Boulevard AI Receptionist vs KaiCalls (2026)
Boulevard's receptionist only comes with Boulevard. KaiCalls is a secretary for your phone line that works with whatever you run today. Kai Backup is $10/mo for ~20 Kai-answered calls/mo. Your cell rings first, and Kai answers the calls you miss.
Every Boulevard detail below comes from Boulevard's own site or help center, checked on October 2, 2026. Follow the links before you buy, because prices change.
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Price to answer your calls
KaiCalls: Kai Backup is $10/mo for ~20 Kai-answered calls/mo. Kai Line is $79/mo for ~170 Kai-answered calls/mo. Kai Office is $349/mo for ~800 Kai-answered calls/mo. No per-minute charges.
Boulevard: $125/mo per location for 200 minutes, then $0.60 a minute. Free during its beta, August to November 2026. Source
What you need first
KaiCalls: Nothing else. Keep your phone number and the tools you already use.
Boulevard: A Boulevard plan, from $143/mo for one location. The receptionist is an add-on. Source
Who it is for
KaiCalls: Any business that takes calls, including salons and spas.
Boulevard: Salons, spas, medspas, barbershops, massage and nail businesses. Source
Booking on the call
KaiCalls: Checks your calendar and books the time while the caller is on the line.
Boulevard: Texts the caller a booking link with the service picked. Source
Texts from callers
KaiCalls: Kai answers texts sent to your KaiCalls number.
Boulevard: Does not respond to incoming texts. Source
Picking who gets a text campaign
KaiCalls: Filters by lead status, source and date added, plus who called lately, who went quiet, hot leads, and anyone texted recently.
Boulevard: Audiences by appointment history, services, products bought, membership and marketing opt-in. Source
Before the first text campaign
KaiCalls: Sends from your KaiCalls number once its texting registration is approved.
Boulevard: Needs a dedicated Boulevard texting number, and each staff member needs a Marketing permission turned on. Source
People who replied STOP
KaiCalls: Left out of every campaign automatically, with the reason shown.
Boulevard: Filter by SMS marketing status. Source
| Boulevard | KaiCalls | |
|---|---|---|
| Price to answer your calls | $125/mo per location for 200 minutes, then $0.60 a minute. Free during its beta, August to November 2026. Source | Kai Backup is $10/mo for ~20 Kai-answered calls/mo. Kai Line is $79/mo for ~170 Kai-answered calls/mo. Kai Office is $349/mo for ~800 Kai-answered calls/mo. No per-minute charges. |
| What you need first | A Boulevard plan, from $143/mo for one location. The receptionist is an add-on. Source | Nothing else. Keep your phone number and the tools you already use. |
| Who it is for | Salons, spas, medspas, barbershops, massage and nail businesses. Source | Any business that takes calls, including salons and spas. |
| Booking on the call | Texts the caller a booking link with the service picked. Source | Checks your calendar and books the time while the caller is on the line. |
| Texts from callers | Does not respond to incoming texts. Source | Kai answers texts sent to your KaiCalls number. |
| Calling people back | No outbound calls. Source | Kai can call leads back for you. |
| Picking who gets a text campaign | Audiences by appointment history, services, products bought, membership and marketing opt-in. Source | Filters by lead status, source and date added, plus who called lately, who went quiet, hot leads, and anyone texted recently. |
| Before the first text campaign | Needs a dedicated Boulevard texting number, and each staff member needs a Marketing permission turned on. Source | Sends from your KaiCalls number once its texting registration is approved. |
| People who replied STOP | Filter by SMS marketing status. Source | Left out of every campaign automatically, with the reason shown. |
Boulevard counts minutes. KaiCalls counts answered calls. Boulevard text usage is billed separately, from $25 a month for 500 text segments (source).
Which one fits
- You already run Boulevard and want callers sent a booking link: Boulevard's receptionist keeps it all in one place.
- You want the time booked on the call, texts answered, and leads called back: KaiCalls.
- You are not on Boulevard: KaiCalls, since Boulevard's receptionist needs a Boulevard plan.
Questions
Do I have to leave Boulevard to use KaiCalls?
No. KaiCalls answers your phone and texts. Boulevard can keep running your schedule, checkout and client records.
What does Boulevard's receptionist cost?
Boulevard lists $125 a month per location for 200 minutes, then $0.60 a minute, on top of a Boulevard plan that starts at $143 a month. Usage is free during its beta from August to November 2026. Checked on Boulevard's site on October 2, 2026.
What happens if I get more calls than my KaiCalls plan includes?
There are no per-minute overage charges. Your plan includes an expected monthly call allowance. If your call volume stays higher, we recommend the next plan and notify you before anything changes. You can choose to keep your current plan, and we move you back down if volume drops.
Can I pick who gets a text campaign?
Yes, on both. Boulevard builds audiences from appointment and purchase history. KaiCalls picks from what Kai learned on your calls: who called lately, who has not called in a while, and your hottest leads. It can also skip anyone you texted in the last week or two. People who replied STOP are always left out.
See every plan on the pricing page.