AI Receptionist Cost in the UK: Prices, Hidden Extras and What’s Worth Paying For

In the UK, an AI receptionist costs from about £10 to £200 a month for an off-the-shelf plan that answers calls and takes messages. One set up for your business, which books into your diary and answers WhatsApp too, costs more, usually with a one-off set-up fee. A full-time receptionist costs around £2,360 a month.

Most people asking this have just missed a call they shouldn’t have, and want to know whether a robot on the phone costs £20 or £2,000. The price on the website is rarely the whole story, so here’s how it breaks down.

AI receptionist cost in the UK: the short version

The table puts the main options side by side. A basic app answers, takes a message and emails you; you set it up yourself. One set up for your business learns your services and prices, books into your diary, and handles WhatsApp and website chat as well as calls.

AI receptionist prices from UK providers

Published prices from UK providers, checked in October 2026. Plans change, and the cheapest tiers usually take messages rather than book appointments, so compare what each tier includes.

Gasta’s figures come from its own comparison page, so read them alongside each provider’s pricing page.

How AI receptionist pricing works

There are three common models, and each suits a different business.

Whichever model you pick, ask one question before signing: what happens when I go over? Some plans quietly switch to expensive per-minute rates, others stop answering. A busy Monday shouldn’t double your bill.

What pushes the price up

Booking into your diary. An AI that says “someone will call you back” is cheap. One that checks your real availability and books the slot is worth far more, but it has to be connected to your booking system or calendar.

More than phone calls. If customers also message you on WhatsApp or your website, covering all three from one place costs more than phone alone. It’s usually cheaper than three separate tools.

Your own voice and rules. Custom greetings, what counts as urgent, when to put a call through to you, how to handle complaints. This is set-up time.

Call volume. Obvious, but worth saying. A salon taking 40 calls a day will pay more than a solicitor taking five.

What it needs to handle. A dental practice needs clear rules for pain and emergency calls, which takes more set-up than a booking line for a salon. Here’s what an AI receptionist handles for dentists.

The comparison that matters

Here’s the maths most people skip. (For human answering services too, see our virtual receptionist cost comparison.) A full-time receptionist on the National Living Wage (£12.71 an hour in 2026), working 37.5 hours a week, costs about £24,800 a year in wages. Add employer National Insurance and pension and it’s around £28,300, or roughly £2,360 a month. And they still go home at 5pm.

What it should include, whatever you pay

• It tells callers they’re speaking to an assistant, not pretending to be human
• It passes anything urgent or unusual to you straight away
• You get a text or email with every call, so nothing disappears
• You can change prices, hours and answers without ringing support
• Call recordings and personal details are handled in line with UK GDPR
• A monthly rolling contract, or at least a short one

So, is it worth it?

If you’re missing calls because you’re busy with customers, usually yes. The cheapest option isn’t always the best value, though. An AI that takes messages still leaves you calling people back at 9pm. One that books the appointment gives you your evening back.

We set up the AI receptionist for you, connected to the diary you already use, and give you a fixed price before you commit.