How much does an AI receptionist cost in the UK?
The price depends on the channel, included usage and the work the assistant performs. Compare a phone answering plan with other phone plans, then compare website chat separately. A low monthly fee means little until you know what happens when the allowance runs out.
At our 29 October 2026 check, While You Work's pricing page listed Starter at £39 plus VAT monthly (£46.80 including VAT), with 50 calls of up to ten minutes each. Extra calls were 60p plus VAT each. Its annual payment was £390 plus VAT. These are published supplier terms, not a market average or a Buzzozo quote.
Prime Assist's pricing page listed a starting bundle of 500 minutes at £125 plus VAT (£150 including VAT) per month, with a 12-month commitment. Extra minutes cost 30p plus VAT (36p including VAT). It advertised the first three months free for qualifying new customers, with usage beyond the allowance still chargeable. Get the exact bundle and promotion in writing.
These examples use different units. Fifty calls and 500 minutes cannot be compared without knowing call length. Neither headline tells you which service is right for your business. Read the current supplier page before buying because prices, eligibility and included functions can change.
Are calls or minutes better for your budget?
Use your own recent call pattern to compare them. Count the calls you want answered and their duration. A per-call bundle can suit longer conversations, while a minute bundle depends on how long callers stay on the line. Check minimum billing units and any maximum call length.
For a worked example using the Starter terms quoted above, suppose you receive 70 eligible calls in a month. Twenty exceed the 50-call allowance. At 60p plus VAT each, they add £12 before VAT, making the monthly total £51 before VAT or £61.20 including VAT. This is illustrative arithmetic, not measured customer spending.
For a minute plan, make the same calculation from actual talk time. Include time spent taking a message and checking a diary. Ask whether transfers continue to consume minutes and whether calls that end without a useful message still count. Keep a busy-month estimate alongside your normal-month estimate so a seasonal rush does not surprise you.
What should you check beyond the monthly price?
Check what the assistant actually completes, who handles exceptions and how the bill changes with usage. Taking a message is a different task from confirming an appointment inside your booking system. Ask to see your own enquiry handled from start to finish before choosing a plan.
- Usage: identify the billing unit, allowance, extra usage rate and any spending control.
- Setup: ask who writes the approved answers and checks service areas, opening hours and escalation rules.
- Bookings: check whether it confirms availability or simply sends a booking link.
- Handover: test what happens when the assistant cannot answer or the receiving person is unavailable.
- Phone costs: ask your existing provider about call diversion charges as well as the receptionist supplier's bill.
- Terms: read the billing period, minimum commitment and what happens when an introductory offer ends.
VAT also changes the amount you pay. The government's VAT rates page lists the standard rate as 20%. Keep prices before and including VAT in separate columns when comparing quotes. Ask the supplier to confirm its tax treatment rather than assuming a price displayed with a pound sign includes it.
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How is a website assistant different from a phone receptionist?
A website assistant answers typed questions from people visiting your site. A phone receptionist answers callers on a telephone number. They reach people at different moments and need different setup. A website chat assistant will not answer a ringing phone unless a separate phone service has been arranged.
If visitors repeatedly ask whether you cover their postcode or provide a particular service, website chat can help them decide whether to enquire. It can collect the details needed for a reply from approved information. If the problem is unanswered telephone calls while you work, assess a phone answering service against that problem.
Buzzozo's website AI chat assistants are relevant to the website conversation. This guide does not offer a Buzzozo phone receptionist or imply that a website plan includes telephone answering. Check the current plans and pricing for the website offer, then ask how the assistant would handle your actual questions.
Will an assistant stop enquiries getting lost?
Only if someone owns the follow-up. An assistant can collect a message, but your business still needs a reliable way to see it, respond and record the next action. Test that complete route rather than judging the chat window or recorded voice alone.
A tradesperson might need a postcode, job description and safe callback time. A salon may need the requested treatment and preferred appointment day. Those are example requirements, not customer results. Keep the first conversation short and ask only for details you need. Make it easy to request help from a person.
Our customer relationship management (CRM) service helps keep enquiries and their next actions together. It earns its place when the team can see who is replying and what remains to do. It does not remove the need for a responsible person.
How can you test the right service before committing?
Write down real customer questions and try normal enquiries as well as awkward ones. Check an unknown price, an unavailable appointment and a request outside your service area. The assistant should recognise its limits and offer a useful next step without inventing an answer.
For phone answering, test the supplier's demo and request a cost estimate based on your own calls. For website enquiries, assess the page explanation and contact route too: an assistant cannot answer accurately from unclear business information. Keep a record of unanswered questions so you know which information needs improving.
If your priority is a better website enquiry route, try Buzzozo's free 14-day website trial, no card needed. Your website is free for 14 days so you can try the service information and enquiry journey before deciding. Ask which assistant functions and usage limits apply to the proposed plan.
Common questions
What affects AI receptionist cost?
The channel, included calls or minutes, extra usage, setup and booking functions affect the cost. Compare the same billing period and check whether VAT is included before choosing.
Are website chat and phone answering the same service?
No. Website chat handles typed enquiries on a website. Phone answering handles callers on a telephone number. Check which channel and functions your proposed plan includes.
Should I compare calls or minutes?
Use your actual call count and duration. Check what counts as a billable call or minute, any maximum call length, and the rate after the included allowance.
Does Buzzozo offer a phone receptionist in this guide?
This guide explains Buzzozo website chat assistants. It does not offer Buzzozo telephone answering. Check the current website plans and ask about the functions and usage limits you need.
Can I test a Buzzozo website before paying?
Yes. The website trial is free for 14 days, no card needed. Try your business information and enquiry route before deciding, and confirm which assistant functions apply to your proposed plan.