Speechless vs Ruby: AI receptionist or live human receptionist?
Ruby is staffed by people. Trained receptionists answer your calls around the clock, in English and Spanish, and can schedule appointments. Speechless is an AI voice agent that answers the same calls for $39 a month. The honest question is whether your callers need a human on the line.
Ruby's published virtual receptionist plans run from $250 a month for 50 minutes to $1,725 a month for 500 minutes. Speechless Starter is $39 a month with 250 minutes. Here is the full comparison, sourced, including where Ruby is the better fit.
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The differences that matter
$250 for 50 minutes vs $39 for 250
Ruby lists four plans: $250 for 50 minutes, $395 for 100, $720 for 200 and $1,725 for 500. A 500-minute month on Speechless Starter is $89: $39 covers the first 250 minutes and the other 250 are $0.20 each.
Overage is published on one side
Ruby's pricing page does not state a rate for minutes past your plan. Speechless publishes it: $0.20 a minute on Starter, $0.17 on Pro and $0.15 on Scale.
A test call before you pay
With Speechless you build the agent in a short chat, test it with a call in your browser, and pay nothing until you add a card. Adding a card starts a 14-day free trial of Starter. Ruby's pricing page does not state trial terms.
Speechless vs Ruby, side by side
| Speechless | Ruby | |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | An AI voice agent, 24/7, several calls at once | Trained human receptionists, “live support 24/7” |
| Entry plan | $39/mo, 250 minutes included | $250/mo, 50 minutes included |
| Larger plans | $129/mo for 1,000 minutes · $249/mo for 2,000 minutes | $395/mo for 100 minutes · $720/mo for 200 · $1,725/mo for 500 |
| Overage | Published: $0.20/min on Starter ($0.17 Pro, $0.15 Scale) | Not published on the pricing page |
| Languages | English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian; switches to the caller's language | English and Spanish, with a bilingual receptionist available 24/7 |
| Contracts and fees | No contracts, no setup fees, cancel with one click | “No long-term contracts”; no activation, onboarding or setup fees, per Ruby |
Facts checked October 2026 against Ruby's pricing page and ruby.com. Competitor pricing and terms change, so confirm current figures on their site.
Where Ruby is the better fit
If your callers need a person who can read the situation and use judgment, Ruby is the right choice and an AI receptionist is not. Ruby's receptionists are people, they schedule appointments, and Ruby lists HIPAA-compliant services on its pricing page. Speechless is not HIPAA compliant. If a human voice on every call matters more to you than the monthly price, pay for Ruby.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does Ruby cost?
- Ruby's virtual receptionist plans are $250 a month for 50 minutes, $395 for 100 minutes, $720 for 200 minutes and $1,725 for 500 minutes (checked October 2026 on Ruby's pricing page). Speechless Starter is $39 a month with 250 minutes.
- Is an AI receptionist cheaper than Ruby?
- On published prices, yes. A 200-minute month is $720 on Ruby's third plan and $39 on Speechless Starter, which includes 250 minutes. They are different services, though: Ruby is people answering, Speechless is an AI voice agent.
- What does Ruby charge for extra minutes?
- Ruby's pricing page does not state an overage rate, so ask Ruby before you sign up. Speechless publishes its overage: $0.20 a minute on Starter, $0.17 on Pro and $0.15 on Scale.
- Can Speechless replace a live receptionist?
- For most calls to a small service business, yes. Speechless answers 24/7, answers questions from the facts you give it, takes messages, books appointments, and puts urgent calls through to your phone. If your callers need a person to judge a sensitive situation, a live service like Ruby is the better fit.
- When is Ruby the better choice?
- When callers need a human voice and human judgment on every call, or when you need HIPAA-compliant call handling. Ruby lists both a human-answered service and HIPAA-compliant services. Speechless is AI only and is not HIPAA compliant.
250 minutes for $39, answered at 11 PM too.
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