Comparison · updated 7 October 2026
For most small businesses the best AI receptionist is the cheapest one that covers your real call volume: Goodcall ($79 a month, unlimited minutes, 100 unique callers) wins on value, Upfirst ($24.95) on entry price, Smith.ai on a free plan with human backup, Rosie on simplicity and Dentina for dental practices. If your calls need your own intake rules, your CRM and WhatsApp as well, a custom build fits better. We build those, and we are on this list, marked as such.
30 min · Fixed quote before we build · Projects from $2,500
We build custom AI receptionists, so we are one of the options below and marked as such. Every other entry is described from the company's own pricing page on 7 October 2026, and the prices are theirs, not ours. Check the vendor's page before you buy; prices change.
| If you want | Pick | From |
|---|---|---|
| The best value at small volume | Goodcall | $79 a month per agent, unlimited minutes |
| The lowest entry price | Upfirst | $24.95 a month for 30 calls |
| A free start, with human receptionists behind it | Smith.ai | Free plan with 25 calls; Pro from $150 |
| The simplest setup | Rosie | $49 a month for 250 minutes |
| Many languages and a built-in CRM | My AI Front Desk | $99 a month ($79 billed yearly) |
| A dental practice | Dentina | $374 a month per location ($299 billed yearly) |
| Your own intake rules, your CRM and WhatsApp too | A custom build (us) | From $2,500 to set up, $200–$500 a month to run |
We build an AI receptionist around your own intake questions and rules, connect it to your calendar and CRM, and add WhatsApp when customers prefer to write. From $2,500 to set up with a fixed price, then typically $200 to $500 a month in platform and call costs. Better than an off-the-shelf plan when your calls are not routine.
WebsiteUnlimited minutes on every plan, priced by unique callers instead: 100, 250 or 500 a month on the $79, $129 and $249 plans, then $0.50 per extra caller. Repeat callers cost nothing extra, which makes it the best value for a business with regular customers.
WebsiteThe lowest entry price on this list, with 35+ languages and many calendar integrations. Extra calls cost $1.50 each on the entry plan, so it suits low volumes; a business associate agreement for healthcare is only on the Custom plan.
WebsiteA free plan to start, then Pro plans at $150, $270 and $500 for 75, 150 and 300 calls, with $2.50 or less per extra call. Smith.ai also sells human receptionists, so it fits a business that wants AI first with people available behind it.
WebsiteSimple plans by minutes: $49 for 250, $149 for 1,000, $299 for 2,000, with two months free on yearly billing. There is no per-minute overage; going over moves you to the next plan. Booking into your calendar starts on the $149 plan.
WebsiteVoice, chat and text in one plan, 20+ languages and a built-in CRM. Extra voice minutes cost $0.25 each. A good fit when you want one tool for calls, website chat and SMS.
WebsiteA low entry price, with extra minutes at $0.48. Calendar sync and Spanish start on the $99 plan, so check which plan you actually need before comparing on price.
WebsiteA free plan with 100 minutes, then paid plans from $50 with extra minutes at $0.25 ($0.35 on yearly plans). Its pricing page lists both 200 and 250 minutes for the first paid plan, so confirm the allowance before you sign up. A business associate agreement is on Enterprise only.
WebsiteBuilt for dental practices: unlimited calls per location for up to 3 providers, and booking into dental practice software. The highest price here, and the only one made for a single industry.
WebsiteNot an AI receptionist: live people answering for you, with AI tools added. On the list for comparison, because it shows what a human answer costs: $250 for 50 minutes against $49 to $79 for hundreds of AI minutes.
WebsiteEntry prices are for small volumes. Here is each service at 100 calls a month, 3 minutes each, from 100 different callers, on its entry plan. A higher plan can be cheaper at this volume, so use the table to shortlist, then price your own numbers.
| Service | 100 calls, 300 minutes | How we got there |
|---|---|---|
| Goodcall | $79 | Unlimited minutes; 100 unique callers are included |
| My AI Front Desk | $124 | $99 plus 100 extra minutes at $0.25 |
| Upfirst | $129.95 | $24.95 plus 70 extra calls at $1.50 |
| Dialzara | $144.20 | $29 plus 240 extra minutes at $0.48 |
| Rosie | $149 | 300 minutes is over the $49 plan, so the 1,000 minute plan |
| Smith.ai | $212.50 | $150 Pro plus 25 extra calls at $2.50 |
| Dentina | $374 | Flat, unlimited calls (dental practices) |
Prices from each vendor's pricing page on 7 October 2026, before tax. Phonely is left out because its page gives two different minute allowances for the same plan.
For most small businesses, Goodcall gives the best value: $79 a month with unlimited minutes and 100 unique callers (7 October 2026). Upfirst is cheapest to start at $24.95, Smith.ai has a free plan, and Dentina is built for dental practices.
Smith.ai and Phonely have free plans (25 calls and 100 minutes). The cheapest paid entry plan on this list is Upfirst at $24.95 a month for 30 calls.
For routine calls, yes on cost: Ruby, a human service, starts at $250 for 50 minutes, while AI plans cover hundreds of minutes for $49 to $99. People still handle sensitive or complex calls better, which is why the best setups flag those calls to a person.
Some can be, on the right plan. Ask for a business associate agreement in writing: several vendors offer one only on enterprise or custom plans, and some do not publish it at all.
Buy a plan when your calls are routine and your tools are standard. Have one built when it must follow your intake rules, write into your CRM, answer on WhatsApp or work in several languages. We build those from $2,500.
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