2025 Ultimate Guide

AI Receptionist vs Human: The Real Comparison

Should you hire a receptionist or use AI? We break down costs, capabilities, and when each option makes sense for home service contractors.

Save $50,000+ Per Year

A full-time receptionist costs $54,000-91,000/year when you add salary, benefits, training, and after-hours coverage. CallsOrbit AI costs $1,188/year for 24/7 coverage.

Side-by-Side Comparison

See how AI and human receptionists stack up

Capability
AI Receptionist
Human Receptionist
Available 24/7/365
Never Calls in Sick
Handles Multiple Calls Simultaneously
Consistent Quality Every Call
No Training Required
Instant Emergency Detection
Remembers Every Customer Detail
Works Holidays & Weekends
Extra Cost
Complex Problem Solving
Good
Monthly Cost
$99/mo
$2,500-4,000/mo
Annual Cost
$1,188
$30,000-48,000

Where AI Wins

AI excels at consistency, availability, and scale

True 24/7 Coverage

AI never sleeps. Every call at 2 AM on Christmas gets answered professionally - no overtime, no complaints.

Instant Response

AI picks up in under 1 second. No hold times, no "please wait" - customers connect immediately.

Perfect Consistency

Every call handled the same way. No bad days, no mood swings, no rushing to leave on Friday at 5 PM.

Unlimited Scalability

AI handles 1 call or 100 calls simultaneously. Storm season? No problem. No hiring needed.

Where Humans Still Win

To be fair, humans have advantages in some areas

Complex Problem Solving

Humans excel at handling unusual situations that require creative thinking and empathy.

Relationship Building

Some customers prefer talking to a person, especially for major decisions or complaints.

The Best Solution: Many contractors use AI for first-line call handling and route complex situations to humans. This gives you 24/7 coverage at a fraction of the cost while keeping humans available for situations that truly need them.

The True Cost of a Receptionist

Salary is just the beginning - here's the full picture

Cost Item
Human
CallsOrbit AI
Annual Salary
$35,000-50,000
$0
Benefits (Healthcare, PTO)
$8,000-15,000
$0
Training & Onboarding
$2,000-5,000
$0
Software & Equipment
$1,500-3,000
Included
After-Hours Coverage
$5,000-10,000
Included
Sick Days & Turnover
$3,000-8,000
$0
Total Annual Cost
$54,500-91,000
$1,188

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$2M+

Revenue Recovered

50,000+

Calls Answered

99.9%

Uptime Guaranteed

<30s

Lead Alert Speed