Mojo Labs Blog
How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost? (2026 Guide)
August 15, 2026 · 6 min read
A clear breakdown of monthly plans, included minutes, setup fees, and how an AI receptionist compares with the cost of a full-time hire.
The short answer
Most AI receptionist services charge a monthly subscription based on included call minutes, plus a one-time setup fee for configuration. At Mojo Labs, plans start at $100 per month and a complete setup is a one-time $499.
Because you pay a predictable subscription instead of a salary, benefits, and payroll taxes, an AI receptionist can cost a fraction of an in-house front-desk role while offering 24/7 coverage.
What drives the price
Plan price usually scales with call volume. A plan with more included minutes costs more per month but keeps your overage rate lower for busy teams.
Setup covers the work that makes the service useful: connecting your number, configuring your greeting and voice, loading your business hours, services, pricing guidance, and FAQs, building call flows and routing rules, setting up scheduling, preparing follow-up texts, and testing before launch.
Mojo Labs plans
Basic is $100 per month with 100 included minutes. Plus is $150 per month with 200 included minutes and adds appointment scheduling plus texting. Pro is $300 per month with 500 included minutes for higher call volume.
Additional usage is $0.47 per minute. The normal one-time setup fee is $499, and from time to time Mojo Labs runs a free-setup offer for customers who start by a set date and commit for three months.
AI receptionist vs. a full-time hire
For context, a $50,000 annual salary represents roughly 97.6% more than the annual cost of the Basic plan before setup. This is a cost comparison, not a claim that software and an employee perform identical roles — but for answering calls around the clock and capturing leads, the gap is significant.
The right choice depends on your call volume, your coverage needs, and how much routine phone work your team handles today. If your calls cluster in business hours but overflow in the evening, a receptionist that answers 24/7 can close a real gap without a second shift.