How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost?
An AI receptionist typically costs between $29–$500 per month in platform fees, plus $0.14–$0.50 per minute of AI call time. Total monthly cost for a typical small business ranges from $70–$300/month.
Quick Answer
An AI receptionist costs $70–$300/month for a typical small business handling 200 calls per month. This includes a platform subscription ($29–$199/mo) plus per-minute AI usage ($0.14–$0.50/min).
The cheapest all-inclusive option is Sales Connect AI at $0.14/min.15/min — which includes call recording, transcription, AI summaries, and appointment booking in the per-minute rate with no additional fees.
The short answer by volume
What a small business actually pays with Sales Connect AI
50 calls/month
$49 Growth plan + ~$17 AI usage. Perfect for solo operators just getting started.
200 calls/month
$49 Growth plan + ~$70 AI usage + $8 voice. The typical small business sweet spot.
400 calls/month
$99 Sales Team plan + ~$140 AI usage + $7 voice. For busier teams with multiple agents.
200 inbound + 100 outbound
$49 Growth + $49 Outbound add-on + ~$70 AI. Full inbound + speed-to-lead system.
Calculate your exact cost
Adjust sliders for AI minutes, voice, SMS, and add-ons. Compare your price against competitors instantly.
Open Pricing CalculatorAI receptionist pricing by provider
What each platform charges as of 2025, including cost per call at 2.5-minute average
| Provider | Monthly Fee | Per-Minute Rate | Cost Per Call | What's Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Connect AI | $49–$199/mo | $0.14/min.15/min (all-inclusive) | ~$0.35 | Recording, summaries, booking included |
| Dialzara | $29–$169/mo | ~$0.25–$0.50/min | ~$0.63–$1.25 | Features vary by plan |
| Rosie | $49–$199/mo | ~$0.49/min equivalent | ~$1.23 | Basic AI answering |
| Goodcall | $59–$99/mo | Plan-based | Varies | AI answering, limited features at base |
| My AI Front Desk | $65–$165/mo | ~$0.40/min equivalent | ~$1.00 | Calendar booking on higher plans |
| Synthflow | $29–$450/mo | $0.08–$0.13/min + platform | ~$0.20–$0.33+ | Requires higher plans for booking |
| Smith.ai (human) | $293–$1,100+/mo | ~$9.75/call | ~$9.75 | Live human receptionists |
| Ruby (human) | $235–$1,640+/mo | ~$4.75/min | ~$11.88 | Live human receptionists |
Cost per call assumes 2.5-min average duration. Pricing based on publicly available information as of 2025.
The cost of NOT having an AI receptionist
Missing calls is more expensive than answering them
Lost revenue per month
Missing just 3 calls per week at $500 average job value = $6,000/month walking out the door.
Buy from the first responder
Every missed call is a customer calling your competitor next. 78% buy from whoever responds first.
Cost to capture those calls
Sales Connect AI at 200 calls/month. You're paying $127 to protect $6,000+ in monthly revenue.
Is an AI receptionist worth it?
The ROI math is straightforward for most small businesses
If you miss 3+ calls per week
At $500 average job value, 3 missed calls/week = $6,000/month in lost potential revenue. An AI receptionist costs $70–$300/month. You only need to capture ONE extra job per month to get 5–50x ROI.
If you can't answer during work hours
Plumbers on a job, photographers on a shoot, attorneys in court — if you can't pick up the phone while you're working, an AI receptionist pays for itself with the first booked appointment.
If you get after-hours calls
60% of callers hang up after 20 seconds. If leads call evenings or weekends and hit voicemail, you're losing business you already paid to generate. AI answers 24/7 for the same rate.
What affects the cost
Six factors that determine what you'll actually pay each month
Per-minute AI rate
The core cost of the AI handling your call. Ranges from $0.08/min (raw API, you build everything) to $0.50/min (fully managed). Sales Connect AI charges $0.14/min.15/min all-inclusive.
Monthly platform fee
Most providers charge a base subscription ($29–$500/mo) for the platform, dashboard, phone number, and features. This is separate from per-minute usage.
Feature gating
Some providers include recording, summaries, and booking in the per-minute rate. Others charge separately — adding $30–$100/mo in hidden fees.
Call volume
Your total cost depends heavily on how many calls the AI handles. At 200 calls/month (2.5 min avg), AI usage alone ranges from $70 to $250 depending on provider.
Outbound capability
Most AI receptionists are inbound-only. Outbound (speed-to-lead) is typically an add-on ($49–$300/mo extra) or not available at all.
Infrastructure
Providers built on third-party voice APIs pay wholesale and mark up. Providers who own their stack can offer lower rates without sacrificing features.
AI receptionist vs hiring a receptionist
How AI compares to the alternatives on a monthly cost basis
| Solution | Monthly Cost (400 calls) | Availability | Includes Booking? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sales Connect AI | ~$246/mo | 24/7/365 | Yes (on-call) |
| Other AI receptionists | $280–$690/mo | 24/7 | Varies |
| Human answering service | $1,900–$4,750/mo | Business hours (mostly) | Limited |
| Full-time receptionist | ~$4,500/mo | Business hours only | Yes |
| Voicemail | Free | Always on | No (41% won't leave a message) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common pricing questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
An AI receptionist typically costs $29–$500/month in platform fees plus $0.14–$0.50 per minute of AI call time. A typical small business handling 200 calls/month pays $70–$300/month total.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human one?
Yes. A full-time receptionist costs ~$4,500/mo with benefits. An AI receptionist handling the same call volume costs $100–$300/mo. That’s 90%+ savings.
Are there hidden fees with AI receptionists?
With some providers, yes. Watch for separate charges for call recording ($30/mo), AI summaries ($0.02/each), and scheduling ($50/mo). Sales Connect AI includes all features in the $0.14/min.15/min rate.
What’s the cheapest AI receptionist?
Dialzara starts at $29/mo but has a higher per-minute rate. Sales Connect AI starts at $49/mo with a lower all-inclusive rate ($0.14/min.15/min) that includes recording, summaries, and booking.
Do I pay when the AI isn’t handling calls?
You pay the monthly platform fee regardless. AI usage only bills when the AI is actually on a call. No calls = no AI charges beyond your base subscription.
Is an AI receptionist worth it?
If you miss even 3 calls per week at $500 average job value, that’s $6,000/month in lost revenue. An AI receptionist costs $70–$300/month and captures those leads 24/7.
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Sales Connect AI is the most affordable full-featured AI receptionist for small businesses. See it in action or compare costs with every competitor.