AI Receptionist True Cost Calculator: Comparing 2026 Plans at 100, 200, and 500 Minutes
An AI receptionist's entry price is not its bill at your call volume. Some plans meter minutes, others count calls or unique callers, and some use credits. This calculator compares 100, 200 and 500 conversation minutes per month using published monthly prices checked on 23 September 2026. It is a plan-and-usage estimate, not a quote or a claim that every vendor delivers the same features.
The lowest sticker price here is not necessarily the best fit. Phonely advertises a Free plan with 100 minutes; Rosie includes 250 minutes for $49; Trillet includes 150 for $49 and charges $0.20 per extra minute. At 500 minutes, features, plan upgrades and ancillary charges matter at least as much as the base fee.
The Bottom Line
- 100 minutes: Phonely's published Free allowance is $0 if its feature limits fit. Echowin's pay-as-you-go voice plus one $10 phone number is $30; Trillet and Rosie are $49. Per-call totals depend on how those minutes split into calls.
- 200 minutes: Rosie is $49; Echowin's pay-as-you-go voice plus one number and Phonely Starter are $50; Trillet is $59. These are different products and exclude extras.
- 500 minutes: Echowin's 500-minute $80 bundle plus one $10 number is $90; Trillet is $119; AIRA and Upfirst can be $136.95 at the assumed call count using Premium plus overages. Phonely's own pricing page conflicts on included minutes and Starter overage, so this guide does not assign it a defensible exact 500-minute total.
See Trillet AI Receptionist pricing for its current D2C offer.
Methodology
We use USD monthly billing, one AI receptionist and voice conversation usage. We exclude taxes, annual discounts, forwarding-carrier charges, outbound SMS, premium numbers, transfers, add-ons and contract-specific fees unless a row says otherwise. Where possible, we use the cheapest published monthly route for the example; check checkout for plan switching and eligibility. Exact invoices can differ.
For per-call services, the example assumes a three-minute average and rounds calls up: 100 minutes = 34 calls, 200 = 67 calls and 500 = 167 calls. Three minutes is an illustration, not an industry average claim. A 200-minute month of 100 two-minute calls costs more on a per-call plan than 67 three-minute calls. On minute-metered plans the number of calls does not change the basic voice calculation. For Smith.ai, its published 150-call Pro rate implies a $270 monthly tier; verify the selected tier at checkout. Prices and allowances below link to each vendor's own page.
Cost Comparison at 100 Minutes per Month
| Platform and official pricing | Calculation at 100 minutes | Estimated monthly subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| Phonely | Free plan advertises 100 minutes; feature limits apply | $0 |
| Smith.ai | Free: 25 real calls + 9 × $3 at 34 calls | $27 |
| Echowin | $0 Solo platform + 100 × $0.20 + one $10 number | $30 |
| AIRA | Starter $24.95 + 4 calls × $1.50 | $30.95 |
| Upfirst | Starter $24.95 + 4 calls × $1.50 | $30.95 |
| Dialzara | Business Lite $29 + 40 × $0.48 | $48.20 |
| Trillet | $49 includes 150 minutes | $49 |
| Rosie | Professional $49 includes 250 minutes | $49 |
| Frontdesk | Business-in-a-Box $99 includes 200 voice minutes | $99 |
Phonely is genuinely the lowest published voice-plan price at this exact threshold, but its Free feature set may not match a paid plan. AIRA and Upfirst charge by call, not minute. Smith.ai's Free plan is also a real option at 34 calls, subject to its rules. No table row assumes $49 is the cheapest market entry.
Cost Comparison at 200 Minutes per Month
| Platform and official pricing | Calculation at 200 minutes | Estimated monthly subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| Rosie | Professional includes 250 minutes | $49 |
| Echowin | 200 × $0.20 + one $10 number | $50 |
| Phonely | Starter $50; both its 200-minute hero and 250-minute detail table cover this scenario | $50 |
| Trillet | $49 + 50 × $0.20 | $59 |
| AIRA | Premium $59.95 includes 90 calls; 67 fit | $59.95 |
| Upfirst | Premium $59.95 includes 90 calls; 67 fit | $59.95 |
| Dialzara | Lite $29 + 140 × $0.48; slightly below $99 Pro | $96.20 |
| Frontdesk | $99 includes 200 voice minutes | $99 |
| Smith.ai | Free: 25 calls + 42 × $3; Pro entry is $150/75 | $126 on Free |
AIRA and Upfirst are not $80.45 here: upgrading to their published $59.95 Premium 90-call plan is cheaper than keeping the 30-call Starter plan with overages. If you need direct calendar booking, confirm each plan's actual feature gate; Rosie's $49 Professional can send appointment links by text, while direct booking begins on its $149 Scale tier.
Cost Comparison at 500 Minutes per Month
| Platform and official pricing | Calculation at 500 minutes | Estimated monthly subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| Echowin | $80 bundle includes 500 voice minutes + one $10 number | $90 |
| Trillet | $49 + 350 × $0.20 | $119 |
| AIRA | Premium $59.95 + 77 calls × $1 after 90 of 167 calls | $136.95 |
| Upfirst | Premium $59.95 + 77 calls × $1 after 90 of 167 calls | $136.95 |
| Rosie | Scale $149 includes 1,000 minutes and direct booking; check any Professional overage/upgrade terms | $149 on Scale |
| Dialzara | Business Plus $199 includes 500 minutes; cheaper than Pro plus 280 overage minutes | $199 |
| Frontdesk | $99/200 minutes; excess voice uses a shared credit pool and purchased credits | Variable; check pool use |
| Smith.ai | 150-call Pro tier: 150 × $1.80 = $270; then 17 × $2.30 | $309.10, subject to tier checkout |
| Phonely | Starter and Pro minute figures, plus Starter overage, conflict within the vendor page | Confirm at checkout |
Echowin's current Solo pricing is no longer the older $49.99/100-minute plan. The comparison above includes one paid number; additional numbers, SMS or other usage change the total. Its 500-minute bundle is cheaper than 500 pay-as-you-go minutes with one number ($110). AIRA and Upfirst's $159.95 Pro plans are not the cheapest path at an assumed 167 calls: the Premium tier plus 77 overage calls is $136.95. Smith.ai's human-agent option is not presumed to be included in these numbers; verify any configured human involvement and fee.
Phonely's page currently says 200 Starter minutes in its plan card but 250 in its comparison table; it also shows conflicting Starter overage rates between billing views. An exact $112.50 claim would pick one version without a reliable basis. Compare a current checkout or written quote. Smith.ai's 150-call Pro price above is calculated from its published $1.80 per-included-call rate and $2.30 extra-call rate, rather than from a displayed checkout total. For more on these differences, see our AI receptionist pricing-model explainer.
How to Estimate Your Own Monthly Minutes
- Count calls that will actually reach the AI (all calls versus overflow or after-hours only).
- Multiply by average handled duration. For example, 4 calls/day × 3 minutes × 22 days = 264 minutes, not 260.
- For per-call vendors, use the call count directly. For Goodcall-style unique-caller models, count distinct interacting phone numbers instead.
- Choose the lowest eligible plan for that volume, then add the published overage and separately billed numbers, SMS, transfers or credits.
- Add a buffer for a busy month and test the actual call route before relying on the estimate.
A three-minute illustration is not a promise about your business. Longer calls can make per-call billing attractive; numerous short calls can favor per-minute billing. Neither model is inherently a “trap.”
What the Price Tag Does Not Include
Messaging and email. Trillet D2C provides emailed call summaries and configurable SMS follow-up, but outgoing SMS is billed separately and needs consent. Upfirst advertises in-call texting and text/email summaries even on Starter; Rosie has texted appointment links on Professional and direct booking/in-call texting on higher tiers. Phonely lists email/SMS notifications and paid conversational SMS. Do not call competitors universally “voice-only.”
Booking and integrations. Trillet has native supported Cal.com, Google Calendar and GoHighLevel Calendar sync; other CRM connections are DIY via API on D2C. AIRA and Upfirst publish booking/integration options, and Smith.ai lists AI scheduling. Confirm whether a feature means booking during the call, sending a link, or routing details to staff.
Regulated information. A price comparison does not verify contractual permission for patient PHI or other restricted data. Trillet's $49 D2C plan does not permit HIPAA-covered PHI; an eligible Agency or Enterprise arrangement requires an executed BAA and an applicable Order Form identifying the covered workflow. See Trillet healthcare. Ask each rival for its own signed coverage and safeguards rather than declaring compliance “included” or “absent” from a pricing page.
Concurrency, spam and transfers. Several vendors publish concurrency or spam features. Their limits and call-handling definitions differ; test with your route and confirm whether transferred portions are separately charged. Do not infer that any AI guarantees every call is captured.
Total Value at Each Tier
| Buyer question | Why it changes the choice |
|---|---|
| Do callers need direct booking or just a link? | Rosie gates direct booking above Professional; Trillet supports configured calendar booking at $49. |
| Are calls short and numerous or long and few? | The same minutes produce different per-call totals. |
| Do you need outbound texts? | Trillet SMS is separately billed; other providers may gate or meter it differently. |
| Is human escalation required? | Smith.ai can offer configured live-agent involvement; Trillet D2C does not include a human receptionist network. |
| Is the workflow regulated? | Obtain the applicable written agreement and approved scope; do not infer it from a generic price. |
Trillet's overage is straightforward at $0.20/minute, but it is not the only service offering booking, messaging, spam handling or compliance pathways. Choose on the exact workflow and total applicable bill. For a broader product comparison, see the top AI receptionists for small business.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?
Published entry prices in this set range from Phonely's limited Free plan to paid options from $24.95 (AIRA and Upfirst, 30 calls) and Trillet/Rosie at $49. A useful budget needs your call count or minutes, chosen features and any extras.
Why do some AI receptionists charge per call instead of per minute?
Per-call billing charges for each eligible handled call even if durations differ; per-minute billing charges for conversation time. A long booking may favor per-call billing, while many quick messages may favor per-minute. Spam treatment and minimum billable increments also matter.
Which AI receptionist is cheapest at 500 minutes per month?
On the specific one-number voice assumptions here, Echowin's published $80/500-minute bundle plus $10 number is $90. It is a different platform and feature set. Trillet is $119. Phonely's conflicting public figures prevent a reliable exact 500-minute figure; get a quote before ranking it.
Does Trillet charge setup fees or require a contract?
Trillet D2C has no Trillet setup fee or long-term contract and offers a 28-day money-back guarantee on the plan, not a free trial. Separately billed usage, SMS, telephony or carrier fees should not be assumed refundable. An initial agent can be drafted in about five minutes; review and test before go-live. Cancel at least 24 hours before the next billing date to avoid renewal.
What is the cheapest AI receptionist overall?
There is no single cheapest at every call volume or feature set. Phonely publishes 100 Free minutes; AIRA and Upfirst start at $24.95 for 30 calls; Echowin's usage-based route can be inexpensive with one number. See the cheapest AI answering-service guide and validate current checkout terms.
