At Evergreen Awards, we sift through hundreds of entries every year to uncover the most impactful, innovative, and user-obsessed products on the market. This year, one entry cut through the noise and left a lasting impression—not just because of its revolutionary tech, but because of the radical idea behind it: give small businesses a powerful AI assistant for free. That bold entry? Nucleus—our winner of the Best Free AI Assistant for Small Businesses in North America of 2025.

Why Nucleus Earned This Prestigious Honor

Let’s face it—every missed call is a missed opportunity. In today’s fast-paced, hyper-competitive world, customers don’t wait around. If your business doesn’t answer, they move on to the next listing. That’s where Nucleus steps in like a superhero receptionist that never sleeps.

Founded by a close-knit group of telecom veterans who’ve worked side-by-side for over 30 years, Nucleus is rewriting the rules of customer communication. Their AI Employee is more than just a digital voice—it's a full-fledged team member. You train it like a receptionist, and it intelligently answers every call, transfers to your team, takes messages, and adapts to your schedule—all without charging you a dime.

Yes, really. It’s not a free trial. It’s just free.

The Selection Criteria: Why Nucleus Rose to the Top

This year’s award process was particularly competitive, with entries from across North America. Nucleus stood out in the following areas:

• True Free Model (Not a trial): No strings attached. Nucleus offers a robust, forever-free plan, unlike competitors offering only 7 or 14-day trials.

• 24/7 Intelligent Call Answering: Never miss a lead again—every call is picked up, even outside of business hours.

• Human-Like Conversations: Callers don't even realize they're talking to AI.

• Business Phone Number Included: Get a free US or Canadian phone number instantly.

• Customizable Greeting & Training: Teach your AI assistant about your business in seconds.

• Call Transfer Capabilities: Route to up to 10 team members (or 100 with Premium).

• Call Sentiment & Reporting: Track call quality and engagement through intuitive analytics.

• Scalable Premium Option: Upgrade for more features at half the price of competitors.

• Plug-and-Play Setup: The AI studies your website and trains itself in about 30 seconds.

• Noise Cancellation & Primary Speaker Detection: Ensures clarity and professionalism on every call.

“We believe AI should empower small businesses, not confuse or charge them. That’s why we made Nucleus free,” says Peter Cross, Co-Founder and VP of Customer Experience.

Real-World Impact: Nucleus in Action

From gym chains to healthcare clinics, Nucleus is already changing the way companies handle communication. Take 9Round, a fitness studio that streamlined their entire front-desk process using Nucleus. Or RMS Media Group, who improved lead capture while cutting costs.

Curious about how it performs in the real world? Check out this blog review that dives into the product’s capabilities from a user’s perspective.

Ready to Try Nucleus?

Click here to start for free: nucleus.com/?via=20OFF

Thinking of going Premium? Use promo code 20OFF at checkout to receive 20% off your upgrade.

Pros at a Glance

• 100% Free Plan with no expiration

• Free business phone number (US/Canada)

• AI learns your business in 30 seconds

• Add up to 10 team members (or 100 with Premium)

• Smart call transfer & message capture

• Real-time reporting and sentiment analysis

• Available 24/7—perfect for global or late-night customers

• Easy to set up—no tech experience needed

• Secure, professional, and highly reliable

The Bottom Line

In a market flooded with overpromises and paywalls, Nucleus stands tall by putting real value first. This isn’t just another AI tool—it’s a lifeline for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and solopreneurs who can’t afford to let a single lead slip away.

Nucleus isn’t just the Best Free AI Assistant in North America—it’s your business’s new competitive edge.