An AI receptionist runs $30–300 a month in 2026. A human answering service bills $1–2+ per minute, which at a typical 200 calls a month lands at $900–1,800 all-in. A front-desk hire is $2,800–4,000 a month loaded. The AI costs roughly a fifth to a tenth of the human options and covers four times the hours (NextPhone, OnCallClerk, KingCaller, 2026).
The three options, honestly compared
| Option | Real monthly cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| AI receptionist | $30–300 | 24/7, unlimited simultaneous calls, books the appointment in the same call. Flat pricing. |
| Human answering service | $900–1,800 all-in | A person, remotely, under your business name. Entry prices look like $245/mo — see the metering trap. |
| Front-desk hire | $2,800–4,000 loaded | Best for complex intake and VIP relationships. One person, business hours, sick days, turnover. |
The metering trap
Human services advertise the base plan: $245 a month. The base plan includes about 50 minutes. An average small business with 200 calls a month at 4 minutes each uses 800 minutes — 750 of them billed at $1–2 per minute. That's how "$245 a month" becomes $900–1,800. Rule of thumb: price every option at your call volume, never the teaser tier. Ours is metered too — the difference is we publish the meter.
When the human wins
Honestly: emotionally loaded intake — a family calling about care for a parent, a client mid-crisis — complex consultations, and VIP accounts where the relationship is the product. A vendor who tells you AI wins every call is selling. Ours escalates exactly those calls to you, and the diagnostic will tell you if your call mix means you shouldn't buy this at all. And on the question every owner asks — do callers hate it? They hate not being answered. The comparison isn't AI versus your best receptionist on her best day; it's AI versus voicemail at 7pm, where 85% of missed callers never call back.
What GRIFFAIN charges
What GRIFFAIN charges
from +$300/moThe Front Desk, added to a plan: 500 minutes included; $500/mo covers 1,200 and $800/mo covers 3,000. Overage $0.45/min — published, like everything else here.
$5,000 install + $3,500/moThe Growth Engine: the Front Desk plus every other system — lead response, ads, local SEO, your site. Annual prepay: 12 for the price of 10.
The guarantee, in writing: every call answered, or the month is free.
Questions owners actually ask
Does it sound human?
It sounds like a competent assistant — clear, fast, unhurried. It doesn't pretend to be a person. Hear it on the live demo.
What about emergencies?
Urgency escalates — the system rings you directly with who's calling and why, and bridges the call live. Rules set in your intake, not improvised.
Can I keep my existing number?
Yes — forwarding or porting, your call. The number stays yours either way; that's in the contract.
What happens when it can't answer a question?
It says so, takes the detail, and hands off. It never invents an answer about your pricing or your schedule.
More cost guides: speed to lead · AI marketing · websites.
Find the leak in your business — free
The 2-minute diagnostic: five questions, an instant read on the one bottleneck capping your business, and which system clears it. No sales pitch inside — it is the same routing we use on real engagements.
Run the Free Diagnostic Free · 2 minutes · instant result