Beside includes a traditional voicemail feature: callers hear a recorded greeting and can leave a voicemail. Your voicemail greeting plays only when a caller is not handled by your Receptionist, based on your settings (caller type, business hours, missed-call rules, etc.).
If the Receptionist is configured to handle a caller, the Receptionist will answer instead of your voicemail.
📌 Set up voicemail from the Beside mobile app. Recording and configuring your voicemail greeting is currently done from the mobile app, support for this in the web app at app.beside.com is coming soon. Voicemails themselves can be heard on any surface once they land in your conversation thread.
How voicemail works
Your voicemail greeting is a recorded message that callers hear when you don't answer and the Receptionist is not active for that caller. It can be:
A Default greeting - Beside announces your number
A Custom greeting - you record your own message
Set up your voicemail greeting
Open the Beside mobile app and go to Settings
If you have multiple lines, tap the line you want to manage under Phone Numbers
Under Calls, tap Call Flow
Under When you don't pick up, tap Traditional Voicemail
You'll see two options:
Use the default greeting
Plays a simple, generic message asking the caller to leave a voicemail after the tone
No recording required
Record a custom greeting
If you want to personalize your message:
Tap Custom
Tap Record
Clearly speak your greeting into the microphone
Tap Stop when you're done
Tap Play to preview
Tap Save to apply your new greeting
Your custom greeting will play for callers whenever you don't pick up and the Receptionist is not active for them.
🟡 Custom greetings not available on some lines: On certain Beside lines, the Record option may not be responsive or your recording may not save. If that happens on your line, the default greeting will still play and callers can still leave a voicemail. We're working on bringing custom recording to all lines.
How long your line rings before voicemail picks up
Ring timing is controlled from Ringing Mode - on the Beside mobile app, Settings → your line, if you have more than one → Calls → Call Flow → Ringing Mode; on Beside on the web, Settings → Phone Numbers → [your line] → Ringing Mode - not from voicemail settings. The same setting controls both voicemail and the Receptionist: there's no separate count for each, and no ring count to customize anymore.
Pick Ring first / Ring all / Ring in order for a fixed ~25-second ring before falling back, or Direct to AI Receptionist / Direct to Voicemail for an instant handoff.
FAQ
Why can't I record a custom voicemail greeting?
Why can't I record a custom voicemail greeting?
Custom greetings are not available on every Beside line. If the Record button isn't responsive on your line or your recording doesn't save, the default greeting will play instead. The default greeting still works the same way - callers can leave a voicemail and you'll find it in your conversation thread.
When does voicemail play instead of the Receptionist?
When does voicemail play instead of the Receptionist?
Voicemail plays when you don't answer and the Receptionist is either turned off or not configured to handle that specific caller. If the Receptionist is active for a caller, it will pick up instead of voicemail.
Can I have different voicemail greetings for different lines?
Can I have different voicemail greetings for different lines?
Yes. Each Beside line has its own voicemail greeting. Go to Settings, tap the line under Phone Numbers, then open Calls → Call Flow → Traditional Voicemail to configure it.
Where do I find my voicemails?
Where do I find my voicemails?
Voicemails appear in the conversation thread with the caller. You can play them from the mobile app or the web app at app.beside.com.
Can I set up my voicemail greeting from the web app?
Can I set up my voicemail greeting from the web app?
Not yet - recording and configuring your voicemail greeting is currently done from the Beside mobile app. Support for this in app.beside.com is coming soon.
What's the difference between the Receptionist and voicemail?
What's the difference between the Receptionist and voicemail?
The Receptionist is an interactive assistant that can answer questions, take messages, book appointments, and qualify leads. Traditional voicemail simply plays a greeting and records a message. You can use both - the Receptionist handles callers you configure it for, and voicemail catches the rest.
Is the ring timing separate for Receptionist and voicemail?
Is the ring timing separate for Receptionist and voicemail?
No - Ringing Mode controls both. When a call comes in and you don't pick up, the same setting determines when the call rolls over, whether the Receptionist or voicemail is the one taking it. There's no separate ring count to set for either.