What Does an AI Receptionist Cost a Small Business in India? (2026 Guide)
A plain cost guide: what you pay for an AI that answers chats and calls, what is billed separately, and how it compares with hiring someone for the front desk.
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"How much does an AI receptionist cost?" is the first question most owners ask, and the honest answer is: it depends on how many channels you need and how many calls it takes. This guide breaks the cost into its parts so you can work out your own number.
The four parts of the cost
1. The monthly plan
This covers the AI that answers chats on WhatsApp, Instagram, your website and email, plus the inbox your team uses. For small businesses in India this usually ranges from a few thousand rupees a month to ₹20,000 or more for many channels and team members.
On Ora, plans start at ₹4,999 a month (website, WhatsApp and email), or you can build your own bundle and pay only for the modules you use.
2. Call minutes
If the AI answers or makes phone calls, there is a per-minute cost. Some providers include the phone line in one price; others charge the AI and the line separately.
On Ora, AI talk time is prepaid in packs, from ₹2.99 a minute (100 minutes) down to ₹2.25 a minute (2,000 minutes). The phone line itself (Plivo or Twilio) is billed by that provider.
3. WhatsApp message fees
Meta charges for some WhatsApp conversations, such as marketing messages. Check whether your provider adds a markup on Meta's fees. Ora does not: Meta bills you directly.
4. Your time to set it up
Plan for an afternoon to connect your channels and add your website, price list and FAQs. Tools that make you build chatbot flows step by step take longer.
A simple example
A salon that wants WhatsApp, Instagram and website chat answered, and around 300 minutes of calls a month:
- Plan with the channels it needs: about ₹5,000 to ₹8,000 a month
- 300 call minutes: about ₹800
- WhatsApp fees from Meta: depends on how many marketing messages it sends
So roughly ₹6,000 to ₹9,000 a month before GST.
Compared with a front-desk hire
A front-desk person in an Indian city typically costs ₹15,000 to ₹25,000 a month, works set hours and can only handle one call at a time. An AI receptionist does not replace a good person at the desk, but it covers nights, weekends, rush hours and the same ten questions everyone asks, so your staff spend their time on the customers in front of them.
Questions to ask any provider
- What is included in the monthly price, and what is extra?
- Is the phone line billed separately?
- Do you add a markup on WhatsApp fees?
- What happens when the AI gets something wrong? Can I review and fix it?
- Can my team take over a chat or a live call?
See your own number
Pick the modules you need on prophecius.in/build and the price updates as you go. Every account starts on the Free plan, no card needed.