Ruby Receptionists vs Smith.ai
Ruby Receptionists is a human first answering service where live receptionists pick up every call and the bill runs by the minute, whereas Smith.ai is a hybrid of AI receptionists and live agents that bills by the call. Compared below on pricing, published capability and review ratings. ServiceAgent publishes this page and is left out of the capability table.
Ruby Receptionists
US based live virtual receptionists and website chat for small businesses that want every call answered by a person.
From $250 a month Virtual receptionist plans start at $250 a month for 50 receptionist minutes.
Smith.ai
AI receptionists and live human agents that answer calls and chats 24/7 for small businesses, including home services.
From $0 a month AI Receptionist Free plan is $0 with 25 calls a month, then $3.00 per call. Paid AI starts
ServiceAgent
Home service businesses that miss calls and want them booked, not just answered.
From $0 Launch plan; Growth $95 a month billed yearly
Key takeaways
Ruby Receptionists vs Smith.ai in five lines
Best fit
Smith.ai fits a business that wants predictable per call billing, AI screening with live agents as backup and calls logged into a CRM, a setup common with law firms and lead heavy sales teams. Ruby fits a small service business that wants a warm, polished live person picking up every call, so it sounds like an in house front desk. An HVAC, plumbing or electrical shop that wants calls booked 24/7 has a third option: ServiceAgent.
Ratings
Ruby Receptionists rates 3.5 out of 5 across 10 G2 reviews, 5 positive and 5 negative. Smith.ai rates 4.2 out of 5 across 16 G2 reviews, 12 positive and 3 negative.
Pricing
Smith.ai vs Ruby cost splits on the billing unit. Smith.ai charges per call, from $0 on AI Free (25 calls) and $300 for 30 calls on the human Starter plan. Ruby charges per minute, from $250 for 50 minutes, with each call rounded up to the next full minute.
Capability
Of 10 front office and field capabilities, both state 7 and neither states 3. The real difference is what costs extra: Ruby includes scheduling, payments and Spanish, while Smith.ai charges $1.50 a call for booking, $1 for Spanish and $1 for payments.
The gap
Both are answering services, not field service software, so a booked job still has to reach the calendar the techs work from. Busy weeks raise the bill on both: more calls at Smith.ai, more minutes at Ruby.
Which one fits
Ruby Receptionists or Smith.ai: pick the situation, get a straight answer
Every outcome is also written out in the list underneath, so nothing sits behind the picker.
What is not working today
Business size
Inbound calls a month
Best fit
Pick an option on the left
The answer updates as each option is chosen.
Every outcome, written out
- ServiceAgent alongside either one Missed calls happen before a job record exists. ServiceAgent answers every call 24/7 and books the job into the tool already in use.
- Smith.ai It rates higher with reviewers on the Living Grid.
- Ruby Receptionists Smith.ai starts lower, at $0 a month against $250 for Ruby Receptionists.
- Smith.ai Compare the feature table below for the capabilities this team needs most.
- Either one Both cover the basics; start a trial or demo of each with the same real jobs.
- Either one Both cover the basics; compare the feature table and pricing below.
Pricing
Ruby Receptionists vs Smith.ai pricing: what each one costs and what moves the number
Smith.ai vs Ruby pricing comes down to what counts as billable. Smith.ai bills each handled call: human plans are $300 for 30 calls, $810 for 90 and $2,100 for 300, with extra calls at $11.50, $10.50 and $8.50, and spam calls are not charged on human plans. Ruby bills receptionist minutes from $250 for 50: every call rounds up to the next full minute, and time on hold and after call work count too. Ruby does not publish its overage rate. As a worked example, 90 calls a month fits Smith.ai Basic at $810. At Ruby, the same 90 calls at three billed minutes each come to 270 minutes, past the 200 minute plan ($720) and well under the 500 minute plan ($1,725).
Ruby Receptionists
Per minute
From $250 a month Virtual receptionist plans start at $250 a month for 50 receptionist minutes.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 minutes | $250 | None listed | 50 receptionist minutes |
| 100 minutes | $395 | None listed | 100 receptionist minutes |
| 200 minutes | $720 | None listed | 200 receptionist minutes |
| 500 minutes | $1725 | None listed | 500 receptionist minutes |
What moves the number: call length (each call rounds up to the next full minute), hold time and after call work, which also count as billed minutes, an overage rate that is not published, and a 3% surcharge on credit card payments. Scheduling, payments and Spanish (Monday to Friday, 5am to 6pm Pacific) are included, there is no contract, and a money back guarantee covers the first 21 days or 500 minutes.
Smith.ai
Per call
From $0 a month AI Receptionist Free plan is $0 with 25 calls a month, then $3.00 per call. Paid AI starts
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Free | $0 | None listed | 25 real calls, 25 test calls, 50 simulated calls a month |
| AI Pro (75 calls) | $150 | None listed | 75 real calls a month |
| AI Enterprise (300 calls) | $500 | None listed | 300 real calls a month |
| Human Starter | $300 | None listed | 30 calls, 1 free transfer destination |
What moves the number: the number of handled calls, overage of $11.50, $10.50 or $8.50 a call depending on the human plan, $3 a call after 25 on AI Free, and per call add ons: booking $1.50, Spanish $1, payments $1 and call recording $0.25. Spam is not charged on human plans, billing is month to month, and a 30 day money back guarantee covers up to $1,000.
ServiceAgent
Plans plus usage credits
From $0 on the Launch plan
| Plan | Billed yearly | Billed monthly | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | $0 | $0 | Pay as you go |
| Core | $39 | $49 | 2,000 |
| Growth | $95 | $119 | 6,000 |
| Franchise | $279 | $349 | 20,000 |
What moves the number: one AI voice minute uses 15 credits, one SMS segment uses 2. Growth includes 6,000 credits, about 400 voice minutes. No contract.
Feature matrix
Ruby Receptionists vs Smith.ai features: what each one states it does
Each row records what the vendor publishes about its own product. "Not stated" means it was not found on the vendor's site, never assumed absent.
| Capability | Ruby Receptionists | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| AI call answering | Live receptionists answer; AI call transcripts at no extra cost | ✓ AI Receptionist plans, $0 to $500+ a month |
| Live human answering | ✓ 100% live receptionists | ✓ Human plans from $300 a month; AI plans can pass calls to live agents |
| Appointment booking | ✓ Scheduling included | ✓ $1.50 a call add on |
| Scheduling and dispatching | Not stated | Not stated |
| Built in CRM | ✓ Dynamic integrations listed | ✓ First CRM integration free, $0.50 per call per additional CRM |
| Payments | ✓ Included | ✓ $1 a call add on |
| SMS follow up | ✓ Calls and texts from the business number | SMS/Slack notifications $0.50 per call; text and email follow up $0.50 |
| Review management | Not stated | Not stated |
| Field service software integrations | ✓ Integrations with business tools | ✓ Integrations page incl. CRMs |
| Trade specific templates | Not stated | Not stated |
Capability rows record published claims, not test results. See Ruby Receptionists vs ServiceAgent · See Smith.ai vs ServiceAgent
Deep dive
Where Ruby Receptionists and Smith.ai actually differ
Three areas that decide most shortlists.
Scope of the product
Ruby Receptionists
A human first answering service. Live receptionists answer every call, take messages, schedule appointments, take payments and send calls to the owner's cell, so a small business sounds like it has its own front desk. Spanish is covered on weekdays from 5am to 6pm Pacific. Billable time is every minute a receptionist spends on the call, including hold time and after call work, rounded up.
Smith.ai
A hybrid of AI receptionists and North American live agents. The AI screens and answers, while live agents handle lead intake, qualification and transfers, with calls logged into CRMs such as Clio and Salesforce. The billable unit is a handled call: spam is not charged on human plans, and extras like booking, Spanish or payments are priced per call.
ServiceAgent
Answers every call 24/7, books the job into the calendar, takes payment and updates the CRM in one platform.
Evidence base
Ruby Receptionists
Ruby Receptionists rates 3.5 out of 5 across 10 G2 reviews, 5 positive and 5 negative. On the HVAC grid it sits in High Performers (satisfaction 68, breadth 22). Across all trades in October 2026 it scores 63 on satisfaction.
Smith.ai
Smith.ai rates 4.2 out of 5 across 16 G2 reviews, 12 positive and 3 negative. On the HVAC grid it sits in High Performers (satisfaction 68, breadth 28). Across all trades in October 2026 it scores 62 on satisfaction.
ServiceAgent
Launched in 2025 with no third party review profile yet. Company reported: 350,000+ calls handled and a 100% call capture rate.
What reviewers complain about
Ruby Receptionists
One of the more expensive options.
Smith.ai
It's disappointing because this could have been an opportunity for them to not only rectify a bad customer experience but potentially improve the product for others down the line.
ServiceAgent
Not enough independent reviews yet to show complaint themes.
What reviewers say
Ruby Receptionists vs Smith.ai reviews: ratings and real user sentiment
Scores below come from the ServiceAgent Living Grid, which reads public G2 reviews and places each tool on a market map by satisfaction and operational breadth.
Ruby Receptionists
- Review score (G2 reviews)
- 3.5 (10)
- Positive vs negative
- 5 vs 5
- Grid quadrant
- High Performers
Read verbatim Ruby Receptionists reviews
“Calls are screened to cull out solicitors. Take messages and send to email.” G2 review, 2.5 stars
“It's made a world of difference having Ruby answer our calls so that our front office team can stay focused and not be pulled out of work.” G2 review, 3 stars
“One of the more expensive options.” G2 review, 2.5 stars
Profiles: G2 · Trustpilot
Smith.ai
- Review score (G2 reviews)
- 4.2 (16)
- Positive vs negative
- 12 vs 3
- Grid quadrant
- High Performers
Read verbatim Smith.ai reviews
“AI receptionist is extremely easy to setup, manage, and maintain. Smith.ai support is always helpful if/when needed.” G2 review, 5 stars
“I simply could not keep up with the phone calls that were coming into my personal cell phone. At times it was overwhelming and I simply would not answer. However in my business missed phone calls are missed opportunities so I needed a solution.” G2 review, 5 stars
“It's disappointing because this could have been an opportunity for them to not only rectify a bad customer experience but potentially improve the product for others down the line.” G2 review, 4 stars
Profiles: G2 · Trustpilot
ServiceAgent reported results
ServiceAgent launched in 2025 and does not carry a third party review profile yet, so these are its own reported figures rather than customer reviews.
- Call capture rate
- 100%
- Calls handled
- 350,000+
- Average job booking rate
- 56%
- Businesses using it
- 7,600+
Decision table
If this is the situation, pick this
Read across the row.
| Situation | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Wants scheduling, payments and Spanish in the base price | Ruby Receptionists | Ruby includes them; Smith.ai charges per call for each. |
| Wants a flat price per call and no charge for spam | Smith.ai | Smith.ai bills per handled call; spam is not charged on human plans. |
| Missed calls after hours | ServiceAgent | Answers every call 24/7 and books the job into either tool. |
Both fall short
What neither Ruby Receptionists nor Smith.ai does
Some things sit outside both tools on their standard plans.
- NeitherAnswering every inbound call 24/7 and booking the job without an add on or a human service.
- NeitherTrade specific templates for HVAC or plumbing call handling.
- NeitherA front office that answers, books and takes payment in one step.
Where ServiceAgent fits: ServiceAgent is an AI front office that answers every call, books the job and works with field service software. Plans start at $0.
Verdict
Ruby Receptionists or Smith.ai: which one should a home service business choose?
Ruby vs Smith.ai comes down to two questions: what kind of business is calling in, and how many calls or minutes land each month. Short, simple calls favor Ruby's minutes, since a call under two minutes costs less there; long intake calls favor Smith.ai's flat price per call. For HVAC, plumbing or roofing crews that mostly need emergency calls answered while they are on a job, Ruby vs Smith.ai is not the only choice.
Go Ruby Receptionists
a business whose brand relies on a warm, polished live person picking up, with scheduling, payments and Spanish included and short calls that keep billed minutes low.
Go Smith.ai
a business that wants predictable per call pricing, AI screening with live agents as backup, CRM logging for lead intake, and no charge for spam calls on human plans.
Go ServiceAgent
Best for a home service business that wants every call answered 24/7, weekends included, and the job booked alongside the field service tool already in use. Plans start at $0, and Growth is $95 a month billed yearly.
Try ServiceAgent freeFAQ
Ruby Receptionists vs Smith.ai: common questions
Is Smith AI a legit company?
Yes. Smith.ai is an established American virtual receptionist company that serves small businesses with AI receptionists and live agents. Plans run month to month, and human plans carry a 30 day money back guarantee of up to $1,000. On the Living Grid it rates 4.2 out of 5 across 16 G2 reviews.
Which virtual receptionist service is the best?
No single service fits every business. Smith.ai suits teams that want per call billing and AI screening with live backup, while Ruby suits businesses that want a live person on every call. In Ruby vs Smith.ai reviews on the Living Grid, Smith.ai rates 4.2 across 16 G2 reviews and Ruby about 3.5 across 10. For home service businesses that want calls answered and booked 24/7, ServiceAgent is a third option with plans from $0.
Is Smith.ai cheaper than Ruby?
It depends on call length. In Smith.ai vs Ruby pricing, Smith.ai starts at $0 for 25 AI calls and $300 for 30 human calls, while Ruby starts at $250 for 50 minutes rounded up per call. Short calls usually cost less at Ruby and long calls less at Smith.ai. Smith.ai charges extra per call for booking, Spanish and payments, which Ruby includes, though Ruby adds 3% on credit card payments.
Does Smith.ai use real people or AI, and does Ruby use AI?
Smith.ai offers both: AI receptionist plans and human plans staffed by live agents, and its AI plans can pass calls to a live agent. Ruby answers every call with live receptionists and uses AI only for extras such as call transcripts.
Do Smith.ai and Ruby answer calls 24/7 or after hours?
Both offer around the clock live answering, so after hours and weekend calls reach a person. Ruby's Spanish coverage runs Monday to Friday, 5am to 6pm Pacific. In a Ruby vs Smith.ai cost check, after hours calls are billed like any other: per minute at Ruby and per call at Smith.ai.
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