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A Ruby receptionist alternative for the calls you don't need to take

Infercall Team3 min read
rubypricingvirtual-receptionist
Answering service cost comparison illustration

If you want routine enquiries handled without the cost of a staffed answering service, Infercall is a practical alternative to Ruby. It answers questions, qualifies new enquiries and books appointments through supported calendars while you stay with your work.

Infercall US Standard costs US$49 a month for 500 minutes. Ruby's US live-receptionist plans start at US$250 for 50 minutes. The difference is who answers: Infercall uses AI; Ruby supplies people.

Hear your Infercall receptionist

Ruby receptionist pricing, compared with Infercall

US monthly prices, checked 12 October 2026. This page compares Ruby at ruby.com. Looking for Australian phone cover? See Infercall's plans in Australian dollars, including Standard at A$49 for 300 minutes. The US figures below are not Australian quotes.

Service and planMonthly priceIncluded minutes
Infercall US StarterUS$550
Infercall US StandardUS$49500
Infercall US BusinessUS$1491,750
Ruby 50-minute planUS$25050
Ruby 100-minute planUS$395100
Ruby 200-minute planUS$720200
Ruby 500-minute planUS$1,725500

For a 500-minute monthly allowance, Infercall Standard's listed subscription is US$1,676 lower than Ruby's 500-minute plan. That is a comparison of these two subscriptions, not a promise that a human receptionist and AI are interchangeable. Extra usage, additional services and applicable tax affect the final bill.

Infercall includes one phone number. Additional minutes come in prepaid blocks, which roll over until used; extra phone numbers are billed separately. Ruby charges for minutes beyond its allowance at the rate for the selected plan.

Take the routine work off your plate

A caller wants to know whether you serve their area. Another asks which service they need. Someone is ready to arrange a visit. Those calls need a useful answer, not necessarily a member of staff interrupting their current job.

Give Infercall your services, business information and qualifying questions. It can explain what you offer, gather the details that matter and handle the next step. Google Calendar lets it create an appointment during the call; Calendly gives the caller a scheduling link to complete the booking.

You control which conversations should reach you. Afterwards, recordings and transcripts show what was discussed, so staying informed does not mean answering every call yourself.

What changes if you move from Ruby?

The main change is from human reception to automated reception. Both services offer answering outside normal business hours. Ruby also includes human-led scheduling, intake and outbound assistance in its published offer.

Infercall is for inbound calls. It can transfer callers to the people you nominate, but it does not include a separate team of receptionists waiting to take over. If your callers regularly need complex human judgement or you need someone making outbound calls, staffed reception may be worth the higher cost.

If most calls follow familiar patterns, Infercall gives you a lower-cost way to answer them and book suitable work without adding another callback to your evening.

Keep your business number

You can forward your current number to Infercall rather than change the number on your van, website or business cards. Your carrier determines the available forwarding options and any carrier charges. The call-forwarding guide explains how to get started.

Before directing business calls to it, hear your receptionist use your own business information. Ask about a service, try an appointment enquiry and check what happens when a caller needs you. That gives you something more useful than a generic demonstration: a receptionist you can judge against your day.

Common questions

Is Infercall cheaper than Ruby?

The listed US subscriptions above are lower. Infercall Standard is US$49 for 500 minutes; Ruby's 500-minute plan is US$1,725. Whether it is the right replacement depends on whether automated reception handles the work you currently need people to do.

Can Infercall book appointments?

Yes, through supported booking connections. Google Calendar creates appointments during the call; Calendly supplies a scheduling link. See the available connections.

Do I need to pay before hearing my receptionist?

You can start with your website and hear it use your business information before connecting customer calls. A paid plan and the applicable phone-number checks are required for business calls.

Sources

Infercall pricing · Ruby's US plans · Ruby's extra-minute rates.

Give routine calls a receptionist, not your whole afternoon

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Ruby Receptionist Alternative: Infercall Plans & US Costs | Infercall