How much does an AI receptionist cost?

Each provider's cheapest plan costs between $19 and $299 a month, and 8 of the 9 ready-made services start under $100. For a business that gets about 100 calls a month, the ready-made AI receptionists in our table come to roughly $49–$299 a month once extra minutes or calls are added.

Is an AI answering service cheaper than a human answering service?

Usually by a wide margin. Human or hybrid services such as Smith.ai and Ruby cost about $915–$1,725 for the same 100 calls, because a person answers each call.

Is there a free AI receptionist?

No provider in our table offers a permanent free plan for answering a business line. Several offer free trials (7 to 14 days) or starter credits, and developer platforms such as Retell AI, Vapi and Bland AI charge only per minute, but you have to build the agent yourself.

Why are AI receptionist prices so hard to compare?

Providers charge in different units: per minute, per call, per unique caller, or per "unit". That is why we convert every plan into one number: the estimated monthly cost of 100 calls.

Prices checked October 24, 2026 from each provider's pricing page

AI receptionist pricing, compared on one number

Every AI answering service prices differently: per minute, per call, per caller or per "unit". We read each provider's pricing page and converted it into the same figure: what 100 calls a month would cost you.

What this page is, and isn't. These are published prices, not test results. We are setting up scripted test calls to each service (booking, pricing questions, after-hours emergencies, Spanish callers) and will publish recordings and scores on each review page as tests finish. How we test.

AI receptionist prices for 100 calls a month

Assumption: 100 calls a month at about 2.5 minutes each (250 minutes). Cheapest first. Lowest estimate today: Rosie at ≈ $49.

Ready-made AI receptionists

Provider	Starts at	What the plan includes	Extra usage	Free trial	≈ 100 calls/mo
Rosie	$49/mo	250 minutes per month	Not published on the pricing page	7-day free trial	≈ $49
Quo (formerly OpenPhone) — Sona	$19/mo per user; $15 billed annually	1,000 AI credits per month (about 10 AI-answered calls)	$0.45–$1.00 per AI call depending on credit tier	7-day free trial	$60–$109
Trillet	$49/mo	150 minutes per month	$0.20 per extra minute	No free trial; 28-day money-back guarantee	≈ $69
Goodcall	$79/mo	100 unique customers per month	$0.79 per additional unique customer	Free demo agent; you pay when you connect a phone number	≈ $79
My AI Front Desk	$99/mo $79/mo billed annually	200 voice minutes per month	$0.25 per extra minute	7-day free trial, no credit card required	≈ $111
Upfirst	$24.95/mo $20/mo billed annually	30 calls per month	$1.50 per additional call	14-day free trial, no credit card required	≈ $130
CallRail Voice Assist	$95/mo plus Lead Tracking plan ($50–$55/mo)	Not itemized on the pricing page	Not published	14-day free trial	$145–$150
Newo.ai	$299/mo	200 units per month (a unit ≈ one 30-second to 3-minute call)	$1.50 per extra unit	Pay-as-you-go accounts get 50 free units once, no payment method to start	≈ $299
Dialzara	$29/mo	60 receptionist minutes per month	Not published on the pricing page	7-day free trial on inbound voice plans	Not comparable

Human answering services with AI help

A person answers every call. Higher price, no setup work.

Provider	Starts at	What the plan includes	Extra usage	Free trial	≈ 100 calls/mo
Smith.ai	$300/mo	30 calls per month, live-staffed 24/7	$11.50 per extra call on Starter	No free trial; money-back guarantee for new clients	≈ $915
Ruby	$250/mo	50 receptionist minutes per month	Not published on the pricing page	No trial listed	≈ $1,725

Build-your-own AI voice platforms

Lowest per-minute price, but you build, connect and maintain the agent yourself.

Provider	Starts at	What the plan includes	Extra usage	Free trial	≈ 100 calls/mo
Retell AI	Pay as you go $0.07–$0.31 per minute depending on voice and model	$10 in free credits for new accounts	Telephony about $0.015/min on most US calls; numbers from $2/mo	$10 free credits	$23–$83
Bland AI	Pay as you go $0.14 per minute; Build plan $299/mo at $0.12/min	Free credits plus an inbound number on the Start plan	Transfers $0.05/min; telephony billed separately	Free Start plan, no card required	≈ $35
Vapi	Pay as you go $0.05/min hosting + model costs at cost; Core plan $29/mo	$5 in free credits for new accounts	Model and telephony costs passed through	$5 free credits	Not comparable
Synthflow	Custom quote from $30,000 per year	Custom	Custom	Demo only	Not comparable

"Not comparable" means the provider doesn't publish enough to estimate this volume, or sells only custom contracts. Each figure links to the provider's pricing page on its review page.

Three ways AI receptionists charge you

1. Flat plan with included minutes

My AI Front Desk, Rosie, Dialzara and Trillet sell a monthly plan with a minute allowance. Check the overage rate: once you pass the allowance, every extra minute is billed, and some providers don't publish that rate.

2. Priced per call or per caller

Upfirst bills per call, Goodcall per unique caller, Newo.ai per "unit" (about one call). Long calls don't cost more, so these suit businesses with longer conversations.

3. Pay per minute, build it yourself

Retell AI, Vapi and Bland AI are developer platforms. Per-minute prices look low, but you design the agent, connect your calendar and phone number, and maintain it.

Questions about AI receptionist cost

How much does an AI receptionist cost?: Each provider's cheapest plan costs between $19 and $299 a month, and 8 of the 9 ready-made services start under $100. For a business that gets about 100 calls a month, the ready-made AI receptionists in our table come to roughly $49–$299 a month once extra minutes or calls are added.
Is an AI answering service cheaper than a human answering service?: Usually by a wide margin. Human or hybrid services such as Smith.ai and Ruby cost about $915–$1,725 for the same 100 calls, because a person answers each call.
Is there a free AI receptionist?: No provider in our table offers a permanent free plan for answering a business line. Several offer free trials (7 to 14 days) or starter credits, and developer platforms such as Retell AI, Vapi and Bland AI charge only per minute, but you have to build the agent yourself.
Why are AI receptionist prices so hard to compare?: Providers charge in different units: per minute, per call, per unique caller, or per "unit". That is why we convert every plan into one number: the estimated monthly cost of 100 calls.