Hostie AI leads the 2025 restaurant voice AI market with 97% peak-hour answer rates and deep reservation system integrations, while competitors like Slang redirect callers to online ordering instead of completing phone sales. At $199/month, Hostie offers restaurant-specific features that generate $3,000-$18,000 monthly revenue per location.
• Hostie AI achieves 97% answer rates during peak hours compared to 20-40% missed calls industry-wide
• Slang AI ($399/month) redirects callers to online ordering rather than processing phone orders directly
• SoundHound requires enterprise pricing with potential hidden usage fees that escalate during busy periods
• Hostie supports 20+ languages with cultural nuance while Slang charges extra for bilingual support
• Burma Food Group saw 141% increase in phone covers after implementing Hostie's virtual concierge
• Voice AI generates $3,000-$18,000 monthly revenue per location, up to 25x the system cost
AI restaurant software is exploding in 2025, and operators that depend on reservations and phone orders can't afford to ignore it. We'll compare Hostie AI with Slang, SoundHound, Maple Voice and Loman so you can decide which platform boosts hospitality – and your bottom line – this year.
The phone has always been the front door of any reservation-driven restaurant. But here's the challenge: 63% of Americans say calling is their preferred way to contact a restaurant, yet more than two-thirds will give up entirely if nobody answers.
That disconnect is fueling a voice AI gold rush. The restaurant AI market is valued at $9.68 billion in 2024 and projected to hit $49 billion within five years. In parallel, the Voice AI market is expected to expand from $10 billion to $49 billion by 2029.
Why now? Three forces are converging:
If your team is still juggling ringing phones during a dinner rush, 2025 is the year to explore a voice AI solution that keeps guests happy and revenue flowing.
Before diving into features and pricing, here's a quick snapshot of each contender.
| Platform | One-Line Differentiator |
|---|---|
| Hostie AI | Built with one goal: feel like a real host. |
| Slang AI | A general-purpose voice automation platform gaining ground in New York and Las Vegas after a $20 million funding round. |
| SoundHound | Enterprise-scale voice AI powering over 10,000 locations with drive-thru, phone, and in-car ordering. |
| Maple Voice | Designed for high-volume phone orders, focusing on call conversion. |
| Loman | Combines order processing with reservations and deploys in under 24 hours. |
Hostie AI launched primarily in the Bay Area in 2024, focusing on delivering human-level service at scale for full-service restaurants. The other platforms each occupy a distinct niche, which matters when matching technology to your operation.
Day-to-day performance hinges on three pillars: how natural the AI sounds, which systems it connects to, and whether it can serve your diverse guest base.
Modern voice AI systems are achieving 95%+ accuracy rates, a threshold that keeps guests happy and reduces the need for human intervention.
Hostie AI leads with a 97% peak-hour answer rate from its 500,000-call study. Compare that to the industry norm: restaurants typically miss 20-40% of incoming calls during peak hours.
Slang AI reports a 96% caller satisfaction rate and books over 200 reservations monthly per location on average. It also earns a 10x return on investment for some hospitality groups.
SoundHound touts a 93% industry-leading unassisted AI accuracy rate, which helps reduce food waste and voided checks. The platform is optimized for quick-service chains with high call and drive-thru volume.
Seamless connections to your existing tech stack determine whether AI can actually book a table or place an order without friction.
Hostie AI integrates with OpenTable, Yelp, Resy, Tock, SevenRooms, Toast, and Square. Its virtual concierge can book, modify, or cancel reservations directly inside these systems through natural phone or text conversations.
Slang AI offers powerful integrations with industry leaders, including OpenTable and Yelp, and emphasizes a quick time-to-go-live with pre-trained AI.
SoundHound's AI order management works with Square, Toast, and Oracle, plus custom integrations. However, the platform is primarily geared toward ordering rather than reservation management.
Maple Voice focuses on deep POS integration for phone orders, while Loman combines order processing with reservations.
Hostie AI supports over 20 languages with cultural nuance understanding, automatically detecting caller language preferences. Jasmine, Hostie's AI assistant, handles everything from simple reservation changes to complex private event inquiries. Slang AI offers support for bilingual speakers, available as an add-on. SoundHound's Polaris model is multilingual, while Maple's English-only support limits its reach in diverse urban markets.
Key takeaway: If reservations are your lifeblood, prioritize platforms like Hostie AI with deep two-way sync; if drive-thru orders dominate, SoundHound's omnichannel approach may suit you better.
Transparent pricing is rare in enterprise software, so let's break down what's publicly available.
| Platform | Entry Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hostie AI | $199/month | Restaurant-specific features, no hidden fees |
| Slang AI | $399/month (Core) | Premium tier at $599; bilingual support extra |
| SoundHound | Enterprise pricing | Usage-based fees; varies by call volume |
| Maple Voice | Custom | Focused on high-volume QSR |
| Loman | $199/month + $149 setup | Premium tier at $299 for ordering features |
SoundHound's enterprise-level pricing model may include hidden costs like carrier fees and per-interaction charges that can escalate quickly during busy periods.
Studies show operators can achieve 700% ROI or more in their first year of implementation. AI hosts are generating additional revenue of $3,000 to $18,000 per month per location – up to 25 times the cost of the AI host itself.
Burma Food Group saw a 141% increase in over-the-phone covers after implementing Hostie's virtual concierge. Meanwhile, analysis of over 500,000 restaurant calls showed a 91% drop in hold time and an 87% reduction in missed calls when AI systems manage phone operations.
For a detailed breakdown tailored to your seating capacity, check out Hostie's 2025 ROI calculator for 50-seat restaurants.
Onboarding speed matters when you're losing revenue to missed calls every day.
| Platform | Typical Go-Live | Support Model |
|---|---|---|
| Hostie AI | 2-3 weeks | White-glove onboarding with dedicated success managers |
| Slang AI | Less than 30 minutes | Self-serve setup with onboarding specialists |
| SoundHound | Varies | Enterprise support; complexity depends on integrations |
| Loman | Under 24 hours | Standard support |
Slang AI's 30-minute setup is the fastest, but Hostie AI's restaurant-first design philosophy means the extra days are spent tailoring the AI to your brand voice, menu nuances, and operational workflows. That investment pays off in fewer escalations and happier guests.
For a deeper look at what makes Hostie tick, read Introducing Hostie.
Burma Food Group achieved a 141% increase in over-the-phone covers across three locations. The AI system now handles over 80% of guest communications automatically, allowing staff to focus on in-person hospitality.
Matt Ho, owner of Bodega SF, chose Hostie after shopping around: "It's built specifically for restaurants" and "makes the job easier for the host and does not disturb guests while they're enjoying their meal."
Red Rocks Café in Charlotte automated 60% of its calls and achieved a 97% answer rate. Emily Smith, Events & Reservations Manager, notes:
"Before, it wasn't uncommon to have customers hang up out of frustration after being on hold. That's no longer a problem. Slang handles all of our incoming calls, and that has really helped us during peak hours."
White Castle enhanced its drive-thru with SoundHound's AI, boosting sales through smart upselling. Blue Square Pizza saves $11,000 annually while handling Friday night rushes without missing a beat.
SoundHound clients report an 11% increase in revenue over non-AI locations, 85% faster service times, and a 14% lift in customer satisfaction.
With 34% of restaurants already using voice AI and 48% planning implementation within the next 12 months, the question isn't whether to adopt – it's which platform fits your operation.
Follow this checklist:
As IDC's Dorothy Creamer notes, "Voice AI and conversational platforms will increasingly be a valuable lever to pull for hospitality and travel brands to ensure frictionless guest experiences while improving efficiency."
For a comprehensive decision framework, download Hostie's 2025 buyer's guide for AI restaurant software.
The best AI restaurant software doesn't replace hospitality – it amplifies it. By answering every call, speaking your guests' language, and connecting seamlessly to your reservation and POS systems, voice AI lets your team focus on what they do best: creating memorable dining experiences.
Restaurants using Hostie report measurable ROI fast: more reservations booked, more walk-ins captured, and fewer missed calls – all while freeing up staff to focus on hospitality.
If you're ready to see how a restaurant-native AI can transform your phone operations, Hostie AI offers transparent pricing, 20-language support, and deep integrations designed by people who've worked the floor themselves.
💡 Ready to see Hostie in action?
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👉 Book a demo with Hostie today
2025 is pivotal for AI restaurant software due to labor shortages, consumer readiness for AI interactions, and proven ROI, with early adopters seeing returns of 700% or more.
Hostie AI boasts a 97% peak-hour answer rate, surpassing industry norms, and offers human-like conversation quality, making it a leader in guest satisfaction.
Hostie AI integrates with major platforms like OpenTable, Yelp, Resy, Tock, Toast, and Square, allowing seamless reservation and order management.
Hostie AI starts at $199/month with no hidden fees, while competitors like Slang AI and SoundHound have higher or enterprise-level pricing with potential additional costs.
Hostie AI typically goes live in 2-3 weeks, offering white-glove onboarding and dedicated support to tailor the AI to specific restaurant needs.
Restaurants using Hostie AI report significant ROI, with additional revenue of $3,000 to $18,000 per month per location, and a 91% drop in hold time.
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