DeskAgent vs Fasthosts
Choose Fasthosts if you mainly need calls answered, want the lowest monthly price and are happy to set it up yourself. Choose DeskAgent if you want an agent built and tested for you, unlimited inbound calls, and WhatsApp, web chat and email answered too.
Last updated 27/10/2026 · Fasthosts facts taken from its own website on 27 October 2026 · Written by DeskAgent
How Do DeskAgent And Fasthosts Compare?
Fasthosts is a long-running UK web host whose AI Receptionist is a self-serve phone answering service with three monthly packages. Here is how it lines up with DeskAgent, a London-built AI front desk for UK service businesses.
| DeskAgent | Fasthosts AI Receptionist | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | From £85/month per agent. Phone Agent £125/month; Full DeskAgent (all four agents plus HQ) £285/month | £39/month (Lite); Fasthosts states all prices exclude VAT at 20% |
| What the price covers | Phone Agent: unlimited inbound calls. Web Agent: unlimited conversations on one website | Lite: 30 calls a month, then £0.49 per call. Plus £69/month: 100 calls, then £0.39 per call. Unlimited £99/month |
| Channels | Phone, WhatsApp, web chat and email, sharing one brain | Phone |
| AI or human answering | AI, with urgent jobs routed to your mobile; always honest that it is an AI if asked | AI, with call forwarding to your staff |
| Setup | Done for you: Web and Inbox under a week, Phone and WhatsApp under two weeks | Self-serve - Fasthosts says under 15 minutes |
| Your phone number | Keep your existing number (call forwarding) | Dedicated number included, or keep yours with call forwarding |
| Contract | None - pause or cancel anytime | No long-term contract - cancel online anytime |
| Free trial | No - a free 30-minute demo with an agent built for your business | 1 month free |
| Yes - the WhatsApp Agent, and you run everything from WhatsApp with DeskAgent HQ | Not published | |
| Data protection | Processed in line with UK GDPR; data processing agreement on request | "Fully GDPR compliant"; call data hosted in EU data centres; calls not recorded |
| Best for | UK service businesses that want every channel answered and set up for them | Sole traders and small teams wanting cheap call answering they set up themselves |
"Not published" means we could not find it on Fasthosts's own website on 27 October 2026. Prices change, so check with Fasthosts before you decide.
What Is Different?
Price
Fasthosts starts lower, at £39/month plus VAT for 30 calls. DeskAgent's Phone Agent is £125/month with unlimited inbound calls.
Who sets it up
Fasthosts is self-serve. DeskAgent builds, trains and tests the agent on your business for you.
Channels
Fasthosts answers calls. DeskAgent also answers WhatsApp, website chat and email, all sharing one brain.
DeskAgent vs Fasthosts: Your Questions.
Is Fasthosts cheaper than DeskAgent?
On headline price, yes: Fasthosts Lite is £39/month plus VAT, against £125/month for DeskAgent's Phone Agent. Fasthosts Lite covers 30 calls before per-call charges and you set it up yourself, while DeskAgent includes unlimited inbound calls and a done-for-you build.
Does Fasthosts answer WhatsApp or web chat?
Fasthosts does not publish WhatsApp or web chat for its AI Receptionist (checked 27 October 2026). DeskAgent has a WhatsApp Agent, a Web Agent and an Inbox Agent alongside the Phone Agent.
Can I try either before I pay?
Fasthosts offers a free first month. DeskAgent offers a free 30-minute demo with an agent built on your business before you sign up.
Where Do These Facts Come From?
Fasthosts information comes from these pages on its own website, checked on 27 October 2026. DeskAgent information comes from our pricing page.
See DeskAgent On Your Own Calls.
Book a free 30-minute demo and we will build a demo agent for your business first. Or ring +44 20 7101 0617 to hear the Phone Agent answer.
Also see: All comparisons · Best AI receptionists in London · Phone Agent · Pricing