How Voice AI Call Duration Billing Works
Kayse AI bills Voice AI usage based on the actual duration of each call. The same rule applies whether the call is answered by a person, voicemail, Google Assistant, RoboKiller, YouMail, or another call-screening service.
Billing Rule
Voice AI calls are billed by duration, rounded up to the next 30-second increment, with a 30-second minimum.
That means:
| Actual call duration | Billed duration |
|---|---|
| 25 seconds | 0.5 minutes |
| 55 seconds | 1.0 minute |
| 1 minute 20 seconds | 1.5 minutes |
If a call has no recorded duration or a zero-second duration, the minimum billed duration is 0.5 minutes.
What Counts as Call Duration?
Call duration includes the time the AI agent is connected to the call. This can include time spent:
- speaking with a person
- listening or waiting during a voicemail greeting
- leaving or attempting to leave a voicemail message
- responding to Google Assistant or Android call screening
- responding to RoboKiller, YouMail, or similar screening services
The billing calculation does not change based on who or what answered the call. It is based on the recorded call duration.
Voicemail and Call-Screening Services
Voicemail and call-screening services can behave differently from one phone to another.
For example, Google Assistant, RoboKiller, YouMail, and similar services may:
- ask the AI agent to explain why it is calling
- play a voicemail greeting
- block or screen the call
- disconnect before the intended person answers
- allow the AI agent to deliver part or all of a message
When the AI agent is connected and spends time on that flow, that time counts as call duration and follows the same rounding rule.
Post-Call Statuses Are Separate From Billing
Post-call statuses help describe what happened during or after the call. They do not change the billing calculation.
Google Assistant, RoboKiller, YouMail, and similar services are not separate billing categories. Depending on how the service behaves, a call may appear with a voicemail-like status, a follow-up status, or another post-call outcome.
For example, Voicemail Left can mean the AI agent reached a voicemail or screening flow and delivered or attempted to deliver the configured message. It does not always mean the call reached a traditional voicemail inbox.
Common Questions
Does billing change if voicemail is turned off for the agent?
No. The call is still billed by recorded call duration, rounded up to the next 30-second increment, with a 30-second minimum.
Does Google Assistant count as voicemail?
Not always. Google Assistant and similar screening services can behave like voicemail, an IVR, or a live screening prompt. The post-call status may vary based on how the service responds, but billing still follows the same duration rule.
Are Google Assistant, RoboKiller, or YouMail billed differently?
No. They are not separate billing categories. If the AI agent is connected and spends time on the call, that time counts as call duration.
Quick Summary
- Voice AI billing is based on recorded call duration.
- Each call is rounded up to the next 30-second increment.
- The minimum billed duration is 0.5 minutes.
- Human answers, voicemail, and call-screening services follow the same billing rule.
- Post-call status labels may vary, but they do not change how duration is billed.