How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?
The short answer
In Australia, self-serve AI receptionist apps start at around A$100 a month, and managed services that are built and run for you usually cost A$300 to A$600 a month or more. A full-time human receptionist costs over A$50,000 a year before super. What you should pay depends on your call volume, what the AI needs to do, and whether you want to set it up yourself or have it done for you.
Market ranges from published Australian price lists, checked September 2026. Prices change often; check the provider before you buy.
What the market charges
Three pricing models are common:
Self-serve apps, about A$100–A$150 a month. You set up the scripts, the phone number and the calendar yourself. Good for simple call answering and message taking.
Managed services, about A$300–A$600+ a month. A provider builds the AI, connects it to your calendar and customer system, and keeps it working. Some charge a one-off setup fee.
Per-minute or per-call pricing. You pay for what you use, often on top of a monthly fee. It looks cheap until a busy month.
What drives the price
Call volume. More calls means more minutes and more work for the system.
What the AI has to do. Taking a message is simpler than qualifying a lead, quoting, and booking straight into your calendar.
Connections. Linking to your calendar, customer records and follow-up texts takes setup time.
Who runs it. A self-serve app needs your time every week. A managed service includes someone watching the calls and improving the script.
Hidden extras. Setup fees, per-minute overages and phone number charges are the costs people most often miss.
AI receptionist vs a human receptionist vs an answering service
| OPTION | TYPICAL COST | COVERS |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time receptionist | From about A$53,300 a year at the award minimum, about A$59,700 with super, before leave and on-costs | Office hours |
| Typical receptionist salaries | About A$41,000–A$70,000 a year | Office hours |
| Live answering service | Several hundred to a few thousand dollars a month, depending on call volume | Business hours or 24/7, message taking |
| AI receptionist | About A$100–A$600+ a month | 24/7, every call answered at once |
Full-time receptionist
- TYPICAL COST
- From about A$53,300 a year at the award minimum, about A$59,700 with super, before leave and on-costs
- COVERS
- Office hours
Typical receptionist salaries
- TYPICAL COST
- About A$41,000–A$70,000 a year
- COVERS
- Office hours
Live answering service
- TYPICAL COST
- Several hundred to a few thousand dollars a month, depending on call volume
- COVERS
- Business hours or 24/7, message taking
AI receptionist
- TYPICAL COST
- About A$100–A$600+ a month
- COVERS
- 24/7, every call answered at once
Award minimum: Fair Work Ombudsman, Clerks – Private Sector Award, Level 1 Year 1, A$26.97 an hour from 1 July 2026 (38-hour week). Salary ranges: PayScale and Hays Australia, 2026.
An AI receptionist doesn't replace a great front-desk person who knows your customers. It covers the calls nobody is free to answer: after hours, during jobs, at lunch and on busy Mondays. For most small businesses that's where the lost work is.
What we charge
We're not the cheapest option, and we don't try to be. System Pros AI builds and runs the whole system for you: an AI receptionist that answers every call, books into your calendar, follows up by text and hands hot leads to you straight away. Managed plans start from US$997 a month, and the scope and price are fixed in writing after a free consultation. See the plans and what they include.
If you only need calls answered and messages taken, a self-serve app may be all you need, and we'll tell you so on the call.
Is an AI receptionist worth it?
Work it out from one number: what a missed call costs you. If a new customer is worth A$500 and you miss five calls a week that would have turned into two jobs, that's A$1,000 a week walking to a competitor. An AI receptionist that catches even some of those usually pays for itself quickly. If you rarely miss calls, it may not be worth it yet.
FAQs
COST · FIELD NOTES
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?
Self-serve apps start at around A$100 a month. Managed services that are built and run for you usually cost A$300 to A$600 a month or more, sometimes with a setup fee. System Pros AI's managed plans start from US$997 a month.
Are AI receptionists worth it?
They're worth it when missed calls are costing you work. If a single new customer is worth hundreds of dollars and calls go unanswered during jobs or after hours, an AI receptionist usually pays for itself. If you rarely miss calls, it may not be.
Can an AI receptionist replace a human receptionist?
For answering, booking and taking messages, often yes, and it works 24/7. For relationships, complex complaints and in-person work, a person is still better. Many businesses use AI for overflow and after-hours calls.
Is there a free AI receptionist?
Some apps have free trials or very limited free plans. For a business number that customers rely on, expect to pay a monthly fee.
Do AI receptionists charge per minute?
Some do, usually on top of a monthly fee. Check what happens in a busy month before you sign up. Our plans are a fixed monthly price agreed up front.
Which AI receptionist is best in Australia?
The best one is the one that fits how your business takes bookings. Look for local phone numbers, an Australian accent option, calendar booking, text follow-up, and a clear monthly price with no surprise overages.
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