How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost?
Compare an AI receptionist by its complete scope: setup, the channel it handles, phone or model usage, integrations and ongoing support. 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. Calendar booking, CRM, text messaging, dashboards, extra numbers or languages and other features beyond this scope are not included and are quoted separately.
The problem
A starting price is difficult to compare when one offer means web chat and another means live phone answering.
What this looks like in practice
Illustrative comparison: one proposal handles website enquiries, while another forwards a live phone number and transfers callers. Compare each against the job you need done, then list the ongoing services and failure handling required. Do not choose solely by the lowest headline figure.
Separate setup from ongoing charges
Setup covers the agreed design, implementation and testing. Running costs can include hosting, communications, model usage and maintenance, depending on the system. Ask which are paid directly by you and which are included in a recurring agreement.
Get the proposal in a stated currency. If a provider quotes in another currency, account for that distinction without assuming a fixed exchange rate.
Phone, text and website intake are different scopes
Live phone answering requires reviewing the number, provider, forwarding, call routing and fallback. Website chat or a form-based intake does not automatically include those pieces. Calendar confirmation and CRM connections are also specific integrations.
Write down the channels you need before comparing offers.
What Handbuilt's receptionist price includes
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.
Include support and failure recovery in the comparison
Ask who investigates failed calls, expired connections or a notification that does not arrive. Find out whether monitoring, adjustments and future changes are included. A system whose dependencies change needs an owner for maintenance.
Define a fallback the business can operate. The cost of an unavailable enquiry path matters, but do not invent a lost-revenue number without your own evidence.
Calculate value from your own workload
Use actual enquiry volume, time spent and the contribution margin of suitable jobs. Revenue alone is not the money available to recover setup costs. Separate a scenario from a forecast, and test assumptions before deciding to buy.
For a business with little routine intake, a simple form, a human callback process or an off-the-shelf service may be enough. Custom work makes sense when the requirements justify it.
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 a receptionist quoteCommon questions
Is the AI phone receptionist the same as the Starter build?
No. The Starter build is a separate one-time package. The AI Phone Receptionist has its own terms: $750 setup + $179/month CAD, month-to-month.
Are there ongoing costs?
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; beyond that, each minute is charged at the published rate.
Is there a free AI receptionist?
Some tools may offer trials or limited free features, but that does not establish that your required workflow has no ongoing cost. Review current limits and the complete setup.
Should I choose a subscription or a custom build?
Compare the fit, complete running cost, ownership, support and exit process. A custom build is not automatically the best choice for a straightforward low-volume workflow.
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.