Quick answers
Short, direct answers to the questions people ask most.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
TalkFront is $199 one-time to build your receptionist, then $149/month for the Care Plan that runs, maintains and keeps it tuned. Other providers range from free widgets to thousands per month.
Why is there a monthly fee?
Because keeping a receptionist accurate is ongoing work. Your business changes, visitors ask new questions, and the knowledge base needs tuning. The build is a one-time job; the running is a service.
Is it cheaper than a human receptionist?
It is a different thing, not a replacement. A human receptionist covers the phone during opening hours. An AI receptionist covers your website 24/7 and captures leads when nobody is around to answer.
What is the one number to compare?
Cost per captured lead. A cheap widget that captures nothing costs more than a paid one that captures ten leads a month. Ask what it produces, not just what it costs.
Quotes for "an AI receptionist" range from free to several thousand dollars a month — sometimes for what sounds like the same thing.
That is because "AI receptionist" is not one product. Here is what actually drives the price, and what a fair number looks like for a small business.
What you are actually paying for
An AI receptionist price comes from four things:
- The build — studying your business and turning it into a knowledge base the receptionist can answer from.
- The running — keeping it online, accurate and improving as real questions come in.
- Usage — how many conversations it handles per month.
- Support — what happens when something needs changing.
The build is a one-time job. The running is the real service, and it never stops.
Typical price ranges
| Route | Typical cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free chat widget | $0 | Replies to questions; no capture, no follow-up |
| DIY chatbot builder | $20–$100/mo | You build and maintain it yourself |
| Done-for-you receptionist | One-time build + monthly care plan | Built, run and tuned for you |
| Enterprise AI platform | $500–$3,000+/mo | Multi-site, integrations, dedicated support |
Why the monthly fee exists
This is the part people push back on, so it is worth being honest about.
The build is a one-time job: we study your website, your business and your common questions, and turn them into an approved knowledge base. That is the setup.
What does not stop is keeping it sharp. New questions appear, your prices change, your hours change, and the receptionist needs to stay accurate. That is the monthly Care Plan — not a hosting fee, a service.
The number that actually matters
Do not compare headline prices. Compare cost per captured lead.
A widget at $0 that captures no contact details produces nothing. A receptionist at a modest monthly fee that captures ten real enquiries a month is doing work a human would cost far more to match.
Ask one question of any provider: "How many leads will this actually capture, and how will I see them?"
Bottom line
- Free widgets reply but rarely capture — low cost, low return.
- DIY builders are cheap but you own the maintenance burden.
- Done-for-you splits into a one-time build plus an ongoing care plan.
- Enterprise platforms cost multiples more, and are usually overkill for one site.
Want a straight number for your business?
Tell us what you do. We will tell you exactly what your receptionist would cost.
Talk to one → Talk to Rea →Keep reading: What Is an AI Receptionist? · AI Receptionist vs Chatbot