The best AI receptionist for tradesmen
A trade does not need a receptionist that sounds impressive. It needs one that answers while you are under a floor, books the job into your diary, and texts you the address.
The honest starting point
The tradesman's phone problem is specific. The calls come while you are on a job and cannot pick up. The caller has a leak, a fault or a deadline and will not leave a voicemail — they ring the next name on Google. So the test for any AI receptionist is not "how clever is it" but four plain things: does it pick up every time, can it book straight into your calendar, does it capture the job details and postcode, and does it text or transfer you when it is urgent.
Everything below is judged on those four. Prices are from each supplier's own site. And the honest note first: if you mostly do repeat work for a handful of commercial clients who always get through to you, you may not need any of this. This page is for the trade whose new work comes from people ringing during the day.
The comparison
| Type | Published price | For a trade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ringmere | AI, UK-built | £49 / £99 / £249 + VAT | Books into your calendar, free UK number, WhatsApp on Growth. Good fit if you will set it up. |
| Hey Jodie | AI, self-serve | £49 / £99 / £199, unlimited minutes | Unlimited minutes suits a busy trade. Booking on all tiers. You do the setup. |
| Rosie | AI, US | $49 / $149 / $299 | Cheap, but booking needs the $149 tier and UK numbers are not stated. Check before you commit. |
| AnswerConnect | Human, per minute | £205–£395/month, then £1.75/min | A person answers, which some customers prefer. The meter runs during your busiest weeks. |
| Swift Solution | Managed AI plan | £497 / £897 + setup | Receptionist plus missed-call text-back, quote chasing and a website that books. Built and run for you. |
Competitor figures read from the supplier’s own published pricing page, September 2026. Where none is published we say so. Prices change — check theirs before deciding.
So which should you pick?
For a sole trader who is comfortable setting up software and only needs the phone covered, Ringmere or Hey Jodie at £49 a month is the right answer and will pay for itself on the first job it books. For a trade with two or more vans, a website that leaks enquiries, and quotes that go unchased, the phone is one leak of several — and that is where a managed plan that covers all of them is worth the higher fee. The wrong choice is the expensive one that you never finish setting up.
One plan, everything included
Website, AI, automation and ongoing management in a single monthly fee. No contracts — 30 days' notice.
- ✓3–5 page professional website
- ✓AI chatbot trained on your business
- ✓Lead capture + instant alerts
- ✓Automated enquiry follow-up
- ✓Missed call text-back
- ✓Online booking & monthly reporting
- ✓Everything in Starter
- ✓5–8 page website with live chat
- ✓AI voice receptionist — 200 mins/mo
- ✓Full lead & sales pipeline
- ✓Client onboarding automation
- ✓Invoice chasing & weekly reporting
- ✓Everything in Growth
- ✓Unlimited page website
- ✓AI voice receptionist — 400 mins/mo
- ✓Staff onboarding automation
- ✓Social scheduling & knowledge base
- ✓Priority support & strategy calls
All plans include hosting, edits, updates and ongoing management. Cancel any time with 30 days' notice. Full pricing details →