Pricing guide · updated 30 September 2026

What an AI receptionist really costs.

Off-the-shelf AI receptionists cost $49 to $500 a month in 2026, depending on how many calls or minutes you need: Rosie starts at $49, Goodcall at $79, My AI Front Desk at $99, Smith.ai at $150 and Dentina, built for dental practices, at $374. The price that matters is the one at your call volume, because most plans charge per extra call or push you to the next tier. A custom receptionist connected to your own calendar and CRM costs more to set up (ours start at $2,500) and $200 to $500 a month to run.

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Published prices, side by side

ServiceEntry priceWhat it includesBeyond the allowance
Rosie$49 a month250 minutesNo per-minute charge: you move up to the next plan ($149 for 1,000 minutes)
Goodcall$79 a month per agentUnlimited minutes, 100 unique callers$0.50 per extra unique caller
My AI Front Desk$99 a month ($79 billed annually)200 voice minutes, 100 chats, 400 texts$0.25 a minute
Smith.ai AI Receptionist$150 a month (Pro)75 calls$2.50 per extra call on that plan
Dentina (dental)from $374 a month ($299 billed annually)Unlimited calls, one location, up to 3 providersNone published
Ruby (human receptionists)$250 a month50 receptionist minutesNot published

Prices as published on each vendor's own pricing page on 30 September 2026 (smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist, goodcall.com/pricing, heyrosie.com/pricing, myaifrontdesk.com/pricing, dentina.ai, ruby.com/plans-and-pricing). Smith.ai also has a free plan with 25 calls. Vendors change prices; check before you buy.

Ruby is on the list for comparison: it is a live human receptionist service, so its minutes cost several times more than an AI minute. Weave sells an AI receptionist to dental practices too, but does not publish its price.

Work out the price at your call volume

Entry prices are for small volumes. Take last month’s calls from your phone bill and price each plan at that number. For example, at 150 calls a month, Smith.ai’s $150 Pro plan (75 calls) comes to $150 plus 75 extra calls at $2.50, so $337.50, and its $270 plan, which includes 150 calls, is cheaper. Per-caller plans like Goodcall count unique callers, so repeat callers cost nothing extra.

The costs that are not on the pricing page

  • Setup: most vendors do not publish a setup fee, but someone still has to write the script, the answers and the rules for urgent calls. That is your time or a consultant’s.
  • Calendar and CRM connections: booking into Google Calendar is common; writing into practice management or a specific CRM may need a higher plan or extra tools.
  • Compliance: for US healthcare, check which plan comes with a business associate agreement before any patient data flows through it.
  • Your phone number: forwarding your existing number is usually free; a new number is a small monthly fee.
  • Missed revenue: the cheapest plan that sends a caller to voicemail when it cannot help costs more than it saves.

When a custom AI receptionist makes sense

An off-the-shelf receptionist works when your calls are routine and your tools are standard. A custom build makes sense when the receptionist has to follow your intake rules, write into your own CRM, qualify leads on budget and timing, answer on WhatsApp as well, or work in several languages. We build those from $2,500 with a fixed price, and they typically cost $200 to $500 a month to run in platform and call fees. Our AI phone assistant answers 24/7 in English, French and Arabic.

Off-the-shelf planCustom build
UpfrontUsually noneFrom $2,500, fixed before we start
Monthly$49 to $500 at list price$200 to $500 in platform and call costs
Your own intake rules and CRMWithin what the product supportsBuilt around them
Who owns the setupThe vendorYou: accounts in your name

Questions, answered.

How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?

Published plans start at $49 (Rosie), $79 (Goodcall), $99 (My AI Front Desk) and $150 (Smith.ai), as of 30 September 2026. What you pay depends on your call volume, because most plans charge for calls or minutes beyond the allowance.

Is there a free AI receptionist?

Smith.ai has a free plan with 25 calls a month, then $3 per extra call. Several others offer 7 to 30 day free trials.

Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human one?

Usually by a wide margin. A person on the desk costs $3,000 to $5,000 a month; AI plans cost $49 to $500. Ruby, a human receptionist service, starts at $250 for 50 minutes.

How much does an AI receptionist cost for a dental office?

Dentina, built for dental practices, starts at $374 a month ($299 billed annually) with unlimited calls for one location. A general AI receptionist costs less but may not book into your practice software.

What does a custom AI receptionist cost?

Ours start at $2,500 to set up, with a fixed price you approve first, and typically $200 to $500 a month to run.

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