5.) If you’re calling a home line, and know the family, it’s nice to say a group “Hello” before leaving a message specifically for the person you called. Say something like this: “Hi everyone, it’s Maralee. Hope you’re enjoying Spring Break! Janet, I wanted to see if you and I could meet for lunch one day next week. My schedule is pretty open, and we could pick a restaurant near your office. I know your lunch schedules are tight. I’ll give you a call back at 7:00 tonight. Or I’m around all afternoon, so give me a call!” (Boy, home lines are becoming rare, aren’t they? We gave ours up a couple of months ago.)
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. Read more BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.Read more Best of the Best Best for Offices This entire AT&T system will meet the needs of small businesses or anyone who needs multi-phone capabilities with lots of features. However, it's more than the average answering machine user will need. An excellent choice for offices, as it includes a corded and cordless phone that's expandable and packed with features. Has clear sound quality. Features caller ID. Answering machine works well. Clear digital display. On the higher end of the price spectrum. Not everyone needs all of these additional features. Best Bang for the Buck Bargain Pick Although it isn't fancy and the phone could be better, this model is an affordable option with a reasonable amount of recording time. Basic and easy to use. Can record up to 14 minutes of messages. Compact design fits nicely on desks and countertops. Comes with cordless phone that has backlit caller ID. Some issues with the phone have been reported, including short-range and poor sound, but the answering machine works well. Feature-packed This quality answering system works as promised, sounds great and comes with two additional cordless phones. Offers a large, bright display and crisp, clear audio. Expandable, and comes with two handsets. Answering system is easy to program and use. Offers 14 minutes of message recording time. Caller ID is quirky, but this doesn't affect the answering machine. Easiest to Use A traditional answering machine by AT&T with some user-friendly features, but it also has some sound quality issues that could hinder its performance and reliability. Answer machine only in a straightforward design. Slim build. Easy to program and use. Comes at a reasonable price. Recorded greeting as well as call play backs often have poor sound quality. No indication of the message record time. Corded Option Corded phones with answering machines can be difficult to find, but this one offers welcome features for customers who still prefer landline models. Classic corded phone with a built-in answering machine that can record 30 minutes of messages. Earns praise for its ability to block as many as 1,000 numbers. Has large, user-friendly buttons. Answering machine is a bit challenging to set up, but the user manual is helpful. Sound is average. We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers. We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers. Written by Jennifer Blair Table of Contents Buying guide for best answering machines Standalone vs. built-in answering machines Answering machine features Answering machine prices Tips Other products we considered FAQ