How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost?
Last updated: 2026-06-18
Most small businesses pay between $20 and $300 per month for an AI receptionist. The exact cost of an AI receptionist depends on your call volume, whether you need live human backup, and which integrations you use. This guide walks through typical monthly cost by business type, a quick cost calculator, and how AI receptionist cost compares to a human receptionist.
Budget $20–$300/mo for most small businesses. AI-only plans start at roughly $20–$80/mo, mid-range AI with booking and SMS runs $80–$200/mo, and hybrid AI + human services typically start at $200–$300/mo. For a side-by-side of provider listed pricing, see the AI receptionist pricing comparison.
AI receptionist cost by business type
- · Solo realtor / agent — typically $25–$60/mo (AI-only, low call volume).
- · Dental practice — typically $150–$300/mo (booking + reminders, light human escalation).
- · Law firm — typically $300–$600/mo (intake screening, hybrid AI + human).
- · HVAC / home services — typically $80–$250/mo (after-hours dispatch + SMS).
- · Restaurant — typically $30–$120/mo (reservations + overflow).
Ranges are directional. Confirm current pricing with the provider for your call volume and feature mix.
AI receptionist cost calculator
Estimate your monthly AI receptionist cost based on call volume, average call length, and plan type.
Assumptions used
- · AI-only: $49/mo base + ~$0.30 per minute over 250 included minutes.
- · Hybrid: $249/mo base + ~$1.65 per human-handled minute, assuming ~20% of calls escalate to a human and 100 human-minutes included.
- · Range applies a ±15–30% band for plan variation and rounds to the nearest $10.
Directional estimate only — not a quote. Confirm current pricing, included minutes, and overage rates directly with the provider.
Missed-call ROI
If even one missed call per week becomes a booked job worth $200, that's $800–$1,000 in monthly revenue that would otherwise have gone to voicemail. For most service businesses, an AI receptionist pays for itself by recovering 1–2 jobs a month.
AI vs human receptionist cost
- · In-house receptionist: typically $3,000–$5,000+/mo loaded (wages, benefits, PTO coverage).
- · Traditional 24/7 human answering service: typically starts at $300–$1,000+/mo depending on minutes.
- · Hybrid AI + human: typically starts at $200–$400/mo.
- · AI-only: typically starts at $20–$200/mo.
AI is usually cheaper, but the right answer depends on call complexity. Confirm current pricing with the provider.
What drives the cost up or down
- · Call volume & minutes: overages above your plan's included bucket add up fast.
- · Human escalation: live-agent minutes are the single biggest cost lever on hybrid plans.
- · Integrations: calendar, CRM, EHR, or PMS connectors are often paid add-ons.
- · Numbers & locations: multi-location adds per-number fees.
- · SMS & outbound: outbound texts and callbacks may be billed separately.
- · Contract length: some listed pricing requires an annual commitment.
FAQ
Most small businesses pay between $20 and $300 per month for an AI receptionist. AI-only plans typically start near $20/mo, mid-range plans with booking and SMS sit around $80–$200/mo, and hybrid AI + human services usually start at $200–$300/mo. Confirm current pricing with the provider.
Solo operators and very small teams usually budget $20–$80/mo for AI-only coverage. Practices and firms that need bookings, integrations, or live human escalation typically land between $150 and $400/mo. Multi-location or higher-volume operations can exceed $500/mo once overage and seat fees are included.
Per-month cost depends on call volume and plan type. AI-only plans start at roughly $20–$80/mo, mid-range AI plans run $80–$200/mo, and hybrid AI + human plans typically start at $200–$400/mo. Per-minute pricing can be cheaper at very low volume but harder to budget.
Watch for setup and onboarding fees, per-minute or per-call overages above included buckets, SMS volume, extra phone numbers, calendar/CRM/EHR integration add-ons, number porting, and annual-contract minimums. Get each item in writing and confirm current pricing with the provider.
Almost always, yes. A full-time in-house receptionist typically costs $3,000–$5,000+/mo in wages and benefits, and a traditional 24/7 human answering service usually starts at $300–$1,000+/mo. AI receptionists generally start at $20–$300/mo. Hybrid AI + human services land in between and are a good fit when call quality matters more than the absolute lowest cost.