XPand · US & UK businesses
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
There is no single price for an AI receptionist. The total depends on the provider's billing model, your call usage, the setup work and the integrations included. Compare the cost of the same workflow, not just the advertised monthly starting price.
XPand does not publish fixed package prices on this website. Request a discovery call to discuss your requirements and ask for a quote. The checklist below helps you understand what should be included before you commit.
The costs to include in a comparison
| Cost item | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Initial setup | Does the quote include call-flow design, knowledge setup and testing? |
| Recurring service | What is included each month, and what is the minimum commitment? |
| Usage | Are calls, minutes or another unit billed? What happens above the allowance? |
| Phone service | Are number, forwarding and carrier charges included? |
| Integrations | Which calendar or CRM actions are included, and what requires extra work? |
| Changes and support | Who updates scripts and resolves problems, and is that work included? |
Monthly subscription versus usage-based pricing
A monthly price can make budgeting easier, but check the included allowance and any overage. A usage-based offer can be useful when call volume changes, but it needs an estimate of how many calls arrive and how long they last. Some providers combine the two approaches.
Ask how transfers, unanswered calls, spam calls and repeated callers are counted. Two offers with the same headline price can produce different totals if they count usage differently. Get the answers in the written quote.
A simple way to estimate your total
Estimated monthly total = recurring fee + billable usage + phone charges + ongoing extras. Evaluate one-time setup separately. This is a comparison framework, not a statement of XPand's pricing model.
For example, if a provider charges for minutes, estimate minutes by multiplying expected call count by average handled duration. Then apply that provider's allowance and overage rules. Use your own call history where possible rather than assuming every enquiry takes the same amount of time.
For businesses in the US and UK
Request a quote in a currency your team can compare consistently, and ask which charges or taxes are excluded. Confirm that the scope supports your phone provider, intended service area and operating hours. A lower advertised price is not useful if the workflow you need is an additional project.
For a contractor, clarify whether a booking means a callback, an estimate visit or a confirmed service appointment. Those tasks require different availability and qualification rules. See our contractor and trades guide for examples.
What should happen during a demo?
Ask the provider to demonstrate one of your real call scenarios. Include an unavailable slot, a caller asking an unexpected question and a request that requires a person. Review what information is captured and where it goes afterwards.
Check that the quoted solution includes the workflow shown in the demonstration. A successful greeting alone does not demonstrate booking accuracy, exception handling or integration reliability.
How to judge value without assuming guaranteed revenue
Before rollout, establish a baseline for missed enquiries and time spent handling routine calls. After rollout, compare qualified enquiries, completed bookings and follow-up outcomes over a consistent period. Separate answered calls from paying customers; they are different measures.
Define the process for reviewing mistakes and updating information. Keep the people who handle follow-up involved in evaluating whether the captured details are useful.
Prepare your quote request
- Approximate incoming calls and busiest periods
- Current phone provider and calendar or CRM
- Business hours, time zones and service area
- The three most common reasons people call
- What should happen when the AI cannot complete a request
Start with our AI receptionist guide, then bring this information to a 45-minute discovery call with XPand.