Yes. AI answering services can now pick up every call, capture the job details, book visits and push true emergencies to your cell, though they are still poor at calming a frightened caller. For most small trade businesses we recommend Rosie: $49 a month for 250 minutes, English and Spanish, and a 7 day free trial. If you already run Jobber, its $29 Receptionist add on is the cheapest way in.
Affordable plans with booking, emergency keywords and live transfers are available today, and a published 30 day field test on a heating repair business shows real jobs captured, along with real gaps.- Our pickRosieStarts at $49/month for 250 minutes
- Budget pickJobber ReceptionistStarts at $29/month add on for 30 conversations
- Upgrade pickSamedayStarts at $449/month for 500 minutes
- Best free optionSmith.aiFree for 25 calls/month; paid plans start at $150/month
- Also greatHousecall Pro CSR AIHousecall Pro plans start at $59/month billed yearly; CSR AI price not published
Rosie
Best for most small trade businesses, whatever job software they use.
Rosie lists home services, plumbing, HVAC, electricians and construction among the trades it serves, and says more than 2,000 small businesses use it Rosie features ↗. It answers 24/7, takes several calls at once, filters spam and sales calls, and sends you a summary, transcript and recording by email or text Rosie features ↗. It learns your business from your Google Business Profile and website, so setup starts with your real services and hours Rosie features ↗. Every plan speaks English and Spanish, which matters for many trade businesses Rosie pricing ↗.
The pricing suits a busy phone line. The Professional plan is $49 a month for 250 minutes, Scale is $149 for 1,000 minutes, and Growth is $299 for 2,000 minutes, with two months free if you pay yearly Rosie pricing ↗. Professional texts callers an appointment link; Scale books directly on your calendar, adds warm and live transfers, and can text callers during the call Rosie pricing ↗. Growth adds waterfall transfers, which try several numbers until someone picks up, and that is useful when the owner is on a job and the dispatcher is at lunch Rosie pricing ↗. Website chat is free on all plans, and there is a 7 day free trial Rosie pricing ↗.
For most trade businesses, the $149 Scale plan is the one to buy, because live transfer is how an emergency reaches you. Rosie does not name Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan as integrations; it connects to other apps through Zapier Rosie features ↗ Rosie pricing ↗. Its Capterra listing had no user reviews when we checked Capterra, Rosie ↗. Hands on testing is in progress; we will update this guide with results.
Why we like it
- 250 minutes for $49 a month
- English and Spanish on every plan
- Warm, live and waterfall transfers on higher plans
- Free website chat and mobile apps
- 7 day free trial
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Direct booking and live transfers need the $149 plan
- No named Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan integration
- No independent user reviews on Capterra yet
Jobber Receptionist
Best for contractors who already run their business on Jobber.
If you use Jobber, its Receptionist is the cheapest good answer. It is a $29 a month add on that includes 30 conversations, with $0.79 for each extra one; spam and calls with no conversation do not count, and it is included with unlimited use on the Plus plan Jobber help center ↗ Jobber pricing ↗. Jobber emails you at 75 and 100 percent of your limit, and you choose whether to pay overage or pause it Jobber help center ↗.
Because it lives inside Jobber, it can book visits using your online booking settings, create work requests, reschedule or cancel, look up upcoming visits and add client notes Jobber help center ↗. It answers calls and texts 24/7, texts back callers who hang up, and logs each conversation with a summary, transcript and recording Jobber Receptionist ↗. You choose emergency words such as burst pipe or no heat, and when a caller says one, Receptionist transfers the call to you or texts you a transcript snippet with a callback link Jobber Receptionist ↗ Jobber help center ↗.
Limits to know: you need a Jobber dedicated phone number, available in the US, Canada and the UK; only admins can see the dashboard; and rescheduling needs online booking turned on Jobber help center ↗. Supported languages are not listed Jobber help center ↗. Thirty conversations a month is small, so a busy shop will pay overage or should price out the Plus plan. Jobber's 14 day free trial covers its Grow plan with no credit card Jobber pricing ↗.
Why we like it
- $29 a month add on, unlimited on Jobber Plus
- Books visits and creates requests inside Jobber
- Emergency keywords trigger a transfer or text alert
- Texts back callers who hang up
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Only for Jobber users
- Only 30 conversations included before overage
- Languages not stated
Sameday
Best for growing HVAC, plumbing and electrical shops on ServiceTitan.
Sameday is built for home service companies and its scheduling works with ServiceTitan, including ServiceTitan Phones Pro Sameday pricing ↗. If you dispatch out of ServiceTitan, that matters: calls turn into booked jobs in the system your dispatchers already use instead of messages someone must retype.
The Launch plan is $449 a month and starts with 500 minutes, unlimited users, three locations and customizable AI Sameday pricing ↗. Scale is $789 a month for 1,000 minutes, unlimited locations and voice cloning, so the AI can sound like a voice you choose Sameday pricing ↗. Enterprise adds multilingual voices, analytics, API access and custom integrations Sameday pricing ↗. Sameday says most users can take calls within about 30 minutes Sameday pricing ↗.
The pricing page does not list overage rates, a free trial or contract terms, and sign up runs through a demo Sameday pricing ↗. That makes it a bigger commitment than our other picks. It is worth it once missed calls cost you several jobs a week and your team already lives in ServiceTitan.
Why we like it
- Scheduling with ServiceTitan
- Unlimited users on every plan
- Multi location support
- Fast setup claimed
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Starts at $449 a month
- No free trial or overage rate listed
- Sign up through a demo
Smith.ai
Best for a solo contractor who misses only a few calls a week.
Smith.ai's free plan covers 25 real calls a month, plus 25 test and 50 simulated calls so you can try your script before customers hear it Smith.ai pricing ↗. Known spam does not count toward your quota Smith.ai pricing ↗. For a one person shop that misses a call or two a day, that may be all you need. After 25 calls, extra calls cost $3.00 each, and the Pro plan is $150 a month for 75 calls Smith.ai pricing ↗.
The AI can schedule through Calendly and other tools and collect payments, and plans are month to month with 30 days' notice Smith.ai pricing ↗. It does not name any field service software, so jobs will not land in Jobber or ServiceTitan on their own Smith.ai pricing ↗.
Why we like it
- Free for 25 real calls a month
- Test calls before going live
- Month to month
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Expensive per call after the free tier
- No field service software named
Housecall Pro CSR AI
Best for contractors already on Housecall Pro who want calls booked from their price book.
Housecall Pro's CSR AI answers calls and chats 24/7 and books jobs and estimates by matching what the caller needs to items in your price book and open slots on your calendar Housecall Pro CSR AI ↗ Housecall Pro help ↗. If a customer asks for a person, it collects their details and transfers the call to a number you choose or to a Housecall Pro human assist rep Housecall Pro CSR AI ↗. Text answering was still in alpha Housecall Pro CSR AI ↗.
Housecall Pro plans start at $59 a month billed yearly, with a 14 day free trial and no credit card Housecall Pro pricing ↗. The CSR AI page does not list its own price, and the pricing page does not say whether it is included, so ask before you count on it Housecall Pro CSR AI ↗ Housecall Pro pricing ↗. Its help center says the AI tells callers it is AI and that the call is recorded Housecall Pro help ↗.
Why we like it
- Books from your Housecall Pro price book
- Transfers to you or a human assist rep
- Free trial, no card
Flaws but not dealbreakers
- Only for Housecall Pro users
- CSR AI price not published
- Text answering still in alpha
Compare them
| Tool | Starting price | Free trial | Answers calls | Texts and chat | Books jobs | Emergency transfer | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RosieOur pick | $49/mo (250 min) | 7 days | Yes | Text links; free web chat | Links on base plan; direct from $149 | Warm and live from $149 | Most small trade shops |
| Jobber ReceptionistBudget pick | $29/mo add on (30 conversations) | 14 day Jobber trial | Yes | Yes, texts | Yes, in Jobber | Yes, keyword triggered | Jobber users |
| SamedayUpgrade pick | $449/mo (500 min) | Not stated | Yes | Not stated | Yes, ServiceTitan scheduling | Not stated | ServiceTitan shops |
| Smith.aiBest free option | Free (25 calls); Pro $150/mo | Free plan | Yes | Not stated | Yes, via Calendly and others | Not stated | Very low volume |
| Housecall Pro CSR AIAlso great | Not published | 14 day Housecall Pro trial | Yes | Chat; texts in alpha | Yes, in Housecall Pro | Transfer on request | Housecall Pro users |
| Upfirst | $24.95/mo (30 calls) | 14 days, no card | Yes | Texts during calls | Yes, Google, Outlook, Square and more | Warm transfers | Low volume, any software |
Prices and features from each vendor’s site, checked Oct 9, 2026. Prices change often.
Who this is for
This guide is for plumbers, HVAC techs, electricians, roofers, landscapers, cleaners and other trade businesses with a small team and no full time dispatcher, or a dispatcher who cannot answer every line. You are on a job, your hands are full, and the phone keeps ringing.
An AI answering service picks up, asks what the problem is and where the job is, books the visit or takes a request, and texts you a summary. For a true emergency it can transfer the call or alert you right away.
The numbers can work. In a published 30 day field report on a small heating repair business with three engineers, an AI agent captured 89 bookings or callback requests from 214 calls that would have gone to voicemail, and 21 became paid jobs worth about £3,465 against roughly £172 in cost Bullock field report ↗. That was one business for one month, reported by a consultant who sells AI setup services, so treat it as an example, not a promise Bullock field report ↗.
Why you should trust us
We read each vendor's pricing, feature and help center pages, checked every price on October 9, 2026, and looked for independent user reviews. We also read the 30 day field report above Bullock field report ↗ and a legal guide on call recording DMLP recording law ↗. Every fact links to the page it came from.
We have not tested these tools hands on yet. Hands on testing is in progress, and we will update this guide with results, including how each one handles an emergency call and books into field service software. No vendor paid for placement, and our picks were chosen on merit.
How we picked
We started with general AI receptionists that sell to trades, AI features built into field service software, and services built only for home service companies. We dropped tools that sell only to large call centers, such as those aimed at companies with several million dollars in revenue and multiple customer service reps ContractorToolStack, Avoca ↗.
Emergency handling mattered most. A no heat call in January or a burst pipe cannot sit in an inbox. Booking came next, ideally into the job software you already use. Then price, because many trade businesses are one to five people.
- Transfers or alerts you instantly on emergency calls
- Books visits or creates job requests, ideally in Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan
- Published pricing that fits a small shop
- English and Spanish support
- Free trial on real calls
- Summaries, transcripts and recordings for every call
What an AI answering service can and can't do today
It is good at routine calls: booking, prices, availability and whether you cover a caller's area. The field report found the AI handled these low stakes calls well Bullock field report ↗. Built in tools go further: Jobber's Receptionist books with your online booking settings and Housecall Pro's books from your price book Jobber help center ↗ Housecall Pro help ↗.
It can flag emergencies if you set it up. Jobber lets you pick trigger words such as burst pipe or no heat to transfer the call or text you Jobber Receptionist ↗. Rosie offers live and waterfall transfers on its higher plans Rosie pricing ↗.
It is still weak at reassurance. In the field report, the AI struggled with urgent, emotional calls, and two real emergency callouts sat for days because the owner only read transcripts once a week Bullock field report ↗. Some callers also hang up on a robot: 41 of the 214 callers hung up within ten seconds Bullock field report ↗. Saying up front that it is an AI and offering a way to reach a person within 15 seconds reduced those hang ups Bullock field report ↗.
Before you sign up
Decide where the AI fits. The field report suggests letting it answer after hours, and during the day only after about three rings, so it catches the calls you cannot take instead of replacing you Bullock field report ↗. It also suggests a simple math check first: average job value, times your close rate, times missed calls a month Bullock field report ↗.
Set up emergency routing on day one, with a transfer number that is not your main line, and read transcripts daily for the first weeks, not weekly Jobber help center ↗ Bullock field report ↗.
Add a recording notice. Federal law needs one party's consent, but states including California, Florida, Pennsylvania and Washington require everyone's consent DMLP recording law ↗. Housecall Pro's AI already discloses that it is AI and that the call is recorded Housecall Pro help ↗.
- List your emergency words and a transfer number
- Disclose the AI in the first sentence and offer a human
- Load your service area, prices and hours
- Check how overage is billed
- Read transcripts daily for the first month
What to look forward to
Field service software is folding AI deeper into the job. Jobber says a Receptionist Companion that drafts quotes and schedules visits during calls you take yourself is coming soon Jobber Receptionist ↗, and Housecall Pro is testing AI text answering Housecall Pro CSR AI ↗. Larger platforms like Avoca already run outbound follow up campaigns and score every call for coaching Avoca ↗.
We expect these features to reach smaller plans over the next year. We will update this guide as prices change and as our hands on testing finishes.
The competition
AvocaQuote only
Avoca is built for home services, books into ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro, runs outbound follow up and scores calls for coaching Avoca ↗. It sells only through a demo with no published prices or trial, and one review says it targets companies with $3 million or more in revenue and five or more customer service reps ContractorToolStack, Avoca ↗.
UpfirstStarts at $24.95/month for 30 calls
Upfirst, our top general small business pick, starts at $24.95 a month for 30 calls with a 14 day no card trial and books into Google, Outlook, Calendly and Square Upfirst pricing ↗. Per call billing gets expensive for busy trade lines, and it does not name field service software Upfirst pricing ↗.
DialzaraStarts at $29/month for 60 minutes
Dialzara starts at $29 a month for 60 minutes with booking, English and Spanish, and AI texting free with a voice plan Dialzara pricing ↗. Sixty minutes goes fast, overage is $0.48 a minute, and transfers are listed only as call routing Dialzara pricing ↗.
My AI Front DeskStarts at $99/month ($79/month billed yearly)
My AI Front Desk bundles 200 voice minutes, two way texting and website chat for $99 a month, or $79 billed yearly My AI Front Desk pricing ↗. It costs more than Rosie for basic answering and does not name trade software integrations My AI Front Desk pricing ↗.
Questions people ask
How much does an AI answering service cost for a contractor?
Jobber's Receptionist is a $29 a month add on for Jobber users Jobber pricing ↗, Rosie starts at $49 a month for 250 minutes Rosie pricing ↗, and Sameday starts at $449 a month for 500 minutes Sameday pricing ↗. Smith.ai has a free plan for 25 calls a month Smith.ai pricing ↗.
Can an AI answering service handle emergency calls?
It can route them if you set it up. Jobber transfers or texts you when callers use words you pick, like burst pipe or no heat Jobber Receptionist ↗. Rosie offers live transfers from its $149 plan Rosie pricing ↗. In one field test, emergencies were missed because the owner read transcripts only weekly, so check them daily Bullock field report ↗.
Does it work with Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan?
Jobber and Housecall Pro have their own built in AI answering that books into their calendars Jobber help center ↗ Housecall Pro help ↗. Sameday schedules with ServiceTitan Sameday pricing ↗, and Avoca books into ServiceTitan and Housecall Pro Avoca ↗. Rosie connects through Zapier Rosie pricing ↗.
Will customers hang up on an AI?
Some will. In a 30 day field report, 41 of 214 callers hung up within ten seconds Bullock field report ↗. Saying it is an AI right away and offering a human quickly reduced hang ups Bullock field report ↗.
Does it speak Spanish?
Rosie answers in English and Spanish on every plan Rosie pricing ↗, and so does Dialzara Dialzara pricing ↗. Jobber does not list supported languages Jobber help center ↗.
Is there a free AI answering service?
Smith.ai's free plan covers 25 real calls a month Smith.ai pricing ↗. Rosie offers a 7 day trial Rosie pricing ↗, Upfirst a 14 day trial with no card Upfirst pricing ↗, and Jobber a 14 day trial of its Grow plan Jobber pricing ↗.
Where this comes from
Checked Oct 9, 2026. Vendor pages describe their own products; independent sources add outside views.
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