TL;DR:
In a world where 67M+ U.S. residents speak a language other than English at home, a bilingual virtual receptionist ensures you never miss a customer because of language barriers.
Best bilingual virtual receptionist services we reviewed:
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CloudTalk – AI-first, 60+ languages, CRM sync
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Smith.ai – AI + human hybrid, English & Spanish
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Nextiva – UCaaS suite with receptionist add-ons
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Upfirst.ai – Budget-friendly, 90+ languages
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Goodcall – Intake & scheduling, ~7 languages
Language shouldn’t be the reason you lose a customer.
Missed calls frustrate customers—and language barriers make the loss even bigger. Research shows that 76% of consumers are more likely to buy again if support is offered in their own language¹.
Imagine you need to reach a service to solve an issue. You keep calling, but no one’s picking up. And when you finally do get through, the agent doesn’t speak your language. Frustrating, right?
Missed calls already hurt—80% of callers sent to voicemail won’t leave a message¹. Add a language barrier, and the chance to save the call disappears completely.
The message is clear: when customers can’t connect in their own language, they don’t wait around. They hang up, turn to a competitor, and your chance to earn their trust is gone for good.
That’s why more companies rely on a bilingual virtual receptionist—sometimes called a multilingual virtual receptionist or bilingual answering service. These AI-powered assistants answer calls 24/7, detect languages in real time, and handle requests smoothly.
This guide breaks down what a bilingual virtual receptionist is, what it does, why you need it, how to set it up, and the top 5 providers to consider in 2026 you can safely choose from.
Key takeaways:
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A bilingual virtual receptionist is essential for businesses serving multilingual markets. It helps every caller feel understood and valued.
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Missed calls combined with language barriers mean lost revenue and trust. Don’t let competitors capture customers you could have kept.
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The best bilingual virtual receptionists bring benefits like 24/7 coverage, real-time language detection, call spike handling, CRM sync, and cost savings over hiring staff.
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Companies of all sizes—from SMBs to enterprises—can benefit, but it’s especially powerful in industries like SaaS, healthcare, real estate, and professional services.
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If you want the most complete option, CloudTalk’s AI-first bilingual receptionist is built to scale globally, with 60+ languages and deep CRM integrations.
Answer Every Call. In Every Language.
What Is a Bilingual Virtual Receptionist?
A bilingual virtual receptionist is an AI-powered phone answering service that picks up and manages your business calls in more than one language.
Using AI and automation, it greets callers, takes messages, and sends them to the right person so that every customer gets help in the language they prefer.
Here’s what a bilingual receptionist can do:
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Answer calls 24/7, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
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Routes callers quickly to the right person or department.
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Handle simple requests like booking appointments or sharing business hours.
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Capture caller details like names, numbers, and reasons for calling.
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Greet and serve customers in their preferred language from the very first hello.
In short, it does everything a regular AI virtual receptionist does—but makes it available in multiple languages instead of just one.
What Does a Bilingual Virtual Receptionist Do?
A bilingual virtual receptionist acts as the first touchpoint for your business. Beyond answering calls, it eliminates language barriers that can otherwise cost you leads and trust.
Here’s what it typically handles:
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Warm greetings in the caller’s language: Builds instant comfort and rapport.
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Answers routine questions: Hours, pricing, or availability delivered without delay.
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Message-taking with zero friction: Caller details captured and synced into your CRM.
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Handles common use cases: Appointments or bookings are handled automatically, without back-and-forth.
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Smart call routing: Connects callers to the right person or department in real time.
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Multilingual FAQs: Handles order status, location details, or other common queries in multiple languages.
Bottom line:
Your receptionist does more than just pick up phones. Your always-on sidekick ensures every caller feels heard and supported from the very first hello.
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Key Features to Look for in a Bilingual Virtual Receptionist
More than 67 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home², and over 60% of customers say fast response times are the most important part of good service³.
Put those two facts together, and the risk is clear: if your receptionist can’t answer quickly and in the caller’s preferred language, opportunities slip away.
That’s why the right provider matters. When choosing a bilingual virtual receptionist, look for these must-have features:
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01
24/7 multilingual coverage: Answer every call, during or after hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays. This way, your customers don’t feel ignored, and you don’t lose leads.
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02
Real-time language detection: Make customers feel understood from the first word with instant recognition of their preferred language.
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03
Smarter call routing: Send callers to the right person or workflow quickly, guided by language-aware rules that remove friction.
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04
Consistent, professional CX: Present a polished brand voice on every call with clear greetings and reliable call quality, no matter the language.
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05
Scalability during spikes: Stay responsive during promotions, seasonal peaks, or outages by handling call surges across languages without extra staff.
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06
Global reach & cultural nuance: Build trust internationally with support for regional dialects and cultural cues that make interactions feel local.
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07
CRM and helpdesk integrations: Keep customer data flowing automatically with calls, notes, and transcripts logged in both the caller’s language and English.
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08
AI-powered insights: Turn conversations into strategy by tracking sentiment, keywords, and trends across languages.
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09
Cost efficiency: Scale support without scaling payroll by replacing full-time bilingual hires with predictable monthly or per-minute pricing.
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10
Agent workload relief: Free your team to focus on complex cases while routine multilingual FAQs are handled automatically. It’s a great way to prevent agent burnout.
Bottom line:
The best bilingual virtual receptionist ensures every caller feels heard and supported—while you cut costs, gain insights, and expand globally without extra overhead.
CloudTalk’s Bilingual Receptionist Has It All
The 5 Best Bilingual Virtual Receptionist Services in 2026
Once you understand the key features to look for, the next step is clear: choosing the right bilingual virtual receptionist for your business.
How We Chose The Best Providers
There are plenty of options, but most fall into three main categories:
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AI-first platforms built for SMBs and scale (multilingual, automation-driven).
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AI + human hybrid solutions built for service-based SMBs.
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Enterprise UCaaS platforms with receptionist features bundled in.
To capture that full range, we included five providers that best represent today’s market. Some lean fully into AI, others balance AI with live agents, and a few bundle receptionist features into larger communication suites. Together, they show the main approaches businesses actually compare.
Here’s a quick overview of the best bilingual virtual receptionist providers:
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01
CloudTalk: Best AI-first receptionist for SMBs and scaling companies, with 50+ languages and deep CRM integrations.
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02
Smith.ai: Best hybrid AI + human receptionist for agencies and professional services, covering English + Spanish.
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03
Nextiva: Best enterprise UCaaS provider with receptionist features bundled into its suite.
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04
Upfirst: Best budget-friendly AI receptionist for startups and SMBs, with 90+ language support.
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05
Goodcall: Best for bookings and intake, with ~7 language options and strong scheduling workflows.
Let’s now compare them side by side and then break down what each provider actually offers, so that you can choose one that makes most sense for your use case.
5 Best Bilingual Virtual Receptionist Providers
| Platform | Who It’s Best For | Language Coverage | G2 Rating | Starting Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CloudTalk | AI-first receptionist for SMBs and global scaling | 60+ languages, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, and French | 4.4/5 (1,484 reviews) | $19/user/month for your plan + $350/team/month for Virtual Receptionist |
| Smith.ai | Hybrid AI + human receptionist for service-heavy SMBs | English + Spanish English + Spanish (with real-time detection + human fallback) | 4.9/5 (73 reviews) | From ~$95/month (AI receptionist tier, 30-call plan) |
| Nextiva | Enterprise UCaaS with receptionist add-ons | Primarily English; add-on support for limited languages | 4.5/5 (3,362 reviews) | Receptionist features included as part of user plans; starting at ~$20–$30/user/month |
| Upfirst | AI-first receptionist for SMBs/startups with quick setup | 90+ languages, including English and Spanish | N/A | From $24.95/month (30 calls included) |
| Goodcall | AI-first receptionist for bookings and intake workflows | 7 languages, including English, Spanish, and French | 3.5/5 (1 review) | Plans from ~$49–$59/month, with higher tiers for call volume |
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To support better software decisions, we’ve reviewed over 200 software tools across industries. In the process, we’ve analyzed 5,500+ verified customer reviews from platforms like G2, Gartner, Capterra, and TrustRadius, plus real discussions on Reddit and Quora.
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1. CloudTalk: The Best Virtual Receptionist for SMBs & Scale
CloudTalk offers the most complete AI-powered VoIP virtual receptionist for growing businesses. It combines automation, CRM integration, and a multilingual receptionist that speaks 60+ languages, making it a true fit for companies that want to scale globally without missing leads or sacrificing CX.
A quick overview of CloudTalk:
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Best for: Growing SMBs and scale-ups in SaaS, e-commerce, healthcare, real estate, and many more.
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Starting price: from $19/user/month for your plan + $350/team/month.
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G2 rating: 4.4/5 (1,484 reviews)
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Languages: 60+ languages, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, French, and more.
Best features:
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A human-sounding multilingual AI voice agent that answers calls 24/7 and handles routine requests at scale.
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Multilingual call answering system that greets and serves callers in their preferred language, ideal for global reach.
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Native integrations with 100+ CRMs and helpdesk tools, including Salesforce, HubSpot, Zendesk, and more.
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AI Smart Notes and AI Call Summaries that offer invaluable coaching insight (available with Conversation Intelligence add-on).
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Call spike management with callback flows and overflow routing.
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Your virtual receptionist call flows are fully customizable, so you can use it for outbound calling too.
Where it beats others:
Unlike bolt-on receptionist features, CloudTalk is purpose-built for AI and automation. It combines multilingual coverage, global scalability, and deep integrations in one platform—making it the best all-around option for businesses that want to grow without adding headcount.
The platform’s smart call routing, efficient workflow automation, and global reach make adapting to evolving needs effortless, whether you’re a startup or an enterprise with an international presence.
CloudTalk’s bilingual receptionist doesn’t just answer inbound calls. It can also handle routine outbound tasks like lead qualification or follow-up surveys. This makes a truly versatile AI voice agent for scaling teams. Just check out how it works for the most common use cases below.
AI Voice Agents
Nudge expiring offer
Riley, Sales Reminder Agent
Qualify a student lead
Avery, Course Inquiry Agent
Get a payment reminder
Casey, Payment Reminder Agent
Qualify a patient lead
Jordan, Healthcare Intake Agent
Qualify insurance lead
Taylor, Insurance Intake Agent
Accept updated terms
Quinn, T&C Acceptance Agent
Qualify legal inquiry
Drew, Legal Intake Agent
Get post-interview feedback
Jamie, Candidate Feedback Agent
Pre-screen a candidate
Skyler, Applicant Pre-screen Agent
Confirm account action
Morgan, Action Reminder Agent
Get a renewal reminder
Logan, Subscription Renewal Agent
Get CSAT after support
Morgan, CX Feedback Agent
Get NPS or demo feedback
Parker, Post-Sales Feedback Agent
Qualify a trial lead
Blake, Trial Signup Qualifier
Sales Reminder
Agent
Client
Sales / Marketing
Course Inquiry
Agent
Client
Education / EdTech
Payment Reminder
Agent
Client
Financial Services
Healthcare Intake
Agent
Client
Healthcare
Insurance Intake
Agent
Client
Insurance
T&C Acceptance
Agent
Client
Legal Services
Legal Intake
Agent
Client
Legal Services
Candidate Feedback
Agent
Client
Recruitment / HR
Applicant Pre-screen
Agent
Client
Recruitment / HR
Action Reminder
Agent
Client
SaaS / Software & Apps
Subscription Renewal
Agent
Client
SaaS / Software & Apps
CX Feedback
Agent
Client
SaaS / Software & Apps
Post-Sales Feedback
Agent
Client
SaaS / Software & Apps
Trial Signup
Qualifier
Client
SaaS / Software & Apps
2. Smith.ai: The Best Hybrid AI + Human Receptionists Solution
Smith.ai blends AI call answering with live agent support, making it a strong fit for service-heavy businesses that value a personal touch, such as law firms or finance.
The AI instantly detects whether a caller speaks English or Spanish, with bilingual human receptionists available to handle more complex or sensitive calls.
A quick overview of Smith.ai:
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Best for: Professional services (law firms, consultancies, agencies).
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Starting price: From ~$95/month (AI receptionist plan, 30 calls included).
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G2 rating: 4.9/5 (73 reviews).
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Languages: English + Spanish with real-time detection.
Best features:
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AI-assisted call answering with human backup.
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24/7 bilingual coverage in English and Spanish.
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Appointment scheduling and client intake workflows.
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Outbound lead qualification and follow-ups.
Where it beats others:
Smith.ai delivers a human + AI hybrid model, giving service-driven companies the reassurance of live bilingual receptionists, backed by the efficiency of AI.
Smith.ai has been a very important part of my business. I needed help with nurturing new leads, completing intake forms, and scheduling discovery calls.
3. Nextiva: Best UCaaS Receptionist for Enterprises
Nextiva is best known as a unified communications (UCaaS) platform, bundling phones, video, messaging, and receptionist tools. Its receptionist features come included in the suite, though multilingual AI is limited to English and basic Spanish support.
A quick overview of Nextiva:
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Best for: Enterprises and mid-market organizations.
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Starting price: Receptionist features included in user plans; ~$20–$30/user/month.
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G2 rating: 4.5/5 (3,362 reviews).
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Languages: Primarily English; limited Spanish support.
Best features:
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UCaaS suite (voice + video + messaging).
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Call routing and receptionist console.
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Enterprise-scale compliance and admin controls.
Where it beats others:
Nextiva works best if you’re an enterprise already on UCaaS and want receptionist features as part of a broader ecosystem. For heavy multilingual AI coverage, however, it’s less flexible than the AI-first providers on our list.
We were looking for an all-in-one system to combine the multiple and expensive systems we had in place. After some research, Nextiva was definitely the way to go.
4. Upfirst.ai: A Budget-Friendly Receptionist with 90+ Languages
Upfirst.ai is an AI-first receptionist designed for SMBs and startups that want multilingual coverage without the high price tag.
With support for 90+ languages, Upfirst is one of the most accessible receptionist tools for multilingual startups—but with limited integrations and analytics.
A quick overview of Upfirst.ai:
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Best for: SMBs and startups needing low-cost, multilingual reception.
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Starting price: From $24.95/month (30 calls included).
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G2 rating: No G2 score yet.
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Languages: 90+ including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese.
Best features:
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24/7 multilingual call answering.
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Simple setup with no-code workflows.
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Affordable, usage-based plans that scale.
Where it beats others:
Upfirst delivers massive language coverage at an entry-level price, making it a top choice for SMBs that serve diverse communities but must keep costs low.
5. Goodcall: Popular AI Receptionist for Bookings & Intake
Goodcall is positioned as an AI phone agent and receptionist with a focus on appointments and intake workflows, making it an ideal choice for industries like healthcare. It supports around 7 languages, covering the most common use cases for U.S. businesses.
A quick overview of Goodcall:
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Best for: Service SMBs (medical, salons, home services).
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Starting price: From ~$49–$59/month (higher tiers for call volume).
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G2 rating: 3.5/5
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Languages: ~7 (English, Spanish, French, and others).
Best features:
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AI-powered scheduling and intake.
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FAQ answering for front-desk workflows.
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Integrations with Google Calendar, Boulevard, and more.
Where it beats others:
Goodcall is ideal if your receptionist needs revolve around bookings and customer intake. While its multilingual range is narrower, its focus on scheduling makes it valuable for service industries.
Their on-time Customer Services and their numerous features. The best part is it is easy to use.
Our Top Pick: CloudTalk
While all five providers bring something to the table, CloudTalk stands out as the best bilingual virtual receptionist for SMBs and scaling companies.
It’s AI-first, built to scale globally, and covers 60+ languages with deep integrations with the best CRMs.
That combination makes it the most complete option for teams that want to capture every lead and deliver a consistent customer experience—without adding headcount.
Here’s how CloudTalk’s bilingual receptionist compares directly with the others:
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CloudTalk vs. Smith.ai: Smith.ai is strong if you need live bilingual agents, but language coverage is limited to English and Spanish. CloudTalk offers 60+ languages with fully automated AI coverage.
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CloudTalk vs. Nextiva: Nextiva works best for enterprises that already use its UCaaS suite. But its receptionist tools are basic and mostly English-only. CloudTalk delivers full AI + multilingual coverage as a core product.
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CloudTalk vs. Upfirst.ai: Upfirst is appealing for budget buyers with its 90+ languages, but it lacks CloudTalk’s enterprise-grade integrations, insights, and reliability.
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CloudTalk vs. Goodcall: Goodcall is great for bookings and intake, but its 7 languages are limiting. CloudTalk offers broader multilingual reach plus advanced routing, analytics, and outbound flows.
Bottom line:
If you want a receptionist that’s not just bilingual, but truly multilingual, scalable, and AI-driven, CloudTalk is the top pick.
The #1 Multilingual Virtual Receptionist
How to Set Up a Bilingual Virtual Receptionist: A Step-By-Step Tutorial
Setting up CloudTalk’s bilingual receptionist takes just a few minutes—no technical skills required.
Here’s exactly how it works inside the CloudTalk dashboard:
Step 1: Create Your CloudTalk Account
Head over to cloudtalk.io and sign up for a new account. Choose the plan that best fits your team size, call volume, and feature needs. Then, throw in the AI Voice Agent add-on, and you’re ready to set up your bilingual virtual receptionist.
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Step 2: Add Local or International Phone Numbers
From the dashboard, go to Numbers → Get a Number. Select the countries or regions where you operate and purchase international numbers for each. These numbers will become the entry points for your bilingual receptionist.
Step 3: Create a New AI Receptionist (Voice Agent)
In the left-hand menu, select AI Voice Agents → Agents. Then, click the “Create a VoiceAgent” button to set up your first virtual receptionist, or hit the “+” button to add more.
When setting up your bilingual receptionist, you can either:
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Start from scratch, or
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Use a prebuilt template (e.g., Support Bot, Sales Bot).
Pro Tip:
Step 4: Set Languages for the Agent
Once your receptionist is created, click on it in the AI Voice Agents list to open the configuration view.
Go to the Voice & Model Settings section.
Here, you’ll:
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Choose the voice model provider (we recommend ElevenLabs for natural multilingual voices)
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Set your Primary Language and one or more Secondary Languages
Your virtual receptionist will automatically detect the caller’s spoken language from the first words and switch to the caller’s language—as long as it’s one of the languages you’ve selected.
Step 5: Configure Your Receptionist
From the Dashboard, go to the Numbers tab. Find the number that should activate your bilingual receptionist and click the blue pencil icon to configure it.
Step 6: Open the Call Flow Designer
Inside the number settings, scroll to the incoming call section and click Configure call flow. This opens the Call Flow Designer.
Step 7: Add the VoiceAgent Step
In the flow, click the + icon where you want the VoiceAgent to take over. Choose VoiceAgent from the action menu.
In the setup panel:
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(Optional) Name the step
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Select the VoiceAgent you created earlier
Important: Remember that your virtual receptionist (VoiceAgent) should be the final step in its branch.
Step 8: Save and Activate Your Flow
Customize your flow for the selected number/receptionist further. Then click Save at the bottom of the Call Flow Designer to activate the updated routing.
That’s it. Your bilingual virtual receptionist that handles calls in 60+ languages is now live!
And here’s what a sample virtual receptionist call flow could look like:
Why Businesses Are Switching to AI-Powered Bilingual Receptionists
Hiring and managing full-time bilingual staff is expensive and hard to scale. That’s why businesses in multilingual markets are moving toward AI-powered bilingual virtual reception solutions that offer:
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Lower costs: Replace the expense of bilingual hires with predictable usage-based pricing.
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Consistent experiences: Every caller receives the same professional, language-appropriate response.
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Effortless scalability: Handle high call volumes without scrambling for staff.
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Always-on availability: Nights, weekends, and global time zones covered automatically.
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Seamless integrations: Calls, notes, and transcripts flow directly into your CRM or helpdesk.
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Global trust: Customers feel respected in their own language, strengthening loyalty.
Bottom line:
AI-powered bilingual receptionists deliver reliability, cost savings, and trust—without the staffing challenges of traditional approaches. For most businesses, that makes them absolutely worth it.
Test Drive #1 Multilingual Virtual Receptionist
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Conclusion: Stop Losing Leads to Language Gaps
Missed calls already hurt—80% of callers sent to voicemail won’t leave a message⁴. Add a language barrier, and the chance to save the call disappears completely.
The problem is that every unanswered or misunderstood call is a chance lost to a competitor who makes the customer feel understood.
That’s why a basic answering service isn’t enough in 2026. You need a bilingual virtual receptionist that blends AI, automation, and integrations to truly impact your business, revenue, and customer experience.
CloudTalk gives you that edge. Its AI-first bilingual virtual receptionist answers calls around the clock and adds real business value with:
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24/7 availability so no lead slips away.
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Smart routing and CRM sync for seamless experiences.
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Global reach in 60+ languages to build trust across markets.
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AI insights that turn calls into strategy.
The businesses that win this year won’t be the ones taking the most calls—they’ll be the ones turning every call, in any language, into an opportunity. CloudTalk makes sure you’re one of them.
Don’t Miss Another Call—See How It Works
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