AI receptionist pricing ranges from about $20 to a few hundred dollars a month, depending on how the vendor bills and what’s bundled in. Here’s how to read the pricing pages, and the math that matters more than the sticker price.
The three pricing models you’ll see
1. Flat monthly plans
A set price per month, usually with generous or unlimited call handling. This is the simplest to budget for and the most common model for AI-first products. Expect roughly $20–$100/month for small-business plans.
2. Per-minute or per-call billing
Common with services that evolved from human answering services. Rates often look small (a dollar or two per call or minute), but they scale directly with your call volume, so a busy month costs more than a quiet one. If your phone rings 10–20 times a day, do that multiplication before committing.
3. Tiered bundles with overages
A monthly base that includes a set number of calls or minutes, with extra charges past the cap. Fine if your volume is predictable; read the fine print carefully if it isn’t. Check whether unused allowances expire, how extra usage is billed, and whether calls and texts have separate charges.
What’s actually included at each price point
- Under ~$50/month: AI answering with your business info, usually a dedicated number, often SMS. The thing to verify at this tier is whether it books appointments into a real calendar or just takes messages. That’s the difference between a receptionist and a fancy voicemail.
- $50–$150/month: Multi-channel handling (calls + texts), call routing rules, integrations with scheduling tools, more customization of voice and script.
- $150+/month: Usually per-minute human-hybrid services, multiple locations, or enterprise features like CRM integrations and analytics.
The comparison that actually matters
The honest benchmark isn’t another AI product but the alternatives you’d otherwise pay for:
- Traditional answering service: typically $1.50–$3 per minute or $200–$500+/month for modest call volumes. A human answers, but they read from a script, can’t see your calendar, and hand you a message to act on later.
- Part-time front desk hire: $1,500–$2,500/month for weekday coverage only, and the phone still rings on evenings and weekends.
- Full-time receptionist: $3,000–$4,500+/month with taxes and benefits, for roughly 40 of the week’s 168 hours.
To compare fairly, add up the base price, expected AI usage, and any separate booking or website costs. For Scheduley, multiply AI call minutes by $2 and outgoing texts by $0.10, then add $29/month if you choose Premium. Calls are billed by the second, incoming texts are free, and bookings have no extra fee. The fuller breakdown is in AI receptionist vs. answering service vs. hiring a receptionist.
How many bookings would cover the cost?
Start with what you keep from an appointment after delivering the service, then compare that with the full monthly cost of answering. A $60 haircut, a $220 color service, and a $350 HVAC repair have different margins. Count the extra bookings you expect to capture from after-hours calls or calls you miss while working; that gives you a more useful break-even estimate than the service price alone.
Questions to ask before you pay
- Is booking included, or is the AI just taking messages?
- Is the calendar included, or do I need to pay for a separate scheduling tool?
- Are texts included? A lot of clients would rather text than call.
- Is there a per-minute meter anywhere? What does a busy month cost?
- Can I try it free and call it myself before committing?
Where Scheduley lands
Scheduley starts with a free business phone number, booking page, and basic appointment management. The AI receptionist connects calls and texts to that same calendar, with AI usage billed separately as you go. AI calls cost $2/minute, billed by the second, and outgoing texts cost 10¢ each. Premium is an optional $29/month subscription for websites and hosting, staff, marketing, and the full Jobs workspace. See our pricing page for the plan comparison. Start with the setup guide to see how it works.
Frequently asked questions
Are there setup fees? AI-first products rarely charge them; traditional answering services sometimes do. Scheduley doesn’t.
Do I need to buy a separate phone number? No. A dedicated number is typically included, and you can forward your existing line to it.
What about hidden costs? Check usage rates, minimum charges, optional upgrades, and any separate scheduling subscription. Scheduley’s number, booking page, and basic appointments are free; AI calls cost $2/minute and outgoing texts cost 10¢ per message. Premium is $29/month and adds website templates, staff, marketing, and the full Jobs workspace.