If you have started looking at an AI receptionist for your business, you have probably noticed how hard it is to get a straight answer on price. Some providers hide their pricing behind a demo booking. Others quote a low monthly figure and leave the setup fee and per-call charges until later. This guide lays out what you actually pay in Australia in 2026, so you can compare like for like.
The four things you pay for
Almost every AI receptionist is priced from the same four building blocks. Once you know them, any quote is easy to read.
- The monthly subscription. Your base plan. It usually sets how many calls or minutes are included and which features you get. This is the number providers advertise.
- The setup or onboarding fee. A one-off charge to build, train and test your agent. Managed providers charge for this work. It is commonly $400 to $990, and some waive it if you commit to a few months.
- Per-call or per-minute overage. What you pay once you go past the calls included in your plan. Often $0.50 to $1.00 a minute, or a flat rate per call. A busy week can add $50 to $200 to a bill if your plan is too small.
- Add-ons. Extra phone numbers, calendar or CRM integrations, multiple locations, or premium voices. Small on their own, but they add up.
What the market charges in 2026
Across the main Australian providers, monthly pricing tends to fall into three bands depending on the size of the business:
- Sole traders and very small teams: roughly $149 to $299 a month, often for after-hours and overflow cover.
- Small businesses: roughly $249 to $700 a month for a fuller managed service that books jobs, answers questions and handles overflow.
- Larger or multi-location businesses: roughly $700 to $1,300 a month for managed reception across sites with integrations and quality checks.
Setup fees sit on top, anywhere from nothing for self-serve tools up to around $990 for a fully managed build.
How the main providers compare
Here is a snapshot of what the better-known Australian providers charge. Prices are correct as of June 2026 and are worth checking on each provider’s own site, since they change.
| Provider | From (per month) | Setup fee | Lock-in | Public pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RelayDesk | $199 | $400 | No | Yes |
| Valory | $149 | $990 (waivable) | No | Yes |
| Sophiie | ~$300 | ~$800 | No | No, demo required |
| AiDial | Volume based | Quote | No | On request |
The headline monthly figure rarely tells the whole story. A $149 plan with a $990 setup fee costs more in your first year than a $199 plan with a $400 setup fee. Always add the setup fee and a realistic allowance for overage before you compare.
What actually drives the price
Two businesses can pay very different amounts for what looks like the same thing. The difference usually comes down to:
- Managed versus self-serve. A managed provider builds and tunes the agent for you and keeps improving it. Self-serve is cheaper monthly but you do the work and the upkeep.
- Call volume.The more calls you take, the bigger the plan you need, and the more overage matters. A florist on Valentine’s Day has very different needs to a quiet office.
- Integrations. Booking straight into your calendar or pushing details into a CRM costs more to set up than simply emailing you a summary.
- Onshore data. Some providers host in Australia and build around the Privacy Act. That can matter for medical, legal and financial work, and it can affect price.
Is it worth it?
The honest test is what a missed call costs you. If a single booked job is worth more than a month’s subscription, the maths is straightforward: catching even one or two extra jobs a month covers the cost. Compare that to a human receptionist or answering service, which costs more, does not work nights and weekends without extra cost, and cannot answer ten calls at once.
How RelayDesk prices it
We keep it simple and public. Plans start at $199 a month, with a $299 plan for businesses that want every call handled and a $699 plan for higher volumes. All prices are in Australian dollars, GST included, with no lock-in. Setup is a one-off $400 and we do the build for you, usually live in about 48 hours. You can see the full breakdown on our pricing section, or read more about how our AI receptionist works.
Common questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?
Most AI receptionists in Australia cost between $149 and $700 a month for a small business, plus a one-off setup fee that ranges from nothing to around $990. Heavier, multi-location plans run higher. RelayDesk starts at $199 a month with a $400 setup fee, GST included and no lock-in.
Is there a setup or onboarding fee?
Usually yes. Managed providers charge a setup fee to build and tune your agent, commonly $400 to $990. Some waive it on a longer commitment. Self-serve tools may have no setup fee but leave the building to you.
Are there extra charges on top of the monthly fee?
Often. Many plans include a set number of calls or minutes and charge for anything over that, commonly $0.50 to $1.00 a minute or a per-call rate. Integrations and extra phone numbers can also cost more.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human one?
Almost always. A part-time human receptionist or answering service typically costs far more per month than an AI plan, and does not cover nights and weekends without extra cost. The AI also answers an unlimited number of calls at once.
Weighing up providers? Read our comparison of the main AI phone answering services in Australia.