Free cost calculator
Answering service cost calculator.
Put in your calls per month and how long they last. See what Yapper, Smith.ai, Ruby and ReceptionHQ would charge you, worked out from each one's published prices.
Your calls
Minutes / month
180
Find both numbers in your phone carrier or business phone app. Then run your busiest month too.
Monthly cost
Yapper
Starter, 200 minutes
$199, within the 200 minutes
Launch sale: the first 10 customers pay $99 a month for Starter for 12 months.
Start My 7-Day Trial for $2$199
per month
Smith.ai Human-first
Starter, 30 calls
$300 + 30 extra calls × $11.50
Larger Smith.ai plans can cost less at high volume. Optional services cost extra.
$645
per month
Ruby
200-minute plan
Smallest published plan that covers 180 minutes
Ruby does not publish an extra-minute rate, so this picks the plan that covers your whole month.
$720
per month
ReceptionHQ
MessageExpress
$25 + 60 calls × $1.99
Message taking during business hours only.
$144.40
per month
Prices checked October 18, 2026 on each provider's own pricing page. Monthly billing, no add-ons. Each service rounds and counts calls its own way, so ask for a written quote. AI plans like Dialzara and Goodcall can cost less than all four. See the worked bills in the AI receptionist pricing guide.
How to use it
How to use this tool
- Look up last month’s calls in your phone carrier or business phone app.
- Set how many calls came in and how long they lasted on average.
- Read each monthly bill and the math under it.
- Run your busiest month too, before you pick a plan.
It needs no signup. The numbers update as you move each slider.
How the math works
Each service counts your calls a different way.
- Yapper bills by the minute. Starter is $199 for 200 minutes, Pro is $349 for 500, and extra minutes are $0.75 each.
- Smith.ai Human-first bills by the call. Starter is $300 for 30 calls, then $11.50 a call.
- Ruby sells minute packages from $250 for 50 minutes up to $1,725 for 500.
- ReceptionHQ MessageExpress is $25 a month plus $1.99 per answered call, for messages taken in business hours.
For worked bills at 40, 100 and 200 calls, including AI plans that cost less than Yapper, read the AI receptionist pricing guide. To compare against a full-time hire, use the receptionist cost calculator.
FAQ
How much does an answering service cost a month?
It depends on your calls. For 60 three-minute calls a month, the live services we checked came to $144.40 for ReceptionHQ (messages in business hours only), $645 for Smith.ai Human-first Starter, and $720 for Ruby. Yapper Starter, an AI receptionist, is $199. Prices checked October 18, 2026.
Is per-call or per-minute billing cheaper?
Per-minute billing is cheaper when calls are short, like quick quote requests. Per-call billing is cheaper when calls run long. Check your average call length in your phone records, then move the minutes slider to see the change.
Why does Ruby jump to a bigger plan?
Ruby sells minute packages and does not publish an extra-minute rate. The calculator picks the smallest published package that covers your whole month. Past its largest package, ask Ruby for a quote.
What does Yapper charge past its minutes?
Starter is $199 a month for 200 minutes, and Pro is $349 for 500. Extra minutes cost $0.75 each on monthly plans. The calculator shows whichever plan costs less for your month.
Is an AI answering service cheaper than a live one?
Usually. Live receptionists cost more per call. AI plans like Dialzara and Goodcall can cost less than Yapper too. A live person is worth paying for when callers need judgment, speak Spanish, or must be booked into your schedule on the call.
What does Yapper do on a call?
Yapper answers in 3 rings, day or night. It takes the caller’s name, number, address and job, then texts you a summary. Urgent calls transfer to the one number you set. It answers in English only, has no live team, and does not book jobs.
Phone coverage
Try Yapper on your real calls.
Yapper answers in 3 rings, day or night, takes the job details, and texts you a summary. Urgent calls go to the number you set.