2026 Comparison

Hazel vs Hiring a Receptionist

A great receptionist is invaluable during business hours. But they go home at 5 PM, call in sick, take vacations, and eventually quit. Hazel doesn't.

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Call (866) 481-6507 to hear Hazel yourself · Founding pricing from $499/mo

In-House Receptionist

$3,000–$5,500/mo (salary, taxes, benefits for full-time; $2,000–$3,500 for part-time)

Per-minute or per-call overage fees may apply

Hazel

From $499/mo (unlimited calls, 24/7)

No overage fees, ever

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

An honest look at what each platform offers dental practices.

FeatureHazelIn-House Receptionist

Hours per week168 (24/7/365)40 (business hours only)

Monthly cost$499–$1,799$3,000–$5,500 (fully loaded)

After-hours coverageFullNone (voicemail)

Sick days / vacationNever10-15 days/year minimum

Training timeDay one2-4 weeks

TurnoverZeroEvery 12-18 months (industry average)

BilingualEnglish + Spanish included$3-$5/hr premium if available

PMS integration31 systems, automaticManual data entry

Waitlist automationML-ranked, fully automaticManual phone calls

Walk-in greeting—✓

Emotional intelligenceGood for 85-90% of callsExcellent

Concurrent callsUnlimitedOne at a time

What In-House Receptionist Does Well

Credit where it's due — here's what In-House Receptionist brings to the table.

+Human empathy, warmth, and relationship-building with regular patients/customers

+Can handle complex, nuanced situations that require judgment

+Physical presence at the front desk for greeting walk-ins

+Institutional knowledge built over months and years

+Can multitask: phones, check-ins, filing, mail, and more

Where Hazel Wins

For dental practices specifically, these differences matter.

✓Works 168 hours/week vs 40 — Hazel covers nights, weekends, holidays, lunches, and sick days

✓Costs 70-85% less per month — $499 vs $3,000-$5,500 for a full-time employee

✓Zero turnover — average receptionist tenure is 12-18 months, each replacement costs $3,000-$5,000 to hire and train

✓Fills cancelled slots automatically from your ML-ranked waitlist — no human receptionist does this

✓Bilingual English and Spanish at no extra cost — bilingual staff commands a $3-$5/hr premium

The Bottom Line

Hazel isn't here to replace your receptionist during business hours — she's here to be the shift they can't work. Nights, weekends, holidays, lunch breaks, sick days. And if you're a solo practice or small business that can't justify a full-time hire, Hazel is your entire front desk at 1/6 the cost. The smartest move for most businesses: keep your human for the daytime, and let Hazel handle everything else.

Ready to Hear the Difference?

Call (866) 481-6507 right now and talk to Hazel. Judge for yourself how she compares to In-House Receptionist.

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