Guide · updated 2026-09-28
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Real price ranges across the market, what drives them, and what Sofia charges, with nothing hidden.
The market, roughly
AI phone answering for small businesses in 2026 generally lands in three bands. Per-minute plans: a low base fee plus $0.50 to $1.50 a minute, which is cheap until you get busy. Tiered plans: $50 to $300 a month for a bucket of minutes or calls, with overage fees. Flat plans: one price, unlimited or high caps. Most of the well-known names sit in the middle band once you add the features a trade actually needs (booking, texting the owner, after-hours).
What Sofia costs
| Plan | Price | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
| Solo | $39 a month | One owner, one line |
| Crew | $69 a month | A small crew, more calls, more staff on the alerts |
| Shop | $119 a month | A growing shop with a second line and more logins |
| Add-ons | $9.99 a month each | Morning brief, review requests, quote chaser, lead callback and more. All free for the first 30 days |
The first 30 days are free on every plan, with no card. You keep your number. Cancel by text.
What drives the price up elsewhere
- Per-minute billing. A 4-minute intake at $1.25 a minute is $5. Twenty of those a week is $400 a month.
- Booking, texting and CRM sync sold as separate add-ons.
- After-hours or weekend surcharges.
- Setup fees and "onboarding" packages.
What it should never cost you
Your phone number, a contract, or a call your customer did not want. Sofia never dials anyone cold, and a caller who says stop is stopped on every channel.
Is it worth it?
Only if you miss calls. Use the missed-call calculator with your own job value. If one caught job a month is worth more than $39, it pays for itself twelve times over.
Common questions
Is there a free AI receptionist?
Not a real one. Free tiers are usually a handful of minutes or a demo. Sofia gives you 30 full days free on your own line so you can see the calls she catches before paying.
Are there setup fees?
No. Sofia sets up in about ten minutes from a form, and forwarding your number is a code you dial on your phone.
What happens after 30 days?
You pick a plan starting at $39 a month, or you do nothing and it stops. Add-ons you liked are $9.99 each; the ones you do not tick turn off.
Do I need a new phone number?
No. You keep your number and forward it to Sofia when you are busy, after hours, or all the time.
Hear her before you decide
Call (833) 349-0911 and pretend you are a customer. Then start the free 30 days with your own company name on the line. $39 a month after, keep your number.