How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost?
Quick answer
An AI receptionist costs $79–299/month for most local businesses — 85–95% less than hiring a human receptionist at $2,500–4,000/month. Human virtual receptionist services range from $255–1,099/month with per-call charges.
Full receptionist cost comparison (2026)
| Option | Monthly | Annual | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist (Starter) | $79/mo | $948/yr | Unlimited conversations, 1 Tulpik role, up to 3 channels |
| AI receptionist (Growth) | $299/mo | $3,588/yr | Unlimited Tulpik roles and channels, dedicated onboarding |
| Smith.ai virtual receptionist | $255+/mo | $3,060+/yr | 30 calls included; $4–6/call beyond |
| Ruby Receptionists | $349+/mo | $4,188+/yr | 100 minutes included; overages apply |
| Abby Connect | $299+/mo | $3,588+/yr | 100 minutes included; overages apply |
| Part-time human receptionist | $1,800–2,500/mo | $21,600–30,000/yr | 20 hrs/week, phone only |
| Full-time human receptionist | $3,300–5,600/mo | $40,000–67,000/yr | 40 hrs/week, benefits included |
What's included in an AI receptionist subscription?
A standard AI receptionist subscription (like OpenTulpa's plans) should include all of the following at the flat monthly rate — no add-ons required:
- Unlimited conversations across all connected channels
- Appointment scheduling with real-time calendar integration
- Lead capture and qualification
- Automated booking confirmations and reminders
- Human escalation routing for complex requests
- Multi-channel coverage (Instagram, WhatsApp, Telegram, website chat)
- Regular knowledge updates as your business changes
Hidden costs to watch for
Watch for solutions that charge extra for calendar integration, per-conversation fees, or channel add-ons. These hidden costs can make a low advertised price misleading.
Per-conversation fees
Can turn a $29/mo plan into hundreds at volume
Channel add-ons
Instagram or WhatsApp often cost extra
Setup fees
Some providers charge $500–2,000 to configure
Calendar integration
Should be included, not an upsell
OpenTulpa includes all channels, calendar sync, and unlimited conversations in the flat monthly rate — no surprise overages.
Is the cost worth it? A simple ROI calculation
Use this formula to estimate your ROI. Most businesses find the subscription pays for itself within the first week.
1. Estimate weekly after-hours inquiries you currently miss (DMs, texts, messages)
2. Multiply by 50% (approximate conversion rate for businesses that respond immediately)
3. Multiply by your average booking value
4. Multiply by 4 to get monthly recovered revenue
Example
15 weekly after-hours inquiries × 50% conversion × $90 avg booking × 4 weeks = $2,700/month in recoverable revenue vs $79–299/mo for an AI receptionist.