What Does an AI Receptionist Actually Cost in Canada?
Compare Canadian AI receptionist options by the same job: which channel they handle, what usage is included, how they reach a person and who supports failures. A subscription, a done-for-you setup and a human answering service may have very different scope. AI Phone Receptionist launch pricing: $750 CAD fixed setup, then $179 CAD/month, month-to-month. Includes 300 AI-handled minutes a month; extra minutes are $0.25 each. Taxes extra.
The problem
Prices that refer to different channels, usage limits and support arrangements are not directly comparable.
What this looks like in practice
Illustrative comparison: you need after-hours phone message-taking with a human callback. A web-chat package does not meet that requirement by itself. Compare phone-capable proposals against the same call scenarios and the same expected usage before evaluating their cost.
Option one: an existing subscription
An existing product can be a practical choice when its supported workflow matches the business. Check the included channel, usage allowance, overage charges and integration limits in the current vendor terms. Ask what you retain when you cancel.
Do not assume every subscription is restrictive or every integration works. Test the specific service against your own questions and handoff requirements.
Option two: a done-for-you AI receptionist
Handbuilt's AI Phone Receptionist is set up for you and run for a monthly fee. Setup covers one business, one number, one routing flow and one language: approved FAQs, services, service area and greeting; caller name, contact details, reason and callback request; an emailed call summary; a configured and tested fallback; test calls and handover.
The monthly fee covers operation and maintenance, 300 AI-handled minutes and up to 30 minutes of small changes a month (no rollover). Faults in the agreed setup are corrected at no charge. Calendar booking, CRM, text messaging, dashboards, extra numbers or languages and other features beyond this scope are not included and are quoted separately.
Option three: human answering
A human answering service may suit requests that need flexibility or a personal conversation. Check its current availability, scripts, escalation, pricing basis and what information it sends back to you. A person answering still needs accurate business instructions.
Compare the same representative scenarios across options, including an unclear enquiry, a request outside your service area and a caller asking for the owner.
Use a like-for-like quote checklist
State the required channel, expected usage, service hours and integrations. Ask each provider to identify setup, recurring and variable charges; currency; support; cancellation; and access ownership. Review the actual terms rather than relying on an old comparison table.
Choose the option that fits the work and your ability to maintain it. There is no vendor price range or universal cheapest option established by this page.
Launch pricing
AI Phone Receptionist
then $179 CAD/month, month-to-month. Taxes extra.
No separate phone or AI usage charge for the first 300 AI-handled minutes each month; beyond that, $0.25 CAD per minute.
Calendar booking, CRM, text messaging, dashboards, extra numbers or languages and other features beyond this scope are not included and are quoted separately.
Request an option reviewCommon questions
Are prices on this page in Canadian dollars?
Handbuilt's prices are in CAD, taxes extra. Other providers' quotes must be checked for their stated currency.
Which option is cheapest?
That depends on the actual scope, usage, support and current terms. This page does not claim a universally cheapest provider.
Are there ongoing fees with Handbuilt's receptionist?
Yes. The monthly fee covers operation and maintenance, 300 AI-handled minutes and up to 30 minutes of small changes a month (no rollover). Faults in the agreed setup are corrected at no charge. Phone and AI usage for the first 300 minutes is included in that fee.
Want this built for your business?
Tell us about your setup and we'll send a plan and a fixed quote within one business day.