Public prices. Public receipts.
Every row below points at the competitor's own site or a regulator. No hand-picked reviews, no made-up differences. If a number isn't public, we say so.
| Feature | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $149/mo(Line) + $500 setup | $25,000+franchise fee | $399+/mo | $0/mo(AI Receptionist Free) |
| How it works | AI voice · four voices (your own is optional on Pro) · English and Spanish | AI voice, sold as a franchise | Real people answering, based in the US | People answering, with AI taking the first details |
| How fast it's answering | Minutes to set up · 48-hour guarantee | Not disclosed | Business days | 1–3 business days |
| Refund policy | 30 days to get your money back on Line, Starter and Pro | No published refund policy | 21 days to get your money back | 30-day money-back (up to $1,000, new clients) |
| What callers are told | It says it's an AI on every call: FCC, CA AB 2905, NY GBL § 396-b | FTC action filed March 2026 | Standard call-recording notice | Standard call-recording notice |
| Contract | Month to month, no franchise | Franchise agreement | Month to month | Month to month |
| Who it's for | Service businesses, instead of a $2,900+/mo receptionist (the math is on /roi) | Sold via franchise packages | Small businesses that want a real person | Law firms and people working alone |
// sources · pull it up yourself
- Handled price
- handled.build/pricing · compliance ↗
- Air AI price
- Reported franchise packages, 2025–2026 · compliance ↗
- Ruby price
- ruby.com public pricing 2026
- Smith.ai price
- Smith.ai AI receptionist pricing · checked August 2026
// why handled
Not a franchise. Not a resold voice. Just the line answered.
An AI receptionist built on a real service business's booking rules. The price is public. What it tells callers is public. The refund policy is public. Thirty days to try it or get your money back on Starter and Pro.
// head-to-heads · prices checked august 2026
Compared to everyone, honestly.
Real prices with sources, where each competitor genuinely wins, and who should pick which. If a number goes out of date, email us and we'll fix it. For the whole band rather than one name at a time, read how much an AI receptionist costs in 2026.
AI plus real people on the phone
Smith.ai vs Handled
Read the comparison
AI phone agent you set up yourself
Goodcall vs Handled
Read the comparison
AI answering service (heyrosie.com)
Rosie vs Handled
Read the comparison
voice AI inside GoHighLevel
GoHighLevel AI Employee vs Handled
Read the comparison
AI receptionist from a big phone company
RingCentral AIR vs Handled
Read the comparison
Self-serve AI receptionist, sold on price
My AI Front Desk vs Handled
Read the comparison
Unlimited-minutes AI receptionist
Hey Jodie vs Handled
Read the comparison
Per-minute AI answering, bilingual
Dialzara vs Handled
Read the comparison