In 2026, most AI receptionists cost between $30 and $500 a month in the US, with most small businesses paying $100 to $300 a month. That’s roughly £25–£400 in the UK, A$50–A$750 in Australia and NZ$55–NZ$800 in New Zealand.
For comparison, a full-time human receptionist costs around $3,000 to $4,500 a month in the US once taxes and benefits are included. A live (human) answering service usually costs $200 to $1,000+ a month, depending on how many minutes you use.
If you run a small business, every missed call is a customer who might book with someone else. That’s why more plumbers, HVAC companies, med spas, clinics and other service businesses are looking at AI receptionists. But pricing can be confusing: some charge per minute, some per call, and some a flat monthly fee.
This guide breaks down AI receptionist pricing in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, explains what affects the price, and shows how to work out whether it’s worth it for your business.
How AI receptionist pricing works
Most AI receptionist providers use one of four pricing models. Knowing which one you’re looking at makes it much easier to compare.
| Pricing model | How it works | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat monthly fee | One price per month, often with a generous or unlimited call allowance | Busy businesses that want predictable costs | Fair-use limits in the small print |
| Tiered plans | Starter, Growth and Business plans with set minutes or calls | Businesses that want to start small and upgrade | Overage charges when you go over your plan |
| Per minute | You pay for each minute the AI is on the phone | Very low call volume | Costs rise quickly in busy months |
| Per call | A fixed price for each call answered | Businesses with short, simple calls | Spam and wrong-number calls still count |
For most small service businesses, a flat or tiered monthly plan is the easiest to budget for. Per-minute pricing looks cheap at first but can become expensive once call volume grows.
AI receptionist pricing in the US (2026)
In the US, most small businesses pay $100 to $300 a month for an AI receptionist. Prices are approximate and vary by provider.
| Plan level | Typical monthly price (USD) | Typical calls or minutes | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $30 – $100 | Up to ~100 calls or 100–200 minutes | Solo owners, low call volume |
| Growth | $100 – $300 | ~200–500 calls or 300–800 minutes | Small teams (2–10 staff) |
| Business | $300 – $500+ | 500+ calls, often unlimited | Multi-location or high-volume businesses |
| Overage (if charged) | $0.10 – $0.50 per minute, or $0.50 – $2 per call | Above plan limits | Busy or seasonal months |
US businesses with lots of after-hours calls, such as plumbing, HVAC and home services, usually get the most value, because those calls are often urgent and high-value.
AI receptionist pricing in the UK (2026)
In the UK, most small businesses pay £80 to £250 a month for an AI receptionist. Many UK providers quote prices excluding VAT, so add 20% if you’re comparing against prices that include it.
| Plan level | Typical monthly price (GBP, ex. VAT) | Typical calls or minutes | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | £25 – £80 | Up to ~100 calls or 100–200 minutes | Sole traders, low call volume |
| Growth | £80 – £250 | ~200–500 calls or 300–800 minutes | Small teams, trades, clinics |
| Business | £250 – £400+ | 500+ calls, often unlimited | Multi-site or high-volume businesses |
| Overage (if charged) | £0.08 – £0.40 per minute, or £0.40 – £1.60 per call | Above plan limits | Busy or seasonal months |
Check whether a provider stores call recordings and data in the UK or EU, since UK GDPR applies to the caller details an AI receptionist collects.
AI receptionist pricing in Australia (2026)
In Australia, most small businesses pay A$150 to A$450 a month for an AI receptionist. Check whether prices include GST (10%).
| Plan level | Typical monthly price (AUD) | Typical calls or minutes | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | A$50 – A$150 | Up to ~100 calls or 100–200 minutes | Sole traders, tradies with low call volume |
| Growth | A$150 – A$450 | ~200–500 calls or 300–800 minutes | Small teams, trades, allied health |
| Business | A$450 – A$750+ | 500+ calls, often unlimited | Multi-site or high-volume businesses |
| Overage (if charged) | A$0.15 – A$0.75 per minute, or A$0.75 – A$3 per call | Above plan limits | Busy or seasonal months |
If you serve customers across time zones, such as Perth and Sydney, make sure the AI receptionist handles business hours correctly for each location.
AI receptionist pricing in New Zealand (2026)
In New Zealand, most small businesses pay NZ$170 to NZ$500 a month for an AI receptionist. Check whether prices include GST (15%).
| Plan level | Typical monthly price (NZD) | Typical calls or minutes | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | NZ$55 – NZ$170 | Up to ~100 calls or 100–200 minutes | Sole traders, low call volume |
| Growth | NZ$170 – NZ$500 | ~200–500 calls or 300–800 minutes | Small teams, trades, clinics |
| Business | NZ$500 – NZ$800+ | 500+ calls, often unlimited | Multi-site or high-volume businesses |
| Overage (if charged) | NZ$0.17 – NZ$0.85 per minute, or NZ$0.85 – NZ$3.40 per call | Above plan limits | Busy or seasonal months |
Fewer providers have local NZ phone numbers, so confirm you can get a local number or forward your existing one before signing up.
AI receptionist vs human receptionist: cost comparison
An AI receptionist usually costs 5% to 10% of a full-time human receptionist, and it answers 24/7. Human costs below include typical taxes and on-costs and are approximate.
| Option | US (USD/month) | UK (GBP/month) | Australia (AUD/month) | New Zealand (NZD/month) | Hours covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist | $100 – $300 | £80 – £250 | A$150 – A$450 | NZ$170 – NZ$500 | 24/7 |
| Live answering service | $200 – $1,000+ | £150 – £800+ | A$300 – A$1,500+ | NZ$350 – NZ$1,600+ | Depends on plan |
| Full-time human receptionist | $3,000 – $4,500 | £2,100 – £2,800 | A$5,000 – A$6,500 | NZ$4,500 – NZ$5,800 | ~40 hours a week |
A human receptionist still wins for in-person tasks like greeting walk-in clients. Many businesses use both: staff handle the front desk, and an AI receptionist covers overflow, lunch breaks and after-hours calls.
What affects AI receptionist pricing (and hidden costs to check)
The biggest factors are how many calls you get and what you need the AI to do beyond answering. Before you sign up, ask about each of these:
- Call volume: more calls or minutes means a higher plan. Count your monthly calls first.
- Overage fees: what happens when you go over your plan, and how much each extra minute or call costs.
- Setup or onboarding fees: some providers charge a one-off fee to configure scripts and integrations.
- Appointment booking: booking directly into your calendar may only be included on higher plans.
- Integrations: connecting to your CRM, job management or booking software can cost extra.
- Phone numbers: local or toll-free numbers, and call forwarding, may have a separate monthly charge.
- Call transfers: live transfers to you or your team may be limited or charged per transfer.
- SMS follow-ups: text messages to callers are sometimes billed separately.
- Contract length: monthly plans are flexible, while annual plans are often 10% to 20% cheaper but lock you in.
- Spam calls: ask whether spam and robocalls count towards your plan.
Is an AI receptionist worth the cost?
For most service businesses, yes: saving just one or two jobs a month usually covers the cost. Here’s a simple example you can redo with your own numbers.
| Step | Example |
|---|---|
| Missed calls per week | 5 |
| Missed calls per month | ~20 |
| Callers who book a competitor instead (say 1 in 4) | 5 |
| Average job value | $300 |
| Revenue lost each month | $1,500 |
| AI receptionist cost | $100 – $300 |
In this example, the AI receptionist would pay for itself even if it saved only one of those five jobs. To check your own numbers, look at your phone’s missed-call log for the last month and multiply the calls you never got back to by your average job value.
How to choose the right AI receptionist
The cheapest plan isn’t always the best value. Pick the one that handles your real calls well at a price that stays predictable.
- Count your calls. Check how many calls you get a month and how many you miss, especially after hours.
- List what you need. Just answering and taking messages, or booking appointments, sending texts and transferring urgent calls?
- Compare total cost, not the headline price. Add overage, setup, phone number and integration fees.
- Test it yourself. Use a free trial or demo and call it as a customer would, including an urgent call.
- Check the contract. Prefer monthly plans until you’re sure it works for your business.
Try ItsBot
ItsBot is an AI receptionist built for home-service and appointment-based businesses. It answers every call 24/7 so you stop losing customers to voicemail. See ItsBot plans and pricing and find out how many calls you could be saving.
FAQ
How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?
Most AI receptionists cost $30 to $500 a month in the US, with most small businesses paying $100 to $300. Prices in the UK, Australia and New Zealand are similar after currency conversion.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human receptionist?
Yes. An AI receptionist usually costs 5% to 10% of a full-time human receptionist and answers 24/7, while a human typically covers around 40 hours a week.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a live answering service?
Usually, yes, especially at higher call volumes. Live answering services often charge per minute, so costs rise with every call, while many AI receptionists charge a flat monthly fee.
Are there free AI receptionists?
Some providers offer free trials or very limited free plans. For a business phone line, a paid plan is usually needed for reliable 24/7 answering, booking and integrations.
Can an AI receptionist book appointments?
Many can book directly into your calendar or scheduling software. Check whether booking is included in your plan or only on higher tiers.
What hidden costs should I look out for?
The most common are overage fees, setup fees, phone number charges, integration fees, and charges for call transfers or text messages.
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