How much does an AI receptionist cost per month in 2026?
Most AI receptionists for small businesses start between about $25 and $100 a month. On September 24, 2026, entry plans ranged from $24.95 (Upfirst, 30 calls) and $29 (Dialzara, 60 minutes) to $99 (Frontdesk, 200 minutes), and Smith.ai had a free plan for 25 calls with $3 for each extra call. What you actually pay depends on how many calls you get, because each service counts minutes, calls or customers differently.
Entry prices, checked on each vendor's own pricing page (September 24, 2026)
| Service | Entry plan | Included | Extra usage | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upfirst | $24.95/month | 30 calls | $1.50 per call | Booking and call transfers on all plans; 14-day trial |
| Dialzara | $29/month | 60 minutes | $0.48 per minute | Higher plans $99, $199, $349; Spanish and calendar sync from the $99 plan; no setup fee |
| Jobber Receptionist | $29/month add-on | 30 conversations | $0.79 per conversation | For Jobber users; books into the Jobber schedule |
| Rosie | $49/month | 250 minutes | Not shown on the pricing page | English and Spanish on every plan; booking and live transfers from the $149 plan |
| Goodcall | $79 per agent/month | Unlimited minutes, 100 unique customers | $0.50 per extra customer | Higher plans $129 and $249; 15% off yearly |
| Frontdesk (formerly My AI Front Desk) | $99/month ($79 billed yearly) | 200 voice minutes | $0.25 per minute | 7-day trial |
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Free | 25 calls | $3 per call | Pro plan $150 for 75 calls, then $2.50 per call; human backup available |
| dArt Studio (us) | $99/month + $499 setup | Set up for you in person | - | First 5 local businesses: $0 setup, first month free |
Prices change often. Check the vendor's page before you sign, and read the plan details, not just the headline number.
The three ways they charge
- Per minute (Dialzara, Rosie, Frontdesk): a 3-minute call uses 3 minutes of your plan. Good if your calls are short.
- Per call or conversation (Upfirst, Smith.ai, Jobber): every call counts once, long or short. Good if your callers talk a lot.
- Per customer (Goodcall): unlimited minutes, but you pay for each unique caller over the limit. Good if the same customers call often.
To compare fairly, count one month of calls first: how many, and roughly how long. Then price that month on each plan, including the extra-usage rate.
What pushes the price up
- Call volume. The cheapest plans cover 30 to 60 calls or minutes. A busy shop goes past that in a week.
- Features locked to higher plans. On several services, calendar booking, call transfers and Spanish only start at the second or third tier. Check that the plan you are pricing has what you need.
- Human backup. Plans where a person can take over cost more per call.
- Setup. Most self-serve services charge no setup fee because you set them up yourself. Done-for-you services, us included, charge for setup.
When a done-for-you setup is worth it
The self-serve services above are good products, and if you are comfortable writing your own business facts and testing your own call flows, one of them may be all you need. Paying for setup makes sense when you would rather not: someone writes your services, prices, service area and emergency rules, tests it with you, and fixes what it gets wrong. That is what our $499 covers.
Our plan, honestly
- What you get: a line that answers the calls you miss, takes the caller's details, sends you the conversation within a minute, and transfers to you on request; set up with you in person in Palm Beach or Broward.
- Where others are ahead today: most have no setup fee, and some book straight into a calendar during the call. Ours takes the details and hands booking to you or to our online booking bot.
See the best AI receptionist for a small business for which one to choose, and AI vs a live answering service for what humans cost.
Questions people ask
What is the cheapest AI receptionist?
On September 24, 2026, Smith.ai had a free AI plan for 25 calls ($3 per extra call), and the lowest paid entry plans were Upfirst at $24.95 for 30 calls and Dialzara at $29 for 60 minutes. The cheapest for you depends on your call volume.
Do AI receptionists charge setup fees?
Most self-serve services do not, because you set them up yourself. Done-for-you services charge for setup; ours is $499, waived for the first 5 local businesses.
Is it cheaper than a live answering service?
Usually, by a lot. Live answering services started around $165 to $350 a month for 30 to 200 minutes or calls on the same day. See our AI vs live answering comparison.
How do I compare per-minute and per-call pricing?
Count a month of calls and their rough length, then price that same month on each plan, including the extra-usage rate.
// founding offer · first 5 local businesses
Call (561) 872-3664: our AI receptionist answers, and it's the same product we'd set up for you. Ask it anything, or ask for a person. $0 setup + first month free for the first 5 businesses in Broward & Palm Beach County, FL.