Ruby Receptionist pricing in 2026: plans, per-minute cost and how minutes are billed
Updated October 24, 2026
Ruby Receptionist costs $250 a month for 50 receptionist minutes, $395 for 100, $720 for 200 and $1,725 for 500, with no setup or onboarding fee, per Ruby's pricing page checked October 24, 2026. Ruby is a live virtual receptionist service: real people answer your calls 24/7, including weekends and holidays. Below is what each minute works out to, how Ruby counts a minute, and what to ask before you sign.
Only need missed callers to hear back fast? Ringback is not a receptionist: it texts every caller you miss from your own business number within seconds, with a booking link. $17/month (or $170/year) flat, not per minute, with no setup fee; 7-day free trial (no card to start; add PayPal only to keep it after the trial). Start your free trial
Ruby's virtual receptionist plans
| Minutes a month | Price a month | Works out to (price ÷ minutes) | Ruby says it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | $250 | $5.00 a minute | Startups |
| 100 | $395 | $3.95 a minute | One-person businesses |
| 200 | $720 | $3.60 a minute | Small businesses ("most popular") |
| 500 | $1,725 | $3.45 a minute | Larger, growing businesses |
Source: ruby.com/pricing, checked October 24, 2026. The per-minute column is our division of Ruby's price by its included minutes; it is not a rate Ruby quotes.
Listed on every plan: 24/7 live answering including weekends and holidays, Spanish and bilingual call handling, and "optional AI enhancements" at no extra cost. Ruby also sells live website chat: $143 a month for 10 chats, $335 for 30, $520 for 50, with 20% off when added to a receptionist plan ($115, $268 and $416).
How Ruby counts a minute
From Ruby's help-center article Ruby Billing Basics (dated September 9, 2026):
- The clock starts the moment a receptionist receives the call, and hold time counts.
- Minutes are billed in 60-second increments, rounded up: a ten-second call is billed as a full minute.
- Time after the call is transferred to you or to your voicemail is not counted.
- The plan fee is billed in advance each month; minutes over your plan are billed afterwards at your plan's overage rate, which the public pricing page does not list.
Working out your own monthly cost
Your cost depends on how many calls reach Ruby and how long each one takes, so do the sum with your own numbers. As an example only: if 40 calls a month reach Ruby and each takes 2 minutes once rounded up, that is 80 minutes, which is over the 50-minute plan, so you would compare the 50-minute plan plus overage against the $395 plan for 100 minutes. Ask Ruby for the overage rate to finish the sum.
What to ask Ruby before you sign
- The overage rate per minute on the plan you're considering.
- Whether unused minutes roll over, and how you change plans.
- The cancellation notice period and any minimum term, in writing.
- How calls reach Ruby (forwarding all calls, or only unanswered ones) and whether your caller ID passes through.
When a flat-priced text-back is enough instead
A live receptionist is worth paying per minute for when callers need a person right away, such as emergencies, or expect a live answer every time. If most of your missed callers want a booking, a quote or just to know you got the call, and you can call back within the hour, a text from your own number covers it for a flat price. Many shops use both: a live service after hours and text-back for whatever still goes unanswered.
Ringback is missed-call text-back and online booking, not a receptionist: it never answers or talks on a call. It runs on the Android phone your business line already rings on, so every missed caller gets a text from your own number within seconds, with separate business-hours and after-hours messages, a booking link and an inbox for replies. It costs $17/month (or $170/year) with no setup fee, whatever your call volume. The 7-day free trial needs no card to start: add PayPal only if you want to keep it, and the first charge is on the day the trial ends; if you don't, texting simply pauses then. See Ringback vs Ruby side by side, Smith.ai pricing, or virtual receptionist prices from ten services.
Questions
How much does Ruby Receptionist cost?
Ruby's pricing page (checked October 24, 2026) lists four virtual receptionist plans: $250 a month for 50 minutes, $395 for 100, $720 for 200 and $1,725 for 500. It says there are no fees for activation, onboarding, setup or customization.
How does Ruby count minutes?
Per Ruby's help center ("Ruby Billing Basics", dated September 9, 2026), receptionist minutes start the moment a receptionist receives the call and include time the caller is on hold. They are billed in 60-second increments and rounded up, so a ten-second call is billed as 60 seconds. Talk time after the call is transferred to you or your voicemail is not counted.
What happens if I go over my Ruby minutes?
Ruby bills extra minutes at your plan's overage rate, in arrears after the month ends; the plan fee itself is billed in advance. The overage rates are not listed on the public pricing page, so ask Ruby for your plan's rate before you sign up.
Does Ruby have a free trial?
Ruby's pricing page does not mention a free trial or a money-back guarantee (checked October 24, 2026). Ask Ruby directly.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Ruby for a small contractor?
If callers need a live person every time, compare other live services, which price per minute or per call. If most missed callers just want to book or know you got their call, missed-call text-back is a flat monthly price instead of per minute. Ringback is one: it does not answer calls; it texts every missed caller from your own number within seconds.
Ringback works on an Android phone your business line rings on, or with an iPhone plus a Mac (Mac helper, beta) or a spare Android: see missed-call text-back on iPhone.
Rather not set it up yourself? Done-for-you setup: we write your messages, set your hours and build your booking page, by email, one-time $39.