On Hold Messages: 9 Services for Your Business Phone

Silence on hold makes callers wonder if they've been cut off. A clear message with the right music tells them they're in the queue, and it can answer the question they called about before anyone picks up.

The nine options below include recording studios, phone providers with recording services and a free do-it-yourself tool. They're listed alphabetically and in no particular order, and each description comes from the provider's own website, read this week. If you'd rather have calls answered than held, my guide to an AI phone receptionist for a small business covers that option.

On hold message services at a glance

I checked the free plan column on each provider's own website, as of Oct 2026. Yes means the site says the tool, or a version of it, is free. Not stated means the pages I read didn't name a free plan or trial, which is normal for recording studios that quote per job, so ask the provider directly.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
2talk	Business phone provider with recording	Voicemail and on-hold recordings with voice samples	Not stated
Easy On Hold	Music and messages on hold specialist	Licensed hold music and AI voices	Not stated
Holdcom	Telephone voiceover producer	Scripted, multilingual hold productions	Not stated
Messages On Hold	Australian on-hold and voiceover studio	Hold, IVR and voicemail for Australian firms	Not stated
Mixavox	Online voice recording service	One-off recordings with no subscription	Not stated
NCH	Australian on-hold production service	Scripting, voicing and equipment hire	Not stated
SIPcity	VoIP provider with audio recording	Hold and IVR packages for VoIP lines	Not stated
Spectrio	Customer engagement company	Branded hold messaging at many locations	Not stated
TTSMaker	Free text-to-speech tool	Do-it-yourself recordings with background music	Yes

Nine on hold message services to try

2talk

Best for: Businesses on a cloud phone system who want voicemail, after-hours and hold recordings, with voice samples to listen to first.

Easy On Hold

Best for: Healthcare, enterprise and multi-site businesses who want licensed music on hold, human or AI voices and streaming to their phone platform.

Holdcom

Best for: Businesses who want the full job done, from script writing to voice, music and mixing, in any dialect or language.

Messages On Hold

Best for: Australian businesses who want on-hold messages, menu prompts, after-hours messages and voicemail from one studio with a large voice library.

Mixavox

Best for: Small businesses who want a single on-hold message or voice prompt recorded with royalty-free music and no subscription to manage.

NCH

Best for: Offices in Australia who want scripting, voicing, music licences and on-hold equipment hire and installation handled by one supplier.

SIPcity

Best for: VoIP customers in Australia who want professionally voiced on-hold and IVR prompts packaged with their business phone service.

Spectrio

Best for: Multi-location brands who want a professionally produced on-hold message with voice talent and music blended for every site.

TTSMaker

Best for: Sole traders on a tight start who want to type a script, pick a voice, add background music and download the audio themselves.

Pick a service by what you need

• Script, voice and music done for you: Holdcom.
• Licensed music on hold at many sites: Easy On Hold or Spectrio.
• A single recording with no subscription: Mixavox.
• A free recording you make yourself: TTSMaker.
• A studio for Australian businesses: Messages On Hold or NCH.
• Recordings bundled with a phone line: 2talk or SIPcity.

The UK music licence point people miss

PPL PRS explains that under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, permission is needed from the copyright holders to play or perform music in public. Its TheMusicLicence page lists music on hold among the uses it covers, and its FAQ answers businesses that use a royalty-free music supplier.

Here's why that matters: hold music counts as music played in public in the UK. Before you assume a track is fine, ask your on-hold supplier exactly what its music covers, and read the PPL PRS answer on royalty-free suppliers. Outside the UK, ask your supplier the same question about local rules.

How to write an on hold message people listen to

1. Thank the caller and confirm they've reached the right business.
2. Answer the questions you're asked most, like opening hours or where to book online.
3. Mention one useful service, not your whole menu.
4. Keep each message short, so it doesn't repeat too often during a wait.
5. Update it when hours, offers or seasons change.

Studio recording or do it yourself

A studio suits businesses that want a polished voice, mixed music and someone else to write the script. It also helps if you need several languages or IVR menu prompts that match. A free text-to-speech tool suits a sole trader who wants something better than silence today and is happy to type the script and download the file.

Whichever you pick, check your phone system's upload settings first, so the file format matches. For the bigger picture on phone menus, my overview of interactive voice response systems explains how hold messages fit into call routing.

Signs your on hold message needs redoing

• It mentions old hours or offers. Update it.
• Callers repeat questions it should answer. Add them.
• The music sounds distorted on the line. Try another track.
• It repeats every few seconds. Add more content.

Do you make on hold message recordings? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

My plain advice for hold messages

Write down the five questions callers ask most often, then put the answers in your hold message. Callers who hear their answer while waiting are calmer when they get through, and some won't need to wait at all.

Keep it fresh. An on hold message that still mentions last summer's opening hours tells callers nobody's paying attention, so put a reminder in your calendar to review it every few months.

Frequently asked questions

What is an on hold message?

A short recording callers hear while waiting on the phone, usually a voice with background music sharing useful information.

What should an on hold message say?

Thank callers, confirm your business name and answer common questions such as opening hours or how to book online.

Do I need a licence for music on hold in the UK?

PPL PRS lists music on hold among the uses TheMusicLicence covers, so check what your supplier's tracks include.

Can I make my own on hold message?

Yes. A text-to-speech tool can read your script, and some let you add background music before you download the file.

How often should I update on hold messages?

Whenever hours, services or seasons change, and at least every few months so callers don't hear outdated information.

Are on hold messages the same as IVR prompts?

No. IVR prompts guide callers through menu options, while on hold messages play while they wait. Many studios record both.