Smith.ai vs Ruby: which answering service should you pick?
Updated
The short answer: Ruby is cheaper to start, Smith.ai is usually cheaper per call. Smith.ai blends AI with human receptionists and charges per call, from $300/month for 30 calls (about $10 a call). Ruby is a pure human answering service at $245/month for 50 minutes (about $4.90 a minute, so a 3 to 4 minute call costs roughly $15 to $20). Ruby wins on white-glove human touch; Smith.ai wins on cost per conversation and extras like chat.
| Feature | Smith.ai | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Hybrid AI + human receptionists | Human answering service |
| Entry price | $300/mo · 30 calls | $245/mo · 50 minutes |
| Effective unit cost | ~$10 per call | ~$4.90 per minute |
| Answers 24/7 | Yes | Yes |
| Books appointments | Yes | No |
| Website chat offering | Yes | Yes |
| Best known for | AI + human hybrid, integrations | Warm, well-trained human receptionists |
Competitor details checked on October 8, 2026, from their public pricing pages.
Choose Smith.ai if
- You want appointment booking handled during the call, not just messages taken.
- You care about cost per conversation: about $10 a call beats $15 to $20 for a typical call on a per-minute meter.
- You want AI to absorb routine calls and humans only for the hard ones.
Choose Ruby if
- You want every caller to reach a real, highly trained human, full stop.
- Your calls are emotional or high-stakes (legal intake, healthcare) and budget is secondary.
- You value Ruby's long track record in human answering above automation features.
Frequently asked questions
Is Smith.ai cheaper than Ruby?
Per call, usually yes; at entry, no. Smith.ai's plans are $300/month for 30 calls, $810 for 90 and $2,100 for 300 (about $7 to $10 a call). Ruby starts at $245/month for 50 minutes (about $4.90 a minute), so a typical 3 to 4 minute call costs roughly $15 to $20 on Ruby's meter.
Do Smith.ai and Ruby book appointments?
Smith.ai books appointments as part of its receptionist service. Ruby focuses on answering, message-taking, and call transfers, appointment scheduling is not its core workflow.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Smith.ai and Ruby?
Yes, pure-AI receptionists cost a fraction of human or hybrid services. Rinqly, for example, answers calls 24/7, several at a time, books appointments, and starts at $49/month for 140 minutes, with a free trial and no sales call required.
The third option
Rinqly, one AI for phone, chat & outbound: phone from $49/mo
Both Smith.ai and Ruby charge human-service prices because humans are in the loop. If your calls are mostly routine, hours, bookings, FAQs, a pure-AI receptionist does the same job from $49/month: Rinqly answers every call 24/7, books straight into your calendar, and also covers website chat and outbound follow-ups from one agent. Setup takes about 10 minutes, with 60 free minutes to test it on your own business.