Ruby charges $385-$1,640/month for human receptionists who answer your phone from an office in Portland. They are friendly, professional, and limited to 100-500 minutes per month. At minute 501, your callers hear voicemail. At $3.28/minute, every long conversation is an expensive one. AI answers unlimited calls at a fraction of the cost — and never runs out of minutes.
TL;DR
Ruby and Smith.ai charge $200-$2,000/month for humans who answer your phone and take messages. They cannot check your calendar, quote your prices, or book appointments. Optimal.dev's AI receptionist does all three — 24/7 — because it sits on your business database.
A message-taker is not a receptionist. A receptionist books appointments.
Message-Taking vs. Appointment-Booking
Key Insight: When a potential patient calls at 6 PM asking about Botox pricing, Ruby takes a message. Your staff calls back the next morning — by which time the patient has called 3 competitors. Optimal.dev's AI answers immediately, quotes your pricing, and books the appointment before the call ends.
| Factor | Ruby / Smith.ai | Optimal.dev |
|---|---|---|
| 24/7 availability | ✅ (Limited) | ✅ Always |
| Calendar access | ❌ No | ✅ Real-time |
| Book appointments | ❌ Takes messages | ✅ Books directly |
| Quote pricing | ❌ Cannot access | ✅ From website schema |
| Answer service Qs | ❌ Generic script | ✅ RAG on your data |
| Monthly cost | $200-$2,000 | Included |
| Scalability | Per-minute billing | Unlimited |
See also: AI voice receptionist deep dive and Bland AI alternative.
The Intelligence Advantage
The difference between a disconnected software stack and a unified AI platform is not features — both can send emails, manage contacts, and publish content. The difference is intelligence.
When every tool shares the same database, AI can make connections that disconnected systems cannot. Your voice receptionist knows what ads brought the caller in. Your review system knows which patients had positive experiences. Your email campaigns reference specific services your patients actually use. Every touchpoint becomes smarter because it is informed by every other touchpoint.
This intelligence compounds over time. The AI learns which messaging converts best in your specific market, which appointment times reduce no-shows, and which follow-up sequences retain patients. After 90 days on the platform, your marketing is measurably smarter than it was on day one — without you touching a single setting.
Human Charm vs. AI Intelligence
Ruby's human receptionists provide something AI historically could not: genuine warmth and conversational nuance. They handle upset callers, navigate complex questions, and represent your brand with empathy. This is valuable — when you can afford unlimited minutes.
The per-minute model creates a structural problem for service businesses with high call volumes. A busy dental practice receiving 80 calls per day would exhaust Ruby's highest plan in 6 business days (at an average 3.5 minutes per call). The remaining month goes to voicemail, which defeats the purpose of an answering service.
AI voice reception has crossed the uncanny valley. Modern AI voices are warm, natural, and conversational. They handle upset callers with trained de-escalation responses. They navigate complex questions by accessing real-time CRM data — something Ruby receptionists cannot do because they do not have access to your scheduling system. The AI books appointments during the call, checks insurance eligibility, and answers pricing questions — capabilities beyond what a remote human receptionist can offer without deep system access.
See also: Bland AI alternative and CallRail alternative.
