Quick picks
We visited the pricing page of every AI receptionist we could find, 40 in all, in October 2026. Four have since shut down or been acquired, which leaves 36. Here's the best one for each situation:
- Best for most small businesses: Zinng, $49 for 300 minutes with call transfers, texting and 63 languages. It's our product, so weigh that, but the numbers are below.
- Best for low call volume: Upfirst, $24.95 for 30 calls with every feature, and the best reviews in this group.
- Best with live human backup: Smith.ai, free for 25 calls, with live agents available at $3 a call.
- Best free plan: Phonely, 100 free minutes a month.
- Best for high volume: NextPhone, $199 for unlimited calls.
- Cheapest: SkipCalls, $19.99 for unlimited minutes under a fair-use policy.
- Already have a business phone system? Your provider's AI add-on may be simplest: see phone-system add-ons.
- Healthcare, dental, restaurants or Shopify? See picks by industry.
The top 10 AI receptionists compared
Entry plans side by side. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column; each name links to its full review below.
| Service | Starts at | Includes | Billing | Setup | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinng | $49/mo | 300 minutes | Per minute + extra-minute buckets ($25 for 150) | Self-serve + free help | 7 days |
| Upfirst | $24.95/mo | 30 calls | Per call | Self-serve + help | 14 days, no card |
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Free | 25 calls | Per call | Self-serve + help | Free plan (25 calls) |
| Phonely | Free | 100 minutes | Per minute | Self-serve | Free plan |
| Goodcall | $79/mo | 100 unique callers | Per unique caller | Self-serve | Not published |
| NextPhone | $199/mo | Unlimited calls | Flat rate, unlimited calls | Self-serve + help | 7 days (Pro) |
| Dialzara | $29/mo | 60 minutes | Per minute | Self-serve | 7 days |
| Rosie | $49/mo | 250 minutes | Minute plans (auto-upgrade) | Self-serve | 7 days |
| My AI Front Desk (Frontdesk AI) | $99/mo | 200 minutes | Per minute (credits) | Self-serve | 7 days |
| SkipCalls | $19.99/mo | Unlimited minutes | Flat rate | Self-serve | 7 days |
1. Zinng: the most included for $49
Zinng is the AI receptionist we build, so it's first on our list. Here's what you get, so you can compare it fairly:
- $49 for 300 minutes, $99 for 700, $149 for 1,000 or $249 for 2,000.
- Extra minutes in buckets instead of surprise overage: 150 for $25, 300 for $50, 600 for $100 or 1,200 for $200.
- Call transfers on every plan, two-way texting, a website chat widget, and 63 languages and dialects.
- Live calendar booking on the $99 Pro plan (Google Calendar, Outlook, Cal.com, Calendly).
- Keep your number by forwarding or porting it, with free setup help for every customer. Every call is recorded and transcribed.
All plans have a 7-day free trial and no contract.
Upfirst
Best for every feature on every plan
Per-call AI receptionist with transfers, live booking, texting and 35+ languages on every plan, plus a free onboarding call.
"What I like best about Upfirst is their customer support and their willingness to keep improving the platform."
"It's not as personal as having a live receptionist, but it does what we need for now"
Checked October 2, 2026 on upfirst.ai. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full Upfirst review and alternatives →
Smith.ai AI Receptionist
Best for AI with live human backup
Per-call AI receptionist with a free tier; calls can be escalated to Smith.ai's live agents for $3 extra. Native Clio integration.
"I do appreciate that our calls get answered 24/7. Occasional missed calls generally go to a voicemail."
"They required a upfront payment at $2500 for a six month contract... we requested to cancel our contract... because the account is on a long-term plan, our policy does not allow..."
Checked October 2, 2026 on smith.ai. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full Smith.ai AI Receptionist review and alternatives →
Phonely
Best free plan to try
Per-minute AI phone agent with a free plan (100 minutes), unlimited simultaneous calls and 50+ languages; Y Combinator-backed.
Checked October 2, 2026 on phonely.ai. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full Phonely review and alternatives →
Goodcall
Best for customizable call flows
Self-serve AI phone agent with a call-flow builder, billed per unique caller with unlimited minutes. US only.
"Their on time Customer Services Their numerios Features best part it is easy to use"
"Service started out at $59 then no notice moved in $99 a month and then this last month they now they are charging me $130 a month with no notice."
Checked October 2, 2026 on goodcall.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full Goodcall review and alternatives →
NextPhone
Best for unlimited calls with no overage
AI receptionist with unlimited calls and no per-minute or overage fees from $199/month; done-for-you setup from $299.
Checked October 2, 2026 on getnextphone.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full NextPhone review and alternatives →
Dialzara
Best for the lowest entry price
Per-minute AI receptionist from $29/month for 60 minutes; warm transfers, calendar sync and Spanish start on the $99 plan.
"Working with Adam and his AI phone system has honestly been one of the most impressive experiences we've had integrating technology into our real estate business."
"Customer service is terrible. Trying to even get a response is really hard."
Checked October 2, 2026 on dialzara.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full Dialzara review and alternatives →
Rosie
Best for quick self-serve setup
Self-serve AI receptionist trained from your Google Business Profile and website. Live booking and transfers start on the $149 Scale plan.
"Rosie is the best AI answering service I've tried... I called the trial number and was surprised how well it answered queries about my business (Transistor), even questions it wasn't trained on."
Checked October 2, 2026 on heyrosie.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full Rosie review and alternatives →
My AI Front Desk (Frontdesk AI)
Best for an all-in-one front office
All-in-one AI front office (now branded Frontdesk AI): phone, web chat, two-way texting, email drafts and a built-in CRM on one plan.
"The AI receptionist has been a huge help for managing incoming calls. It answers quickly, handles customer questions, qualifies leads, and can book appointments"
"I signed up for the 7-day trial, which required a credit card. During the trial period I emailed support several times with questions but did not receive a response. On day 8, I was charged $299."
Checked October 2, 2026 on myaifrontdesk.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full My AI Front Desk (Frontdesk AI) review and alternatives →
SkipCalls
Best for the lowest price
Low-cost AI receptionist with unlimited minutes (fair usage) for $19.99/month or $199/year, from a two-person team.
Checked October 2, 2026 on skipcalls.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Read our full SkipCalls review and alternatives →
What 100 calls a month really costs
Headline prices aren't comparable, because every company counts usage differently. So we priced the same month everywhere: 100 calls averaging 3 minutes (300 minutes), every caller different, on the cheapest monthly plan that covers it.
| Service | Monthly cost | How it adds up |
|---|---|---|
| SkipCalls | $19.99 | Unlimited minutes (fair-use policy) |
| Zinng | $49 | 300 minutes included, transfers included |
| AutomateNexus Voice | $49 | 500 minutes included (2 calls at once) |
| Dialora | $64 | $49 for 200 minutes + 100 x $0.15 |
| Upfirst | $69.95 | $59.95 for 90 calls + 10 x $1 |
| Phonely | $75 | $50 for 200 minutes + 100 x $0.25 (its site also says 250 minutes) |
| Sona by Quo | $77 | $28 Quo seat + $49 for 100 calls ($88 with transfers on Business; $68 and $76 billed yearly) |
| Goodcall | $79 | Up to 100 unique callers, unlimited minutes |
| Trillet | $79 | $49 for 150 minutes + 150 x $0.20 |
| Marlie | $99 | Standard plan, the first with call transfers ($66.50 without) |
| Voksha | $99 | Premium, 150 calls |
| Nextiva XBert | $122 | $23 seat + $99 for 100 interactions |
| My AI Front Desk | $124 | $99 for 200 minutes + 100 x $0.25 |
| Dialzara | $135 | $99 for 220 minutes + 80 x $0.45 |
| Rosie | $149 | Over 250 minutes auto-upgrades to the $149 plan |
| RingCentral AIR | $149 | $49 for 100 minutes + 200 x $0.50 |
| CloudTalk | $183 | $34 seat + $99 for 200 minutes + 100 x $0.50 |
| NextPhone | $199 | Unlimited calls |
| Smith.ai | $212.50 | $150 for 75 calls + 25 x $2.50 (+$3 per live-agent call) |
| AgentZap | $236.50 | $109 for 150 minutes + 150 x $0.85, plus a $499 setup fee |
| Recepta.ai | $395 | 100 calls included ($3 per transfer to a person) |
Calculated from each company's published plans as checked October 2, 2026, monthly billing, before taxes and carrier fees. Your total depends on call length, repeat callers and which features you need.
How AI receptionist billing works
The billing model matters more than the sticker price. The five you'll run into:
- Per minute (Zinng, Dialzara, Trillet, RingCentral AIR): you pay for talk time. Best when most calls are short questions.
- Per call (Upfirst, Smith.ai, Voksha, Recepta): every call costs the same. Best when calls run long; costly when you get lots of quick or spam calls.
- Per unique caller (Goodcall): each caller counts once a month, however often they call. Best for businesses with many repeat callers.
- Flat rate (NextPhone, SkipCalls): one price, unlimited usage. Best for high, steady volume, but check fair-use limits.
- Seat + add-on (Sona, CloudTalk, Nextiva, Dialpad, Allo): a phone-system license per user plus the AI. Only makes sense if you want that phone system anyway.
Also check what happens when you go over: per-minute overage, an automatic jump to the next plan (Rosie), or the AI simply stops answering (DeepCura, when credits run out).
If you already use a business phone system
Several phone providers now sell an AI receptionist as an add-on. If you're happy with your provider, it can be the simplest route; just note that most require you to stay on (or switch to) their system and pay for a seat:
-
Best if you already use RingCentralFrom $49/mo · Per minute · Trial: 14 days
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Best if you already use Quo (OpenPhone)From $28/mo · Per call · Trial: 7 days (paid Quo plan)
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Best if you already use NextivaFrom $122/mo · Per interaction ($0.99 after 100) · Trial: 30-day money-back
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Best if you already use CloudTalkFrom $133/mo · Per minute · Trial: 14 days (no card)
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Best if you already use DialpadQuote: credits per conversation · Trial: 14 days (phone)
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Best if you also need a new phone systemFrom $64/mo · Per seat + AI agent · Trial: 7 days (card required)
Best AI receptionists by industry
Some AI receptionists are built for one kind of business, with integrations a general receptionist doesn't have (EHRs, reservation systems, Shopify). Worth a look if you're in one of these:
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Healthcare practices onlyFrom $129/mo · Credits (1 per call, shared) · Trial: Free (30 credits)
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Healthcare practices (done-for-you)From ~$1,000/mo (quote) · Per minute · Trial: None (paid 90-day pilot)
-
Dental offices onlyFrom $349/mo · Credits (10 per AI call minute) · Trial: 30-day risk-free
-
Restaurants onlyFrom $399 per location · Trial: Demo only
-
Shopify stores onlyFrom $99/mo · Per conversation ($99 minimum) · Trial: Free to try, no card
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Best if you already invoice with BookipiFrom $199/mo · Per call · Trial: 2 months (card)
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Best for scheduling-first teams in EuropeFrom $59/mo · Per minute · Trial: 5 free AI minutes
For a general business in any of these industries (a clinic that mainly needs calls answered, a restaurant that wants hours and directions handled), a general AI receptionist usually costs far less.
Everyone else we checked
These are real options that didn't make our top 10, usually because of price, a short track record, or a narrower focus (agencies, developers). Each has a full review:
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Best for lots of minutes on a budgetFrom $49/mo · Per minute · Trial: Demo only
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Best for a built-in CRM with per-call pricingFrom $24.95/mo · Per call · Trial: Not published
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Best for home services integrationsFrom $49/mo · Per minute · Trial: 14 days (card required)
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Best for agencies reselling AI voiceFrom $49/mo · Per minute · Trial: 28-day money-back
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Best for agencies and outbound campaignsFrom $49/mo · Per minute · Trial: Free trial
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Lowest entry price per callFrom $14/mo · Per call · Trial: 7-day money-back
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Best for done-for-you setup with a BAA includedFrom $109/mo · Per minute · Trial: 30-day money-back
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Best for voice, SMS and chat on every planFrom $395/mo · Per call · Trial: 30-day money-back
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Best for developers building their own voice agentFrom $0.07/min · Pay as you go ($0.07 to $0.31/min) · Trial: $10 free credits
Enterprise only
These sell to large companies by demo, with no small-business plan:
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Enterprise brands onlyPricing not published · Trial: Demo only
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Health systems onlyVolume-based (demo only) · Trial: Demo only
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Enterprise contact centers onlyPricing not published · Trial: Demo only
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Enterprise customer support onlyPricing not published · Trial: Demo only
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Car dealerships onlyPricing not published · Trial: Demo only
Shut down or acquired
If you were using or considering one of these, you'll need a replacement:
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Shut down Jul 2026Shut down July 25, 2026 (billing stopped June 25). Its website was still online on Oct 2, 2026 with no shutdown notice.
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Exited auto market Sep 2026Exited the automotive market September 1, 2026; no longer sells AI receptionists. Now "Toma | Applied Research".
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Acquired May 2026Acquired by Aircall on May 6, 2026. vogent.ai still allows sign-ups.
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Acquired Sep 2026PayNearMe acquired Marr Labs' technology assets and hired key employees (announced September 9, 2026). Vox is no longer sold standalone.
How we picked
- Every price is from the company's own pricing page, checked October 2, 2026, with the exact plan names, minutes and overage rates. Where a company's site contradicts itself, we say so on its card.
- Ratings come from Trustpilot, G2, Capterra and the BBB, with review counts, so a 5.0 from 2 reviews doesn't look like a 4.8 from 2,000.
- Our top 10 favors small-business fit: published prices, self-serve signup, a trial or free plan, works with your existing number, and track record.
- Zinng is our product, and we put it first. Nobody paid to be included or ranked, and there are no affiliate links.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI receptionist for a small business?
It depends on your call volume and how you want to be billed. For most small businesses we recommend Zinng (our product): $49 a month for 300 minutes with call transfers, texting and 63 languages. Upfirst is the best per-call option for low volume, Smith.ai is best if you want live human backup, Phonely has the best free plan, and NextPhone is best for high volume with flat unlimited calls.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Most small-business AI receptionists cost $25 to $200 a month. For a business taking about 100 calls a month (roughly 300 minutes), the services we checked range from about $20 (SkipCalls, under a fair-use policy) to $395 (Recepta), with most landing between $49 and $150. Phone-system add-ons also require a per-user seat, and some charge setup fees.
Is there a free AI receptionist?
Yes. Phonely has a free plan with 100 minutes (about 50 calls) and one number, and Smith.ai's AI Receptionist has a free plan with 25 calls a month ($3 per extra call). Sona by Quo includes about 10 AI-answered calls a month free, but only with a paid Quo phone plan.
What is the cheapest AI receptionist?
SkipCalls is the cheapest we found at $19.99 a month (or $199 a year) for unlimited minutes under a fair-use policy, though it is a two-person company and not HIPAA compliant. Voksha starts at $14 a month for 15 calls, and Dialzara at $29 for 60 minutes. Zinng includes 300 minutes for $49.
Is per-minute or per-call pricing cheaper?
Per-call pricing (Upfirst, Smith.ai, Voksha) is cheaper if your calls are long, because a 10-minute call costs the same as a 1-minute call. Per-minute pricing (Zinng, Dialzara, Rosie) is cheaper if most calls are short questions, which is typical for small businesses. Goodcall bills per unique caller, which favors businesses with many repeat callers.
Can an AI receptionist use my existing business number?
Most can. Standalone AI receptionists like Zinng, Upfirst and Dialzara work by forwarding your existing number (all calls, after hours, or when you don't answer), or by porting it. AI agents built into phone systems, like Sona (Quo), CloudTalk, Nextiva XBert and Dialpad, require you to switch to that phone system.
All 40 AI receptionist reviews
Each review covers the company's real pricing, reviews and catches, and the best alternatives to it.
- AgentZap Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Setup Fees and Options Compared
- Aira AI Receptionist Alternatives (2026): Pricing and Better Options
- Allo Alternatives (2026): Allo AI Receptionist Pricing and Options
- AutomateNexus Voice Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Options Compared
- Bookipi AI Receptionist Alternatives (2026): Pricing and Options Compared
- Breezy AI Alternatives (2026): Breezy Shut Down, What to Use Now
- Callab AI Alternatives (2026): Enterprise Contact-Center AI vs Small-Business Receptionists
- Cignara (Bujo AI) Alternatives (2026): Enterprise Support AI vs Small-Business Receptionists
- CloudTalk AI Receptionist Alternatives (2026): Pricing and Options Compared
- DeepCura Alternatives (2026): AI Medical Receptionist Pricing Compared
- Dialora Alternatives (2026): AI Receptionist Pricing and Options Compared
- Dialpad AI Receptionist Alternatives (2026): Pricing and Options Compared
- Dialzara Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Better Options
- Goodcall Alternatives (2026): Cheaper AI Receptionists, Pricing and Honest Reviews
- Greetmate Alternatives (2026): Healthcare AI Receptionist Pricing Compared
- Marlie AI Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Better Options
- Marr Labs Vox Alternatives (2026): Acquired by PayNearMe, What to Use Instead
- My AI Front Desk Alternatives (2026): Frontdesk AI Pricing and Reviews
- Nextiva XBert AI Receptionist Alternatives (2026): Pricing and Options Compared
- NextPhone Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Cheaper Options
- Numa Alternatives (2026): Numa Is Now Dealership-Only, What to Use
- Phonely Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Better Options
- Quo (OpenPhone) AI Answering Service: Sona Pricing and Alternatives (2026)
- Recepta.ai Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Options Compared
- Retell AI Alternatives (2026): Ready-to-Use AI Receptionists vs Building Your Own
- RingCentral AI Receptionist (AIR) Alternatives (2026): Pricing and Options Compared
- Ringly.io Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Options for Any Business
- Rosie AI (HeyRosie) Alternatives (2026): Real Pricing Compared
- Simple AI Alternatives (2026): Enterprise Voice Agents vs Small-Business AI Receptionists
- SkipCalls Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Review and Better Options
- Slang.ai Alternatives (2026): Restaurant AI Phone Pricing and Options Compared
- Smith.ai Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Cheaper Options
- Sully.ai Alternatives (2026): Healthcare AI Receptionist Options Compared
- Toma Alternatives (2026): Toma Left the Auto Industry, What Dealerships Can Use Now
- Trillet Alternatives (2026): AI Receptionist Pricing and Options Compared
- Upfirst Alternatives (2026): Pricing, Reviews and Options Compared
- Viva AI Alternatives (2026): Dental AI Receptionist Pricing Compared
- Vogent Alternatives (2026): Vogent Was Acquired by Aircall, What to Use Instead
- Voksha Alternatives (2026): AI Receptionist Pricing, Reviews and Options
- Zeeg AI Voice Agent Alternatives (2026): Pricing and AI Receptionists Compared
Sources: each company's pricing page, help center and terms, plus Trustpilot, G2, Capterra and the BBB, checked October 2, 2026. See each review for the exact pages. Looking for live, human answering services instead? See our best live answering services guide.
