How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost?

What actually drives the price

• Call volume: more calls generally means more usage-based cost, though flat-tier pricing (like AutomateLine's) absorbs this up to a point.
• Scope: answering only vs. answering plus booking plus follow-up plus workflow automation.
• Integrations: connecting to practice management software, a CRM, or a multi-location calendar setup can add setup complexity.
• Industry: healthcare and other regulated industries often involve more setup work (BAAs, access controls) than a general service business.

AutomateLine's own pricing

Starter, from $497/month: missed-call text-back, after-hours answering, every lead logged.

Growth, from $997/month: everything in Starter plus quote follow-up, appointment booking, and CRM updates.

Scale, custom: everything in Growth plus custom workflows across your tools and priority support.

There's also a single-automation entry point from $197 setup plus monthly, for businesses that want to start with one workflow (like missed-call text-back alone) instead of the full front desk.

Why the free audit comes before any number is final

Every plan starts with a free 30-minute audit that maps your actual call volume, missed-call rate, and where leads slip, so the quote you get reflects your business rather than a generic average. That's also where integration scope (which systems, what's readable/writable) gets confirmed before you commit to anything.

How to think about ROI before you buy

The right question isn't "what does this cost" in isolation, it's what a single recovered job or booked appointment is worth to your business, multiplied by how many you're currently losing to missed calls or slow follow-up. A cost calculator is only honest if it states its assumptions plainly rather than presenting them as industry fact; if a vendor's ROI numbers aren't clearly labeled as assumptions, ask what they're based on.