The four common pricing models
Per minute
You pay for every minute the AI is on a call. Simple, but costs rise in busy months — exactly when you’re getting the most calls.
Per call or per booking
You pay per answered call or per appointment booked. Easy to connect to results, but harder to budget.
Flat monthly plan
A set monthly fee that includes a volume of calls or minutes. The most predictable for small businesses.
Setup fee plus monthly
Common with done-for-you providers. The setup fee covers building the agent, connecting your calendar and CRM, and testing. The monthly fee covers the service and ongoing tuning.
What drives the price
- Call volume — the biggest factor.
- Booking and integrations — connecting to your calendar, CRM or industry software takes work.
- Languages — bilingual agents may cost more with some vendors.
- Outbound calling — reminders, follow-ups and reactivation calls add usage.
- Done-for-you vs. DIY — self-serve tools are cheaper upfront; managed services include setup, testing and monthly improvements.
Hidden costs to watch for
- Overage charges when you exceed a plan’s minutes.
- Extra fees for SMS confirmations or phone numbers.
- Long contracts with cancellation penalties.
- “Setup” that doesn’t include testing or tuning, leaving you to fix problems.
- Your data being locked in the vendor’s account — ask who owns the number, recordings and contacts.
How to calculate ROI
Use four numbers: calls per week, the share you currently miss, what a new customer is worth to you, and how many callers normally become customers. Multiply them out to get the monthly revenue you’re losing today. Our missed-call calculator does this in 20 seconds. If that number is comfortably bigger than the monthly price, the decision is easy.
Comparing against the alternatives
A human receptionist costs salary, taxes and benefits and covers only business hours. Answering services often bill per minute. Voicemail is free but loses callers. Read the full comparison: AI receptionist vs. answering service vs. hiring.
How SwiftByte prices
There are four clear monthly plans with minutes included (see swiftbyte.co/pricing). There’s no long-term contract, and you keep your number, data and accounts. Book a free audit to get your quote.