How much does an AI phone answering service cost in 2026?
A plain breakdown of AI phone answering costs — platform fees, per-minute voice, carrier rates and hidden extras — with worked examples at 100, 500 and 2,000 minutes a month.
The three parts of the price
Almost every AI phone answering service is priced from the same building blocks. Comparing quotes is much easier once you separate them.
- Platform fee — a monthly subscription or seat
- Voice minutes — the AI speech and language processing, per minute
- Telephony — your carrier’s number rental and per-minute call rates
Worked examples with ResolveX
ResolveX voice minutes include the speech and language models. Packs are prepaid and never expire; calls round up to the next minute; your carrier bills its own rates.
- 100 minutes a month: one 100-minute pack ($22) + one $15 seat = $37
- 500 minutes a month: one 500-minute pack ($99) + one $15 seat = $114
- 2,000 minutes a month: one 2,000-minute pack ($380) + one $15 seat = $395
How to estimate your minutes
Multiply monthly calls by average call length. Check your carrier’s call logs for both numbers; most short enquiry calls last two to four minutes. Add a 20% buffer for the first month while you tune the agent.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest AI phone answering service?
Compare the all-in per-minute price at your volume, including models and any platform fee. ResolveX starts at $0.19 per minute on the 2,000-minute pack, with models included.
Are there per-call fees?
ResolveX bills voice by the minute from your prepaid balance, rounded up per call. There are no extra per-call fees from ResolveX; your carrier bills its own rates.