Short answer: the usual reason to look past Smith.ai or Ruby is a bill that grows with call volume. A flat-fee AI phone agent removes that, at the cost of a human voice. If your calls are routine, it fits. If they need judgment, stay with a live service. I sell the AI option, so check the numbers below at the sources.
Competitor prices were read from each vendor's own pricing page on 2026-10-01. Plans change, so confirm before you buy.
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| Smith.ai | Ruby | AI phone agent (mine) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Per call, by tier | Receptionist minutes | Flat monthly, then $1 per call past 300 |
| Entry plan | $300/mo, 30 calls | $250/mo, 50 minutes | $499/mo + $500 setup, up to 300 answered calls |
| Mid plan | $810/mo, 90 calls | $395/mo, 100 min or $720/mo, 200 min | Same plan |
| Larger plan | $2,100/mo, 300 calls | $1,725/mo, 500 min | Same plan |
| Overage | $11.50, $10.50 or $8.50 per call by tier | Not stated on the page I read | $1 per call past 300 |
| Setup fee | None stated | None stated | $500 one time |
| Booking | $1.50 per call add-on | Scheduling listed as optional | Included, against your calendar rules |
| Who answers | Live receptionists | Live receptionists | AI, says so on every call |
| Term | Month to month, 30-day money-back guarantee | Not stated on the page I read | Month to month |
Sources: smith.ai/pricing (human receptionist plans; the page also links an AI-first option that I did not read) and ruby.com/plans-and-pricing, both read 2026-10-01. My pricing: AI phone agents.
Your calls are sensitive, long or emotional, or a caller needs a person who can improvise from the first sentence. Both list live, human answering. An AI hands those calls off, which is the wrong experience for them.
Also stay if your volume is low. Smith.ai's Starter plan covers 30 calls for $300 a month, which can beat a $499 plan plus setup when you get a few calls a month.
Your bill is climbing because calls are. Per-call and per-minute plans rise with volume, and Smith.ai's page shows overage on top of each tier. A flat plan stays put until the included calls run out. It fits when most calls are routine: service area, price, when can you come out.
What you give up is the human voice and its judgment. What you get is first-ring pickup, a same-price 2am, and booking built in. Hear one real call before you decide, and call the live demo.
Pull last month's call count and how many were routine. Then price it on each plan above. If the AI plan saves you money and the exceptions are rare, switch. If not, do not. This page shows how to put a dollar figure on the calls you currently miss. For the AI vs human decision in general, see AI receptionist vs answering service.
It depends on why you are leaving. If the issue is the bill rising with call volume, a flat-fee AI phone agent is the closest fit; mine is $499 a month plus a $500 setup. If the issue is quality of the people, look at another live service such as Ruby. If you only need a handful of calls covered, Smith.ai's $300 Starter plan may already be right.
Per call, by plan tier. Its pricing page lists Starter at $300 a month for 30 calls, Basic at $810 for 90 calls and Pro at $2,100 for 300 calls, with overage of $11.50, $10.50 and $8.50 per call respectively. Add-ons such as appointment booking are $1.50 per call. (Source: smith.ai/pricing, read 2026-10-01.)
By receptionist minutes per month. Its pricing page lists 50 minutes at $250, 100 at $395, 200 at $720 and 500 at $1,725, and states no hidden fees for activation, onboarding or setup. (Source: ruby.com/plans-and-pricing, read 2026-10-01.)
At higher volume, by a wide margin on price alone: 300 calls a month is $499 for my agent against $2,100 for Smith.ai Pro. At very low volume it may not be, since Smith.ai's $300 plan covers 30 calls. It is also a different service: software, not a person. Price is only the first filter.
Judgment on the unusual call. It handles routine intake, quotes and booking and hands off the rest. A trained person reads tone and improvises. If your calls are sensitive or complex, a live service is the better tool.
Call the live demo agent and read a real call transcript, including the one line she got wrong. My plan is month to month, so there is no long commitment.
Tell me what you pay now and roughly how many calls you get. I reply within one business day and will say plainly if staying put is cheaper.
Or skip the form: Book 30 minutes with Eric
Eric Vincent Consulting, Fort Myers, Florida. Works anywhere.