AI replies vs hiring a receptionist: what each costs and does
If customer messages are piling up, you have two obvious choices: hire someone to answer them, or let an AI agent do it. They are good at different things, and the right answer for most businesses is a mix. Here is a plain comparison.
What a receptionist does best
- Answers the phone and greets people who walk in.
- Handles upset customers, complaints and refunds with judgement and care.
- Notices when something is unusual and acts on it.
- Knows your regulars and your team.
What an AI agent does best
- Replies to chats on WhatsApp, Instagram, LinkedIn, Messenger, X and email the moment they arrive, including at night and at weekends.
- Answers the questions that repeat all day: prices, opening hours, stock, delivery and how to book.
- Handles many conversations at once, so nobody waits in a queue.
- Passes anything it should not handle to a person.
An AI agent answers chats only. It does not take phone calls or greet visitors, so it replaces the part of the job that is typing the same answers again and again.
What each costs
A receptionist is paid for every hour they cover, whether messages come in or not, and covering evenings and weekends means paying for those hours too. Add holidays, sick days and training.
With Spaces, the AI side has two parts. The Spaces plan connects your accounts: Starter is $19 a month for one account, and Pro is $49 a month for the first account and $29 a month for each extra one. The pricing page shows what each plan includes. Your AI model, such as Claude or ChatGPT, is a separate subscription that you choose. A card starts a 14-day trial.
How most businesses combine them
Let the agent answer routine questions and take bookings around the clock, and keep a person for complaints, refunds and anything sensitive. Your team then spends its time on the conversations that need a human, and customers get a quick answer either way. Our article on handing a chat to a person shows how to set up that split.
Pricing
FAQ
Can an AI agent replace a receptionist completely?
For chat questions it can do most of the routine work. A person is still the better choice for phone calls, visitors, complaints and anything that needs judgement.
What does the AI side cost each month?
The Spaces plan starts at $19 a month for one account. Your AI model, such as Claude or ChatGPT, is billed separately by its provider.
Will the AI work outside office hours?
Yes. It replies as soon as a message arrives, inside the limits Spaces keeps on every account. You can also set working hours if you prefer nothing to go out at night.