Tool

AI receptionist vs answering service: the real cost.

Answering-service prices are mostly quote-based, so we don't guess them. Enter your bill or quote. We compare it with AI plans that publish prices.

Your answering service or receptionist cost ($/month)Your current bill or a written quote. For an in-house receptionist, use wages plus on-costs. AI receptionist plan you're considering ($/month)Pre-filled with the directory median (US$99.475/mo). Change it to a real plan below.

Difference

per month · $0 per year

Published AI plans to try

Vendor	From	Source
Quo (formerly OpenPhone)	$19/mo	source
Dialzara	$29/mo	source
Jobber AI Receptionist	$29/mo	source
Rosie	$49/mo	sourceAffiliate link. What this means
OnCrew	$49/mo	source

Full Price Index

Services with human receptionists in our data

Vendor	Published pricing	Source
Smith.ai	Free: 25 calls/mo, then $3.00/call. Pro: $150/mo for 75 calls (~$2.00/call). Enterprise: $500/mo for 300 calls (~$1.67/call). Volume discounts on higher call packs.	source
Ruby	Human receptionist service, billed by receptionist minutes: 50 min $250/mo, 100 min $395/mo, 200 min $720/mo, 500 min $1,725/mo (about $3.45-$5.00 a minute). Website chat bundles from 10 chats for $115/mo with a call plan.	source

Before you switch

Price isn't the only factor. On X, owners describe paying around $1,200/mo for an answering service, and one law firm $3,800/mo. These are individual posts, not survey data. The complaints run the other way too: an AI quoting the wrong price, and callers with hearing aids struggling. Test a plan on your own calls, and keep a way to reach a person. See AI receptionists with human backup.

AI receptionist vs answering service: the real cost.

Published AI plans to try

Services with human receptionists in our data

Before you switch

The future of answering calls, weekly.