Smith.ai AI Receptionist vs Ruby
Shops that want AI answering with live-human fallback for complex calls
Estimate, not a vendor claim: 5 missed calls/week × 40% close rate × $350 avg job. Change the numbers to match your shop.
Live virtual receptionist service with US-based receptionists; also offers chat.
Estimate, not a vendor claim: 5 missed calls/week × 40% close rate × $350 avg job. Change the numbers to match your shop.
Side-by-side
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Ruby | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | AI + live backup | Live answering service |
| Lowest listed plan | Free: $0/mo | 50 minutes: $250/mo |
| Highest listed plan | Enterprise: $500/mo | 500 minutes: $1725/mo |
| Plans listed | 3 | 3 |
| Billing | Per call | — |
| Free trial | Free plan (25 calls/mo) | — |
| Contract | Month-to-month, 30 days' notice | — |
| After hours | 24/7 AI + live human backup | — |
| Integrations | Calendly, Clio, Zapier | — |
| Best for | Shops that want AI answering with live-human fallback for complex calls | — |
| Price verified | 2026-10-13 | 2026-10-13 |
Choose Smith.ai AI Receptionist if… / Choose Ruby if…
- + Publishes its prices openly
- + Try before you buy: Free plan (25 calls/mo)
- + No long-term contract required (per vendor)
- + Billed per call, so long calls don't cost more
- • Watch: Minute-based billing: estimate your talk time
- + Publishes its prices openly
- + Human receptionists answer calls
Based on each vendor's published pricing and documentation.
Full plan lists for Smith.ai AI Receptionist and RubyRead more ▾
Smith.ai AI Receptionist plans
| Plan | List price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0/mo | 25 calls/mo, $3.00 per extra call |
| Pro | $150/mo | 75 calls/mo (~$2.00/call) |
| Enterprise | $500/mo | 300 calls/mo (~$1.67/call) |
Source: https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist · verified on 2026-10-13. Prices in USD as listed by the vendor; taxes, setup fees and usage overages may apply.
Ruby plans
| Plan | List price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 50 minutes | $250/mo | |
| 200 minutes | $720/mo | |
| 500 minutes | $1,725/mo |
Source: https://www.ruby.com/pricing/ · verified on 2026-10-13. Prices in USD as listed by the vendor; taxes, setup fees and usage overages may apply.
FAQ
Is Smith.ai AI Receptionist cheaper than Ruby?
By listed starting price, Smith.ai AI Receptionist is cheaper (From $0/mo vs From $250/mo, verified 2026-10-13). The total depends on your users, calls or minutes.
Which has a free trial?
Smith.ai AI Receptionist: Free plan (25 calls/mo). Ruby: not stated on vendor site.
Do I need a contract?
Smith.ai AI Receptionist: Month-to-month, 30 days' notice. Ruby: ask vendor.
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