Best AI receptionist services
Per-call pricing with a base plan and an overage rate is the norm. The overage rate is usually what decides real cost once volume grows.
Smith.ai wins for a business that wants a free entry point to test the service before committing to a paid tier.
The short answer
- Smith.ai offers a free plan covering 25 calls a month at $3.00/call overage, a Pro plan at $150/mo with tiered call volume and $2.00/call overage, and an Enterprise plan at $500/mo with $1.67/call overage.
- Smith.ai runs three models: AI-first, human-first and hybrid, letting a business choose how much of the call is handled by AI versus a real person.
- A $95 setup fee applies to new Smith.ai clients on paid plans; several independent reviews note that adding features like appointment booking or CRM syncing can raise the real monthly bill above the advertised starting price.
- The overage rate, not the base plan price, is usually what determines total monthly cost once call volume grows past the included allotment; model that before committing to a plan.
How we compared these
We compared services on starting price, what is included in the base plan, the overage rate per call beyond that, and whether the service is pure-AI or offers a human-backed hybrid model. Facts checked on vendor pricing pages, September 2026.
AI receptionist comparison
| Service | Starting price | Calls included | Overage rate | AI or hybrid | Best for | Not for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith.ai | Free (25 calls/mo) | 25 calls on free tier; 75-300+ on Pro; 300-1000+ on Enterprise | $3.00/call (free tier), down to $1.67/call (Enterprise) | AI-first, human-first, or hybrid, selectable | A business that wants to test the service free before committing to a paid tier | A business that wants a flat monthly price with no per-call overage risk |
| Ruby | Starter $250/mo (50 min); Basic $395/mo (100 min); Standard $720/mo (200 min); Professional $1,725/mo (500 min) | Minutes-based, not per-call; 50-500 minutes depending on tier | Priced per additional minute block beyond the plan; check current overage rate directly | Human receptionists, with AI-assisted tools included at no extra charge | A business that wants a fully human-answered line, not AI-first | A business specifically wanting the lowest possible cost per call at AI-first pricing |
| Retell AI | Pay-as-you-go from $0 plus $10 free credit; base voice infrastructure $0.055/min plus TTS and LLM costs | No fixed monthly allotment on the pay-as-you-go plan; 20 concurrent calls included free | Per-minute, typically $0.07-$0.31/min all-in depending on voice and LLM choice | Pure AI voice agent platform; a business builds the receptionist flow itself or through an integrator | A technical team or integrator building a custom AI receptionist flow | A business that wants a finished, ready-to-use receptionist service with no build step |
| PATLive | Plans priced per included minutes per month; exact current figures not published as a flat number on the page checked | Minutes-based | Confirm directly; PATLive publishes plan tiers without a single headline price | Human-answered receptionist service with scripted call handling | A business specifically wanting an AI-first, lower-cost-per-call option | A business that wants the lowest possible cost per call at AI-first pricing |
| AnswerConnect | Plans priced per included minutes per month; exact current figures not published as a flat number on the page checked | Minutes-based | Confirm directly | Human-answered receptionist service, 24/7 live coverage | A larger business or multi-location operation needing consistent live coverage | A business wanting the lowest possible cost per call at AI-first pricing |
Figures checked on each vendor's own pricing page, September 2026: smith.ai/pricing, ruby.com/pricing, retellai.com/pricing.
The field, ranked
1. Smith.ai
A free entry tier and a choice of AI-first, human-first or hybrid handling, with clearly published tiered pricing. Not for a business that wants a single flat price with no per-call overage exposure as volume grows.
2. Ruby
Human receptionists with AI-assisted tools included, priced by minutes rather than per call. Not for a business specifically wanting the lowest possible cost per call at AI-first pricing.
3. Retell AI
A pure AI voice platform priced per minute, cheapest at scale but requires building the receptionist flow rather than buying a finished service. Not for a business that wants a ready-to-use receptionist with no build step.
4. PATLive
Human-answered, scripted call handling at a published minutes-based tier. Not for a business wanting the lowest possible cost per call at AI-first pricing.
5. AnswerConnect
24/7 live human coverage aimed at larger or multi-location operations. Not for a business wanting the lowest possible cost per call at AI-first pricing.
When none of these is the answer
A business receiving only a few calls a week, where a missed call rarely means a lost opportunity, does not need a dedicated receptionist service; voicemail and a same-day callback covers that volume without added monthly cost. This category earns its place once missed or poorly-handled calls are a real, measurable source of lost business.
Questions
- What is the difference between an AI receptionist and a call center?
- An AI receptionist answers calls with an automated voice system, following scripts and booking logic, usually at a lower per-call cost than a human. A call center or human answering service routes calls to real people. Some vendors offer both under one plan, switching between AI-first and human-first handling.
- Is AI-only receptionist service reliable for every call type?
- It depends on call complexity. Straightforward calls, booking, hours, simple qualification, handle well. Calls requiring judgment or an unusual request are where human backup or escalation matters, which is why several vendors in this category offer a hybrid model rather than pure AI.
- How is pricing usually structured?
- Per-call, with a base plan covering a set number of calls a month and an overage rate beyond that. Read the overage rate carefully; it is often the number that determines real monthly cost once call volume grows past the base plan.
- Does SalesCrew offer AI receptionist service?
- Not yet. Disclosure: SalesCrew is our product. An AI receptionist using Vapi or Retell for inbound calls, booking and transfer is on the roadmap, not shipped today.