The best AI receptionists for contractors in 2026
For a contractor who wants an AI receptionist built and owned outright, Modern Mustard Seed. For a larger shop on ServiceTitan, Avoca. For a low-cost agent you set up yourself, Goodcall from $79 a month or Rosie from $49. For a human on every call, Ruby from $250 a month, or Smith.ai from $300 a month for AI answering with people behind it. Prices are from each company's pricing page, checked October 5, 2026.
Last checked October 5, 2026.
Who each one is best for
- Modern Mustard SeedBest for owners who want it built for them and owned outright
- AvocaBest for larger home service companies running ServiceTitan
- GoodcallBest for a low-cost AI agent you set up yourself
- RosieBest for the lowest entry price
- Smith.aiBest for AI answering with trained human agents behind it
- RubyBest for businesses that want a live human on every call
Modern Mustard Seed(that's us)
A US AI studio in Kalispell, Montana that builds a custom AI voice receptionist around one business: its services, service area, prices and booking rules, in a natural voice. Built, tested and handed over.
Strengths
- Built for you, not a platform to configure yourself.
- Answers every call at once, around the clock, and books into your calendar.
- Can share one set of business facts with your website and Google profile.
- You own the configuration and accounts; changes to what we built are included.
Watch for
- Not a self-serve sign-up. It starts with a discovery call and a written scope.
- Overkill if you get a handful of calls a week.
PriceSet package price, quoted after a free discovery call
See what we buildAvoca
Calls itself "The AI Front Office for Service Businesses": an AI CSR for inbound booking, outbound campaigns, call coaching and web chat, for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, garage door, pest control and more.
Strengths
- A certified ServiceTitan app, with Housecall Pro and FieldRoutes integrations named on its site.
- Built specifically for the trades.
- Call coaching and analytics for a CSR team.
Watch for
- Pricing is not published; it starts with a demo.
- Aimed at companies with a dispatch board and a CSR team.
PriceNot published. Book a demo.
Source: Avoca websiteGoodcall
A self-serve AI phone agent priced per agent, with unlimited minutes on every plan and limits set by unique customers a month.
Strengths
- Unlimited minutes on all plans.
- Free trial on every plan.
- Annual billing takes 15% off.
Watch for
- Plans cap unique customers a month (100 on Starter), with $0.50 per extra customer.
- You configure the logic flows yourself.
PriceStarter $79 a month per agent, Growth $129, Scale $249; $66, $108 and $208 billed annually.
Source: Goodcall websiteRosie
An AI answering service for small businesses, priced by minutes a month.
Strengths
- The lowest starting price on this list.
- 7-day free trial, cancel anytime.
Watch for
- Minute caps per plan; the pricing page does not list overage rates.
- Self-serve setup.
PriceProfessional $49 a month (250 minutes), Scale $149 (1,000), Growth $299 (2,000).
Source: Rosie websiteSmith.ai
A receptionist service offering AI-first and human-first plans, with live-staffed 24/7 answering, lead screening and intake.
Strengths
- Choice of AI-first or human-first handling.
- Does not charge for spam calls, per its pricing page.
- 30-day money-back guarantee.
Watch for
- Billed per call, with overage from $8.50 to $11.50 a call.
- Appointment booking is a $1.50 per-call add-on.
PriceStarter $300 a month (30 calls), Basic $810 (90 calls), Pro $2,100 (300 calls), Enterprise custom.
Source: Smith.ai websiteRuby
A live virtual receptionist service. Ruby describes its service as "100% live, personalized communication," with coverage 24/7 including after hours, weekends and holidays.
Strengths
- Real people answer every call.
- No activation, onboarding or setup fees, per its pricing page.
- Live chat plans for your website too.
Watch for
- Plans are metered by minutes: 50 minutes on the Starter plan.
- Cost grows with call volume.
PriceStarter $250 a month (50 minutes), Professional $395 (100), Business $720 (200), Enterprise $1,725 (500).
Source: Ruby website- We read each company's own pricing and product pages on October 5, 2026, and only list what they publish.
- We sorted by who each option fits, not by a single ranking, because a one-truck roofer and a forty-tech HVAC company need different things.
- We judged on what a contractor actually needs: answering every call during a rush, after-hours coverage, booking the job, and what happens to the bill when volume spikes.
- Modern Mustard Seed wrote this page and builds AI receptionists. We are on the list, and we gave every option the same space.
Last checked October 5, 2026. Prices change; check each source before you buy.
Common questions
What is the best AI receptionist for a small contractor?
+
It depends on who will set it up. If you want it built for you and owned, a studio like Modern Mustard Seed. If you want to configure it yourself on a budget, Goodcall or Rosie. If you need a human on every call, Ruby.
How much does an AI receptionist cost for a contractor?
+
Self-serve AI agents start around $49 to $79 a month (Rosie, Goodcall). Live and hybrid services start at $250 to $300 a month (Ruby, Smith.ai). Built-for-you receptionists are quoted as a set package price.
Can an AI receptionist book jobs into my calendar?
+
Yes, most can. Check whether booking is included or an add-on: Smith.ai lists appointment booking at $1.50 a call.
Where can I hear an AI receptionist before I buy?
+
Call (406) 312-1223 to hear Mr. Mustard, the Modern Mustard Seed voice agent, any time.
Want it built for you?
Tell us what the business needs. We scope it in a free discovery call and agree a set package price before work starts.