Dialzara vs Upfirst
Two affordable AI answering services with different pricing models. Compare per-minute (Dialzara) vs per-call (Upfirst) pricing to see which saves you more.
Quick Verdict: Dialzara vs Upfirst
Both are affordable AI answering services, but the right choice depends on your call patterns. Upfirst starts at $24.95/mo for 30 calls using per-call pricing — a 30-second call costs the same as a 10-minute call. Dialzara starts at $29/mo for 60 minutes using per-minute pricing — you only pay for time used. Dialzara is also HIPAA compliant for healthcare businesses, while Upfirst is not. If you get many short calls, Dialzara's per-minute model saves money. If your calls are mostly long, Upfirst's per-call model may be better.
Compare Dialzara vs Upfirst: Key Differences
Dialzara
Per-Minute AI Receptionist
Best for: Businesses wanting predictable per-minute billing and HIPAA compliance
Upfirst
Per-Call AI Answering Service
Best for: Low-volume businesses with mostly longer calls wanting the lowest base price
Per-Minute vs Per-Call: Which Pricing Model Is Better?
The biggest difference between Dialzara and Upfirst is how they charge. Understanding the pricing models helps you choose the right service.
Per-Minute (Dialzara)
- Short calls cost less — a 30-second call costs a fraction of a 10-minute call
- More predictable — you know exactly how much time you're using
- Better for businesses with a mix of short and long calls
- 60 minutes included — equivalent to ~30 two-minute calls
Per-Call (Upfirst)
- Long calls don't cost more — a 10-minute call costs the same as a 2-minute call
- Short calls waste value — a quick 30-second call uses a full call credit
- Only 30 calls on Starter — moderate volume businesses hit overages quickly
- $1.50 per additional call on Starter adds up fast
Dialzara vs Upfirst: Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Both services include most features on every plan. The key differences are in pricing model, compliance, and setup speed.
| Feature | Dialzara | Upfirst |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price & ModelDifferent pricing approaches | $29/mo60 min · per-minute | $24.95/mo30 calls · per-call |
| HIPAA ComplianceDialzara is HIPAA compliant for healthcare businesses; Upfirst does not advertise HIPAA compliance | ||
| Minutes/Calls on Entry PlanDialzara includes 60 minutes (~30 two-min calls) for $29/mo; Upfirst includes only 30 calls for $24.95/mo with $1.50 per additional call | ||
| 24/7 AI Call Handling | ||
| Appointment SchedulingBoth offer appointment booking; Upfirst integrates with Google Calendar, Outlook, and Clio | ||
| Call Transcripts & Recordings | ||
| Call Transfers | ||
| SMS NotificationsBoth send instant call summaries via SMS or email | ||
| Lead Capture | ||
| Zapier IntegrationBoth include Zapier on all plans for CRM and app connections | ||
| Spam Call FilteringUpfirst does not count spam calls toward your total; both filter unwanted calls | ||
| Multilingual SupportUpfirst supports 35+ languages; Dialzara offers bilingual English/Spanish support | ||
| Most Features on Entry PlanBoth services include most features on every plan; Dialzara reserves warm transfers for the $99/mo Pro plan | ||
| Dedicated Phone Number | ||
| Quick SetupDialzara trains from your website URL in 2 minutes; Upfirst setup takes about 10-30 minutes | ||
| Free Trial LengthUpfirst offers 14-day trial (no credit card); Dialzara offers 7-day trial |
Compare Dialzara vs Upfirst Pricing
Dialzara's per-minute model vs Upfirst's per-call tiers.
Dialzara Pricing
$29/month
60 minutes included · per-minute billing
- Pay only for minutes used — short calls cost less
- Most features included on every plan
- HIPAA compliant for healthcare
- 7-day free trial
Upfirst Pricing
$24.95/month
30 calls included · per-call billing
- All features included on every plan
- 35+ languages supported
- 14-day free trial, no credit card
- $1.50/call overage on Starter plan
Upfirst Plans:
Starter: $24.95/mo (30 calls) · Premium: $59.95/mo (90 calls)
Pro: $159.95/mo (300 calls) · Scale: $299/mo (600 calls)
Annual billing saves 20%
Dialzara vs Upfirst: Which Is Best for Your Business?
Choose Dialzara When...
- You need HIPAA compliance for healthcare or regulated businesses
- You prefer per-minute pricing where you only pay for time used
- You want faster setup (2 minutes from your website URL vs 10-30 minutes)
- You receive many short calls and don't want each one to count as a full "call"
- You need a predictable billing model tied to actual minutes used
- You're in healthcare, dental, legal, or other compliance-sensitive industries
Choose Upfirst When...
- You want the absolute lowest starting price ($24.95/mo vs $29/mo)
- You receive mostly longer calls and want per-call pricing so a 10-minute call costs the same as a 2-minute call
- You need support for 35+ languages beyond English and Spanish
- You want a 14-day free trial instead of 7 days
- Your call volume is low (under 30 calls/month) and the Starter plan is sufficient
Dialzara vs Upfirst: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the differences between Dialzara and Upfirst.