How much does an AI receptionist cost in Canada?
From $49 to over $800 CAD a month — a 16× spread. This guide compares every public price in the Canadian and US market, explains the four billing models, and tells you what justifies the gaps (or doesn't). Yes, Nova is in there — in the same column as everyone else.
The short answer
The market ranges in 2026
The comparison
Every public price, side by side
Prices collected from official sites on July 10, 2026. 'n.p.' = not published. USD amounts shown as-is — figure ≈ +38% for CAD.
| Vendor | Listed price | Takes orders? | French? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nova (Nelvox — Moncton) | $199–599 CAD/mo | Yes — complete order + SMS | Native FR/EN |
| RoehAI (Canada) | from $49 CAD/mo | No — messages and FAQ | Yes (Quebec French) |
| Voxify (Montreal) | $300–500 CAD/mo | No — bookings and intake | Yes |
| Goodcall (US) | $79–249 USD/mo | No — generic self-serve agent | No |
| Newo.ai (US) | $0–299 USD/mo (per unit) | Reservations, no orders advertised | Not highlighted |
| Smith.ai (US) | n.p. — per-call billing | No — reception and transfer | No (EN + ES) |
| Slang.ai (US) | $399–599 USD/mo | No — reservations and questions | No (ES add-on) |
| Loman.ai (US) | n.p. (≈ $199–299 USD reported*) | Yes — orders + POS | Not highlighted |
| Sameday (US) | $449–789 USD/mo | Bookings (home services) | Enterprise only |
* Sources: each vendor's official pricing pages, July 10, 2026. 'Reported' amounts come from third-party comparisons (unconfirmed by the vendor). Spot an inaccuracy? Write us, we'll fix it.
Understand
The four billing models
Fixed monthly plan
Slang, Voxify, Sameday, Nova. One price, included minutes, a predictable budget — even in high season. The simplest model for an SMB.
Per minute
DIY platforms (Retell, Vapi, Synthflow). Cheap on paper, unpredictable in practice: your bill rises exactly when business is good.
Per call
Smith.ai. Their own argument against per-minute is fair — but at restaurant volume (hundreds of calls), per-call quickly becomes the most expensive model.
Per conversation unit
Newo (1 unit = a 30s-to-3min call). Clever — spam isn't billed — but you have to estimate your 'units' to forecast your bill.
What justifies the price gaps (or doesn't)
Three factors explain most of it: transactional depth (taking a message is cheap to operate; completing an order with SMS confirmation and a dashboard, much more), included human service (self-serve vs done-for-you configuration), and… brand (Slang's social proof is priced in). What does NOT justify a gap: hidden currency (a 'comparable' US price costs 38% more in CAD) and unpublished grids that force a sales call.
Our stated view: for a Canadian business whose calls are transactions, fair market price sits between $200 and $500 CAD/month. Nova sits deliberately at the floor of that range — $199 CAD — because we'd rather win on volume of happy restaurants than on a logo's margin.
What you're really buying
Not an answering machine: the complete loop
FAQ
Frequently asked pricing questions
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Canada in 2026?
Public prices range from $49 CAD/month (entry-level message takers) to over $800 CAD/month (US specialists converted to Canadian dollars). The transactional middle of the market — products that actually take orders and bookings — sits between $199 and $500 CAD/month.
What billing models exist?
Four models dominate: fixed monthly plans (Slang, Voxify, Nova — predictable), per-minute billing (DIY platforms like Retell or Vapi — unpredictable at volume), per-call (Smith.ai), and per conversation unit (Newo). For an SMB that wants a stable budget, a fixed plan with included minutes is the easiest to forecast.
Why don't some vendors publish their prices?
Classic sales strategy: force a sales call to qualify and negotiate (Loman, Numa, Smith.ai for its exact grid). Our position: a monthly SMB subscription should have a public price. All of Nova's are.
Is the cheapest enough for a restaurant?
It depends on what your calls are worth. A $49 product takes messages; if every call is a $35 order, what it doesn't capture costs you more than the price gap. We ran the detailed math on our 'Cheap AI Receptionist' page.
Where does Nova sit in this market?
$199 CAD/month (400 minutes) — below the transactional specialists' range ($250-500 and up), with complete order taking, SMS, real-time dashboard, native FR/EN bilingualism, done-for-you configuration and a 14-day guarantee. Public prices, in Canadian dollars.
In practice?
Test the only price that matters: yours
Call our demo at 506-712-0056, place an order, and judge whether $199 CAD/month is worth it. Live in 24h — 14-day money-back guarantee.
Related pages
Pages connexes
Pricing
Nova Pricing
$199, $349 or $599 CAD/month — minutes translated into calls, 14-day guarantee.
Math
Cheap AI Receptionist: the math
When $49 is enough, and when it costs more than $199.
Comparison
Slang.ai Alternative
The American leader compared point by point.
Comparison
Loman.ai Alternative
Our closest transactional rival, straight up.