Buyer's guideJune 16, 20265 min read

How much does an AI receptionist cost in 2026?

Most AI receptionists cost between $50 and $900 a month depending on call volume — a fraction of the ~$2,500–$3,500/month a full-time front-desk hire costs. ProoN starts at $299/month and includes 50 free minutes so you can try it before paying.

What you're actually paying for

Price scales with how much the agent works and what it does. The biggest driver is call volume — usually billed in minutes. After that, features matter:

Call volume (minutes per month) — the single biggest lever.
What it does — answering FAQs is cheaper than taking orders, booking into your calendar, or pushing tickets to your POS.
Languages — multilingual support sometimes costs more (it doesn't with ProoN).
Integrations — POS, calendar, and CRM connections.
Keeping your existing number + SMS confirmations.

Flat monthly vs. per-minute pricing

There are two common models. Flat monthly plans (with an included pool of minutes) are predictable — you know your bill. Pure per-minute or per-call pricing looks cheap at low volume but spikes during a busy month, exactly when you can least afford a surprise. Watch for one-time setup fees and steep per-minute overage rates.

Rule of thumb: estimate your monthly minutes as (calls per month × average call length). A busy restaurant taking 600 calls a month at ~2 minutes each needs roughly 1,200 minutes.

How it compares to the alternatives

A full-time receptionist runs about $2,500–$3,500/month all-in — and still only covers business hours and one call at a time. A traditional live answering service bills per minute or per call and usually just takes a message. An AI agent answers every call 24/7, completes the task on the call, and costs a flat monthly rate.

What ProoN costs

ProoN is flat monthly: Starter is $299/month for 500 minutes, Growth is $549 for 1,200 minutes, and Pro is $899 for 2,500 minutes — each with 50 free minutes to start and no charge until you use them. Every plan keeps your existing number and speaks 10+ languages at no extra cost.

Frequently asked

Is there a free trial?+

Yes — ProoN includes 50 free minutes on every plan, with no charge until you use them, so you can hear it on your own calls first.

Is per-minute or flat pricing better?+

Flat monthly is more predictable and protects you during busy months. Per-minute looks cheaper at low volume but can spike unexpectedly. ProoN uses flat plans with an included minute pool.

Is an AI receptionist cheaper than an answering service?+

Usually, yes. Live answering services bill per minute or per call and typically only take messages, while an AI agent completes the task on the call for a flat rate.

What happens if I go over my minutes?+

You simply move to the plan that fits your volume. Estimate your monthly minutes as calls × average length and pick the tier that covers it.

Keep reading

See ProoN pricing What an AI answering service does