How Much Does an AI Receptionist or Website Chatbot Cost in 2026?
A breakdown of what AI receptionists and website chatbots actually cost in 2026 - fixed monthly tiers, per-resolution billing, and credit-based plans compared, with real numbers.
The honest answer is "it depends on the pricing model," which isn't satisfying but is the whole point of this guide - the sticker price on a chatbot's homepage rarely tells you what you'll actually pay once real traffic hits it.
Quick Answer
AI receptionists and website chatbots in 2026 typically cost $30-$300+ per month depending on the pricing model. Fixed-tier plans like Dapto Frontdesk start at $39/month for 300 conversations and scale to $249/month for 3,000. Credit-based plans like Chatbase start free with 50 credits and scale to $15,000+ credits on paid tiers. Per-resolution plans like Intercom Fin charge roughly $0.99 per resolved conversation on top of a base fee, so total cost depends entirely on volume.
Pricing models, side by side
| Model | How it works | Typical starting cost | What drives the bill up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed monthly tiers | Set number of conversations included per tier | $39-$249/month (Dapto Frontdesk) | Exceeding your tier's conversation limit |
| Credit-based | Each AI response consumes message credits | Free-$500+/month depending on volume | Running out of credits mid-month |
| Per-resolution | Charged per completed AI outcome | Base fee + ~$0.99/resolution | Conversation volume, directly |
| Custom/enterprise | Quoted after a sales conversation | Not published | Contract terms, seats, features |
What actually drives the real cost
The headline price rarely matters as much as three questions:
- What counts as billable? A message, a conversation, a resolution, and a credit are four different units, and vendors don't always define them the same way.
- What happens when you exceed the plan? Some tools stop responding, some auto-recharge, some charge overages immediately.
- Are the features you need included, or add-ons? CRM integration, calendar booking, and human handoff are sometimes bundled, sometimes priced separately.
A worked example
A local service business gets 1,500 website visitors a month, and roughly 5% start a conversation - about 75 conversations. On a fixed-tier plan like Dapto Frontdesk's Starter ($39/month, 300 conversations included), that volume comfortably fits inside the plan with room to grow. On a per-resolution model at roughly $1/resolution, that same 75 conversations could cost somewhere in the $75+/month range on top of any base fee - and rise directly if a campaign doubles traffic.
FAQ
What's the cheapest way to add an AI chatbot to my website?
For low, predictable volume, a credit-based free tier (like Chatbase's free plan) can work. For growing traffic where you want the bill to stay flat as visitors increase, a fixed-tier plan avoids the risk of usage-based costs climbing with success.
Do AI receptionist costs include appointment booking and lead qualification?
It varies by vendor. Dapto Frontdesk includes lead qualification and appointment booking starting on its lowest tier; always confirm what's bundled versus an add-on before comparing sticker prices.
See exact 2026 pricing
Dapto Frontdesk pricing breaks down all four tiers, or read the full fixed vs. per-conversation pricing guide for a deeper dive into which model fits your traffic pattern.
See how this applies in practice with Dapto Workbench - an AI work platform for reports, documents, data checks, and other repeatable business work.
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