Small business
AI receptionists: the call you miss goes to whoever answers
An AI receptionist answers every call, books the appointment and texts back anyone who hangs up, for roughly $25–300 a month on self-serve plans, against $250+ a month for a human answering service. If you miss calls, work out what they cost you below, then compare the tools. Set firm rules for emergencies and hand-offs to a person.
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A caller who reaches voicemail rarely waits. Call-tracking firms that sell to small businesses report that 27–28% of inbound calls go unanswered (Invoca, CallRail), and Invoca's home-services data shows under 3% of callers sent to voicemail leave a message. Those callers can ring the next name on the list, and the business that picks up gets the job. (Both firms sell call software, so read their figures as a direction, not gospel.)
Searches for "ai voice agent" grew more than tenfold in a year (DataForSEO): the businesses around you are looking at these tools too. Here's what they cost, what they do well, where they fail, and which fits your trade.
Calculator
What are missed calls costing you?
Put in your own numbers. Every caller who would have booked and didn't reach you is a job for the business that answered.
Compare AI receptionists →The starting numbers are examples, not industry averages: put in your own. Uses 4.33 weeks a month. Not every missed caller would have booked, and some call back; that's what the booking share is for.
AI receptionist services compared
Here's what each costs to start, against a human answering service. Set the monthly price next to the figure above.
| Service | Type | From | Free trial or credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfirst | Ready-made receptionist, per call | $24.95/mo | 14-day free trial with full plan features, no credit card required, real calls can be forwarded. |
| My AI Front Desk | Ready-made receptionist, flat plan | $79/mo | 7-day free trial of Business-in-a-Box. |
| GoHighLevel | CRM with AI add-on (agencies) | $97/mo | No free plan; 14-day free trial on Starter/Unlimited/Agency Pro (billing starts automatically; telecom usage fees may apply during trial). |
| Retell AI | Developer platform, per minute | Pay as you go | No free plan: new accounts get $10 in free credits on pay-as-you-go, then pay per minute. |
| Vapi | Developer platform, per minute | $0.05/min + models | No free plan: new accounts get $5 in free credits, then pay per minute. |
| Ruby | Human answering service | $250/mo for 50 minutes; $1,725 for 500 | — |
| Smith.ai (per-call plans) | Human answering service | $300/mo for 30 calls; $2,100 for 300 | — |
Prices from each vendor's pricing page, checked 17 October 2026. Developer platforms add phone numbers and model costs; Vapi estimates $82–129 for 1,000 minutes all-in.
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FAQ
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Self-serve plans run from about $25 a month (Upfirst Starter, 30 calls) to about $300 a month for higher volumes; My AI Front Desk is $99 a month ($79 billed annually) with 200 minutes. Developer platforms such as Retell and Vapi charge per minute instead. Human answering services start around $250 a month for 50 minutes (Ruby).
Can an AI receptionist book appointments?
Yes. Most connect to Google or Outlook calendars, and some integrate with trade software (Jobber, Housecall Pro) or practice-management systems. Check the integration list for your exact software before buying.
Is it legal to use an AI receptionist?
Yes, with care. Several US states require every party's consent to record a call, so announce recording. FCC rules treat AI voices as artificial voices for outbound calls, which need prior consent. Medical and dental practices need a HIPAA business associate agreement with the vendor.
What is missed call text back?
An automation that sends an instant text to anyone whose call you miss, so the conversation continues by SMS instead of ending at voicemail. Many AI receptionist tools and CRMs include it.