How much does an AI receptionist cost?
AI receptionists typically cost $300–$1,500/month for flat-rate plans or $0.10–$0.50/minute for usage-based pricing. A typical small business paying a human receptionist $35,000–$45,000/year can save 50–80% by switching to an AI alternative while gaining 24/7 coverage.
Pricing Model Comparison
Per-Minute
$0.10 – $0.50/min
Best for: Low-volume businesses
Pay only for what you use
No long-term commitment
Scales with call volume
– Can spike with high call volume
– Hard to predict monthly cost
– Often lacks premium features
Flat-Rate
$300 – $1,500/mo
Best for: High-volume businesses
Predictable monthly cost
Unlimited calls included
Full feature access
– Higher floor cost
– May overpay if low volume
– Longer contract terms
Hybrid
$200 base + $0.05–0.15/min
Best for: Growing businesses
Low base cost
Moderate scalability
Good for seasonal businesses
– Complex pricing structure
– Mid-range complexity
– Overage surprises possible
Hidden Costs to Watch For
Setup & Onboarding Fees
Some vendors charge $500–$2,000 upfront for script development, voice cloning, and CRM integration. Ask whether onboarding is included in the monthly price.
CRM Integration Costs
Native integrations are usually included, but custom API integrations may carry additional development fees. Confirm which CRMs are supported out of the box.
Overage Charges
Flat-rate plans often have fair usage caps (e.g., 5,000 minutes/month). Exceeding the cap can trigger overage charges of $0.05–$0.15/minute. Check the fine print on call volume limits.
True ROI: Your Bottom Line
Human receptionist cost
$35,000–$45,000/yr
Per full-time employee including benefits
AI receptionist cost
$3,600–$18,000/yr
Flat-rate plan, 24/7 coverage
Annual savings
$17,000–$41,400/yr
50–92% cost reduction
Added value: missed call recovery
$10,000–$50,000+/yr
Revenue from calls that were previously missed
Vendor Pricing Comparison
| Vendor | Starting Price | Model | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandverse | Custom | Flat-rate | Service businesses |
| Vendor A | $500/mo | Per-minute | Enterprise call centers |
| Vendor B | $0.30/min | Per-minute | Low-volume businesses |
| Vendor C | $299/mo | Flat-rate | Small businesses |
Key Takeaways
- • AI receptionists cost 50–80% less than human alternatives.
- • Flat-rate pricing ($300–$1,500/mo) offers predictable costs.
- • Per-minute pricing ($0.10–$0.50/min) suits low-volume businesses.
- • Watch for hidden setup fees, integration costs, and overage charges.
- • ROI includes direct savings plus revenue from recovered missed calls.
See Your Pricing
Get a custom quote for your business volume and needs.