The three ways AI receptionists charge
Before comparing prices, find out what each provider counts. Two plans with the same monthly fee can cost very different amounts once your real call volume goes through them.
| Model | How it works | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per call | Each answered call counts, no matter how long it lasts. | Businesses with few, long calls. | Short calls (wrong numbers, quick questions) cost the same as long ones. |
| Per minute | You pay for the minutes the AI is on the phone. | Businesses whose calls vary a lot in length. | The bill changes every month and is harder to predict. |
| Flat monthly fee with minutes | One price includes a bundle of minutes; only the extra minutes are billed. | Owners who want a predictable bill. | The price of each extra minute once you pass the bundle. |
Autorys uses the third model: one monthly price with minutes included.
What the Autorys AI receptionist costs
The Autorys AI Phone Receptionist costs $149 USD per month. The price includes 500 minutes of calls each month, a phone number and the CRM where you see every call, with its summary, recording and transcript. There is no setup fee.
If you go over 500 minutes in a month, each extra minute costs $0.15 USD. There is no charge per call: what counts is the minutes the receptionist spends on the phone.
- 500 minutes included every month
- Extra minutes: $0.15 USD each
- Phone number and CRM included
- No setup fee
How to estimate your own monthly cost
Count your calls
Look at your phone log for one normal week and count the calls you could not answer. Multiply by about 4.3 to get a month.
Estimate their length
Most calls to a small business are short: a name, a need and a time. If yours last about 3 minutes, 500 minutes cover roughly 166 calls.
Add the extra minutes
If you expect more minutes than the plan includes, multiply the difference by $0.15 USD. Example: 150 calls of 3 minutes are 450 minutes, which cost $149 USD with Autorys.
What to check on the bill before you sign up
The monthly fee is only part of the price. These are the questions that decide what you really pay.
- Is there a setup fee or a minimum contract?
- Is a phone number included, or do you pay for it separately?
- What does each extra call or extra minute cost?
- Are recordings, transcripts and call summaries included?
- Does it book appointments in a calendar, and is that calendar included?
- Does it answer in Spanish or other languages on every plan?
- Can it transfer calls to you or your team, and does that cost more?
AI receptionist vs. a human answering service
A human answering service usually charges more per minute, because a person picks up each call. For example, in October 2026 Ruby’s live receptionists started at $250 a month for 50 minutes, and Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist Pro plan was $150 a month for 75 calls. With Autorys, $149 USD includes 500 minutes.
Prices change, so check each provider’s public pricing page. Our comparison page lists the sources and the date we reviewed them.