How Much Does a Virtual Receptionist Cost?
Price comparison of the leading providers in the US.
A virtual receptionist costs between $149 and $500 per month in the US. Prices depend on the provider, number of included calls, and scope of service. Ruby starts at $235/month for 50 receptionist minutes, Smith.ai at $292.50/month for 30 calls. At an average of 100 calls per month, expect to pay $300-500. For comparison: a full-time in-house receptionist costs $3,500-5,500 monthly including benefits. An AI phone assistant offers unlimited calls starting at $129/month.
What is Virtual Receptionist?
A virtual receptionist is an outsourced phone service where trained professionals answer your calls under your business name. Unlike a call center, virtual receptionists work more personally and typically handle fewer clients simultaneously. The best-known providers in the US include Ruby, Smith.ai, and AnswerConnect.
Price Comparison: Virtual Receptionist
Ruby Receptionist
50-200 receptionist minutes included. Mon-Fri 5am-9pm PT. 24/7 available on higher plans.
Smith.ai
30-120 calls included. Includes CRM integration and lead qualification on higher tiers.
AnswerConnect
Custom packages. 24/7 live answering available. Bilingual support optional.
AI Phone Assistant (Vokaro)Recommended
Unlimited calls, 24/7, automatic appointment booking, GDPR-compliant
Full-Time In-House Receptionist
Full-time including benefits. Plus vacation, sick leave, coverage.
Hidden Costs
Per-Call Overages
Ruby charges $4.70 per minute beyond your plan allowance. A 3-minute overage call costs $14.10. At 20 overage calls, that is $280+ extra per month.
Add-On Services
Appointment scheduling, call transfers to mobile, text notifications, and bilingual support often cost extra with many providers.
Minimum Contract Terms
Cheaper plans often require 12-month commitments. Month-to-month plans cost 15-25% more.
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Virtual Receptionist (Average)
Virtual receptionist average: $350/month + $50 extras = $4,800/year
Vokaro
Vokaro: $129/month x 12 + $199 setup = $1,387 in the first year
Virtual Receptionist is worth it when…
- You value the personal touch of a human voice on the phone
- You need mail handling or business address services in addition to call answering
- Your call volume is under 100 calls per month
- Most calls come during business hours (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm)
Virtual Receptionist is not worth it when…
- You need 24/7 availability without surcharges
- Your call volume fluctuates significantly (per-minute pricing gets expensive)
- Automatic appointment booking directly in your calendar is important
- Your budget is under $150/month (basic plans only cover 30-50 calls)
More Cost Comparisons
FAQ
How much does Ruby Receptionist cost per month?
Ruby starts at $235/month (50 receptionist minutes included). Their most popular plan is $370/month with 100 minutes. Every minute over the allowance costs $4.70. For 100+ calls, expect to pay $400-600 per month effectively.
Virtual receptionist vs. AI assistant: which is better?
A virtual receptionist offers a human voice and personal service but is limited to business hours and gets expensive at higher volumes. An AI assistant is available 24/7, can handle unlimited parallel calls, and costs a fixed price. For standard inquiries (80% of all calls), the AI assistant performs equally well or better.
How quickly can a virtual receptionist start?
With providers like Ruby, setup takes 1-3 business days. You need to define your greeting script and set up call forwarding. An AI phone assistant is ready within a few days.
Can a virtual receptionist book appointments?
Most virtual receptionists can take appointment requests and forward them to you via email or text. Direct calendar integration (automatic booking) is offered by only a few providers and usually at an extra cost. AI assistants book appointments directly into your calendar.
Virtual Receptionist at a Fixed Price
Vokaro: $129/month, 24/7, automatic appointment booking. No per-minute charges.
No obligation · GDPR compliant · Made in Germany