There are four ways to handle a phone that rings when you can't answer it. Each has a real price, and the prices are further apart than most owners expect. This post uses published prices and government wage data, all checked on 30 September 2026, and shows the arithmetic so you can redo it.
Voicemail: $0, and what that costs
Voicemail comes with most phone plans, so its price is effectively zero. Its cost is the jobs a caller takes elsewhere, which the missed call cost post helps you estimate.
Hiring a receptionist
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the median receptionist wage at $18.27 an hour, or $38,010 a year (May 2025 data). Employers also pay 6.2% for Social Security and 1.45% for Medicare, according to the IRS, which is 7.65% together.
- $38,010 a year, plus 7.65% ($2,908), is about $40,918 a year, or $3,410 a month.
- That is before benefits, insurance, equipment, training and paid time off.
- It buys about 40 of the 168 hours in a week. Covering every hour with people takes at least four, so roughly $13,600 a month at the same wage.
A receptionist also does what software can't: greeting people at the door, handling paperwork and payments, knowing your regulars. If you have a front desk, that is worth paying for.
A human answering service
- Ruby's published plans: $250 a month for 50 minutes, $395 for 100, $720 for 200 and $1,725 for 500. That is between $3.45 and $5.00 a minute.
- Smith.ai's live receptionist plans: $300 a month for 30 calls, $810 for 90 and $2,100 for 300, with overage of $8.50 to $11.50 a call. That is between $7.00 and $10.00 per included call.
You are paying for a live person on your calls, 24/7. That is a real advantage, priced like one.
Automated answering
- Rosie: $49 a month for 250 minutes, $149 for 1,000, $299 for 2,000, with a 7-day free trial.
- Goodcall: $79, $129 or $249 a month per agent, with unlimited minutes and 100, 250 or 500 unique customers, then $0.50 for each one over.
- Smith.ai's automated plans: free for 25 calls a month, Pro from $150 for 75 calls, Enterprise from $500.
- Wenly: Solo $29 for 150 minutes, Starter $99 for 500, Done-for-you $249 for 1,200, Pro $449 for 2,500.
Wenly Solo starts below Rosie and Goodcall's paid entry plans. Compare included minutes and customer limits on the comparison pages, not just the monthly price. Human-reviewed leads are included in Wenly Done-for-you, Pro and Founding, not Solo or Starter. Provider pricing was rechecked on 5 October 2026; the wage and tax sources above were checked on 30 September 2026.
All of it in one table
| Option | Published monthly cost | Hours covered | Who answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voicemail | $0 | Every hour, but nobody answers | A recording |
| One receptionist | About $3,410 before benefits | About 40 of 168 | A person |
| Human answering service | Ruby $250 to $1,725. Smith.ai live $300 to $2,100 | 24/7 | A person |
| Automated, low cost | Rosie $49 to $299. Goodcall $79 to $249. Smith.ai from $0 | 24/7 | Software |
| Wenly | $29 to $449 | 24/7 | Software; human-reviewed leads on Done-for-you, Pro and Founding |
Which one fits
- Few calls, none urgent: voicemail is fine.
- A front desk and walk-ins: keep the receptionist, and consider automated cover for the hours they're off.
- A live voice matters more than price: a human answering service.
- Every call answered at a price a small business can carry, and you don't need a person on the line: an automated service. Choose on price alone with Rosie or Goodcall. Choose Wenly if you want the person checking each lead, the trade rules and the guarantee.
If you want to see the arithmetic for your own business, the calculator is one click away. And if you'd like to hear it, call the demo.