a person.
The eleven tools below are listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and every description comes from the vendor's own website, read this week. My older piece on how IVR systems changed customer service explains the basics.
IVR software compared
I checked the free plan column on each tool's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site names a free plan, a free version, a free account or an open source edition. Trial only means a time-limited trial. Not stated means the pages I read named neither, even where there's a button inviting you to try it, so check the vendor's page before you sign up.
| Tool | Type | Good for | Free plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Allo | Business phone system with AI | Small teams wanting a simple phone system | Not stated |
| Asterisk | Open source telephony | Developers building their own IVR | Yes |
| CloudTalk | AI call centre software | Sales and support teams | Trial only |
| Exotel | AI customer engagement platform | Businesses in India and Asia | Not stated |
| JustCall | AI communication platform | Distributing calls to the right agents | Trial only |
| Ozonetel | Customer experience platform | Contact centres needing IVR and dialers | Not stated |
| Plivo | Voice API and AI agents | Developers building voice AI agents | Yes |
| Retell AI | Voice agent platform | Replacing menus with conversation | Not stated |
| TCN | Contact centre IVR system | Inbound and outbound contact centres | Not stated |
| Twilio | Programmable IVR | Custom IVR built with APIs | Trial only |
| Voiceflow | Conversational AI platform | Designing voice agent flows | Not stated |
Eleven IVR tools worth a look
Allo
Best for: Small businesses who want a business phone system with AI agents and call routing without enterprise contact centre complexity.
Asterisk
Best for: Developers and IT teams who want to build their own voice menu on free, open telephony software with no per-port fees.
CloudTalk
Best for: Sales and support teams who want an AI receptionist that answers and routes every call, with a 14-day trial.
Exotel
Best for: Enterprises who want intelligent voice agents, chat agents and customer engagement tools working together on one AI-led platform.
JustCall
Best for: Sales and support teams who want calls received and distributed automatically to the right agents, plus dialers and recording.
Ozonetel
Best for: Contact centres that want IVR, auto dialers, smart routing and toll-free number services from one customer experience provider.
Plivo
Best for: Developers who want APIs to build voice AI agents and phone menus, starting with free credits and per-minute rates shown upfront.
Retell AI
Best for: Businesses who want AI voice agents that hold natural conversations and automate phone calls instead of press-one menus.
TCN
Best for: Contact centres that want interactive voice response inside a wider cloud contact centre suite with compliance tools.
Twilio
Best for: Product and engineering teams who want to build an IVR exactly their way on programmable voice, starting with a free trial.
Voiceflow
Best for: Teams who want designers and developers to build and test voice AI agents together on an enterprise conversational AI platform.
Which tool to try first
- Small businesses wanting a simple setup: Allo or CloudTalk.
- Sales and support teams: JustCall.
- Building your own with code: Twilio, Plivo or Asterisk.
- AI voice agents instead of menus: Retell AI or Voiceflow.
- Contact centres with dialers and routing: Ozonetel or TCN.
- Enterprise customer engagement: Exotel.
In the UK, the number matters too
On legislation.gov.uk, regulation 41 of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 says that where a trader runs a phone line for consumers to contact it about contracts they've entered into, a consumer must not be bound to pay more than the basic rate for the call.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
So if your IVR handles existing customers in the UK, the number in front of it matters as much as the menu behind it. Check the number type before you publish it on your site.
Keypad menu or AI voice agent?
A keypad menu is predictable and quick to build. It's ideal when callers have a few clear reasons to ring, such as sales, support and accounts, and you don't want surprises.
An AI voice agent lets callers explain in their own words and can answer simple questions itself. It's friendlier when it works, so test it with real accents and background noise before you switch.
For a smaller business that wants every call answered, our round-up of AI receptionist options looks at the options built for small firms.
What to settle before you build the menu
- What are the top five reasons people call us?
- Do callers need keypad options, voice, or both?
- Can callers reach a person quickly?
- Does it link to our CRM or help desk?
- Can we change the menu ourselves?
- How does it report on abandoned calls?
If you want callers helped by AI rather than a keypad menu, this guide to AI call centre software covers the tools.
When a phone menu needs a rethink
- Callers press zero straight away. Simplify the options.
- Calls bounce between teams. Fix the routing.
- The same questions repeat. Add self-service answers.
- Many callers hang up. Shorten the wait.
Do you make IVR, phone system or voice AI software? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
My plain advice on IVR software
Design the menu from your call log, not from your org chart. List why people really ring, put the most common reason first and always offer a quick way to a human, because a trapped caller is an angry one.
Then listen to recordings for a week after launch and cut any option nobody picks. If you're weighing AI against people, my comparison of AI voice agents and traditional call centres lays out the trade-offs.
Frequently asked questions
What is IVR software?
IVR, or interactive voice response, answers calls and lets callers choose options by keypad or voice so they reach the right person or get an automated answer.
Is there free IVR software?
Yes. Open source telephony software can be used to build an IVR for free, though you'll need technical skills and a phone line provider.
Is an AI voice agent the same as IVR?
It's a newer kind. Instead of fixed menu options, an AI voice agent understands natural speech and can hold a conversation.
How many menu options should an IVR have?
Keep it short. A few clear options, with the most common first and a way to reach a person, works better than a long list.
Do UK helplines have number rules?
Yes. Regulation 41 of the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 says consumers calling about a contract must not be bound to pay more than the basic rate.
Can a small business use IVR?
Yes. Many business phone systems include a simple IVR, so even a small team that's answering every call itself can route sales and support calls without hiring.
