# Smith.ai vs Ruby

> Smith.ai vs Ruby side by side: an AI receptionist vs live people, starting price from each maker, and who each fits.

Source: https://busyworkbots.com/compare/smith-ai-vs-ruby/
Publisher: BusyWorkBots (run by TimeGentic LLC). Written by the BusyWorkBots Editorial Team: https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/

2 tools side by side: what each one does, who it fits, and what it costs on the maker’s own site. The directory is free to search; the tools are paid.

By [BusyWorkBots Editorial Team](https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/)

**Short answer:** Smith.ai answers your calls with an AI receptionist, and Ruby answers with live, trained people. Smith.ai has a free plan with 25 calls a month, and Pro is $150/mo. Ruby's plans start at $250/mo.

Last updated: Oct 25, 2026 · 2 tools · [How we pick](https://busyworkbots.com/how-we-pick/)

## About this comparison

Smith.ai answers calls 24/7 with an AI receptionist, asks callers questions to find good leads, books appointments and writes up a summary of each call.

Ruby answers calls 24/7 with live receptionists, takes down new leads, books appointments and passes calls to you.

The big choice: do you want an AI voice or a real person on the line? More picks are on our [AI receptionist list](https://busyworkbots.com/best/ai-receptionist/).

## The tools

- ### [Smith.ai](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/smith-ai/)

   (~1–3 hrs/wk est.)

  AI receptionist answers calls, books, and takes messages.

  Any Business Free plan · Pro $150/mo Easy
- ### [Ruby](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/ruby/)

   (~1–3 hrs/wk est.)

  Live receptionists answer calls 24/7.

  Any Business From $250/mo Easy

## Compare them side by side

Smith.ai vs Ruby: side by side

| Tool | What it does | Best for | Price (maker’s site) | Setup | Time saved | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Smith.ai](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/smith-ai/) | AI receptionist answers calls, books, and takes messages. | Any small business that misses calls and wants them answered, sorted, and booked. | Free plan (25 calls/mo); Pro $150/mo | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | [Maker’s page](https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist) |
| [Ruby](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/ruby/) | Live receptionists answer calls 24/7. | Any small business that wants a real person, not a robot, answering its calls. | From $250/mo | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | [Maker’s page](https://www.ruby.com/) |

Prices are what each maker’s own pricing page showed on Oct 25, 2026. “See site” means the page did not show a clear price. What it does, setup and hours come from our listing and its source. “Our estimate” is our guess from similar tools, not a measured number. The directory is free to search; the tools are paid products from each maker, and prices change often. None of these links pay us.

## Who each one fits best

- **Smith.ai:** Any small business that misses calls and wants them answered, sorted, and booked.
- **Ruby:** Any small business that wants a real person, not a robot, answering its calls.

From each tool’s page on BusyWorkBots. We don’t pick a winner, and no maker paid to be here.

## Questions people ask

### Is Smith.ai an AI or a person?

The Smith.ai plan we list is an AI receptionist. Ruby uses live, trained people.

### How much do Smith.ai and Ruby cost?

Smith.ai's pricing page shows a free plan with 25 calls a month ($3 per call after that) and Pro at $150/mo. Ruby says its plans start at $250/month. We read both on Oct 25, 2026.

### Is either one free?

Smith.ai lists a free plan with 25 calls a month. Ruby does not list one. The directory is free to search. The tools themselves are made and priced by each maker.

### How does BusyWorkBots pick these?

Every listing links to a real source, a case study, a builder's post, or the maker's page. Numbers from the company selling the tool are labeled as a maker or vendor claim. We don't test every tool.

## Related lists

- [Smith.ai alternatives](https://busyworkbots.com/alternatives/smith-ai/)
- [Best AI receptionists for small business](https://busyworkbots.com/best/ai-receptionist/)
- [Best AI bots for answering calls in Any Business](https://busyworkbots.com/best/calls-bots-for-any-business/)
- [Hours-saved calculator: a rough estimate for your business](https://busyworkbots.com/tools/hours-saved-calculator/)

[See every bot on BusyWorkBots →](https://busyworkbots.com/bots/)

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