Pricing model
Usage-Based Call Center Pricing — Pay for Calls, Not Seats
Most call center platforms charge per agent and punish you for growing. SimpleCallCenter charges based on usage — minutes and optional features — so small teams can start lean and scale naturally.
- No per-seat fees
- No contracts
- Pay only for what you use
Why per-seat pricing breaks for small teams
- •Headcount changes (seasonal, part-time, contractors) become expensive.
- •Growth gets penalized even if call volume stays the same.
- •Features get gated behind higher tiers "because they can."
- •You pay monthly even when you're quiet.
A call center's real cost driver is call volume. That's what your bill should follow.
How usage-based pricing works
You pay for minutes, plus optional add-ons you enable. Core call center functionality is included — unlimited agents, routing, reporting, and more.
1) Calls (minutes)
Billing is based on call duration, using clear per-minute rates. If your call volume is low, your bill stays low.
2) Optional add-ons
Features like recording, transcription, AI summaries, and evaluations are only charged when enabled. Turn them on for specific teams or workflows.
How SimpleCallCenter compares (pricing model + setup)
This is a structural comparison — not a price claim. Vendors change rates often, but the pricing model and setup complexity usually don’t.
| Category | SimpleCallCenter | Twilio | Amazon Connect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Usage-based (calls + optional add-ons) | Usage-based APIs (you build the app) | Usage-based (enterprise platform) |
| Per-seat fees | No | Not seats, but engineering time to build/maintain | Not seat-based, but can add platform complexity |
| Setup | Fast — ready-to-use call center workflows | Build-it-yourself (dev work required) | Powerful, but configuration-heavy |
| Best for | Small teams that want a call center without per-seat pricing | Teams building a custom comms product | Enterprise / complex contact center operations |
| AI features | Optional add-on usage | Depends on what you integrate/build | Available, typically broader ecosystem configuration |
| “Call center app” included | Yes | No (APIs / building blocks) | Yes (platform) |
Choose SimpleCallCenter if…
You want a ready-to-use call center for a small team, with transparent usage-based billing and no seat fees.
Choose Twilio if…
You’re building a custom communications product and have developers to maintain the stack long-term.
Choose Amazon Connect if…
You need an enterprise contact-center platform and can handle deeper configuration and operations.
Per-seat platforms vs usage-based pricing
Many call center tools price by agent seats. That can work — but it often becomes expensive when headcount changes or you add part-time staff. Here’s how the models differ.
| Category | SimpleCallCenter | Aircall (typical model) | Dialpad / RingCentral (typical model) |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you’re billed | Usage-based (calls + optional add-ons) | Per-seat subscriptions (often tiered) | Per-seat subscriptions (often tiered) |
| Cost driver | Call volume | Headcount (seats) | Headcount (seats) |
| Unlimited agents | Yes | No (each agent is a seat) | No (each agent is a seat) |
| Seasonal/part-time staffing | Add agents without changing plan | Seats can add cost as headcount changes | Seats can add cost as headcount changes |
| Feature gating risk | Core functionality included; add-ons are optional usage | Often tied to tiers / plans | Often tied to tiers / plans |
| Best fit | Small teams who want flexibility and cost control | Teams who want seats + packaged bundles | Teams who want seats + packaged bundles |
When per-seat can make sense
If your headcount is stable and you want an all-in-one package with seats and tiers, per-seat platforms can be fine.
When usage-based is better
If you have part-time agents, seasonal staffing, or you’re growing gradually, usage-based pricing usually stays closer to real usage.
Note: This is a general model comparison. Specific vendor packaging and features vary by plan and can change over time.
What you get without paying per agent
Unlimited agents
Add your whole team without worrying about seats.
Inbound routing & IVR
Professional call flows for support, sales, and service teams.
Dashboards & reporting
Track answered calls, missed calls, wait times, and agent activity.
Voicemail & notifications
Capture missed calls and follow up quickly.
Need more? Add recording, transcription, or AI features only when they're useful.
Example costs (simple scenarios)
The exact total depends on call volume and which add-ons you enable. These examples show how the model behaves: bills scale with usage, not headcount.
Light usage
A small team handling occasional inbound calls
- •Low minutes
- •No AI features
- •Small predictable bill
Typical support team
Daily calls + recording for QA
- •Moderate minutes
- •Recording enabled
- •Cost follows usage
High volume
Busy inbound queue with AI summaries for selected calls
- •High minutes
- •Selective AI usage
- •Still no seat fees
Pricing questions
Do you charge per agent?
No. Agents are unlimited. Charges are based on usage and optional add-ons.
Can I enable AI only for certain calls or teams?
Yes. Optional features are meant to be toggled based on where they provide value.
Are there contracts or minimums?
No contracts. You can start small, test with the $1 credit, and scale as needed.
For exact rates and add-on pricing, see the full pricing page.
Stop paying for seats you don't need
Start with usage-based billing and add features only when they make sense for your workflow.