How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost? 2026 Pricing Guide
A transparent breakdown of what every major AI receptionist service charges in 2026 — from $29/month budget options to $500+ premium services.
The Real Cost of AI Receptionist Services in 2026
If you've been researching AI receptionists for your business, you've probably noticed that pricing is all over the map. Some services advertise "$29/month" while others charge $500+. The difference isn't just features — it's the pricing model itself.
Understanding how AI receptionist pricing works will save you from surprise bills and help you choose the right service for your business size and call volume.
The Three Pricing Models
AI receptionist services use one of three pricing models, and each has significant implications for your monthly bill:
1. Per-Minute Pricing
Services like Dialzara ($29/mo for 60 minutes), Synthflow ($29/mo for 50 minutes), and Rosie ($49/mo for 250 minutes) charge based on how many minutes of call time you use.
The appeal: Low entry price. Great if you get very few calls.
The trap: A busy service business getting 20+ calls per day can easily use 200–400 minutes per month. At Dialzara's rate, that's $96–$192 in overage charges on top of your base plan. Synthflow's overage jumps are even more dramatic — their next tier after $29/mo is $450/mo.
Best for: Very small businesses with fewer than 5 calls per day.
2. Per-Call Pricing
Smith.ai is the most notable example, charging $97.50/month for 30 calls with $3.25 per additional call. Ruby charges $245/month for just 50 minutes.
The appeal: You know exactly what each call costs.
The trap: For a plumber getting 15 calls per day (450/month), Smith.ai would cost $97.50 + (420 × $3.25) = $1,462.50/month. That's more than a part-time employee.
Best for: Low-volume professional services (law firms, consultants) with fewer than 50 calls per month.
3. Flat Monthly Pricing
Services like Estate IO ($297–$497/month) and Breezy ($50/month) charge a flat rate regardless of call volume.
The appeal: Completely predictable costs. No surprises, no overages, no anxiety about "using too many minutes."
The trap: Higher upfront cost than budget per-minute plans. You're paying the same whether you get 10 calls or 1,000.
Best for: Service businesses with moderate to high call volume (10+ calls per day) who want cost predictability.
Full Pricing Comparison Table
Here's what every major AI receptionist service costs in 2026:
| Service | Starter Price | Mid-Tier | Premium | Pricing Model | Overages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dialzara | $29/mo (60 min) | $99/mo (220 min) | $199/mo (500 min) | Per-minute | $0.48/min |
| Synthflow | $29/mo (50 min) | $450/mo (2,000 min) | $1,400/mo (6,000 min) | Per-minute | Varies |
| Rosie | $49/mo (250 min) | — | — | Per-minute | Varies |
| Breezy | $50/mo flat | — | — | Flat rate | None |
| Goodcall | $59/mo (100 callers) | $99/mo (250 callers) | $199/mo (500 callers) | Per-caller | $0.50/caller |
| My AI Front Desk | $79/mo | $119/mo | Custom | Subscription | None |
| Smith.ai | $97.50/mo (30 calls) | $270/mo (90 calls) | Custom | Per-call | $3.25/call |
| Abby Connect | $99/mo (50 min) | — | — | Per-minute | Varies |
| Ruby | $245/mo (50 min) | $365/mo (100 min) | $900/mo (200 min) | Per-minute | $2.40+/min |
| Estate IO | $297/mo | $497/mo | Custom | Flat rate | None |
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
Beyond the monthly subscription, watch out for these hidden costs:
Setup fees: Some services charge $50–$500 for initial configuration. Estate IO includes setup at no extra cost — we configure the AI for your specific business.
Integration fees: Connecting to your CRM or calendar system sometimes costs extra. Check whether your preferred integrations are included.
Overage charges: The most dangerous hidden cost. A "cheap" $29/month plan can easily become $200+ when you exceed your minutes during a busy week.
Contract lock-in: Some services require 6–12 month commitments. Look for month-to-month options so you can cancel if it's not working.
How to Calculate Your True Cost
Here's a simple formula to estimate your real monthly cost with any AI receptionist:
True Monthly Cost = Base Price + (Average Monthly Minutes − Included Minutes) × Overage Rate
For example, if your business averages 300 minutes of call time per month and you're on Dialzara's $29/mo plan (60 minutes included):
$29 + (300 − 60) × $0.48 = $29 + $115.20 = $144.20/month
Compare that to Estate IO at $297/month flat — no calculation needed, no surprises.
What's Actually Worth Paying For
The cheapest AI receptionist is not the best value. The best value is the one that captures the most revenue relative to its cost. If a $297/month service captures 2 extra jobs per month worth $500 each, that's a 237% ROI. If a $29/month service misses those same jobs because it ran out of minutes at 2 PM, it cost you $971 ($1,000 in lost revenue minus the $29 you "saved").
The right question isn't "which is cheapest?" It's "which one will pay for itself?"
See why businesses choose Estate IO. Try our AI receptionist live — no signup required → [blocked]