Ruby public virtual receptionist pricing was listed at $250 per month for 50 receptionist minutes, $395 per month for 100 minutes, $720 per month for 200 minutes, and $1,725 per month for 500 minutes when rechecked 2026-05-22 and 2026-05-24. Per-minute overages, after-hours add-ons, and holiday surcharges can layer on top of baseline prices, so contractor shops should verify the live Ruby page and model actual call minutes before committing. This guide walks through Ruby's pricing structure, the line items that may be billed extra, and the lower-cost alternatives a contractor should compare before committing.
Last reviewed June 10, 2026.
Featured answer
Ruby Receptionist pricing in 2026: public virtual receptionist plans were listed at $250/month for 50 receptionist minutes, $395/month for 100 minutes, $720/month for 200 minutes, and $1,725/month for 500 minutes when rechecked 2026-05-22 and 2026-05-24. Verify current Ruby pricing because vendor pages can change. Contractor-AI alternatives (OnCrew is the contractor-specific example we publish) start at $49/month for 100 included calls, then $0.99 per extra call; larger plans are on the pricing page.
Ruby Receptionist pricing tiers (2026)
| Plan | Monthly | Included minutes | Per-minute over | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry | $250 | 50 receptionist minutes | yes, plus possible add-ons | US-based human receptionists |
| 100-minute | $395 | 100 receptionist minutes | yes, plus possible add-ons | Same human team, more included minutes |
| 200-minute | $720 | 200 receptionist minutes | yes, plus possible add-ons | Same human team, more included minutes |
| 500-minute | $1,725 | 500 receptionist minutes | yes, plus possible add-ons | Same human team, more included minutes |
| Custom enterprise | by quote | varies | yes | Volume-discount for larger accounts |
Sources: Ruby public virtual receptionist pricing, rechecked 2026-05-22 and 2026-05-24. Vendor pricing pages can change; check the live pricing page before committing.
What Ruby's base price does NOT include
The base monthly does not cover:
- Per-minute hold-time billing. Once your monthly minute pool is depleted, every minute of incoming-call talk time is metered separately. Long emergency intake (a burst-pipe call that captures shutoff status and leak context can run 4-6 minutes) consumes the pool fast.
- After-hours and weekend coverage. Ruby's base hours are US business hours. Extended coverage is a paid add-on. Most contractors lose their highest-value jobs to after-hours voicemail, so this is the line item that matters.
- Holiday surcharges. Major holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, July 4th, New Year's Day) bill at a higher per-minute rate. Storm-week surge does not reduce the holiday upcharge.
- Outbound dial-out. Calling your customer back from a Ruby line bills outbound minutes separately. Most contractors use their own line for callbacks, but it is worth confirming.
Real monthly math for a contractor shop
Worked example: a 4-truck plumbing shop fielding 130 calls a month (50 after-hours, 80 daytime intake), average call length 3 minutes for routine intake and 5 minutes for emergencies, accessed pricing 2026-05-15.
- 130 calls x 3.5 min average = 455 minutes
- Ruby entry plan ($250/month when rechecked 2026-05-22 and 2026-05-24) includes 50 receptionist minutes. Additional time is metered by minute.
- Estimated overage cost at $2-$4 per call: $160-$320 per month
- Holiday surcharge across major holidays: $25-$60 per month annualized
- After-hours premium (if elected): $50-$150 per month
- Total: $500-$850 per month
The 100-minute and 200-minute plans reduce overage exposure but do not eliminate per-minute or possible add-on charges. For a contractor shop with the same 130-call mix, the final Ruby invoice depends on actual talk time, after-hours terms, and current vendor pricing.
How much does Ruby answering service cost per month?
Ruby answering service cost per month for a typical contractor shop: the published base plans run $250 to $1,725 per month depending on the included minute pool, and a real invoice usually lands higher once per-minute overage, after-hours coverage, and holiday surcharges are applied. At the contractor-typical 80 to 150 calls per month, expect a realistic all-in Ruby cost of $400 to $850 per month. At very low volume (under 50 short calls), the entry plan's $250 base is closer to the real number. The cost driver is talk time: every minute past the plan's included pool is metered, and emergency intake calls run long.
If the question is "how much does Ruby answering service cost compared to an AI answering service," the gap at contractor volume is 4 to 8 times: flat-rate contractor AI runs $49 to $349 per month with per-call (not per-minute) overage, so a long emergency call costs the same as a short one.
Contractor-AI alternatives at published pricing
| Vendor | Plan | Included calls | Overage | Total monthly at 130 calls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OnCrew | Starter | 100 | $0.99 per call | $49 + ($0.99 x 30) = $79 |
| OnCrew | Pro | 400 | $0.99 per call | $149 (no overage at this volume) |
| AnswerForce | Mid-tier | 100 | $0.75 per call | $225 + ($0.75 x 30) = $248 |
| Smith.ai | Starter | 30 | $7/min | $293 + ($7 x 100min) = $993 |
The OnCrew Pro plan at $149 per month flat covers 400 included calls (more than 3x the example shop's volume) with no per-minute meter and no holiday surcharge. The Smith.ai column is included for honest comparison, not as a recommendation; Smith.ai's per-minute model is similar to Ruby's per-minute model in shape.
When Ruby Receptionists is still the right choice
- Large commercial accounts with sophisticated buyers who expect to hear a US-based human on every call
- Multi-location shops with a daytime in-house team that only need a polished overflow handler for low-volume periods
- Premium-priced brands where the human-touch positioning is part of the customer promise
For everyone else (1 to 15-truck contractor shops, the majority of the market), the flat-per-call AI services produce comparable customer experience for 4 to 8 times less per month at 2026 typical call volume.
Frequently asked questions
Is Ruby Receptionist cheaper than Smith.ai?
It depends on call volume and minute length. At low call volume (under 50 calls per month), both run roughly $300 per month. At contractor-typical volume (80 to 150 calls per month with 3-5 minute average), both run $400 to $800 per month. AI-only flat-per-call services are 4 to 8 times less expensive at the same volume.
Does Ruby Receptionists bill per minute?
Yes, once your monthly call pool is depleted. Talk-time minutes meter separately. Longer emergency intake eats more minutes.
Does Ruby Receptionists handle after-hours calls?
Only with the after-hours add-on. The base price covers US business hours. For contractor shops, after-hours coverage is where the biggest revenue gap lives, so this add-on matters.
What is the cheapest virtual receptionist for contractors in 2026?
For contractor-typical 80-150 call volume, the cheapest fit is a contractor-trained AI virtual receptionist: $49 to $349 per month flat (OnCrew tiers), versus $400 to $800 per month for Ruby Receptionists with overage and holiday surcharges.
Will the AI alternative sound like a robot?
In 2026, no, not for contractor-AI vendors using modern voice stacks (Retell, 11ElevenLabs). Most homeowners do not realize they aren't speaking with a human until you tell them.
How is OnCrew different from Ruby for contractors?
OnCrew is contractor-specific (HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing), runs trade-specific safety branches (gas smell, sparking panel, sewage backup), and sends an SMS handoff to your on-call tech inside 90 seconds. Ruby is a generic human virtual receptionist not built for trades. The price gap is 4 to 8 times at typical contractor volume.
Where to start
If you are evaluating Ruby Receptionists pricing for a contractor shop, the honest path:
- Pull your last 90 days of call records: how many calls, what time, average length, percent after-hours.
- Apply Ruby's current minute-plan pricing and per-minute meter to your real call mix; use the live Ruby pricing page for current rates.
- Apply a contractor-AI vendor's flat-per-call pricing to the same call mix. For OnCrew that is $49/$149/$349 per month at the three tiers.
- Compare the totals at the volume you actually do, not at the demo line's example.
For OnCrew specifically: start with a 14-day free trial on any plan at oncrew.ai/lp/vs/ruby. No charge during trial, real test calls on real intake, founder-led onboarding. Cancel in one click. 30-day money-back guarantee.
Related reading
- OnCrew vs Ruby Receptionists for contractors
- Smith.ai pricing 2026
- VoiceNation pricing 2026 (now Moneypenny, quote-only)
- PATLive pricing 2026
- Abby Connect pricing 2026
- Best AI answering services for contractors in 2026
- HVAC virtual receptionist guide
- Plumbing virtual receptionist guide
- OnCrew vs Smith.ai for contractors
- Answering service for contractors: the trade-by-trade intake walkthrough for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and roofing shops.