In 2026, AI receptionists typically cost between $25 and $900 per month, with most small-business plans landing in the $95–$300 range — roughly 80–97% less than a human answering service handling the same call volume (AgentZap pricing survey). The number that actually matters, though, isn't the monthly fee. It's your effective cost per answered call, and that depends entirely on how the vendor bills.
The four pricing models — and which one bites
| Model | How it works | Best for | The trap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat monthly | Fixed fee, generous or unlimited minutes | Predictable, steady call volume | Overpaying in slow months |
| Per minute | Billed on actual talk time | Low volume, short calls | Long calls get expensive fast |
| Per call | Fixed price per conversation | Consistent call length | You pay the same for a 30-second wrong number as a 30-minute booking |
| Per resolution / outcome | Billed only on a completed action | Aligns cost with value | Definitions of "resolution" vary — read them |
The per-call trap is real and worth naming. On one widely-used hybrid plan, a $292.50/month tier covering 30 calls works out to $9.75 per call whether the call lasts 30 seconds or 30 minutes (NextPhone). If a meaningful share of your inbound is spam, wrong numbers or existing customers asking one quick question, per-call billing quietly inflates your real cost per qualified lead.
What you'd pay across the market
Published 2026 pricing for comparison:
| Type | Example pricing | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Human answering service | ~$235/mo for 50 minutes; ~$660/mo for 200 minutes; ~$1,095/mo for 500 minutes | Live receptionists; overage billed per call (NextPhone) |
| Human receptionist service, per-call | $300+/mo, billed per call | Trained agents (NextPhone) |
| AI receptionist, entry | ~$25–$95/mo | Usually limited minutes and limited integrations |
| AI receptionist, mid-market | ~$95–$300/mo | Where most small businesses land |
| AI receptionist, high-tier | up to ~$899/mo | Multi-location, high volume, custom workflows (AgentZap) |
For a business handling around 100 calls a month, the industry comparison is roughly $60–$160 on AI versus $470+ on a human service (NextPhone). That gap is the reason the category exists.
The costs that don't appear on the pricing page
Budget for these or the quoted number will be wrong:
- Setup and onboarding. Some vendors charge a one-off configuration fee; some bundle it. Ask explicitly.
- Telephony minutes. Occasionally billed separately from the platform fee.
- Integration work. Connecting to your CRM, calendar or field-service software is where quoted prices most often expand.
- Overage rates. Check the per-minute or per-call rate above your plan — that's what you'll actually pay in a busy month.
- Number porting or a new line. Small, but real.
- The human escalation path. If complex calls route to a person, that person's time is a cost the AI plan doesn't show.
How to work out whether it pays for itself
Do this on the back of an envelope before you look at any vendor:
- Count missed calls per month. Your phone system or mobile log will tell you. Most local businesses are surprised by this number.
- Estimate what share of missed calls were real prospects. Be conservative — half is usually generous.
- Multiply by your average job value.
- Multiply by your typical close rate on inbound enquiries.
- Compare that to the monthly fee.
If you miss 40 calls a month, half are genuine enquiries, your average job is $400 and you close a third of them, that's roughly $2,600 of monthly opportunity sitting in voicemail. Against a $150–$300 plan, the arithmetic isn't close. If your average job is $40, it may well be — and that's a legitimate reason not to buy.
Speed matters as much as coverage. See automated lead follow-up and speed to lead for why the first few minutes decide most inbound outcomes, and our AI receptionist buyer's checklist for what to test before signing.
What to ask every vendor before you sign
- What exactly triggers a charge — a connected call, a minute, a resolution?
- What's the overage rate, and what did a comparable customer actually pay last month?
- Is setup included? Are integrations included?
- Can it book directly into my calendar or job system, or does it only take messages?
- What happens on a call it can't handle?
- Can I see a transcript of every call, and does it text the caller back if the call drops?
- What's the contract term and the exit process?
The last one gets skipped and shouldn't. A month-to-month vendor confident in the product is a different proposition from a twelve-month commitment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Most 2026 plans fall between $25 and $899 per month, with typical small-business plans in the $95–$300 range. Pricing is structured as flat monthly, per minute, per call, or per resolution. AI services generally cost 80–97% less than live human answering services handling comparable volume.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than an answering service?
Substantially, in most cases. Published human answering service pricing runs roughly $235/month for 50 minutes up to about $1,095/month for 500 minutes, while AI plans covering similar volume typically sit in the low hundreds. For a business handling around 100 calls a month, the comparison is roughly $60–$160 on AI versus $470+ on a human service.
What hidden costs come with an AI receptionist?
The most common are setup or onboarding fees, separately billed telephony minutes, integration work to connect your CRM or calendar, overage rates above your plan's included volume, and the cost of the human escalation path for calls the AI can't complete. Ask for all five in writing before comparing quotes.
How do I know if an AI receptionist is worth it for my business?
Multiply your monthly missed calls by the share that are genuine enquiries, your average job value, and your close rate on inbound leads. Compare that figure to the monthly plan cost. High-ticket service businesses almost always clear the bar; low-ticket, low-volume businesses often don't.
Is per-call or per-minute billing better?
It depends on your call mix. Per-call billing charges the same for a 30-second wrong number as a long booking conversation, so it penalises businesses with a lot of short or junk inbound. Per-minute suits short calls but gets expensive on long consultative ones. Pull a month of call-length data from your phone system before choosing.
Ofbox AI designs brands, AI agents and custom systems around how a business actually works — starting with the problem, not the product. Start a conversation. Ofbox AI receptionist engagements typically run US$200–600 per month, scoped to call volume and the systems it has to connect to.