AI receptionist pricing

How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?

Most Australian AI receptionists charge a monthly fee that includes a set number of minutes or calls, plus a per-minute rate after that and sometimes a setup fee. On 28 October 2026, published starting prices for AI plans that answer calls ran from about $20 to $149 a month. Vereo costs $79+GST a month with 100 minutes included.

Last reviewed: 28 October 2026. Written by Andy Barker, Director of the company that runs Vereo. Vereo sells an AI receptionist; other providers' prices link to their own pages.

What do AI receptionists cost per month in Australia?

Published starting prices for AI plans that answer calls ranged from about $20 to $149 a month on 28 October 2026. The table shows three common entry plans, from $44+GST (billed annually) to A$99. Plans differ in what the fee includes: some count minutes, some offer unlimited minutes, and setup fees range from nil to a few hundred dollars.

Published entry plans, as at 28 October 2026
Provider and plan	Type	Monthly price	Included usage	Setup fee
Johnni AI (Pay As You Go)	AI	$44+GST a month, billed annually	60 minutes, then $0.50 a minute	None listed
Vereo (Starter)	AI	$79+GST a month, month to month	100 inbound minutes, then $0.35+GST a minute	$295+GST for most setups
Hey Jodie (Basic)	AI	A$99 a month, excluding tax	Unlimited minutes	None listed
Virtual HQ (Message Express)	Live	$25+GST a month	Pay as you go at $2.50 a call	None listed
Virtual HQ (Virtual Receptionist 20)	Live	$80+GST a month	20 calls, then $3.99 a call	None listed

Prices from each provider's public pricing page on the date shown. Entry plans only; higher tiers cost more and include more. Live answering services are included for comparison. Confirm current terms with each provider.

What drives the cost of an AI receptionist?

Five things set your bill: how many minutes or calls you use, the overage rate once the allowance runs out, any one-off setup fee, how complex your integrations are, and outbound calls. Your phone provider may also charge for forwarding calls to the service, which sits outside the AI provider's price.

Minutes or calls. Per-minute plans charge for talk time, so long calls cost more. Per-call plans charge the same for a 30-second call as a 10-minute one. Unlimited plans cost the same whatever you use.
Overage. The rate once your allowance runs out. At Vereo it's $0.35+GST/min.
Setup. Vereo charges $295+GST for most setups. Johnni AI and Hey Jodie list no setup fee on their entry plans.
Integrations. Vereo's plan includes calendar booking and CRM integration. More complicated integrations are quoted separately during initial scoping, so ask any provider what its price covers.
Outbound calls and transfers. Vereo bills outbound calls, including transfers to your team, at $0.15+GST/min plus carrier termination.
Forwarding charges. A forwarded call can be a second chargeable call on your phone plan. See the call forwarding guide.

How many calls do 100 minutes cover?

At a three-minute average call, 100 minutes covers about 33 calls a month. Vereo includes 100 inbound minutes for $79+GST a month; beyond that each extra three-minute call costs $1.05+GST. Your average may be shorter or longer, so check your phone records before you choose a plan.

Vereo Starter plan cost by monthly call volume, ex GST
Calls a month	Minutes used	Extra minutes	Monthly cost	Cost per call
20 calls	60 minutes	None	$79+GST	$3.95
33 calls	99 minutes	None	$79+GST	$2.39
50 calls	150 minutes	50 minutes	$96.50+GST	$1.93
100 calls	300 minutes	200 minutes	$149+GST	$1.49
150 calls	450 minutes	350 minutes	$201.50+GST	$1.34
250 calls	750 minutes	650 minutes	$306.50+GST	$1.23

Assumes a 3-minute average call, the same assumption as the missed-call calculator. Excludes the setup fee, outbound calls, forwarding charges and separately quoted integrations.

Is an AI receptionist cheaper than hiring a receptionist?

For answering calls, yes. SEEK put the average Australian receptionist salary at $60,000 to $70,000 a year in October 2026, or roughly $67,200 to $78,400 with 12% super. Vereo's first year at 100 minutes a month, including setup, costs $1,243+GST. A receptionist also does work AI can't.

Annual cost comparison
Option	Annual cost	What it covers
Full-time receptionist	$67,200 to $78,400 (SEEK average salary plus 12% super)	Business hours, one call at a time, plus walk-ins, admin and in-person service
Vereo, 100 minutes a month	$1,243+GST in the first year, including setup	24/7, up to 20 calls at once, phone only
Vereo, 300 minutes a month	$2,083+GST in the first year, including setup	24/7, up to 20 calls at once, phone only

Salary range from SEEK, based on advertised full-time salaries; SEEK notes that some advertised salaries already include super. Super at 12% per the ATO. Excludes leave cover, payroll tax and workers' compensation.

Most businesses don't choose one or the other. They keep their front-desk team and use an AI receptionist for overflow, lunch breaks and after hours. For the side-by-side, see AI receptionist vs human receptionist.

Which pricing model suits your business?

Per-minute plans suit businesses with short calls. Per-call plans suit businesses with long calls and low volume. Unlimited plans suit high, steady volume, but check them for fair-use limits. Work out your monthly calls and average call length first, then price each model against those two numbers.

Monthly fee plus minutes (Vereo, Johnni AI): predictable at low volume, and you pay more as calls grow.
Monthly fee plus calls (most live answering services): every call costs the same, so a busy month costs more.
Flat with unlimited minutes (Hey Jodie): the bill doesn't move with volume. Read the terms for limits.

For a phone answering comparison across AI and live services, see phone answering service Australia.

What does Vereo cost?

Vereo's Starter plan is $79+GST a month and includes 100 inbound minutes, 24/7/365 answering with up to 20 calls at once, calendar booking, warm transfer and call summaries. Extra inbound minutes are $0.35+GST/min, and most setups have a $295+GST one-off setup fee. It's month to month, with no lock-in.

Put your own numbers into the missed-call calculator to see your likely monthly cost, or see the full plan on the pricing page.

See pricing Try the calculator

Frequently asked questions

How much does an AI receptionist cost per month in Australia?

On 28 October 2026, published starting prices for AI plans that answer calls included $44+GST a month (Johnni AI, billed annually), $79+GST a month (Vereo) and A$99 a month (Hey Jodie). What you pay depends on your minutes, any setup fee and overage rates.

Is there a setup fee?

It depends on the provider. Vereo charges a one-off $295+GST for most setups, covering configuration, voice tuning, call flows, the knowledge base, standard integrations and go-live testing. More complicated integrations are quoted separately during initial scoping.

What happens if I use more minutes than my plan includes?

Most per-minute plans bill extra minutes at a set rate. Vereo includes 100 inbound minutes and charges $0.35+GST/min after that. Outbound calls are billed separately at $0.15+GST/min plus carrier termination.

Do AI receptionist prices include GST?

Most Australian business pricing is quoted excluding GST, so add 10% for the GST-inclusive price. Vereo's prices are all ex GST. Check each provider's page, because some quote in another currency or add tax at checkout.

How much does a receptionist cost in Australia?

SEEK put the average Australian receptionist salary at $60,000 to $70,000 a year in October 2026. Add 12% superannuation and you get roughly $67,200 to $78,400, before leave cover, payroll tax and workers' compensation.

Are there costs beyond the monthly fee?

Check four: extra minutes or calls, a setup fee, outbound call charges, and what your phone provider charges to forward calls to the service. Some phone plans include forwarding and others charge for each forwarded call.

Sources

Third-party prices and salary figures were read on 28 October 2026 and may have changed since.