TL;DR — Key Numbers
- Four main pricing models: per-minute, per-call, flat monthly subscription, per-seat.
- AI receptionists answer 24/7, handle simultaneous calls, and support multiple languages with no overtime cost.
- For Mihron AI's Maya pricing: Starter $299 CAD/month, Growth $499 CAD/month, Enterprise custom
AI voice receptionists have moved from novelty to standard operating infrastructure for Canadian dental offices, medical clinics, law firms, home-services companies, and real estate brokerages. Buyers researching them quickly run into one practical question: what will this actually cost?
This guide breaks down how AI receptionist pricing works, what drives costs up or down, and what to look for when comparing vendors in the Canadian market.
How Much Does an AI Receptionist Cost in Canada?
What Are the Main Pricing Models for AI Receptionists?
Per-Minute
Pay for actual AI talk time. Good for unpredictable or low call volumes. Costs can spike in busy periods.
Per-Call
Flat fee per handled call regardless of length. Easy to forecast when average call length is consistent.
Flat Monthly
Unlimited or capped calls for a set monthly fee. Best for predictable, moderate-to-high volume businesses.
Per-Seat / Location
Priced per business location or user account. Common for franchises and multi-location health practices.
Which model is best for a small Canadian business?
For most dental offices, law firms, and home-services businesses with moderate call volumes (50–300 calls/month), a flat monthly subscription offers the most predictable cost and the easiest budget justification. Per-minute pricing can be cost-effective at very low volumes but carries the risk of unexpected bills during busy periods (e.g., after a marketing campaign or during peak season).
How Does an AI Receptionist Compare in Cost to a Traditional Answering Service?
Common surcharges to watch for with traditional answering services:
- After-hours and weekend premiums
- Holiday surcharges
- Per-message delivery fees (email, SMS, pager)
- Setup and monthly access fees on top of per-minute billing
- Minimum monthly spend requirements
None of these apply to a well-structured AI receptionist plan. The AI handles a 2:00 am call on Christmas Day for the same cost as a Monday afternoon call.
What Factors Drive the Cost of an AI Receptionist?
- Call volume: On usage-based plans, more calls mean higher monthly costs. On flat-rate plans, overage charges may apply above a threshold.
- Call complexity: An agent that simply takes a message costs less to run than one that performs multi-step appointment triage, checks calendar availability in real time, or handles nuanced legal intake questions.
- Languages: Bilingual English and French support is essential for Canadian businesses; some vendors include it as standard while others charge extra.
- Integrations: Connecting to calendar software, practice management systems (Dentrix, Jane, Clio, etc.), or CRM platforms typically adds to the setup or monthly cost.
- Number of locations: Multi-location businesses usually pay per-seat or per-location fees.
- Onboarding and custom voice: Some vendors charge a one-time setup fee; others include it. Custom branded voice personas may cost extra.
What Should I Look for Beyond Price When Comparing AI Receptionist Vendors in Canada?
A checklist for Canadian buyers:
- Ask each vendor where every provider in its call path processes and stores data, which copies exist, what retention applies to each, and what contractual and operational evidence supports those answers.
- Is call data stored in Canada, or in the US/EU?
- Does the AI speak Canadian French fluently for your bilingual patient or client base?
- Does the AI integrate with your scheduling software (e.g., Jane App, Dentrix, Clio, Google Calendar)?
- Does the vendor have references or case studies from businesses in your vertical in Canada?
- What happens when a caller has a complex question the AI cannot handle — is there a warm transfer option?
- Is there a trial period?
How Much Does Mihron AI's Maya Cost?
Mihron AI is a Canadian company building Maya specifically for the Canadian SMB market. Its positioning focuses on bilingual English and French capability and vertical-specific knowledge for regulated industries.
Get current pricing and see if Maya is the right fit for your business.
Get Pricing from Mihron AI →Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main pricing models for AI receptionists?
There are four main models: (1) Per-minute — you pay for each minute of AI talk time; good for unpredictable or low call volumes. (2) Per-call — a flat fee per handled call; easy to budget when average call length is consistent. (3) Flat monthly subscription — unlimited or capped calls for a fixed monthly fee; best for predictable, moderate-to-high volumes. (4) Per-seat — priced per business location or user; common for multi-location franchises.
What factors affect how much an AI receptionist costs?
Key cost drivers include: call volume (more calls = higher usage costs on variable plans); call complexity (simple booking vs. multi-step triage); number of languages supported; integrations required (calendar, CRM, practice management software); number of business locations; and whether the vendor charges for onboarding, custom voice, or ongoing configuration.
How does an AI receptionist compare in cost to a traditional answering service in Canada?
AI receptionists generally cost less per minute, operate 24/7 without overtime charges, handle simultaneous calls without wait times, and do not charge extra for after-hours or weekend coverage — all of which are common surcharges with human answering services.
How much does Mihron AI's Maya cost?
Mihron AI's Maya starts at $299 CAD/month for the Starter plan, with a Growth plan at $499 CAD/month and custom Enterprise pricing. Pricing is structured to serve small-to-medium Canadian businesses, with plans available for dental offices, medical practices, law firms, home services, and real estate businesses across Ontario and Canada.