AI receptionists billed per call (not per minute)
Included: AI receptionists whose published billing unit is per call or per unique caller.
Order: Lowest published monthly plan first.
Data: each vendor's own pricing page, check date per row. Nobody paid to be on this list. Methodology
Per-call billing makes cost predictable when calls are long: a 9-minute emergency intake costs the same as a 1-minute wrong number. That's why it can suit trades with detailed intake calls.
Watch what counts as a call. Some vendors don't bill spam or very short calls; others bill every connected call. The facts column quotes each vendor.
The list
| # | Tool | Type | Lowest plan | Plan includes | Billing | Free trial / plan | Contract | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smith.ai AI Receptionist | AI + live backup | From $0/mo | 25 calls/mo, $3.00 per extra call | Per call | Free plan (25 calls/mo) | Month-to-month, 30 days' notice | 2026-11-09 |
| 2 | Upfirst | Standalone AI | From $24.95/mo | 30 calls; $1.50/extra call | Per call | 14-day free trial | Monthly or annual (save 20%) | 2026-11-09 |
| 3 | Goodcall | Standalone AI | From $79/mo | 100 unique customers/mo, then $0.79 each | Per unique customer per month | Free demo agent | Monthly | 2026-11-09 |
| 4 | Markate Kate-AI Receptionist | FSM built-in | From $1/call | — | $1 per call | — | — | 2026-11-09 |
The check date links to the vendor pricing page it was read from. Prices change; confirm at signup.
Smith.ai AI Receptionist
Shops that want AI answering with live-human fallback for complex calls
Upfirst
Low-volume shops wanting per-call billing
Goodcall
Shops with long calls who want predictable bills (no per-minute charges)
What to check
Spam, hang-ups and very short calls may or may not be billed.
The price per call above the plan's included calls.
Some bill once per caller per month, however often they call.
Related
- AI receptionist price table
- Guide: what an AI receptionist costs
- Cheapest AI receptionists
- The cheapest AI receptionists
- Free AI receptionists
- Answering services for contractors
- AI receptionists for small businesses
FAQ
Which AI receptionists charge per call?
Smith.ai AI Receptionist, Upfirst, Goodcall, Markate Kate-AI Receptionist publish per-call or per-caller billing.
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