AI receptionist cost
How Much Does an
AI Receptionist Cost?
The short answer
It depends on your calls, not the headline price. Providers charge by monthly plan, by the minute or by the call, sometimes with a set-up fee, so the same service can be cheap for one business and expensive for another. Get each provider to price your own month of calls. Compare Advantage is a free service that matches you with UK providers who will.
- The five things that set the price
- A worksheet to compare two quotes on your numbers
- What a receptionist costs on official figures
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Why there is no single price
Five things that set what you pay
We do not publish prices, because they change often and depend on the provider. These are the factors every quote is built from. Know your answers to each before you ask.
- 1
How many calls you get
The biggest factor. A business with 40 calls a month and one with 800 are buying very different things.
- 2
How long each call lasts
A booking takes a minute or two; a caller describing a problem in detail takes longer. Per-minute pricing makes this matter a lot.
- 3
When the calls come
Overflow during the day, evenings and weekends, or every call. Some plans price out-of-hours cover separately.
- 4
What it has to do
Taking a message is simpler than booking into a diary, checking a postcode against your area and sending a payment link.
- 5
What it connects to
Calendars, booking systems, job software and CRMs. Some connections are included; some cost extra to set up or run.
Quote worksheet
Put two quotes side by side on your own month
One quote is per minute, the other a monthly plan with an allowance. Which is cheaper depends entirely on your calls. Enter your numbers and the figures from each quote. Nothing you type leaves this page.
Your calls
That is 600 minutes a month.
Quote A: per minute
Your month: –
Quote B: monthly plan
Your month: –
Enter the figures from each quote to compare them.
Before set-up fees, texts and VAT. Try a busy month too: double your calls and see which quote holds up.
Beyond the headline
Seven things to ask about before you compare totals
None of these is a trick. They are simply the parts of a quote that are easy to skip over when one monthly figure looks lower than another. Ask every provider the same questions and price the same month.
- Set-up or onboarding fee
- A one-off charge to configure the agent and connect your systems.
- Over-allowance minutes
- What happens in a busy month when you go past the minutes in your plan.
- A new phone number
- Usually not needed: most services divert from your existing number. Check if a new number is charged.
- Live transfers
- Calls put through to your mobile can use minutes on both ends.
- Texts to callers
- Confirmations, payment links and reminders may be charged per message.
- Contract length and notice
- A monthly rolling plan and a 12-month contract at the same price are not the same deal.
- VAT
- Check whether quotes include VAT, so you compare like with like.
The comparison people make
What a person on the phone costs, on official figures
The usual alternative to an AI receptionist is employing someone, or a member of the team answering between jobs. These are the official rates that set the floor for that cost in 2026 to 2027.
£12.71 an hour
The National Living Wage for workers aged 21 and over from 1 April 2026, rising to £13.21 in April 2027.
15% employer NI
On earnings above £5,000 a year. The Employment Allowance of up to £10,500 can reduce what smaller employers pay.
28 days’ holiday
The minimum paid leave for someone working five days a week. Someone else has to answer the phone on those days.
A workplace pension
Employers must enrol eligible staff and pay in on top of their salary.
A person brings judgement, warmth and local knowledge that an AI does not. That is why many businesses use AI for the calls nobody is free to take, such as evenings, weekends and busy hours, rather than as a replacement for their team.
Questions
AI receptionist cost: your questions
New to this? Start with what an AI receptionist is, or see how it works in your industry.
Get quotes for your callsHow much does an AI receptionist cost in the UK?
It depends on how many calls you get, how long they last, and what the agent has to do. Providers charge in different ways, so the only reliable answer is a quote priced on your own month of calls. We do not publish prices; we match you with providers who will quote.
How do AI receptionist providers charge?
Usually a monthly plan with an allowance of minutes or calls, sometimes a per-minute or per-call rate, and sometimes a set-up fee. See answering service or AI receptionist for how this compares with a human answering service.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than hiring a receptionist?
For most small businesses, yes, because a receptionist’s cost includes pay, employer National Insurance, holiday and pension, and cover is limited to their hours. But a person does things an AI cannot. Many businesses use AI to cover the calls nobody is free to take, not to replace a person.
What information do I need to get an accurate quote?
A month of call data from your phone system or provider: how many calls, how long they last on average, and what times they come in. Add a list of what you want the agent to do and which systems it should connect to.
Are there hidden costs?
Not usually hidden, but easy to miss: set-up fees, minutes over your allowance, texts to callers, and the contract length. Ask every provider to price the same month of calls, including these, so you compare the total.
Can I try one before committing?
Many providers offer a trial period or a monthly rolling plan. Ask about notice periods before you sign, and test it with real calls in your first weeks.
Does it cost more to cover evenings and weekends?
Sometimes. Some plans include round-the-clock cover; others price out-of-hours or overflow-only cover separately. Tell providers exactly when you want the agent to answer.
Is there VAT on an AI receptionist?
Providers registered for VAT will normally add it. If your business is VAT registered, you can usually reclaim it. Check whether quotes are shown with or without VAT.
How do I work out if it is worth it?
Compare the monthly cost with what a missed call is worth to you. If one booked job or new client a month covers the cost, the sum is simple. Use your own figures, not a provider’s.
Do you charge for comparing?
No. Comparing is free for your business. Providers may pay us for the introduction, which is how the service is funded.
Sources
- GOV.UK: National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates
- GOV.UK: Rates and thresholds for employers 2026 to 2027
- GOV.UK: Holiday entitlement
- GOV.UK: Workplace pensions, what employers must do
Written by the Compare Advantage team, Chorley. Facts checked against the sources above on 5 November 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Compare Advantage is a free comparison and introduction service. We pass your details to suitable AI agent providers so they can contact you about your request, and providers may pay us for the introduction. It costs you nothing to compare.