Honest comparison
Conduit vs a human answering service
A human answering service puts a person on your line and bills by the minute or the call. Ruby's published plans run $250 a month for 50 receptionist minutes ($5 a minute) and $720 for 200 ($3.60); Smith.ai's human plans start at $300 for 30 calls ($10 a call) — October 2026, per ruby.com and smith.ai. People are better than any assistant on a strange or emotional call; most calls to a service business need an answer, a booked time and a text.
Prices verified 2026-10-11
Side by side
The same nine questions, asked of both
- Entry price and what it includes
- Human answering serviceRuby $250/mo for 50 minutes; Smith.ai $300/mo for 30 calls
- ConduitSolo $79/mo — 150 minutes, 300 texts, every capability
- What happens past the allowance
- Human answering servicePer-minute or per-call overage
- ConduitMessage-taking; optional one-time packs; no overage billing, ever
- What counts against the allowance
- Human answering serviceEvery receptionist minute or every call
- ConduitOnly a real person talking to the assistant; spam, robocalls and hang-ups under ten seconds are refunded
- Books into your calendar
- Human answering serviceScheduling on most plans; per-call add-on at some services
- ConduitEvery plan — two-way Google Calendar, capacity-aware, no double-booking
- Texting
- Human answering serviceMessages relayed to you; text follow-up often a per-call add-on
- ConduitConfirmations, reminders, missed-call text-back, mid-call links — once carrier registration clears (we file and chase it)
- Emergency path
- Human answering serviceTrained people follow your call instructions
- ConduitPuts the caller through to you, then texts each emergency contact in turn until someone opens the alert
- Disclosure
- Human answering servicePeople answer
- ConduitEvery call opens with the AI-and-recording sentence; it can't be removed
- Owner visibility
- Human answering serviceMessages and, at some services, transcripts
- ConduitEvery recording and transcript in Calls; one briefing every morning; every lead written down
- Trial / guarantee
- Human answering serviceRuby: 21-day money-back; Smith.ai human plans: 30-day money-back
- ConduitNo trial; free setup; 30-day money-back on the first payment
Human answering service pricing and features are read from their own published pages and were verified on 2026-10-11 (October 11, 2026). Plans change — check their site before deciding. Trademarks belong to their owners; named for identification only.
If your callers need a person — crisis lines, grief, a delicate intake — hire people, and pay what people cost. By the minute that cost is high: 200 minutes is $720 a month at Ruby, inside Conduit Team's $149, and Conduit books into your calendar, texts the confirmation and briefs you every morning on every plan. Pick a human service when the call needs judgment; pick Conduit when most calls need an answer and a booked time.
Compare further: every comparison · the best AI receptionists, ranked honestly · what an AI receptionist costs · Conduit pricing
Questions
Common questions
What does a human answering service cost?
Ruby's published plans run $250 a month for 50 receptionist minutes ($5 a minute) and $720 for 200 ($3.60); Smith.ai's human plans start at $300 for 30 calls ($10 a call) — October 2026, per ruby.com and smith.ai.
Don't callers hate talking to an assistant?
Some prefer a person, which is why every Conduit call opens with an AI disclosure and a caller who wants you gets a message taken or, in an emergency, is put through. Most people calling a service business want an answer now and a booked time.
Can I switch from an answering service to Conduit?
Yes. Your number stays yours: build your assistant free, pick a plan when you're ready, and point your call forwarding at your assistant's number. Forwarding is reversible, so switching back is pointing it back. Calls work from day one; texting switches on once carrier registration clears.
Prices on this page verified 2026-10-11 · Trademarks belong to their owners; named for identification only.