A headline rate per minute tells you little. What you actually pay depends on the billing unit, setup charges, what is included and how many of your calls end partway through a minute. Use the calculator, then read the checklist below before you choose a provider.
01Understand the rate
AI calling is a business workflow, not just a phone call. A complete call can include the conversation, qualification questions, data capture, routing, a CRM update and a WhatsApp follow-up.
So the same label can describe very different services. Some providers bundle conversational AI and telephony into one rate; others charge for them separately. First identify the billing unit, then what each rate includes.
Comparison principle: evaluate every provider on the same scenario, call length, features and assumptions. Otherwise a comparison can look precise while measuring different services.
02Rates side by side
Troika compared with typical ranges quoted in the Indian market. Providers A, B and C are not named companies; published pricing changes, so confirm current rates before deciding.
| Feature | Troika | Provider A | Provider B | Provider C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calling rate | ₹9 – ₹12 / minbilled per second | ₹15 – ₹25 / min | ₹18 – ₹35 / min | ₹25 – ₹45 / min |
| Setup charges | Usually waivedlimited period | ₹25,000 – ₹1,00,000 | ₹50,000+ | ₹1,00,000+ |
| Indian languages | 9+ | 3 – 5 | 5 – 8 | 3 – 6 |
| Service model | Fully managed, end to end | DIY, limited support | Semi-managed | DIY |
| CRM integration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lead qualification | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Call recording | Yes | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Analytics dashboard | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dedicated support | Yes | No | No | No |
| Setup time | 48 hours | 1 – 2 weeks | 1 – 3 weeks | 2 – 4 weeks |
03Billing unit
Most calls end partway through a minute. Per-second billing counts exactly what was spoken; per-minute billing may round each call up. Always ask for a written example on the same call pattern.
Per second0 sec billed
Per minute, rounded up0 sec billed
A 47-second call. The grey part is time you pay for but nobody spoke.
Also confirm how a provider treats unanswered attempts, very short calls and transferred calls, and whether AI processing, telephony and numbers are billed separately.
04Evaluation sheet
Use one evaluation sheet for every provider. It is a framework for real quotations, not a live directory of rates.
Per second, per minute, connected duration or another rule.
Decides how usage is recorded.Connected calls, unanswered attempts, short calls and transfers.
Shows which events are billable.AI conversation, telephony, voice options and reporting.
Separates included from extra.CRM, WhatsApp, calendar and lead-capture workflows.
Prevents disconnected follow-ups.Configuration, scripts, testing and integration work.
What is needed before going live.Conversation review, escalation and monitoring.
Keeps a person in control.Consent, calling rules, data handling, TRAI and DLT.
Makes the campaign appropriate for India.05Capabilities
Separate essentials from nice-to-haves, then test each one on a realistic call: interruptions, regional expressions, unfamiliar product terms and a request to speak to a person.
06Implementation
Start with the business outcome: what the agent should achieve, what it must collect, what it may say and when a person takes over.
Use case, audience, call direction and desired outcome.
Scripts, questions, languages and escalation rules.
Realistic calls, captured data, routing and follow-ups.
Launch, monitor conversations and keep refining.
07Where it fits
AI calling works best for recurring conversations with a clear purpose. Each workflow is scripted to the industry’s own questions.
Qualify property enquiries, share project details and arrange site visits.
Answer course questions, explain admission steps and follow up.
Collect requirements, answer spec queries, route distributor leads.
Order enquiries, reminders and customer re-engagement.
Appointment scheduling and routine availability enquiries.
Delivery updates and routing enquiries to the right team.
08FAQ
Confirm provider-specific capabilities and current terms directly before making a decision.
It means evaluating billing methods, service inclusions and operational capabilities across automated calling solutions: how usage is measured, how calls are handled, language support, integrations, lead capture and human handover.
Typical market ranges run from about ₹15 to ₹45 per minute, often with setup charges. Troika’s AI calling is ₹9 to ₹12 per minute equivalent, billed per second, with setup usually waived for a limited period. Confirm current rates in writing before deciding.
Usually, because most calls end partway through a minute. Per-second billing charges exactly the talk time; per-minute billing may round every call up. The real effect depends on each provider’s terms and minimum billable duration.
Troika provides fully managed inbound and outbound AI calling agents with multilingual conversations, personalised scripts, lead capture, intent-based routing, live human transfer, WhatsApp follow-ups and per-second billing.
Conversational AI handles inbound or outbound phone calls. The agent answers questions, shares product information, collects customer details, qualifies leads and triggers follow-up actions based on the conversation.
Real estate, education, manufacturing, retail, healthcare, automobile, logistics and any business with recurring customer conversations. Each workflow is adapted to the industry’s own questions and procedures.
It starts with defining the use case, script, data to capture and escalation rules, then configuration and testing. Troika typically sets up a campaign in about 48 hours; complex integrations take longer.
Yes, when campaigns follow the applicable rules on consent, calling windows, DND scrubbing, TRAI and DLT requirements and data handling. Confirm the requirements for your campaign purpose before launch.
Tell us your monthly volume, average call length and languages. We’ll send a written estimate and set up a live demo call.
