The three kinds of phone answering
- Self-serve AI apps. You sign up, write the greeting and questions, and connect your calendar yourself. Cheapest per call. You do the tuning.
- Live answering services. Real people answer for you. Callers always get a person. Priced per call or per minute, so it gets expensive in busy months.
- Done-for-you setups. Someone builds an automated assistant around your business, connects it to your calendar and alerts, watches the calls and fixes what isn't working. You pay for the work, not just the software.
Prices we checked (October 10, 2026, in US dollars)
All prices are from each company's own pricing page on October 10, 2026. They are in US dollars unless the page said otherwise, before tax. Prices change, so check the linked page before you decide.
| Service | Type | Entry price | Next step up | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie | AI, self-serve | $49 / month for 250 minutes | $149 / month for 1,000 minutes | pricing page |
| Jobber AI Receptionist | AI add-on, self-serve | $29 / month on top of a Jobber plan ($49 to $139+) | Add-on; call limits not stated on the pricing page | pricing page |
| My AI Front Desk | AI, self-serve | $99 / month for 200 minutes | $0.25 per extra minute | pricing page |
| Smith.ai (AI receptionist) | AI, set up with their help | Free for 25 calls, then $3 per call | Pro $150 / month for 75 calls | pricing page |
| Smith.ai (live receptionists) | Live people | $300 / month for 30 calls | $810 / month for 90 calls | pricing page |
| Ruby | Live people | $250 / month for 50 minutes | $720 / month for 200 minutes (most popular) | pricing page |
Not listed: several larger platforms (for example Podium and Birdeye) don't publish prices on their own sites, so we left them out rather than guess.
How to work out what you'd actually pay
- Count your missed calls. Look at your phone's call log for one normal week. How many calls went unanswered, and how many came after hours?
- Check how you'd be billed. A plan with 50 minutes sounds fine until a busy week. Multiply your missed calls by about two to three minutes each.
- Add your own time. A self-serve app is cheap, but if you spend three evenings setting it up and tuning it, that time has a cost too.
- Ask what happens when it gets something wrong. Who notices, and who fixes it? That's the real difference between the options.
Which one fits which business
- You like setting up software and have a simple business: a self-serve AI app is probably the best value.
- Your callers must speak to a person (some legal, medical or high-value sales calls): a live answering service.
- You want it to just work, and you're on the tools all day: a done-for-you setup. You approve the greeting and the rules; someone else builds, watches and fixes it.
- You already use Jobber or Housecall Pro: check their add-ons first. They connect to the scheduling you already use.
Questions to ask any provider
- Does it tell callers it's an assistant if they ask? (It should.)
- Which companies process the call audio and transcripts, and in which country?
- Is the call recorded? Can I turn recording off?
- What happens if the system fails mid-call?
- Can it book into my calendar, or only take messages?
- Is there a contract, and what does it cost to leave?
Common questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost per month?
Do-it-yourself AI answering tools we checked on Oct 10, 2026 start around $49 to $150 USD a month (Rosie, Smith.ai's AI plan, My AI Front Desk), or $29 USD a month as a Jobber add-on. Prices are set by call or minute limits, so busy months cost more.
How much does a live answering service cost?
Live receptionist services charge for a small bundle of calls or minutes. On Oct 10, 2026, Ruby started at $250 USD for 50 minutes and its most popular plan was $720 USD for 200 minutes. Smith.ai's live receptionists started at $300 USD for 30 calls.
What is a done-for-you setup, and why does it cost more than an app?
With an app, you set it up, write the questions and fix it when it gets something wrong. With a done-for-you setup, someone builds it around your business, connects your calendar, watches the calls and adjusts it every month. You pay for the setup and the ongoing care, not just the software.
Is an AI phone assistant allowed to answer my business line in Canada?
Businesses commonly use automated phone systems. Be honest with callers: the assistant should say it is an automated assistant if asked, and you should know which companies process call data and where. Check your own privacy obligations (for most Alberta private businesses, PIPA) and any rules for your profession. This is not legal advice.
Which option is cheapest?
A self-serve AI tool is usually cheapest if you are happy to set it up and tune it yourself. Live answering is the most expensive per call but gives callers a person. A done-for-you service sits in between and suits owners who want it handled without doing the setup.
A note on where we fit
Evenstead sells a done-for-you option: Phone Answering, built and run for Edmonton-area businesses, free first build, then $300 to $500 CAD a month, month to month. We included cheaper options above because for some businesses they are the better choice. You can hear ours by calling 587-402-9763.