Smith.ai vs Ruby (2026): per-call vs per-minute pricing, compared from both sites
The top results for "Smith.ai vs Ruby" are a Reddit thread, Smith.ai's own comparison page, and pages from rival receptionist vendors (Loman, Infercall) that end by pitching themselves. This page uses each company's own pricing page. Where we quote one company about the other, we say so.
Short answer
- Smith.ai: per-call billing, AI agents available alongside live receptionists, deep legal practice-software list. Better fit if your calls are long intake conversations.
- Ruby: per-minute billing, 100% live receptionists, chat bundles. Better fit if calls are short and you want people only.
Pricing side by side (official sites, Oct 15-16, 2026)
| Smith.ai (AI + human receptionists) | Ruby (live receptionists) | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing unit | Per call | Per receptionist minute |
| Entry plan | $300/month for 30 calls | $250/month for 50 minutes |
| Next tiers | $810/month for 90 calls | $395 (100 min), $720 (200 min), $1,725 (500 min) per month |
| Overage | $11.50 per call (30-call plan); $10.50 (90-call plan) | Not stated on the plan cards we read |
| Chat | Separate product | From $143/month (10 chats); bundles with receptionist plans from $115 for 10 chats |
| Setup fees | Smith.ai's comparison page says none | Ruby says no fees for activation, onboarding, setup or customization |
Worked example: 40 calls a month
Arithmetic on list prices; your call mix will differ.
- Short calls (3 minutes): 40 × 3 = 120 minutes. Ruby's 200-minute plan is $720 (the 100-minute plan would be exceeded). Smith.ai's 30-call plan is $300 + 10 × $11.50 = $415.
- Long intake calls (10 minutes): 400 minutes on Ruby needs the 500-minute plan at $1,725. Smith.ai stays at $415.
Smith.ai's comparison page also says Ruby bills post-call wrap-up time as receptionist minutes. That's Smith.ai's claim; check Ruby's terms.
Other differences
- AI: Smith.ai sells AI agents alongside human receptionists. Ruby's pricing page emphasises live people.
- Legal software: Smith.ai names Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, Smokeball and Filevine. Ruby names Clio, MyCase and Filevine.
- Audience: Smith.ai's comparison page says legal is its focus. Ruby serves legal, home services, healthcare, financial and other small businesses.
Directory comparison
| Tool | Job | Price (as stated) | Integrations mentioned on official site | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith.ai Smith.ai offers the best AI agents and live North America-based receptionists to capture and convert more leads. Call answering, intake, and scheduling for small businesses since 2015. Setup in minutes. | Client intake & receptionist | AI + human receptionists: 30 calls $300/mo ($11.50 per extra call); 90 calls $810/mo ($10.50 per extra call). (checked on official site, Oct 15, 2026) [source] | Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, Smokeball, Filevine, Gmail, Salesforce, HubSpot [source] | Firms that want AI plus live North America-based receptionists for calls and lead intake. [source] |
| Ruby 15,000+ small businesses trust the virtual receptionists at Ruby to create meaningful connections over the phone and through live chat, 24/7. | Client intake & receptionist | Receptionist (calls): 50 min $250/mo, 100 min $395/mo, 200 min $720/mo, 500 min $1,725/mo; chat from $143/mo (10 chats); bundles from $115 for 10 chats. (checked on official site, Oct 16, 2026) [source] | Clio, MyCase, Filevine, Microsoft Teams, Slack, Salesforce, HubSpot, Zapier [source][source] | Small businesses, including law firms (live virtual receptionists and chat) [source] |
More: AI receptionist pricing (10 services) · AI receptionist for law firms.
Frequently asked questions
Is Smith.ai or Ruby cheaper?
It depends on call length. Ruby bills per receptionist minute (from $250/month for 50 minutes, per Ruby's pricing page). Smith.ai's AI + human receptionist plans bill per call (from $300/month for 30 calls, $11.50 per extra call). Short, frequent calls tend to favour per-minute billing. Long intake calls tend to favour per-call billing. See the worked example on this page.
How good is Smith.ai?
We haven't tested it hands-on. From its own site: live North America-based receptionists plus AI agents, per-call pricing, and integrations with Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, Smokeball and Filevine. Smith.ai says about 4,000 law firms use it; that's a vendor claim. Check recent reviews and run the money-back period on real calls before committing.
Which AI receptionist service is the best?
There's no single best. Smith.ai and Ruby are both human-first services. If you want AI-only answering at a lower monthly price, see our AI receptionist pricing guide, which compares 10 services including Rosie, Marlie AI, Goodcall and My AI Front Desk.
Do Smith.ai and Ruby both integrate with Clio?
Yes, both name Clio on their sites. Smith.ai also names MyCase, PracticePanther, Smokeball and Filevine. Ruby names Clio, MyCase and Filevine, plus Zapier.
Does Ruby use AI?
Ruby sells live virtual receptionists and managed chat. Smith.ai's comparison page says Ruby's AI supports its receptionists rather than answering calls; that's a competitor's description, not Ruby's own. Ruby's pricing page describes "100% live, personalized communication".