PRICE GUIDE · UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2026
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?
An AI receptionist in Australia usually costs between about $99 and $500 a month for a small business, plus any setup fee and per-minute charges above your plan. A full-time human receptionist typically costs $4,500 to $6,100 a month including super. Spark is $99 a month, and that's a whole AI employee, not just the phone.
What are the price ranges for an AI receptionist in Australia?
We checked what Australian providers and independent guides publish, and what it costs to have a person answer your phone instead. Prices are monthly, in Australian dollars, and were checked in September 2026. Always confirm current prices with the provider.
| Option | Typical monthly cost | What you get | Hours covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small business AI receptionist plans | About $99 to $499 | AI call answering, message taking and booking, depending on plan | 24/7 |
| Enterprise AI receptionist plans | From about $1,299, plus setup from about $990 | Custom call flows, higher volumes, integrations | 24/7 |
| Human call answering service (entry plans) | From about $25 to $49, ex GST | A person takes messages, often capped by number of calls | Business hours, extended on some plans |
| Full-time receptionist | About $4,500 to $6,100 including 12% super | A person on site with judgement and local knowledge | About 38 hours a week |
| Spark AI employee | $99, plus call and SMS credits | The phone plus your whole front office: follow-up, bookings, marketing, invoices | Day and night |
Why is Spark's $99 more than an AI receptionist?
Most AI receptionist plans price the phone. Spark's $99 a month is for a whole AI employee, and answering the phone is just one of its jobs. For the same price, Spark also:
- Writes personal emails from your own address and reads every reply.
- Books jobs into your real calendar, checking travel distance.
- Keeps your customer list up to date and groups it, for example past customers and people waiting on a callback.
- Writes and sends email and SMS campaigns written per person, and creates social posts with images.
- Connects to your accounting to raise invoices, draft quotes and chase unpaid ones.
You tell it what a good week looks like, and it works on whatever will move that number. See everything Spark does.
How do Spark's call and SMS credits work?
Spark keeps pricing simple, and tells you before anything changes:
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Monthly price | $99 a month per AI employee |
| Free trial | 7 days |
| Setup fee | None |
| Lock-in | None. Cancel in the app any time |
| Emails | Nothing extra |
| Calls and SMS | Come out of a small top-up credit balance |
| Low balance | Spark warns you before it runs low |
| Spending money | Always waits for your approval, and that can't be switched off |
Credits only cover calls and SMS. Anything that spends your money directly, like buying a phone number or sending an invoice, waits for you.
What hidden costs should you check before you sign up?
The monthly price is the headline. These are the lines that change what you actually pay, with any provider:
- Setup or onboarding fees. Some providers charge hundreds of dollars before the first call.
- Per-minute or per-call charges. Many plans include a fixed number of minutes, then charge for each extra minute.
- SMS and phone number fees. Text confirmations and a dedicated number are sometimes billed separately.
- Integrations. Connecting to your CRM or calendar can sit on a higher tier.
- Contract length. Check for minimum terms and cancellation fees.
- GST. Some prices are quoted excluding GST. Compare like with like.
- Currency. Tools billed in US dollars change price with the exchange rate.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a human receptionist?
On raw cost, yes, by a wide margin. Seek puts average receptionist salaries between $48,446 (hospitality) and $61,239 (government and defence) depending on industry, and $65,000 in Brisbane. PayScale reports a median of $25.11 an hour. Add the 12% super guarantee and you're at roughly $4,500 to $6,100 a month before other on-costs.
But a good receptionist reads a room, calms an upset client and greets people at the door. AI is better at answering at 2am, never forgetting to log the details and doing the follow-up afterwards. Many businesses use both. Our AI employee vs hiring comparison covers the trade-offs honestly.
How do you work out if it pays for itself?
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Count missed calls and enquiries nobody followed up in a normal week |
| 2 | Estimate how many would have become paying work, conservatively |
| 3 | Multiply by your average job or client value |
| 4 | Compare that monthly figure with the cost |
Frequently asked questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Australia?
Most small business AI receptionist plans in Australia cost between about $99 and $500 a month. Enterprise plans can start above $1,200 a month, and some providers add a setup fee and per-minute charges once you pass your plan's limit.
How much does Spark cost?
$99 a month per AI employee, with 7 days free, no setup fee and no lock-in. Answering the phone is one of Spark's jobs, not the whole product. Emails cost nothing extra. Calls and SMS come out of a small top-up credit balance, and Spark warns you before it runs low.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than hiring a receptionist?
On direct cost, yes. A full-time receptionist in Australia is typically paid around $48,000 to $65,000 a year before 12% super, roughly $4,500 to $6,100 a month. Most AI receptionist plans cost a fraction of that, though a person still does some things AI can't.
What hidden costs should I look for?
Check for setup or onboarding fees, per-minute or per-call charges above your plan, separate SMS costs, phone number fees, paid integrations, minimum contract terms, and whether the price includes GST.
Is an AI receptionist cheaper than a call answering service?
Not always. Human answering services can start from around $25 to $50 a month, but those entry plans usually take messages only, often for a capped number of calls. An AI receptionist can book the job, not just take a message.
How do I work out if it will pay for itself?
Count the calls and enquiries you miss or never follow up in a normal week, estimate how many would have become paying work, and multiply by your average job value. If one or two extra jobs a month cover the cost, it pays for itself.
GOLD COAST & BRISBANE · AUSTRALIA-WIDE