The best AI receptionist for contractors
The best AI receptionist for a contractor answers 24/7, books jobs straight onto your calendar, handles Spanish speaking callers, and sends real emergencies to you right away. Here's how four popular options compare on price and features.
We make RiverX, so weigh that when you read this. Every competitor price comes from that company's own pricing page.
What contractors need from a receptionist
- Answers while you're on a job, after hours and on weekends
- Books onto your calendar, not just takes messages
- Handles many calls at once during storm season and heat waves
- Speaks Spanish
- Sends emergencies to you right away
- Texts back anyone who hangs up
The options compared
| Starting price | What you get | Who answers | Booking | Spanish | Best for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RiverX Plus | $497 a month plus call time | Website and hosting, reputation management, AI receptionist, AI follow-up, booking, CRM and phone system | AI | Included | Included | Contractors who want it set up for them, with a website, CRM and reviews included |
| Rosie | $49 a month | AI phone answering and website chat widget | AI | On the $149 plan and up | Included | Tight budgets and simple call answering |
| Smith.ai live receptionist | $300 a month for 30 calls | Live call answering and intake | Live humans | Add-on, $1.50 per call | Add-on, $1.00 per call | Businesses that want a person on every call |
| Ruby | $250 a month for 50 minutes | Live call answering | Live humans | Included | Included | Low call volume and a human touch |
Prices as listed on each company's pricing page on October 22, 2026.
RiverX
A 24/7 AI receptionist built for roofers, plumbers, HVAC, electricians and auto shops, and the rest of the front desk with it. Plus includes your website built and hosted, reputation management, AI follow-up by text and email, appointment booking, a CRM and a business phone system. It books straight to your calendar, answers in English and Spanish, texts back anyone who hangs up, and calls you right away on emergencies. We set it up in 7 days. $497 a month plus call time at $0.15 to $0.20 a minute, billed at our cost. Month to month, 14-day money-back guarantee.
See AI receptionist for roofers, for plumbers, for HVAC, for electricians.
Rosie
An AI phone answering service with plans at $49, $149 and $299 a month for 250, 1,000 and 2,000 minutes. Spanish is included on every plan. The $149 and $299 plans book straight onto your calendar. A good value if you mainly need calls answered.
Smith.ai
A live answering service with human receptionists 24/7. Live plans start at $300 a month for 30 calls, with booking and Spanish available as per-call add-ons. Smith.ai also offers AI-first plans. A good fit if you want a person on every call.
Ruby
A live virtual receptionist service with plans from $250 a month for 50 minutes up to $1,725 a month for 500 minutes. Spanish and scheduling are included. A good fit if your call volume is low and you want a human on the phone.
Hear it before you decide
Call our live demo line and try to book a job. Hang up early and see what happens.
Straight answers
What's the best AI receptionist for a roofing company?
Look for one that handles many calls at once during storm season, books inspections onto your calendar, and calls you right away on active leaks. RiverX is built for that.
What's the cheapest option?
Rosie starts at $49 a month for 250 minutes. Check whether that plan books onto your calendar and how many minutes you'll use in a busy month.
Is a human answering service better than AI for contractors?
A human service puts a person on every call but charges dollars per minute or per call, which adds up in busy seasons. An AI receptionist answers every call for cents per minute.