How much does an AI receptionist cost? Pricing models explained

"How much does an AI receptionist cost?" has no single answer, because providers charge in very different ways. Some charge per call, some per minute, some a flat monthly fee, and the cheapest-looking plan isn't always the cheapest for your call volume.

Here's how pricing works, with real published examples, and how to work out what it would cost your business.

Prices change often. The examples below were taken from each provider's own pricing page in October 2026. Always check the current page before deciding.

The three main pricing models

1. Per call

You pay a monthly fee that includes a set number of calls, then a fixed price per extra call.

Published example: Smith.ai's AI receptionist pricing page lists a free tier with 25 calls a month (then $3.00 per call), a Pro plan from $150 a month at around $2.00 per call, and an Enterprise plan from $500 a month at around $1.67 per call. (Smith.ai pricing)

Best for: businesses with predictable call volumes, or calls that are often long.

2. Flat monthly fee (with usage limits)

A fixed monthly price with "unlimited minutes", but limits on something else, such as the number of unique callers.

Published example: Goodcall lists Starter at $79 per agent per month (100 unique customers, then $0.50 per additional customer), Growth at $129 (250 unique customers) and Scale at $249 (500 unique customers), with lower prices on annual billing. (Goodcall pricing)

Best for: businesses with lots of short or repeat calls from the same people.

3. Per minute

A monthly fee that includes a number of minutes, with overage charges after that. Common with tools aimed at small service businesses.

Best for: businesses with many short calls.

Built into tools you already use

Some phone systems, CRMs and field-service platforms now include AI receptionist features as an add-on. If you already pay for one, check there first. It may integrate with your scheduling more smoothly than a standalone tool.

The costs that aren't on the pricing page

• Setup time: writing your services, rules, FAQs and hand-off instructions. Budget a few hours, or pay someone to do it properly.
• Integrations: connecting calendars, CRMs or booking systems can need a higher plan or a separate tool.
• Phone number and texting: forwarding, new numbers, or business texting registration (required for many US businesses sending texts).
• Overage: busy months can push you well past the included calls or minutes.
• Your time reviewing calls, especially in the first few weeks.

How to estimate your real cost

1. Count your calls. How many calls a month go unanswered, after hours or to voicemail? Your phone system's call log usually shows this.
2. Decide the scope. All calls, or just overflow and after-hours?
3. Price it on each model. Calls × per-call rate, minutes × average call length, or unique callers against flat-plan limits.
4. Add setup and integration.

Is it worth it?

Compare the monthly cost with what missed calls cost you now. For a service business, a single extra job a month from a recovered call can cover the cost of many plans. For a practice, it might be a few new patients.

The honest test is simple: run it on overflow and after-hours calls for a month, track how many enquiries it captured that you'd otherwise have missed, and decide based on your own numbers.

Cheaper first steps

If you're not ready for a full AI receptionist:

• Missed-call text-back recovers many lost callers for very little cost.
• Better call routing and voicemail-to-text can reduce missed calls during busy times.

For what AI receptionists can and can't do, see AI receptionists for small businesses, and for practices, AI receptionists for dental offices.

If you'd like help comparing options or setting one up, here's how I approach automating the busywork for home service businesses, clinics and professional practices.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?

Published plans for small businesses commonly start from tens of dollars a month and rise to several hundred depending on call volume, features and integrations. Some providers have free tiers with low call limits. Check current pricing pages, as plans change often.

Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human receptionist?

For answering routine calls, overflow and after-hours, usually yes. But many businesses use both: AI for volume and out-of-hours, and people for complex or sensitive conversations.

What's the cheapest way to stop missing calls?

Missed-call text-back is usually the lowest-cost first step. It automatically texts anyone whose call you miss, so the conversation starts before they call a competitor.