Published AI receptionist prices vary substantially
| Provider example | Published starting point | Billing detail to inspect |
|---|---|---|
| RingCentral AI Receptionist | Currently $49/mo standalone | 100 minutes included; overage/minute pricing applies |
| Grasshopper virtual receptionist | Currently advertises AI receptionist from $95/mo | Confirm current package and usage terms |
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Free testing tier; Pro currently from $150/mo | Primarily call-based plans and overages |
| Fix9 Front Desk | Current product configuration $69/mo or $588/yr | Confirm included usage and current offer during signup |
These are snapshots, not promises. Providers change prices, included usage, and packaging frequently. Always verify the live offer before buying.
The five AI receptionist pricing models
Flat monthly
Simple to understand, but check fair-use rules and whether high usage triggers limits.
Per minute
Easy to model if you know average call duration. Long support calls can change economics quickly.
Per call
Predictable for short and long calls, but spam, wrong numbers, and transfers may matter to billing.
Included usage + overage
Common model. Compare what happens after the included bucket, not just the starting price.
Managed / enterprise
Higher fee can include custom prompting, integrations, optimization, and human support.
Hybrid AI + human
Useful when complex calls escalate to live agents; price the human portion separately.
Use cost per recovered job, not cost per minute
That does not mean every answered call is incremental revenue. Some customers would have left voicemail and waited. Others would have called back. Use conservative attribution: count calls that arrived when nobody would have answered, then track how many became qualified leads or appointments.
Questions to ask before comparing plans
Connected minutes, every inbound call, transferred calls, spam calls, test calls, or only completed AI conversations?
Know the overage rate and whether usage rounds up by second, 30 seconds, minute, or call.
Scheduling, CRM writes, SMS, custom actions, and human escalation can sit behind higher tiers.
Porting and migration are hidden switching costs. A forwarding setup can reduce them when supported.
AI receptionist pricing FAQ
Is a $20 AI receptionist realistic?
Very low headline prices can exist, but compare included usage and capabilities. Natural-language calls consume telephony and AI resources, so high-volume service is rarely unlimited at a very low price.
Is per-minute or per-call pricing better?
Neither is universally better. Per-minute can be attractive for short calls; per-call can be easier for businesses with variable conversation length. Model both against your own call logs.
What is Fix9's current AI receptionist price?
The current Fix9 product configuration is $69 per month or $588 per year. Packaging can change, so the checkout or signup flow is the authoritative current offer.
Price the calls you are losing today.
The cheapest receptionist is not automatically the best one. The useful one answers, qualifies, and creates the next action.