TL;DR
AI receptionist services in Australia range from **$300-$500 per month** for most small to medium businesses, with some pay-as-you-go options starting at 27.5¢ per minute. Setup fees vary from $0 to $1,000, depending on customization needs. Most Australian businesses save 90-92% ($67,000-$85,000 annually) compared to hiring a human receptionist, with ROI achieved in under 3 months.
Australian businesses are rapidly adopting AI receptionist services to handle customer calls 24/7, reduce overhead costs, and never miss a lead. But with pricing ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars monthly, understanding the true cost and ROI is crucial before making a decision. This comprehensive guide breaks down exactly what you'll pay for AI receptionist services in Australia in 2025, compares all major providers, reveals hidden costs, and shows you how to calculate your potential savings.
What Does an AI Receptionist Cost in Australia?
Key Takeaways
- **Monthly Cost Range:** $300-$500/month for most providers
- **Setup Fees:** $0-$1,000 (often discounted)
- **ROI Timeline:** 2-3 months for most businesses
- **Annual Savings vs Human:** $67,000-$85,000 per year
- **Pay-As-You-Go Option:** Siptalk at 27.5¢/minute
- **Best Value:** Depends on call volume and features needed
AI Receptionist Pricing Comparison (Australia 2025)
Here's a detailed comparison of the most popular AI receptionist providers in Australia:
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Setup Fee | Billing Model | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophiie AI | $300/month | $800 ($400 with discount) | Flat monthly | Trades & small business | 10,000 simultaneous calls, Australian accent, 24/7 |
| LANA Software | $300/month | $1,000 training fee | Flat monthly | Tradies & field services | Custom scripts, booking integration, CRM sync |
| Siptalk | 27.5¢/minute | $0 | Pay-as-you-go | Variable call volume | Multilingual, no contracts, VoIP integration |
| TMC | $500/month | Contact for quote | Flat monthly | Enterprise & 24/7 coverage | Professional service, high call volume |
| BE Elva | Custom pricing | Contact for quote | Flexible | AI-powered platform | Agentic AI, full communications platform, advanced integrations |
| Lyngo AI | Custom pricing | Contact for quote | Subscription | Healthcare only | HIPAA-like compliance, practice management integration |
Pricing Notes:
- All prices exclude GST (add 10% for final cost)
- Setup fees often have promotional discounts
- Enterprise pricing available for all providers with 1,000+ minutes/month
- Pay-as-you-go options better for businesses with <500 minutes/month
AI vs Human Receptionist: The Real Numbers
Let's compare the true cost of an AI receptionist versus hiring a human in Australia:
Human Receptionist (Full-Time, Annual)
- Annual Salary: $55,000-$65,000
- Superannuation (11%): $6,050-$7,150
- Payroll Tax: $1,500-$2,000
- Annual/Sick Leave: $4,200-$5,000
- Recruitment Costs: $3,000-$5,000
- Training & Onboarding: $2,000-$3,000
- Workspace & Equipment: $2,000-$3,000
Total: $73,750-$92,150 per year
AI Receptionist (24/7 Coverage, Annual)
- Monthly Subscription: $300-$500
- Annual Cost: $3,600-$6,000
- Setup Fee (one-time): $400-$1,000
- Integration Costs: $0-$500
- Annual Support: Included
First Year: $4,000-$7,500
Subsequent Years: $3,600-$6,600
The Savings
- First Year Savings: $66,250-$84,650
- Annual Savings (Year 2+): $67,150-$85,550
- Savings Percentage: 90-92%
- Break-even: Less than 1 month
- 12-month ROI: 1,347%
- 3-year ROI: Over $200,000 in savings
Pricing by Business Size & Call Volume
Different business sizes have different needs. Here's what you should expect to pay:
Sole Trader / Micro Business (1-5 employees)
Call Volume: 100-300 minutes/month
Best Option: Siptalk pay-as-you-go
Monthly Cost: $27-$83 + GST
Annual Cost: ~$300-$1,000
Why: Low call volume makes pay-per-minute pricing most cost-effective. No sense paying $300/month for 100 minutes of calls.
Small Business (5-20 employees)
Call Volume: 500-2,000 minutes/month
Best Option: Sophiie AI or LANA Software
Monthly Cost: $300 + GST ($330)
Annual Cost: ~$4,400 (first year) | $3,960 (subsequent)
Why: Predictable flat-rate pricing. Better features than pay-as-you-go. Good ROI at this volume.
Medium Business (20-100 employees)
Call Volume: 2,000-5,000 minutes/month
Best Option: TMC or BE Elva
Monthly Cost: $500-$800 + GST
Annual Cost: ~$6,600-$10,560
Why: Higher call volume needs enterprise features like advanced routing, analytics, and multi-departmental handling.
Enterprise (100+ employees)
Call Volume: 5,000+ minutes/month
Best Option: BE Elva or custom enterprise solution
Monthly Cost: Custom quote (typically $1,000-$3,000)
Annual Cost: $12,000-$36,000
Why: Complex needs require agentic AI, deep integrations, compliance features, and dedicated support.
Why Choose BE Elva for Your Business?
BE Elva by Binary Elements offers more than just AI reception—it's a complete agentic AI platform designed for Australian businesses.
- Agentic AI that actually thinks: Unlike basic chatbots that follow scripts, BE Elva uses genuine AI reasoning to handle complex customer interactions
- Built for Australian businesses: Local support team in Melbourne, optimized for NBN, Australian accent and business hours
- Complete communications platform: Combines voice, messaging, and internet connectivity in one integrated system
- Scales with your business: Starts small and grows to enterprise-level as your team expands from 5 to 500+ staff
- Your data stays in Australia: Full compliance with Australian data sovereignty requirements and enterprise-grade security
- Connects with tools you already use: Integrates directly with Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, and other major business platforms
Every business is different. Get a personalized quote based on your call volume, required integrations, team size, and specific industry needs.
Get Custom BE Elva Pricing
Talk to our AI specialists about your specific needs
Schedule Free ConsultationCall: 03 9020 7900 | 1300 834 077
Melbourne Office: 826 Lorimer St, Port Melbourne VIC 3207
What Should You Actually Pay?
After analyzing all major AI receptionist providers in Australia, here's our recommendation:
For Most Small Businesses
Budget: $300-$400/month (inc GST)
Provider: Sophiie AI or LANA Software
Why: Best balance of cost, features, and reliability
Expected ROI: $67,000+ in year 1 vs hiring a human receptionist
For Variable Call Volume
Budget: $150-$300/month (varies with usage)
Provider: Siptalk pay-as-you-go
Why: Only pay for what you use, no lock-in contracts
Watch: Upgrade to flat-rate if volume consistently exceeds 1,000 minutes
For Enterprise & Complex Needs
Budget: $500-$1,500/month (custom quote)
Provider: BE Elva or TMC
Why: Advanced agentic AI, deep integrations, scalability
Benefit: Full communications platform beyond just reception
Next Steps
- Calculate your current call volume (check phone bill/system)
- List must-have features (booking? CRM? Multi-location?)
- Request demos from 2-3 providers matching your needs
- Test with real calls during trial periods
- Negotiate setup fee discounts (often available)
Last Updated: December 5, 2025 | Author: Binary Elements Research Team | Melbourne, Australia
*Pricing and features subject to change. All prices exclude GST unless noted. Contact providers directly for current pricing and promotions.*
