Is an AI receptionist worth it?
An AI receptionist is worth it when you're losing calls and the cost of a missed call exceeds the monthly plan fee. Research shows 62% of business calls go unanswered, and the average service business loses about $1,200 per month to missed calls. If a single new customer is worth more than $50 to $150, an AI receptionist that answers every call pays for itself inside the first month. AI receptionists answer 24/7, don't take breaks, handle Spanish and English fluently, and cost under $50/mo on entry plans. The fit is weaker if your call volume is below 5 to 10 per month, or if every call genuinely requires a human with deep domain knowledge, like complex legal intake. top AI receptionist services compared. See if Aira fits your call volume.
Related questions
- How much does an AI receptionist cost?AI receptionists range from $24.95 to $300+/mo. Per-call pricing is predictable; per-minute pricing can spike. See full 2026 pricing breakdown.
- What does an AI receptionist do?An AI receptionist answers calls, books appointments, takes messages, routes callers, and handles 30+ languages — 24/7. Here's the full capability list.
- Can I use AI to answer calls?Yes — inbound AI call answering is legal across the US with no disclosure requirement. Setup takes under 15 minutes. Here's what's allowed and how to start.