How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost?
AI receptionists cost $29–$299 per month across the market, depending on features and call volume. Hire Kayla is a flat $99/mo with no per-minute charges and unlimited inbound calls under fair use.
No card charge until day 8 · Cancel anytime
Pricing Models
How is an AI receptionist priced?
AI receptionists are priced one of three ways: a flat monthly rate, per minute, or per call. The flat model is the most predictable — and it's how Hire Kayla works, so your bill never spikes in a busy month.
Flat monthly rate
PredictableOne price covers your calls no matter how many come in. Easy to budget and no bill shock in a busy month. This is how Hire Kayla works at $99/mo flat.
How Kayla works
Per-minute pricing
VariableCommon with human answering services and some AI tools — you pay for every minute of talk time, often rounded up. A high-volume month can cost several times the base rate.
Per-call pricing
VariableSome providers bill a fixed amount per answered call. Predictable per call, but a busy season multiplies your bill fast and penalizes growth.
What's Included
What do you get for $99/mo?
The Starter plan is a flat $99/mo with no per-minute charges. It includes everything a small business needs to stop missing calls — answered 24/7, transcribed, and live in under 10 minutes. Advanced is $199/mo for higher-volume needs.
- 24/7 AI receptionist that answers every call
- No per-minute charges. Unlimited inbound calls under fair use.
- Every call transcribed and saved to your dashboard
- Live in under 10 minutes — no hardware, no contracts
- Answers nights, weekends, and holidays with no surcharge
- 7-day free trial — no card charge until day 8
Keep Comparing
See how the numbers stack up
Dig into the full cost picture before you decide.
Hire Kayla pricing
Starter $99/mo, Advanced $199/mo, Enterprise custom — with a 7-day free trial.
Answering service cost
What traditional human answering services really charge, including per-minute and hidden fees.
AI vs answering service
A side-by-side look at AI receptionists versus human answering services.
AI Receptionist Cost FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?
- AI receptionists cost roughly $29 to $299 per month across the market, depending on features and call volume. Hire Kayla is a flat $99/mo (Starter) or $199/mo (Advanced) with no per-minute charges and unlimited inbound calls under fair use.
Do AI receptionists charge per minute or per call?
- It depends on the provider. Some bill per minute or per call, which makes your bill unpredictable. Hire Kayla charges one flat monthly rate with no per-minute and no per-call fees, so your cost is the same in a busy month or a slow one.
What's included in Hire Kayla's $99/mo plan?
- The $99/mo Starter plan includes a 24/7 AI receptionist that answers every call, full transcripts of every call, setup in under 10 minutes, and unlimited inbound calls under fair use with no per-minute charges.
Is there a free trial for an AI receptionist?
- Yes. Hire Kayla includes a 7-day free trial. We collect a card at signup but don't charge it until day 8 — cancel before day 8 and pay nothing.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human answering service?
- For most small businesses, yes. Human answering services typically cost $200–$1,000+/mo plus $0.75–$1.50 per operator minute, while an AI receptionist like Hire Kayla is a flat $99/mo. See our answering service cost guide for a full breakdown.
Are there setup or hidden fees with Hire Kayla?
- No. There is no setup fee, no per-minute charge, and no holiday or after-hours surcharge. Hire Kayla is a flat $99/mo (Starter) or $199/mo (Advanced) with unlimited inbound calls under fair use.
One flat rate. Every call answered.
Start free — no card charge until day 8 · Cancel anytime.