Retell currently lists pay-as-you-go AI Voice Agents at $0.07–$0.31 per minute. Its estimator breaks the rate into voice infrastructure, model, text-to-speech, telephony and optional add-ons.
Official Retell pricing ↗AI Receptionist Pricing Models: Compare the Real Billing Unit
Understand what actually drives the monthly bill before comparing AI receptionist quotes or headline prices.
Reviewed by AI Receptionist Calculator · Last reviewed September 17, 2026 · Editorial policy · Methodology
The billing unit matters more than the headline price
AI receptionist offers can be billed by connected minute, call, unique customer, monthly platform tier or a combination of those units. The correct comparison is the expected all-in monthly cost for your own call pattern, not the smallest number shown on a pricing page.
| Pricing model | What usually drives the bill | What to normalize |
|---|---|---|
| Per minute | Connected voice minutes and sometimes transfers/add-ons | Average call length, transfer time, telephony and model/voice add-ons |
| Per call | Number of handled real calls | Included calls, overage price, spam treatment and what counts as a billable call |
| Per unique customer | Distinct customers served in a billing period | Included customers, overage rate and how repeat callers are counted |
| Base fee + usage | Monthly platform fee plus a usage unit | Both fixed and variable cost at your expected volume |
Current public examples
Prices below were checked on September 17, 2026. They are examples of billing structures, not endorsements. Verify the provider’s current page before buying.
Bland currently lists Start at $0.14/minute with no platform fee and Build at $0.12/minute plus a $299/month platform fee. Transfer-minute rates are listed separately.
Official Bland pricing ↗Goodcall currently lists monthly agent plans with allowances based on unique monthly customers; the public page lists $0.50 per additional customer after the plan allowance.
Official Goodcall pricing ↗Smith.ai currently publishes AI receptionist plans based on included real calls and per-call pricing, including a free tier with 25 real calls per month.
Official Smith.ai AI pricing ↗A five-step way to normalize any quote
- Estimate monthly calls and average connected minutes.
- Separate fixed platform fees from variable usage.
- Add transfers, telephony, premium voice/model, knowledge-base or integration charges when they apply.
- Model both a normal month and a high-volume month.
- Compare the all-in monthly figure with your current direct front-desk cost and the workflow you actually need covered.