PATLive is a US live answering service, and unlike several of its rivals it publishes a full price list. Plans run from $49 a month for pay-as-you-go up to thousands of minutes, and every plan includes 24/7 answering by real people and appointment scheduling. The list is easy to read. Working out which plan you’ll actually end up on takes a bit more thought.
Here are PATLive’s prices as listed on patlive.com on 22 October 2026, what they work out to per minute, what a contractor would really pay, and how PATLive compares with other live and AI services. We make Ansdale, an AI receptionist, so we’re a competitor for some PATLive customers. PATLive is a human service and Ansdale isn’t, and there are businesses where a human service is the right call.
How much does PATLive cost?
| Minutes included | Monthly price | Each extra minute | Works out per included minute |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay as you go (none) | $49 | $2.99 | n/a |
| 50 | $99 | $2.29 | $1.98 |
| 100 | $189 | $2.09 | $1.89 |
| 200 (most popular) | $349 | $1.99 | $1.75 |
| 300 | $479 | $1.89 | $1.60 |
| 500 | $759 | $1.79 | $1.52 |
| 1,000 | $1,499 | $1.69 | $1.50 |
Larger plans go up to 5,000 minutes for $6,899 with extra minutes at $1.49. PATLive’s prices are “plus government taxes and fees”, and it says there are no PATLive fees on top. Business texting is optional and carries a one-time $50 registration fee.
How does PATLive count minutes?
PATLive says you only pay for the time receptionists are live on your calls, and that after-call work isn’t charged. That’s a meaningful difference: some services count the receptionist’s note-taking after the caller hangs up, which quietly adds to every call. What the pricing page doesn’t state is how calls are rounded, so ask. A 70-second call billed to the full minute counts as two; billed to the second it counts as just over one.
What would a contractor actually pay?
Two examples, using an average of three minutes a call. Swap in your own numbers.
- A one-truck plumber with 40 calls a month: about 120 minutes. The 100-minute plan plus 20 extra minutes comes to roughly $231, cheaper than jumping to the 200-minute plan at $349. Pay-as-you-go would be about $408.
- A three-truck HVAC shop in July with 150 calls: about 450 minutes. The 500-minute plan at $759 just beats the 300-minute plan plus overage at about $763. In a mild month with half the calls, the same shop would be better off on the 200-minute plan, so expect to change plans with the seasons or accept paying for unused minutes.
PATLive has no contracts, which makes switching plans month to month realistic. It also offers a 14-day free trial on any plan, after which the plan carries on automatically, so put a reminder in your calendar if you’re only testing.
How does PATLive compare with other live answering services?
| Service | Entry plan | Around 200 minutes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PATLive | $99 for 50 minutes | $349 for 200 | After-call work not charged |
| Posh | $130 for 50 minutes | $420 for 200 | Minutes include scheduling and messages |
| Specialty Answering Service | $159 for 100 minutes | $269 for 220 | Billed by the second |
| Abby Connect | $164 for 50 minutes | $599 for 200 | No weekend upcharge |
| MAP Communications | $179 for 125 minutes | $339 for 250 | No long-term contracts |
| Ruby | $250 for 50 minutes | $720 for 200 | 60-second rounding, hold time counted |
| AnswerConnect | $350 for 200 minutes, plus $49.99 setup | $350 for 200 | Prices on an unlinked page; main pricing link is a quote form |
| Smith.ai receptionists | $300 for 30 calls | Per call, not minutes | $11.50 per extra call on the entry plan |
All prices are from each company’s own pricing page on 22 October 2026. PATLive is at the cheaper end of live answering for small allowances, and its no-after-call-work policy helps. Specialty Answering Service is cheaper per minute at the 100 to 220 minute level, and bills by the second. Our Ruby pricing and AnswerConnect pricing breakdowns go deeper on those two.
Is a live service like PATLive worth it for a trade business?
A trained person handles upset, confused or unusual callers better than any software, and some customers simply want a human. If your calls are high-value and arrive at a manageable pace, PATLive’s prices are reasonable. The harder case is a busy trade with lots of short calls and storm-driven spikes, because per-minute billing rises exactly when you’re busiest. Our flat rate answering service guide shows how different billing models behave in a bad month.
An AI receptionist is the other route. Ansdale, ours, is $49, $99 or $199 a month for 100, 250 or 500 AI minutes, answers every call at once, books the job into its calendar during the call and sends emergencies to you under rules you set. It’s not a person, so if that matters to your customers, PATLive or another live service is the better buy.
Questions people ask
How much does PATLive cost per month?
On 22 October 2026 PATLive listed pay-as-you-go at $49 a month plus $2.99 a minute, then plans of $99 for 50 minutes, $189 for 100, $349 for 200, $479 for 300, $759 for 500 and $1,499 for 1,000, plus government taxes and fees.
Does PATLive charge for after-call work?
No. PATLive says you only pay for the time receptionists are live on your calls and that after-call work isn’t charged. Ask how calls are rounded, as the pricing page doesn’t say.
Does PATLive have a contract or free trial?
PATLive says it doesn’t use contracts and offers a 14-day free trial on any plan. The plan continues automatically after the trial unless you cancel.
Is PATLive cheaper than Ruby?
For small allowances, yes. PATLive’s 200-minute plan was $349 on 22 October 2026, against $720 for Ruby’s 200-minute plan.
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