Is AI phone answering cheaper than a human receptionist?

For after-hours and overflow cover, AI is usually far cheaper than hiring weekend staff or a virtual receptionist on per-minute rates — especially when you only pay for answered conversations.

What hidden costs should I watch for?

Compare AI minutes, carrier minutes, number rental, and setup fees. SecraAI publishes plan inclusions and overage on the pricing page so busy months stay predictable.

How much does AI call handling cost in the UK?

Q: How much does AI call handling cost in the UK?

Most UK providers charge a monthly platform fee plus usage for AI conversation minutes and phone minutes. SecraAI Solo starts at £49/month with included minutes and published overage rates.

Short answer

In the UK, AI call handling typically costs a monthly platform fee plus usage for AI conversation minutes and carrier (phone) minutes. Entry plans for small operators often start around the cost of a few hours of human reception per month — with twenty-four-hour availability included.

SecraAI plans start at £49/month for Solo, £99 for Starter, and £299 for Pro, with included AI minutes and transparent overage rates. Enterprise is custom.

What you are paying for

Break the bill into three parts so comparisons are fair:

Platform fee — dashboard, knowledge base, numbers, transcripts, monitoring
AI minutes — time the voice model is in conversation
Phone minutes — telephony carriage to and from the caller

SecraAI plan framing

Solo (£49) suits owner-operators with light volume. Starter (£99) fits growing teams that need more included minutes and room to scale. Pro (£299) is for higher-volume operators who want lower per-minute overage and fuller operational capacity. See the live pricing page for current inclusions and overage rates.

Usage beyond the included pool is metered — quiet months stay closer to the base fee; busy campaign months scale with actual answered conversations.

Compare against human alternatives

A part-time receptionist or answering service can exceed AI platform cost quickly once you add evenings and weekends. Call centres usually require minimums that only make sense at higher volume.

Always compare total monthly cost at your real call pattern — including the revenue you currently lose to missed calls.

How to keep costs predictable

Forward unanswered or after-hours calls first. Tighten knowledge so conversations resolve faster. Review transcripts for loops or unclear policies that inflate minute usage. Set internal expectations so staff do not leave the AI on for calls that should transfer immediately to a human.

Where to see current prices

Pricing can change as inclusions evolve. Check SecraAI’s pricing page for the latest Solo, Starter, Pro, and Enterprise details before you decide, and start with the 30-day pilot so your bill reflects your actual call mix — not a generic average.