Deskie AI Reception
Reception service costs in Australia
Reception services use four main cost models. An in-house receptionist is an employee cost. Outsourced live answering commonly charges by time, call or message. A virtual receptionist often combines a monthly retainer with usage. An AI receptionist usually includes a set number of calls or minutes each month. All prices and booking values on this page are in AUD.
Last updated 16 July 2026
Hear Deskie answer a real call. Call 0485 017 007 for a 30-second live demo, or ask Deskie to call you. No email, signup or credit card.
Call 0485 017 007Prefer Deskie to call you? Enter your mobile and Deskie rings you back.
No credit card. No sales pitch.
By participating you confirm this is your number and consent to Deskie AI receptionist service demonstration and communications.
If you don't answer customer calls, your competitors will.
What missed calls actually cost
Miss 5 calls a week. Win 1 in 3 of them. Average booking $450. That is around $3,200 a month going to someone else.
What Deskie costs per unit
Limited time: $99/month (normally $149/month). $99/month for your first 12 months while your subscription remains active, then it reverts to the regular price. Deskie Core includes 60 answered calls. At $99/month, that is $3.26 a day, or $1.65 per answered call. At the current regular price of $149/month, that is $4.90 a day and $2.48 per answered call.
How do reception service charging models differ?
An in-house receptionist is paid for rostered time whether the phone is busy or quiet, with employment costs and leave cover considered separately. Live answering services may charge by call duration, each call answered, each message sent, or a bundled plan. Virtual receptionist services can combine a base retainer with per-call or per-minute usage. AI receptionist plans commonly include a set number of calls or minutes, then use top-ups or overage charges.
Answered calls versus minutes, messages and per-call fees
Included answered calls count each genuine completed call, not how long it runs. Included minutes are consumed for as long as conversations run. Per-message pricing can add a charge when a summary or message is delivered, while per-call pricing may charge for every answered interaction regardless of length. Ask how spam, wrong numbers, short hang-ups, transfers and repeat calls are treated before comparing included usage. With Deskie, they never count and any dud is credited back.
What does Deskie Core include?
Limited time: $99/month (normally $149/month). $99/month for your first 12 months while your subscription remains active, then it reverts to the regular price. Deskie Core includes 60 answered calls and answers missed or forwarded calls 24/7, captures caller and enquiry details, sends the owner an SMS summary, sends the caller a confirmation SMS, and can book appointments or transfer calls when those capabilities are configured. There is no setup fee, no lock-in contract, and top-ups are available when more calls are needed. Deskie never hides that it is AI. See the canonical Deskie pricing details.
Which reception option suits which business?
An in-house receptionist can suit a larger team with steady front-desk work beyond the phone. Live answering can suit a business that wants human operators for defined call scripts. A virtual receptionist can suit a team that wants remote administrative support as well as call handling. An AI receptionist can suit a plumber, electrician, cleaner, landscaper, roofer, HVAC business, locksmith, removalist or mechanic that needs calls answered consistently without adding a rostered employee. If missed calls are the main problem, first compare a free missed-call auto-reply SMS with an AI receptionist.If you need a human on every call, a receptionist on your desk or a full answering team is the right spend, and the per-call maths above shows what that costs. But if the real problem is the calls you miss while working, Deskie is the stronger choice for an Australian small business: you only ever pay for genuine enquiries. Limited time: $99/month (normally $149/month). $99/month for your first 12 months while your subscription remains active, then it reverts to the regular price. Every missed call becomes an SMS with the caller's details instead of a lost booking.Compare AI reception with a human answering service, or review the complete AI receptionist under $100 offer.
What should an Australian small business check before choosing?
Check the charging unit, included calls or minutes, opening hours, overage rules, setup fee, contract terms, number handling, summary format, spam policy, booking capability and transfer rules. Then compare those details with your real call pattern. A quiet business with long calls may value minutes differently from a busy service business with many short enquiries.
Reception service cost models compared
| Option | Price and coverage |
|---|---|
| Voicemail | Free. Does not answer, does not capture, does not screen. |
| Missed-call auto-reply SMS | Free. Does not answer. Asks the caller to type out what they need themselves. |
| Deskie AI receptionist | Limited time: $99/month (normally $149/month). Includes 60 answered calls, no setup fee and no lock-in contract. |
| Human answering service | Typically $200 to $500 a month, message-taking only, operator does not know the business. |
| Part-time receptionist | Employment cost, superannuation, leave, and they still go home at 5pm. |
Some AI receptionists in this market sit around $400 a month. Deskie Core: Limited time: $99/month (normally $149/month). $99/month for your first 12 months while your subscription remains active, then it reverts to the regular price.
The detailed table below compares how the options are structured and what each model includes.
| Feature | In-house receptionist | Outsourced live answering | Virtual receptionist | AI receptionist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical charging model | Employee wage plus employment costs | Monthly plan plus per-minute, per-call or per-message usage | Retainer, hourly block or usage-based plan | Monthly plan with included calls or minutes |
| Coverage | Rostered working hours | Provider hours or paid extended cover | Agreed remote service hours | Often 24/7, depending on provider |
| Calls answered or voicemail | Answered while the employee is available | Answered within the service scope | Answered within the service scope | Answered within configured forwarding rules |
| Message capture | Entered into the business's process | Message or call note | Message plus agreed admin follow-up | Structured summary or transcript, depending on provider |
| Appointment booking | Yes, using business systems | Sometimes, often plan-dependent | Often available as an agreed task | Available when supported and configured |
| After-hours availability | Requires a roster or another service | Available from some providers, sometimes at extra cost | Depends on the agreed service | Often included as 24/7 coverage |
| Likely additional charges | Super, leave, payroll and cover | Overages, transfers, messages, holidays or setup | Extra hours, tasks, systems or after-hours work | Overages, top-ups, integrations or premium features |
Don't take our word for it. Call and hear Deskie now: 0485 017 007.
FAQ
How much does a reception service cost in Australia?
There is no single reception service price. The cost depends on whether you employ someone, use live operators, hire a remote virtual receptionist, or use AI. Compare the charging unit, included usage, coverage and extra fees before comparing headline prices.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
AI receptionist pricing can be measured by calls, minutes or a monthly subscription. Deskie Core's current standard price is $149/month and includes 60 answered calls. Limited time: $99/month (normally $149/month). $99/month for your first 12 months while your subscription remains active, then it reverts to the regular price.
What is included in Deskie Core?
Deskie Core includes 60 answered calls per month. Limited time: $99/month (normally $149/month). $99/month for your first 12 months while your subscription remains active, then it reverts to the regular price. It includes AI call answering, configured caller questions, owner SMS summaries and caller confirmation SMS messages. Appointment booking and call transfer can be added when configured.
Are included answered calls the same as included minutes?
No. Included answered calls count each genuine completed call, not how long it runs. With Deskie, a call only counts when there is a real enquiry: a name, a number, and what the caller wants. Spam, hang-ups, wrong numbers and time-wasters never count, and any dud that slips through is credited back.
Is a live answering service better than an AI receptionist?
It depends on the business. Live operators may suit businesses that specifically want human handling. AI receptionists can suit Australian small businesses that want consistent 24/7 answering, structured summaries and predictable setup without adding a staff roster.
Can reception services book appointments?
Some can. An in-house receptionist can use the business's booking system, and some live, virtual and AI services support appointment booking. Confirm the supported calendar, rules and approval process before relying on it. Deskie can book appointments when configured.
Hear Deskie answer a real call. Call 0485 017 007 for a 30-second live demo, or ask Deskie to call you. No email, signup or credit card.
Call 0485 017 007Prefer Deskie to call you? Enter your mobile and Deskie rings you back.
No credit card. No sales pitch.
By participating you confirm this is your number and consent to Deskie AI receptionist service demonstration and communications.
If you don't answer customer calls, your competitors will.