NCH IVM Telephone Answering Attendant review
A feature-rich on-premises IVR for businesses managing complex telephone workflows.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
NCH IVM Telephone Answering Attendant is installed telephone-management software for small and medium businesses that need interactive voice response, voicemail, call transfer, caller ID logging, outbound calling, and telephone information services. It runs on Windows and Linux and supports connections through voice modems, telephony boards, SIP/VoIP services, or PBX systems. Its fit is strongest for organizations maintaining a mature on-premises telephone environment rather than teams seeking a browser-first or cloud-only IVR.
Pricing is structured around one-time licenses for several editions. Basic Answering Machine costs $99 for 1 telephone line, 1 OGM menu, and 1 mailbox, without outbound autodial calls. Small Business costs $139 and adds 2 telephone lines, 3 OGM menus, and 30 mailboxes, still without outbound autodial calls. Professional costs $540 and includes 4 telephone lines, 70 OGM menus, 30 mailboxes, and outbound calls. Small Interactive System and Enterprise add broader menu, mailbox, line, and outbound-calling capacity, while Professional Quarterly Plan provides ongoing Professional features and all upgrades. There is no free plan.
The standout strength is the breadth of its programmable call handling. Visual OGM setup, an offline call simulator, programmable key responses, text-to-speech, caller authentication, self-service data lookup, and speech recognition support detailed IVR flows. Database, internet, email, fax, and hardware plugins extend the system into operational workflows, with ODBC SQL, HTTP, SMTP, Axon IP PBX, and SIP/VoIP connections available. The web control panel, SDK, Windows API, and command-line controls also support custom automation. Choose IVM for configurable, installed IVR with extensive integration options; choose an alternative if you need cloud deployment, AI features, or a free starting tier.
NCH IVM Telephone Answering Attendant pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Visual drag-and-drop IVR menus with custom call workflows
- Supports voicemail, outbound calling, speech synthesis, and self-service
- Offers APIs, SDK tools, plugins, and Windows/Linux deployment
- Where it doesn't
- No free plan or AI features
- Requires on-premises telephony setup and compatible connections
- Some plans limit telephone lines, menus, or mailboxes
NCH IVM Telephone Answering Attendant fact sheet, pricing and score →
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