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Short answer: Most small businesses pay $25 to $150 a month for an AI receptionist. Entry plans start around $25 to $50, busier offices land near $100 to $200, and developer platforms charge about $0.07 to $0.31 a minute. A human answering service costs $250 to $2,100 a month, and a part-time receptionist runs about $1,580 a month in wages alone.
Last checked: October 2026. Prices are US list prices on each official site and can change.AI receptionist prices at a glance
Entry plans from each vendor’s official pricing page, checked October 2026.
| AI receptionist | Entry plan | Price per month | What’s included | Overage | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfirst | Starter | $24.95 ($20 yearly) | 30 calls | $1.50/call | 14 days, no card |
| Dialzara | Business Lite | $29 | 60 minutes | $0.48/min | 7 days |
| Rosie | Professional | $49 | 250 minutes | Not listed | 7 days |
| RingCentral AIR | Standalone | $49 | 100 minutes | $0.50/min | 14 days |
| Goodcall | Starter | $79 ($66 yearly) | 100 unique callers, unlimited minutes | $0.50/caller | 14 days |
| My AI Front Desk | Business-in-a-Box | $99 ($79 yearly) | 200 minutes | $0.25/min | 7 days |
| Smith.ai AI | Free / Pro | $0 / $150 | 25 calls / 75+ calls | $3.00 / $2.50 per call | Free plan |
| Quo Sona (formerly OpenPhone) | Seat + Sona | $19/user + add-ons from $25 | 10 free calls, then 40-call packs | $1.00 to $0.45/call | 7 days |
| Retell AI | Pay as you go | $0 + usage | About $0.07 to $0.31/min | Per minute | $10 credits |
| Bland | Start | $0 + usage | $0.14/min | Per minute | Free credits |
| Synthflow | Enterprise | From about $30,000/yr | Custom | Custom | No |
Read our full reviews of Upfirst, Dialzara, Rosie, Goodcall, My AI Front Desk, Smith.ai, Quo Sona, Retell AI and Synthflow, or see our ranked best AI receptionists list.
How AI receptionist pricing works
Vendors charge in five main ways. The model matters more than the sticker price, because it decides what a busy month costs you.
- Per call: You get a bucket of calls, then pay for each extra one. Upfirst, Smith.ai and Quo Sona work this way. Best when calls are long, since a 10-minute call costs the same as a 1-minute call.
- Per minute: You get a bucket of minutes, then pay per extra minute. Rosie, Dialzara, My AI Front Desk and RingCentral AIR work this way. Best when calls are short.
- Per unique caller: Goodcall charges by how many different people call, with unlimited minutes. Best when the same customers call often.
- Pay as you go: Retell and Bland charge only for minutes used, with no monthly fee. Cheapest at scale, but you or a developer build the agent yourself.
- Enterprise contract: Synthflow and dealership-focused tools like Numa quote custom prices for large call centers.
Good news: none of the vendors above list a setup fee. Dialzara, Smith.ai and Allo say so outright.
What 100 calls a month really costs
Here is our math for a typical small office: 100 calls a month at about 3 minutes each, or 300 minutes. We picked the cheapest plan or plan plus overage for each tool using its public price list.
| AI receptionist | How we got there | Estimated monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Goodcall | Starter covers 100 unique callers | $79 |
| My AI Front Desk | $99 for 200 min + 100 min at $0.25 | $124 |
| Dialzara | $99 plan (220 min) + 80 min at $0.48 | $137.40 |
| Rosie | Scale plan, 1,000 minutes | $149 |
| RingCentral AIR | $49 for 100 min + 200 min at $0.50 | $149 |
| Retell AI | 300 min at $0.07 to $0.31 + $2 number | $23 to $95 (plus build time) |
So a real small business with steady calls should budget about $80 to $150 a month. If you get under 30 calls a month, Upfirst Starter at $24.95 or Smith.ai’s free plan may be all you need.
AI receptionist vs human receptionist cost
| Option | Typical monthly cost | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist | $25 to $150 | 24/7 |
| Ruby (human answering service) | $250 for 50 min up to $1,725 for 500 min | Business hours plus extended |
| Smith.ai human receptionists | $300 for 30 calls up to $2,100 for 300 calls | 24/7 |
| Part-time receptionist, 20 hrs/week | About $1,580 in wages | 20 hours a week |
| Full-time receptionist | About $3,170 in wages | 40 hours a week |
Wage figures use the US median of $18.27 an hour from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025), before payroll taxes and benefits. Human services from Ruby and Smith.ai.
An AI receptionist will not replace a great front desk person who also greets walk-ins and handles billing. It does replace voicemail, missed calls after hours and the cost of an answering service.
Hidden costs to check before you buy
- Overage rates. A cheap plan with $1.50 per extra call can cost more than a $99 plan in a busy month.
- Annual billing. Most tools save you 15% to 20% yearly, but lock you in.
- Phone numbers. Usually included. Pay-as-you-go platforms like Retell charge about $2 a month per number.
- Integrations. Calendar booking is often on every plan, but CRM sync or Zapier may need a higher tier.
- Number porting. Most tools work with call forwarding, so you keep your number free. Goodcall does not support porting at all.
- Compliance. Medical offices need a signed HIPAA business associate agreement. Ask before you sign up, since not every vendor offers one.
Which plan should you pick?
- Under 30 calls a month: Upfirst Starter ($24.95) or Smith.ai Free.
- 30 to 150 calls a month: Goodcall ($79), Rosie ($49 to $149) or My AI Front Desk ($99).
- You want humans as backup: Smith.ai.
- You already use Quo (OpenPhone): add Sona.
- You have a developer and high volume: Retell AI or Bland.
Ready to go? Follow our step-by-step guide to set up an AI receptionist in 30 minutes. Also compare AI scheduling assistants if you mostly need bookings.
FAQ
How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?
Most small businesses pay $25 to $150 a month. Entry plans start at about $25 (Upfirst) to $49 (Rosie), and a business with about 100 calls a month usually pays $80 to $150.
How much does an AI receptionist cost per minute?
Per-minute plans charge about $0.25 to $0.50 for minutes beyond your bucket. Developer platforms like Retell AI and Bland charge about $0.07 to $0.31 a minute with no monthly fee.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human?
Yes, by a wide margin. An AI receptionist costs $25 to $150 a month, while a human answering service costs $250 to $2,100 and a part-time receptionist costs about $1,580 a month in wages.
Are there free AI receptionists?
Smith.ai has a free AI plan with 25 calls a month. Most others offer 7 to 14 day free trials, and Upfirst’s trial needs no card.
Do AI receptionists charge setup fees?
None of the major tools we checked list a setup fee. Dialzara, Smith.ai and Allo state they have no setup fees.
Can I keep my business phone number?
Yes. Most AI receptionists work through call forwarding, so your number stays with your carrier and missed or busy calls go to the AI.