Free AI receptionist setup guide
Pick the way you want to answer your phone. We email you a PDF for that path: how hard it is, what it really costs, and the exact steps to set it up yourself. Software from the vendors is theirs; the guide is free.
Four options: difficulty vs. price
| Option | Difficulty to set up | Setup time | Typical monthly cost | Price rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Missed-call text-backNo AI voice. When a call is missed, the caller gets a text within seconds. | EasyUnder 2 hours. No code. | 1-2 hours | $15-$33 per userchecked 2026-10-29; sources: Quo (formerly OpenPhone) | Cheapest |
| Custom AI voice agentYou assemble the phone number, speech, language model and your own systems. | HardDays to weeks. Needs comfort with APIs, webhooks and testing. | 2-10 days, plus ongoing maintenance | about $28-$45 at 300 minuteschecked 2026-10-29; sources: Vapi, Twilio | #2 of 4 |
| Off-the-shelf AI receptionistA hosted AI answers your calls 24/7, takes messages and can book appointments. | MediumHalf a day. Mostly writing your business rules and testing. | 3-6 hours, plus a week of tuning | $49-$150checked 2026-10-29; sources: Rosie, Goodcall, Smith.ai (AI plans) | #3 of 4 |
| Live human answering serviceTrained people answer as your front desk, take messages and book appointments. | EasyA few hours. Mostly writing your script and forwarding your number. | 2-4 hours | $250-$1,725 by volumechecked 2026-10-29; sources: Ruby Receptionists, Smith.ai (live plans) | Most expensive |
Running-cost illustration assumes about 100 calls a month averaging 3 minutes (300 minutes). Your volume will differ. Prices are public list prices checked on the as-of date; vendors change them, so confirm on the vendor page before you buy. Prices checked 2026-10-29.
Get the PDF for your option
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Rather have it set up for you? $200 Flat Rate Setup
Do it yourself with the free guide above, or let us configure it for a $200 flat setup fee and hand it back. You own the accounts, pay underlying telecom and AI providers directly at cost, and we never take a recurring cut. Includes prompt tuning, tool wiring, and our 10-call test pass. Order $200 setup & start build questionnaire →
Listed prices are public vendor list prices checked 2026-10-29 and change often. Confirm on the vendor page before you buy. We receive no referral fees from the vendors named.
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