AI receptionist vs answering service: what does each cost?
A direct answer from published pricing pages. Last checked October 25, 2026.
Short answer
On published list prices, an AI receptionist costs far less per call than a human answering service. Smith.ai's human-first plans work out to $7 to $10 per included call, while AI plans start at $49 per month for 250 minutes (Rosie Professional). A human service may handle unusual calls better, but we have not tested the quality of either. Prices checked October 25, 2026.
| Option | Price | Included | Price per included unit | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith.ai Starter (human) | $300/mo | 30 calls | $10.00 per call | $11.50 per extra call; booking $1.50 per call |
| Smith.ai Basic (human) | $810/mo | 90 calls | $9.00 per call | See vendor page |
| Smith.ai Pro (human) | $2,100/mo | 300 calls | $7.00 per call | See vendor page |
| Rosie Professional (AI) | $49/mo | 250 minutes | $0.196 per minute | Overage rate not published |
| Rosie Scale (AI) | $149/mo | 1,000 minutes | $0.149 per minute | Live transfers and direct booking included |
| My AI Front Desk (AI) | $99/mo ($79 annual) | 200 voice minutes | $0.495 per minute ($0.395 annual) | $0.25 per extra minute |
| Goodcall Starter (AI) | $79/mo | 100 unique customers | $0.79 per unique customer | Minutes not metered |
Sources: Smith.ai pricing, Rosie pricing, My AI Front Desk pricing, Goodcall pricing. Per-unit figures from our 2026 pricing study. Units differ, so compare at your own call volume.
Rough per-call comparison (example only)
If your calls average 3 minutes (an assumption; check your phone log), Rosie Professional's 250 minutes covers about 83 calls for $49, roughly $0.59 per call. Smith.ai Starter covers 30 calls for $300, $10 per call. At 60 calls a month, Smith.ai Starter would be $300 plus 30 extra calls at $11.50, or $645, while the same 180 minutes fits inside Rosie Professional. Your call length changes the AI numbers a lot; it does not change Smith.ai's per-call price.
When a human service may still make sense
- Your callers often have complex or sensitive questions you do not want an AI answering.
- You get few calls but each one is worth a lot, so per-call price matters less.
- You want a person, not software, to judge emergencies. Either way, plan who gets the urgent call.
Comparing against hiring a person too? Our AI receptionist vs hiring calculator uses the BLS median receptionist wage of $18.27 per hour (May 2025).
FAQ
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than an answering service?
On list prices we checked, yes, by a wide margin per call. Overage rates and add-ons can change that, so price your real monthly call count.
Why is Ruby not included?
Ruby's minute prices did not appear in the page content we could read when we checked, so we left it out rather than guess.
Does an answering service book appointments?
Smith.ai lists booking as a $1.50 per call add-on on the page we checked. On Rosie, direct calendar booking starts on the $149 Scale plan.
Did AnswerVerdict test these?
No. This compares published pricing only. Rosie is an affiliate partner; we earn nothing from Smith.ai or Goodcall.
More quick answers
How much does an AI receptionist cost per month? | Can an AI receptionist book jobs into Jobber? | Is an AI receptionist worth it for a 1-truck plumber? | AI receptionist vs answering service cost
More free tools
Missed-call calculator | AI receptionist vs hiring calculator | Which AI receptionist should I pick? | AI Receptionist Pricing Study 2026