How do I make a professional voicemail greeting for free?
Copy one of the templates below, replace the bracketed details, paste it into the text box above and pick a voice. Slow the speed down a notch, enter the 5-digit code, generate and download the MP3. Then upload that file in your phone system’s voicemail settings. The whole process takes about five minutes, and you can re-make it any time your hours change.
An AI greeting sounds the same every time: no background noise, no “um,” no barking dog. That is why small businesses, freelancers and remote teams use one even when they could record it themselves.
5 voicemail greeting scripts for businesses
1. Standard business greeting
Thank you for calling [Brightline Dental]. You’ve reached our voicemail. Please leave your name, phone number and a short message, and we’ll return your call within one business day. If this is a dental emergency, please call [our after-hours line at five one two, five five five, zero one nine eight]. Thank you.
2. After-hours greeting
Hi, you’ve reached [Oak Street Auto Repair]. Our shop is currently closed. Our hours are Monday through Friday, eight a.m. to six p.m., and Saturday, nine to two. Leave a message after the tone, or book a service online at [oakstreetauto dot com]. We’ll call you back first thing.
3. Personal professional (freelancer or consultant)
Hello, you’ve reached [Marcus Bell] at [Bell Design Studio]. I’m either on another call or with a client. Please leave your name, number and the best time to reach you, and I’ll get back to you today. Thanks for calling.
4. Holiday closure
Thank you for calling [Green Valley Insurance]. Our office is closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, and we’ll reopen on Monday, November thirtieth. Please leave a message, and a member of our team will return your call when we’re back. Happy Thanksgiving!
5. Sales or real estate line
Thanks for calling [Jessica Reyes, Hill Country Realty]. I’m probably showing a home right now. Leave your name, number and the property you’re interested in, and I’ll call you back within the hour. You can also text this number anytime.
Phone numbers read best when written as words with commas between groups, exactly like the examples above.
Best voice and settings for voicemail
| Business type | Voice style | Settings |
|---|---|---|
| Medical, dental, legal | Calm, mature, reassuring voice | Slightly slower; neutral pitch |
| Home services and trades | Friendly, down-to-earth American voice | Normal speed |
| Tech and agencies | Crisp, modern voice | Normal speed |
| Hotels and hospitality | Warm, polished voice (US or British) | Slightly slower |
| Bilingual businesses | English voice plus a US Spanish voice | Two clips joined, or one greeting per line |
Spoken greetings over about 30 seconds frustrate callers. Aim for 15–25 seconds.
How to upload your greeting to a phone system
Menu names vary by phone system, but the flow is almost always the same.
- Download the MP3Generate your greeting and download it. If your system asks for WAV, convert the MP3 with any free audio converter before uploading.
- Open voicemail settingsIn cloud business phone systems such as RingCentral, Zoom Phone, Grasshopper or Google Voice, sign in on the web and look for Voicemail, Greetings or Messages settings for your user or extension.
- Choose a custom or uploaded greetingSelect the option to upload or import an audio file rather than record by phone. Some carrier voicemail and Google Voice setups only allow recording; in that case, play the MP3 from your computer speaker into the phone while recording.
- Assign it to the right scheduleMany systems let you set separate business-hours, after-hours and holiday greetings. Upload each version.
- Test itCall your own number from another phone, let it go to voicemail and listen. Adjust speed or wording if it sounds rushed.
Voicemail greeting dos and don’ts
- Do say the business name in the first sentence so callers know they dialed correctly.
- Do tell callers exactly what to leave: name, number, reason for calling.
- Do set a realistic callback promise you can keep.
- Don’t read out a long list of options; that belongs in a menu. See our phone greeting and IVR page for auto-attendant scripts.
- Don’t forget to update holiday greetings the day you reopen.
- Don’t use a voice that imitates a real person. Use a library voice or your own cloned voice.
Need greetings for many lines or locations?
Franchises and multi-location businesses can produce greetings without captcha or ads on SpeechmaPRO.com. Phone platforms and developers can generate greetings automatically with the Speechma API from $9/month.
Frequently asked questions
Is this voicemail greeting generator really free?
Can I use the AI greeting for my business phone?
How do I set a custom voicemail greeting on my phone?
Can I upload an MP3 to Google Voice?
What should a professional voicemail greeting say?
Can I make a bilingual greeting?
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