Ringbrook vs Ruby: an AI receptionist for trades at a fraction of the price
Ruby is a well-known live receptionist service with real people answering. Ringbrook is an AI receptionist named Brook, built for trade businesses. Here's an honest side-by-side so you can pick what fits your shop.
Price and what you get
| Ringbrook | Ruby | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $99 a month | $250 a month |
| Included | 250 minutes (about 100–125 calls) | 50 minutes |
| Bigger plans | $179 for 600 min · $299 for 1,200 min | $395 for 100 min · $720 for 200 min · $1,725 for 500 min |
| Cost per included minute | About 40¢ or less | About $3.45–$5 |
| Who answers | Brook, an AI (and she says so) | Live human receptionists |
| How you get the call | A text with name, number, problem and address seconds after the call | Messages from their receptionists |
| Recordings | Every call recorded and written out | Check their site |
| Contract | None. Cancel anytime | Month to month |
| Try it | Free for 7 days, no card, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee | 21-day money-back guarantee |
Prices from each company's published pricing, checked October 2026. They can change, so check their site before you decide.
Which one fits your shop
Pick Ruby if…
You want a real person on every call, you have the budget, and your calls are long conversations, like law offices or clinics. Ruby is good at that.
Pick Ringbrook if…
You're a plumber, HVAC tech, electrician or other trade, and most calls are short: who's calling, what's wrong, where are you. Brook gets that, flags emergencies and texts you the job, at roughly a fifth of Ruby's price per minute.
The math
100 missed calls a month at about 2 minutes each is 200 minutes. On Ruby that's the $720 plan. On Ringbrook it fits inside Starter at $99.
What owners ask us
Is Ringbrook cheaper than Ruby?
Yes. Ringbrook starts at $99 a month for 250 minutes. Ruby starts at $250 a month for 50 minutes, based on Ruby's published pricing checked in October 2026.
Does Ringbrook use real people like Ruby?
No. Ringbrook's receptionist is an AI named Brook, and she tells callers she's an AI. If you need a human on every call, Ruby is built for that.
Can I keep my business number?
Yes. You forward the calls you miss to Ringbrook with a short code from your phone. Your number stays the same.
Is there a contract?
No. Ringbrook is month to month with no setup fee, a free first week with no card, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Hear Brook answer your business, out loud
Type your business name and trade, and Brook makes a short recording of herself answering a call for you. Or call 580-312-2692 and pretend you're one of your customers.
580-312-2692