Phones · 2026 prices
AI receptionists for contractors: what they cost, and when they pay.
An AI receptionist can answer the calls your crew can't get to. Prices run from $29 a month to well over $2,000, and the cheapest isn't always the best fit. Here are the published prices, a simple way to check whether it pays, and what to set up before it answers your phone.
What AI receptionists cost in 2026
These are the published prices we could verify on each provider's own site. Some bill by conversation, some by call, some by minute, so compare them against your own call volume rather than the headline number.
| Service | Type | Published price | What's included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jobber Receptionist | AI, built into Jobber | $29 / mo | 30 conversations, then $0.79 each. Included on Jobber's Plus plan. |
| Smith.ai Starter | AI-first or human-first | $300 / mo | 30 calls. $11.50 per extra call. |
| Smith.ai Basic | AI-first or human-first | $810 / mo | 90 calls. $10.50 per extra call. |
| Smith.ai Pro | AI-first or human-first | $2,100 / mo | 300 calls. $8.50 per extra call. |
| Ruby | Human receptionists | $250–$1,725 / mo | 50 to 500 receptionist minutes a month. |
| ServiceTitan AI Voice Agent | AI, built into ServiceTitan | Not published | Usage-based add-on; every call counts. Needs ServiceTitan phones. |
| Housecall Pro CSR AI | AI, built into Housecall Pro | Not published | Add-on priced by sales. |
If you already run on Jobber, ServiceTitan or Housecall Pro, start with their built-in option. It can book straight into your schedule, which a standalone service usually can't do as cleanly.
First, find out how many calls you actually miss
You'll see "62% of calls go unanswered" all over AI receptionist marketing. It traces back to a study by 411 Locals, which tracked 85 small businesses in 58 industries for 30 days and found 37.8% of calls answered live, 37.8% sent to voicemail and 24.3% not answered at all. It's a real study, but it was published in 2016 and it's small. Some sites describe it as recent.
Your own number matters more. Most business phone systems and field-service platforms report missed calls. Pull a month and note:
- How many calls went unanswered or to voicemail
- How many came after hours or on weekends
- How many of those callers never called back
If you miss a handful of calls a month and return them within the hour, you may not need anything. If you miss dozens during the busy season, the math changes quickly.
A simple way to check whether it pays
You need three numbers: missed calls a month that were real jobs, the share of those you'd win if someone answered, and your average profit per job.
Say you miss 20 calls a month that were real service requests. If someone had answered, you'd book half: 10 jobs. At $150 of profit per job, that's $1,500 a month you're leaving on the table. A $300 plan that catches most of those calls pays for itself. At 3 missed jobs a month, the $29 plan might, and the $300 one wouldn't.
Run it with your numbers, not ours. The biggest mistake is buying for the busy season and paying for it all year. Check whether you can change tiers seasonally.
What to set up before it answers your phone
- Write your emergency rules.
Gas smell, carbon monoxide, flooding, no heat with an elderly customer: whatever your trade's emergencies are, they go to a person immediately. The AI shouldn't decide what's urgent on its own judgment.
- Decide what it may promise.
Can it quote a trip charge? Give a price range? Offer a time window? Start narrow. Pricing is a commitment, and you want a person making it.
- Mention the recording.
AI receptionists record and transcribe calls. North Carolina is a one-party consent state, but callers may be in states that require everyone's consent, so a short "this call may be recorded" message is the safe choice.
- Register your number if it texts.
If the service sends texts, business texting numbers must be registered with the carriers (A2P 10DLC), and customers must have opted in. Built-in platform tools usually handle registration for you.
- Review the first two weeks of calls.
Read the transcripts. Look for wrong bookings, missed emergencies and answers you wouldn't give. Adjust before you stop checking.
AI, human, or both?
Human answering services like Ruby cost more per call but handle upset customers and unusual requests better. AI costs less per call and never sleeps, but needs clear rules. Several services now blend the two: AI answers first and hands off to a person. For a small contractor, the blended approach or your platform's built-in AI is usually the sensible middle ground.
Not sure which fits? In the first conversation, we'll look at your call volume and your software and tell you whether you need anything at all. If you already run on Jobber or ServiceTitan, the answer might be a setting you can switch on.
Sources
- Jobber Help Center: Receptionist, powered by Jobber AI (updated July 9, 2026)
- Smith.ai: plans and pricing
- Ruby: plans and pricing
- ServiceTitan: AI Voice Agent FAQ
- Housecall Pro: pricing
- 411 Locals: small business owners don't answer 62% of phone calls (Jan. 18, 2016)
- Digital Media Law Project: North Carolina recording law
- MessageDesk: A2P 10DLC registration and compliance guide
Prices checked September 23, 2026. Confirm with each provider before you buy. This is general information, not legal advice.
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