Per-Minute vs. Per-Call Pricing: Which AI Receptionist Model Saves You More?
Most AI receptionists charge by the minute. Some charge per call. The difference sounds small, but it can save — or cost — you thousands per year.
How Per-Minute Pricing Works
You pay for every minute the AI is on a call. Example: $0.10-$0.25 per minute. Sounds cheap — until you realize a dental appointment booking averages 4-6 minutes, and a legal intake can run 5-8 minutes.
100 calls × 5 minutes = 500 minutes × $0.15/min = $75/month. Not bad. But add a base fee ($50-$100) and overages, and it's $125-$200/month.
Risk: If calls run long (complex questions, detailed intake), your bill spikes.
How Per-Call Pricing Works
You pay a flat rate per call, regardless of duration. A 1-minute call costs the same as a 15-minute call. Typical: $1-$3 per call or a flat monthly fee for X calls included.
100 calls at $1.50/call = $150/month. Predictable. No surprises.
The Breakeven Point
At 2 minutes/call: per-minute is cheaper.
At 4+ minutes/call: per-call wins — and the gap grows with every minute.
Industries with longer calls benefit most from per-call pricing:
• Dental: 4-6 min (insurance Qs, appointment details)
• Legal: 5-8 min (case description, intake)
• Home services: 3-5 min (problem description, address, urgency)
If your average call exceeds 3 minutes, per-call pricing will almost always save you money.
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