The Best Answering Services for Contractors in 2026: Live, AI and Hybrid
Live receptionists, AI and hybrids compared for contractors: what each costs per call or minute, whether it books the job, and who it suits.
5 min read
An answering service picks up when you can't. For contractors, the question is what happens next: a message you return an hour later, or a job on the calendar. Live services put a trained person on the line; AI answers every call at once for far less per minute; hybrids do some of each.
We compared six options contractors often weigh in September 2026. We make CrewRobin, one of them.
Key takeaways
- Live services like Ruby and AnswerConnect work out to roughly $1.30 to $5 a minute at their published plan prices; AI tools cost a fraction of that.
- Most live services take messages or book through calendar integrations; few book into field service software.
- Smith.ai offers AI, hybrid and human plans with published per-call prices.
- If the goal is booked jobs, look for a service that checks your service area and books real open times during the call.
Disclosure: we make CrewRobin, one of the tools on this list. Every other product's details come from its public pages or published reviews, checked in September 2026 and linked at the end. We include each tool's real strengths, and say who it suits better than us.
How we compared them
We chose services contractors commonly shortlist, used their own pricing pages in September 2026, and compared how they bill (per minute, per call or flat), whether they book jobs, and their languages.
At a glance
| Service | Who answers | Published price | Books jobs? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ruby | Live people | $250/month for 50 minutes; $720 for 200 | Through scheduling integrations |
| AnswerConnect | Live people | $350/month for 200 minutes (+$49.99 setup) | Calendar booking included |
| Smith.ai | AI, hybrid or live | AI from $150/month for 75–300 calls; live from $300 for 30 calls | Into Jobber, Housecall Pro or calendars |
| Broadly | AI (Premium plan) | $999/month + $350 setup for Premium with 300 AI minutes | Yes, on Premium |
| Rosie | AI | $49/month for 250 minutes | Calendar booking from $149 |
| CrewRobin | AI | $99/month; call time from 1,500 monthly credits | Yes, on technicians' calendars |
The tools, one by one
1. Ruby
Best for: Contractors who want a person on every call
Price: $250/month for 50 minutes, $395 for 100, $720 for 200, $1,725 for 500; overage rate not published
Live receptionists 24/7 with Spanish included, AI transcripts and robocall filtering. Minutes round up per call and don't roll over. Field service integrations listed: FieldPulse and JobNimbus.
Where it shines: Polished, human service with a long track record.
Watch out for: Expensive per minute, and busy months can mean overages.
2. AnswerConnect
Best for: Human answering with more minutes per dollar
Price: Entry $350/month for 200 minutes (+$49.99 setup, $2.50 per extra minute); Growth $395 for 300 minutes ($1.85 per extra minute)
Human-only answering, 24/7/365, with recordings, calendar booking and CRM integrations included. Minutes round up; the first 30 calls under 30 seconds are free. Spanish and transcription are add-ons.
Where it shines: Cheaper per minute than Ruby, with booking included.
Watch out for: Still priced per minute; setup fee on some plans.
3. Smith.ai
Best for: Contractors who want AI with human backup, or bookings in Jobber or Housecall Pro
Price: AI free for 25 calls, then from $150/month for 75 to 300 calls; live from $300/month for 30 calls
AI-first, hybrid and human-first answering in English and Spanish. Books into Jobber and Housecall Pro. Human plans charge per call for booking, recordings and Spanish.
Where it shines: Flexible mix of AI and people.
Watch out for: Its own pages list different per-call AI prices; add-ons pile up on human plans.
4. Broadly
Best for: Home service businesses wanting marketing, reviews and AI answering from one vendor
Price: Standard $399/month; Pro $699 (adds missed-call text-back); Premium $999 (adds an AI voice receptionist with 300 minutes); $350 setup each
A marketing and reputation suite for home services, with AI conversations also sold standalone from $139 to $199 a month. Month to month.
Where it shines: Reviews, marketing and answering together.
Watch out for: The AI receptionist is on the most expensive plan.
5. Rosie
Best for: Solo operators on a tight budget
Price: $49/month for 250 minutes; $149 for 1,000 minutes (adds calendar booking); $299 for 2,000
AI answering 24/7 in English and Spanish, with recordings and transcripts. Lists Google Calendar and Zapier rather than field service integrations.
Where it shines: Lowest price here.
Watch out for: Booking starts on the $149 plan; overage rate not published.
6. CrewRobin
Best for: Shops with 2 to 15 trucks that want calls booked, not just answered
Price: $99, $199 or $349 a month, with call time paid from 1,500, 4,000 or 12,000 monthly credits; free until your first 10 booked jobs
An AI receptionist that asks the problem, address, ZIP and urgency, checks your service area, gives only your price ranges and books one of up to three open times on your technicians' calendars. Missed callers get a text, customers get reminders, and jobs carry on to quotes, invoices and review requests.
Where it shines: Books real jobs and includes the follow-up tools.
Watch out for: AI only, English only; transfers only emergencies, and only to the owner's cell.
How to choose
- Decide whether callers need a person. If yes, look at Ruby, AnswerConnect or Smith.ai's hybrid plans.
- Estimate your monthly minutes, including busy seasons, and price each option at that volume.
- Check what happens after the call: a message, a calendar booking, or a job in your software.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an answering service cost for a contractor?
In September 2026, live services started around $250 to $350 a month for 50 to 200 minutes; AI services from $49 a month. CrewRobin starts at $99 a month with the receptionist and field service tools included.
Is an AI answering service better than a live one?
AI answers every call at once and costs far less per minute; people handle unusual or emotional calls better. Many contractors use AI for volume and keep a person for escalations.
Can an answering service book jobs for a plumber?
Some can: Smith.ai books into Jobber and Housecall Pro, AnswerConnect includes calendar booking, and CrewRobin books onto your technicians' calendars.
Try it on your own phone line
Hear an AI answer one of your own calls. Set up your job types and hours, make a test call, and listen to how it handles a real problem. CrewRobin is free until your first 10 booked jobs, no card up front. Start free or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in September 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
