Estimate what an AI receptionist costs versus a human one. Enter your call volume, average call minutes and human wage, and the calculator shows monthly cost for each option plus the break-even point. Off-the-shelf AI receptionists run about $25 to $800 a month; Paloren custom voice agent projects start from $25k, typically up to $60k, indicative until scoped.
Enter your own figures below. The results table and chart update as you type. The default scenario is pre-loaded so you can see the method before you change anything.
Put a number on the missed calls.
Default setup and fees illustrate an off-the-shelf platform, not a Paloren custom build. Paloren voice agent projects range from USD 25k to 60k.
| Result | Value |
|---|
Every output comes from the formulas below. Nothing is drawn from a survey, a client result or a third-party benchmark. The figures are model estimates based on the inputs you supply.
| Output | Formula | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Human hours | calls x minutes / 60 | Total staff hours needed without automation. |
| Human monthly cost | human hours x loaded hourly cost | Full cost of covering the same call volume manually. |
| AI monthly cost | setup/12 + monthly fee + (human hours x (1-share) x loaded hourly cost) | Setup amortised over 12 months plus subscription plus residual human handling. |
| Net monthly saving | human monthly cost - AI monthly cost | Positive saving means the AI route is cheaper in this model. |
A clinic takes 700 inbound calls a month at 3.8 minutes each. At a $26 loaded hourly cost, human cover costs $1,152.67 a month. With 60% handled by an AI voice agent, $2,500 setup and $350 monthly fee, the AI route costs $1,019.40 a month, giving a $133.27 monthly saving.
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| calls | 700 |
| minutes | 3.8 |
| wage | 26 |
| share | 60 |
| setup | 2,500 |
| monthly | 350 |
This model is deliberately narrow. It values time and direct cost only. It does not price quality improvement, customer satisfaction, risk reduction or revenue lift, because those need evidence from your own operation.
Adoption is the most common source of error. A system that works in a pilot rarely hits its full share on day one. For planning, assume a ramp and test the conservative case.
The model also ignores integration difficulty. Two systems with the same name can differ enormously in effort. List each integration and its owner before you commit budget.
Finally, the figures are not a quote. They are a planning tool. Use them to frame a conversation, then get a scoped proposal based on your actual systems and workflows.
It compares the full human cost of covering a call volume with the combined cost of an AI voice agent and residual human handling.
This is fairer than comparing a wage against a subscription, because an AI system rarely handles 100% of calls. Someone still handles complex or sensitive conversations.
Handling share depends on call type, script quality and escalation design. Routine bookings and FAQs often automate well; complex cases need a human.
A sensible planning range is 40% to 70% for mixed call traffic. Use the lower end if most calls involve judgment, account changes or upset callers.
Spreading setup over a year makes the monthly comparison fair, because a one-off build cost would otherwise distort a single month.
If you expect the system to run for several years, amortising over a longer period is reasonable. For conservative budgeting, keep the 12-month view.
No. The model compares cost only. It does not price the risk of a poor caller experience.
Before deciding, test the voice agent on real calls, measure transfer rates and caller satisfaction, and keep a clear human escalation path.
A human is better when calls need empathy, complex judgment, account authority or a personal relationship the business depends on.
Cost is not the only criterion. If most calls are high value or sensitive, the model will show a small saving, and that is the correct signal to investigate rather than to automate aggressively.
Paloren provides AI implementation and training. This calculator uses illustrative inputs and the formulas shown here, not client results or a service quotation. Explore Paloren services.
Off-the-shelf AI receptionists typically cost between about $25 and $800 per month depending on plan structure, based on published vendor pricing pages reviewed in 2026. Per-minute plans start near $49 a month; hybrid plans with human backup run higher.
Paloren custom voice agent projects start from $25k, typically up to $60k, indicative until scoped.
It takes your call volume, average call minutes, human wage and the share of calls an AI could handle, then computes monthly cost for each option. Setup is amortized over 12 months. Every output comes from the formulas shown on the page.
The break-even point is the call volume or AI handling share at which the AI option costs the same as the human option. The calculator shows it as an output row so you can see how far your current volume sits from it.
Realistic handling shares sit well below 100% because some calls need judgment, verification or a human handover. The calculator defaults to a conservative share and you can adjust it; Paloren tests builds against 5 to 10 real-world exceptions before handover.
When call volume is low, most calls need judgment or empathy, or nobody on your team will own the system after launch. An unowned AI pilot is a toy. The calculator shows the cost case; the ownership question is a decision, not a formula.
Talk through the result with Paloren. Bring the workflow, the assumptions and the questions this opened up.
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A number is a starting position. The next step is a decision you can defend.
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