AI Receptionist Cost in the UK: Every Serious Option, Priced
In the UK, automated and virtual reception services range from £9 per user per month for bare VoIP keypad trees to £600+ per month for human answering services with strict minute caps. The true cost of reception software lies in whether it can actually qualify client projects and book consultations into your calendar, or merely takes a name and number for you to ring back. The Veltris AI Receptionist is priced transparently: £700 custom setup and £150 a month as an all in retainer covering all usage, changes, hosting, and support, backed by a 14 day trial.
How much does an AI receptionist cost in the UK?
An AI receptionist in the UK typically costs between £50 and £300 per month depending on call volume and features, with custom engineered systems like the Veltris AI Receptionist costing £700 for complete custom setup and £150 a month as an all in retainer.
The market is divided into three distinct categories: basic keypad automated attendants (which route calls to extensions), remote human call answering services (which bill on per minute rates), and conversational AI receptionists (which engage prospects in natural dialogue, qualify their budget, and schedule appointments directly into your calendar).
Every Serious UK Reception Option Compared
| Provider | Setup Fee | Monthly Retainer / Cost | Calendar Booking | Hidden Overages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RingCentral | £0 | From £20 to £35 / user / mo | Third party add ons required | Additional license for each team member |
| Smith.ai | $0 | From $255 to $600+ / mo | Basic calendar booking with per appointment fees | Steep per minute overage charges after quota |
| Jobber | £0 | From £39 to £200+ / mo | Static form booking only | Higher tiers required for route optimization |
| BT Smart Voice | £0 | From ~£25 to £45 / user / mo | No conversational diary integration | Hardware handset leases and user licenses |
| bOnline | £0 | From £9 to £18 / user / mo | None (call forwarding only) | Call minute bundles and setup add ons |
| CallEez / Generic Phone Bot | £100 to £250 | £69 to £149 / mo | Basic webhooks | Telephony minute fees and speech synthesis usage |
| Veltris AI Receptionist | £700 one time | £150 / mo flat all in retainer | Two way live Google & Outlook calendar sync | None. All changes, usage, hosting, and support included |
Prices checked October 2026, sources: vendor official pricing pages.
What are the hidden costs of virtual and automated receptionists?
The most common hidden costs of virtual and automated receptionists are per minute overage fees, per user seat charges, calendar integration add ons, and emergency out of hours surcharges that substantially inflate headline monthly prices.
Per Minute Overage Traps
Many human answering bureaus advertise plans for £150 a month that only include 50 to 100 minutes. When busy periods hit, every additional minute is billed at £1.50 to £2.50, causing surprise monthly bills.
Per User Licensing Penalties
VoIP providers advertise £15 per month, but require every employee, surveyor, or coordinator to have a full user license, multiplying your true cost as your firm expands.
Is an AI receptionist worth the cost for a UK small business?
An AI receptionist is worth the cost because 78% of buyers choose the first responder, and leads are 21x more likely to qualify when contacted within 5 minutes.
For businesses delivering five figure projects, such as home extensions or luxury wedding planning, the math is straightforward. If an AI receptionist prevents even one high value enquiry from contacting your competitor while you are on site or in a client meeting, the system pays for its entire annual cost in a single afternoon.
How the Veltris AI Receptionist is priced
We reject hidden minute limits and confusing tiered pricing. The Veltris AI Receptionist is provided as a complete bespoke implementation designed specifically for your industry.
£700
Covers custom knowledge base engineering, brand voice calibration, qualification rule programming, and calendar synchronisation.
£150 / month
All in cover: ongoing prompt tweaks and changes, API and usage costs, maintenance, hosting, monitoring, and direct support. No surprise bills.
Every AI Receptionist installation includes a full 14 day trial.
Test the conversational AI in real time
Experience how the system captures project details, filters budgets, and books appointments live in your browser.