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What is the cheapest answering service for plumbers?
For AI answering, the lowest published starting prices we track are Upfirst at $24.95/month (30 calls) and Dialzara at $29/month (60 minutes), and Smith.ai has a free AI plan for 25 calls a month. For live human answering, Specialty Answering Service starts at $44/month plus $1.54 a minute, and PATLive and MAP Communications start at $49/month on pay-as-you-go plans; bundles with included minutes start at $159/month for 100 minutes (Specialty). The cheapest plan depends on how many calls and minutes you get in a busy month.
Prices compared
| Tool | Starting price (vendor page) | Plans and terms | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith.ai | Free plan (25 calls/month); paid from $150/month | Free tier, then monthly | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| Upfirst | $24.95/month (Starter, 30 calls) | Monthly or annual; free trial | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| Dialzara | $29/month (Business Lite, up to 60 minutes) | Monthly; 7-day free trial | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| Rosie | $49/month (Professional) | Monthly or annual; free trial | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| Trillet | $49/month (150 minutes included) | Monthly | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| ViFi | $49/month (Starter) | Monthly; 7-day free trial | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| Specialty Answering Service | $44/month plus $1.54/minute (Economy) | Month to month, no contract or setup fee; 100 minutes $159/mo, 220 minutes $269/mo, 500 minutes $649/mo, larger bundles available; 14-day free trial (2 weeks or 200 minutes), no card | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| PATLive | $49/month (pay as you go, per minute) | Monthly; free trial | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| MAP Communications | $49/month (Pay As You Go, no minutes included) | No long-term contracts; Business $179/mo (125 minutes), Enterprise $339/mo (250 minutes), Premium $649/mo (500 minutes); per-minute rate not shown on the pricing page; free trial | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| Abby Connect | $164/month (50 minutes) | Monthly; free trial; Starter $164/mo (50 Abby Minutes), Essential $329/mo (100), Professional $599/mo (200), Growth $1,380/mo (500); custom plans on request; minutes double when you choose AI | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| Ruby | $250/month (50 receptionist minutes) | Monthly; live receptionist plans by minutes: 50 min $250/mo, 100 min $395/mo, 200 min $720/mo, 500 min $1,725/mo; live chat plans from $143/mo (10 chats); receptionist and chat bundles available | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
| AnswerForce | Contact for pricing | Quote | October 19, 2026 | Vendor page |
Prices in USD unless marked, copied from each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Prices change; confirm on the vendor site.
Who each option fits
- Under 30 calls a month: Smith.ai's free AI plan (25 calls) or Upfirst Starter ($24.95/month, 30 calls). Check overage costs before a busy season.
- You want a human on the line: Specialty Answering Service has the lowest live entry price we track ($44/month plus $1.54 a minute). PATLive and MAP Communications start at $49/month pay as you go. For minute bundles, compare Specialty (100 minutes $159/month), MAP (125 minutes $179/month), Abby Connect (50 minutes $164/month) and Ruby (50 minutes $250/month). AnswerForce quotes on request.
- Lots of after-hours emergency calls: Per-call and per-minute plans can climb fast in a cold snap. Price your peak month, or look at flat-rate options on the AI receptionists for contractors page.
Questions
How much does an answering service cost for a plumber?
Published starting prices checked October 19, 2026: AI services from free (Smith.ai, 25 calls) and $24.95/month (Upfirst, 30 calls); live services from $44/month plus $1.54 a minute (Specialty Answering Service), $49/month pay as you go (PATLive, MAP Communications), and bundles such as $159/month for 100 minutes (Specialty) or $250/month for 50 minutes (Ruby).
Is an AI answering service cheaper than a live one?
On published entry prices, yes. The cheapest AI plans we track start under $30/month, while live services start at $44 to $49/month before per-minute charges, and bundles with included minutes start at $159/month for 100 minutes.
Which answering services list plumbing as a fit?
Every service in the table above lists plumbing among the trades it serves in our directory.
Listings on this page
Prices are the lowest published plan on each vendor's own pricing page, with the date checked. We never estimate a price. We do not run paid placements on answer pages. See our methodology. Spot an error? Send a correction.
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