Published by Viking Marketing · Quo details checked on quo.com on October 28, 2026.
Viking Marketing vs Quo (OpenPhone): A Text-First Alternative to Quo Phone and Sona AI
Quo is the business phone system that was called OpenPhone until September 2025. Sona is Quo's AI voice agent.
Quo answers your phone. Its AI voice agent, Sona, picks up inbound calls, answers questions and texts the caller a booking link. Viking Marketing doesn't answer calls. It replies to the leads who text, chat, fill in a form or send a DM, qualifies them with your questions and books the appointment on your calendar, and it texts back every caller you miss.
If most of your leads phone you, Quo fits. If they message you, Viking does. Viking plans are flat from $297 a month with no per-seat fees and no contracts, and we set it up with you in 48 hours.
The short answer
- Choose Quo if you need a business phone system, with a number for each user and an AI receptionist that answers live calls. It starts at $15 per user a month, billed yearly.
- Choose Viking if your leads text, chat or DM, and you want an AI that qualifies and books them, with the CRM, review requests and follow-up in the same place. Flat from $297 a month for the whole business.
- Quo costs less on sticker price. Viking does more of the lead-to-booking work, and our team builds it with you instead of leaving you to set it up.
Feature Matrix
| Feature | Viking Marketing | Quo (OpenPhone) |
|---|---|---|
| AI answers live phone calls | NoText-based; missed calls get a text back | YesSona, inbound calls only |
| Missed call text back | YesEvery plan | YesSona follows up by text |
| AI qualifies and books by text | YesGrowth plan and up | PartlySona texts a booking link during or after a call |
| Website chat widget | YesAI web chat, every plan | NoNot listed |
| Facebook and Instagram DMs | YesOn higher plans | NoNot listed |
| Business phone numbers and calling | NoWorks with your existing number | YesA number per user; unlimited US and Canada calls and texts (fair use) |
| CRM and lead pipeline | YesBuilt in, every plan | PartlyConnects to HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho, HighLevel |
| Automated review requests | YesEvery plan | NoNot listed |
| Database reactivation | YesGrowth plan and up | NoNot listed |
| Payments and invoicing | YesGrowth plan and up | NoNot listed |
| Multiple locations | YesPro plan | YesExtra numbers $5/month each |
| Setup | YesBuilt with you, live in 48 hours | PartlySelf-serve; dedicated onboarding on Scale |
| Free trial | NoFree demo instead | Yes7 days |
| Published pricing | Yes$297–$997/mo flat, no per-seat fees | Yes$15–$35 per user/mo yearly, plus Sona credits |
Viking details are from our own pricing page. Quo details are from quo.com, checked October 28, 2026. "Not listed" means the feature does not appear on Quo's public site, not that Quo has confirmed it is absent. Sources: Quo pricing · Sona AI agent · Quo AI appointment setter · Quo integrations · OpenPhone is now Quo.
Where Viking and Quo Overlap
Both reply to a new lead around the clock without a person on shift, both text back callers you miss, and both are built for small businesses that can't staff a front desk 24/7. Neither needs a long contract to start.
Where Quo and Viking Differ
Quo phone is a phone system. Viking is a lead-response platform.
With Quo you're buying a business phone line: numbers, calling and texting for each user, with Sona as the AI inside it. If you already have a business number you're happy with, you'd be moving your phone system to get the AI. Viking isn't a phone system. It runs on the number and channels you already have and handles what happens after a lead gets in touch: the reply, the qualifying questions, the booking and the follow-up.
Sona answers calls. Viking answers messages.
Quo AI is voice-first. Sona answers inbound calls, answers questions, takes messages and can transfer the caller to a teammate. Quo's Sona page lists English, Spanish and French, though its own page data says English only, so check if you need another language. Viking is text-first. It replies by SMS, website chat, Facebook, Instagram and email, and it doesn't answer calls by voice. A missed call gets a text back, so the caller can carry on by text.
How each one books the appointment
Sona books by texting the caller a link to your booking page while they're still on the phone. Quo's appointment setter page doesn't name a calendar integration. Viking's AI asks your qualifying questions in the conversation, offers real open times and books straight onto your calendar, then logs the lead and the booking in the built-in CRM.
What happens after the first booking
Quo's job ends when the call is handled. Viking keeps going: it sends review requests after the job, reactivates old leads who never booked, and sends invoices and payment links by text. With Quo you'd connect a separate CRM and tools for those, such as HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho or HighLevel.
Who sets it up, and who you talk to
Quo is self-serve, with dedicated onboarding on its Scale plan. Quo is also the much bigger company: it raised $105 million when OpenPhone became Quo in September 2025. Viking is a small team in Chandler, Arizona. We build your setup with you, it's usually live in 48 hours, and you talk to the people who built it.
What Viking Does With a Missed Call
Sona would answer this call by voice. Viking doesn't answer calls, so here is what happens instead when nobody picks up.
Viking AI Appointment Setter
Replying in seconds
Text message · Today
3 minfrom first message to booked
Illustrative example written for this page, not a real customer conversation. Your AI is trained on your own services, prices and service area.
Pricing Side by Side
| Viking Marketing | Quo (OpenPhone) | |
|---|---|---|
| How you pay | One flat monthly price for the business | Per user, plus Sona call credits |
| Plans | Starter $297, Growth $497, Pro $997 a month | Starter $15, Business $23, Scale $35 per user a month billed yearly ($19, $33, $47 billed monthly) |
| AI that books leads | AI sales assistant included from Growth ($497) | Sona included for 10 calls a month; then $1.00 a call, or Sona add-ons from $25 to $199 a month ($0.75 to $0.45 a call over) |
| Per-seat fees | None | Every user is a seat |
| Messaging costs | Standard carrier SMS rates | $19.50 one-time carrier registration, then $1.50 to $3 a month |
| Contracts | None, cancel anytime | Cancel anytime |
| Free trial | No trial; free 15-minute demo | 7 days |
| Example: 3 users, 150 AI-handled leads a month | Growth: $497 a month, plus carrier SMS | About $127 a month on Starter, billed yearly (3 × $15, plus the $49 Sona add-on and 50 calls at $0.65), plus messaging fees |
Quo prices from quo.com/pricing, checked October 28, 2026. The example uses the cheapest Quo combination for that volume. Quo is cheaper if all you need is a phone line with an AI receptionist. Viking's price covers the CRM, web chat, review requests, reactivation and setup as well. Prices change, so check both vendors before you decide.
Who Should Pick Which
Pick Viking Marketing if
Your leads mostly text, fill in forms, use your website chat or message you on Facebook and Instagram. You want an AI that qualifies and books them, plus the CRM, review requests and follow-up in one place. You'd rather pay one flat price than per seat, and you want the setup done with you in 48 hours.
Pick Quo (OpenPhone) if
You need a business phone system anyway, most of your leads call rather than text, and you want an AI receptionist that answers live calls. You're happy to set it up yourself, and you want to connect your own CRM, such as HubSpot or Salesforce.
Already on Quo? You Don't Have to Switch Phones
Viking isn't a phone system, so it doesn't replace your Quo line. It works on top of your current business number, with no porting and no second line, and it's usually live in 48 hours with no setup fee or contract.
Keep your number
Your calls and number stay where they are. We check how your phone line is set up on the demo, before anything goes live.
Connect your other channels
Website chat, Facebook, Instagram and email come into Viking, so the leads who never call still get a reply and a booking.
Pick one tool for missed calls
Sona and Viking can both text back a missed caller. Choose one, so nobody gets two messages for the same call.
Not sure which one fits your leads?
Book a 15-minute demo. Tell us where your leads come from and we'll show you what Viking would do with them and which plan you'd need. If Quo is the better fit, we'll tell you.
What Real Businesses Say About Viking
Launched an AI bot and Charlie has been super helpful launching and updating the bot. It was an instant win for us and has booked hundreds of appointments for us and removed the need to have full time engagement specialist replying.If you’re in the fence about AI campaigns … don’t be… this does an amazing job.Charlie is the man for this!
These guys are INCREDIBLE! Super responsive; their customer support is OFF THE CHARTS! We were able to scale to 20+ Inbound booked apts PER DAY in just a few weeks.No more dialing leads - just inbound apts- its a beautiful thing
We had a great experience working with Viking Marketing. They helped us set up an automated text messaging system and improve lead funnel. They're really knowledge and just really great to work with.
WOW! Viking Marketing have transformed my solar installation business with their new and cutting edge AI automation solution.Because of their innovation I no longer have to pay out commissions and now have a 24/7 sales team without the cost, this has solved all my speed to lead and out of hours problem.Highly recommend contacting them, Charles will over deliver with unreasonable hospitality.You have nothing to lose and will likely regret not doing so in the next year, this AI tech is mind blowing. You don't want to get left behind.Thank you!
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. OpenPhone renamed itself Quo on September 23, 2025, when it announced it had raised $105 million. The phone app works the same way. Sona is the AI voice agent built into Quo.
Still have questions?
Our team will answer all your questions.
We reply quickly, usually the same day.
Book a 15-min call with our team
See Exactly How Viking Compares for Your Business
Every business is different. Book a 15-minute walkthrough and we'll show you exactly how Viking would work for yours, with real numbers, not a generic demo.
Or call us directly: (480) 360-4644 Speak to a real human in Chandler, AZ
Last updated 2026-10-28. Pricing and features change — verify current numbers on each vendor's site before deciding.