Guides · Updated 2026-10-14
AI receptionists for tradespeople: costs and what to check (UK, 2026)
If you're up a ladder or under a sink, you can't answer the phone. For a lot of tradespeople a missed call is a missed job, because the caller rings the next name on Google. An AI receptionist answers when you can't, takes the details, and texts or emails you a summary.
This guide looks at the question tradespeople ask most: is it worth paying for? It lists published prices, explains the different ways these services charge, and covers the checks a UK business should make. All prices were checked on the providers' own pages on 14 October 2026. Most of these services are American and price in US dollars.
What it would cost you
| Service | Cheapest paid plan | How it charges | Free option |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smith.ai | Pro $150 a month (75 calls) | Per call | Free plan: 25 calls a month, then $3 a call |
| Upfirst | Starter $24.95 a month (30 calls) | Per call, $1.50 over the allowance | 14-day trial |
| Rosie | Professional $49 a month (250 minutes) | Per minute | 7-day trial |
| Goodcall | Starter $79 a month (100 unique customers) | Per unique caller | Build and test free |
| Frontdesk | $99 a month, or $79 billed annually (200 minutes) | Per minute | None listed |
| Moneypenny | From £49 a month (checked 15 Oct) | Priced to your needs | None |
| Jobber Receptionist | $29 a month add-on | Add-on to a Jobber plan | Free trial of Jobber |
Per call, per minute or per customer?
How a service charges matters more than its headline price.
- Per call (Smith.ai, Upfirst) suits trades who get a modest number of calls of any length.
- Per minute (Rosie, Frontdesk) suits short calls. Long chats about a boiler fault use up minutes quickly.
- Per unique customer (Goodcall) suits businesses where the same customers ring repeatedly, because repeat callers don't count again.
A rough way to compare: count how many calls you missed last month (your phone's call log shows this) and price that number on each plan.
Is it worth it?
Only you can answer that, but the sums are simple. Compare one month's fee with the value of the jobs you'd expect to win from calls you currently miss. If one extra job a month pays for the service, it's probably worth a trial. If you rarely miss calls, a free option such as Smith.ai's 25 free calls, or simply a good voicemail and a text-back habit, may be enough.
UK checks before you sign up
- UK number. Ask whether you get a UK number, or whether you forward your calls to a US number, and what that costs you on your phone contract.
- Accents and place names. Test it with a few calls of your own using local street names and postcodes.
- Data. You're passing callers' details to a third party. Check where data is stored, and mention it in your privacy notice. See our AI policy template.
- Emergencies. Decide what the AI should say about gas leaks or flooding. It should give the right safety advice and pass urgent calls to you, not book them for next week.
- A UK option. Moneypenny is a UK company that also offers human answering, if you'd rather have a person as backup.
A simple way to start
- Pick one service with a free plan or trial.
- Forward only the calls you miss, not every call.
- Run it for two weeks and count the enquiries it captures.
- Keep it if the numbers add up; cancel before the trial ends if not.
For more detail on each service, see our full AI receptionist comparison, or browse tools for plumbers and heating engineers and electricians.
Sources
Prices come from each provider's pricing page, linked from its tool page: Smith.ai, Upfirst, Rosie, Goodcall, Frontdesk, Moneypenny, Jobber.
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FAQ
Can an AI receptionist book jobs into my diary?
Several can, usually through a calendar or booking link. Cheaper plans may only send the caller a link. Check this before you choose.
Will customers know they're talking to AI?
Most services use a natural-sounding voice, but you should be honest if asked. Many businesses say so in the greeting.
Is there a free AI receptionist?
Smith.ai has a free plan with 25 calls a month. Goodcall lets you build and test an agent free before you connect a number.