VocalReception vs Ruby: 2026 comparison
Verdict
Ruby suits US and Canadian businesses that want every call answered by a live person: from $250 a month for 50 receptionist minutes, no setup fee. VocalReception suits European businesses that want an AI receptionist set up for them in seven languages: €79 excl. VAT for 400 minutes, then €0.25 per started minute.
Side-by-side comparison
| Criterion | VocalReception | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | AI receptionist, transfer to your team | Live US-based receptionists [2] |
| Entry price, monthly billing | €79 excl. VAT | $250 (50 minutes) [1] |
| Plans | One plan: 400 minutes | 50 / 100 / 200 / 500 minutes for $250 / $395 / $720 / $1,725 [1] |
| Beyond the plan | €0.25 per started minute, cap set by you | Per-minute rate of your plan; rate not public [2] |
| Cost at 100 / 400 / 1,000 minutes a month | €79 / €79 / €229 | $395 / $1,725 (500-minute plan) / not public [1] |
| Setup | Done by our team: €199 excl. VAT, credited on invoice 7 after 6 paid months | No activation, onboarding or setup fee [1] |
| Languages | 7: French, Dutch, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German | English and Spanish (bilingual answering) [2] |
| Service area | Built for France and Belgium first | United States, Canada and the US Caribbean [2] |
| Commitment | None | None; cancellation effective at the end of the monthly billing period [2] |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back on the first €79 only; setup excluded | Full refund for first-time users within 21 days or before 500 receptionist minutes [2] |
| Company | AlphaOscar, Paris (France) | Ruby Receptionists, Inc., Portland, Oregon (USA) [3] |
When to choose Ruby
- Every call is answered by a person, which suits sensitive, emotional or complex calls where a human voice matters.
- No setup fee, and the same features on every plan, including scheduling, intake, payment collection and live chat as an option.
- A refund for first-time users within 21 days or before 500 receptionist minutes.
When to choose VocalReception
- Cost: 400 minutes a month cost €79 excl. VAT with us; Ruby's plans cover 200 minutes for $720 or 500 minutes for $1,725.
- Europe: Ruby serves the United States, Canada and the US Caribbean; we answer in French, Dutch and five other languages.
- A published overage price (€0.25 per started minute) and a monthly spending cap you set.
- A monthly report lists the questions left unanswered, so the receptionist knows the answer the next month.
The two offers in one sentence
Ruby is a US virtual receptionist service from Ruby Receptionists, Inc. in Portland, Oregon: live receptionists answer your calls, from $250 a month for 50 minutes (source 1, source 3). VocalReception is an AI receptionist set up for you by our team: €79 excl. VAT a month for 400 minutes, in seven languages (pricing).
Cost by call volume
The figures assume monthly billing, one business, inbound calls only, and no SMS, setup or VAT. Ruby’s prices stay in US dollars. Both services bill per started minute: Ruby rounds each call up to the next 60-second mark (source 2).
| Minutes a month | VocalReception | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | €79 | $395 (100-minute plan) |
| 400 | €79 | $1,725 (500-minute plan) |
| 1,000 | €229 | Not public |
Formula for VocalReception: €79 + €0.25 × (minutes - 400). For Ruby, minutes beyond the plan are charged “according to your plan’s per-minute rate” (source 2), but that rate is not on the pricing page. So 400 minutes could also be the 200-minute plan ($720) plus 200 extra minutes at an unknown rate, and 1,000 minutes cannot be priced from public information. If you ask Ruby for a quote, ask for the overage rate per plan and the price of a plan above 500 minutes.
To size your own volume, use the pricing simulator.
A person or an AI
This is the real choice. Ruby’s receptionists are people, which helps when a caller is upset, when a conversation does not follow a script, or when your clients expect a human voice (source 1). The price reflects that: about $7 to $10 per 2-minute call. Our guide to AI receptionist vs virtual receptionist sets out when each one makes sense.
VocalReception answers with an AI receptionist that follows a script written by our team after a one-hour workshop. It answers your callers’ questions and transfers calls to your team, and it goes live in 7 days. The €199 setup fee is credited on your seventh invoice after six paid months. Every month, a report lists the questions it could not answer, so you can fill the gaps once.
Geography matters too. Ruby says it serves the United States, Canada and the US Caribbean, with bilingual English and Spanish answering (source 2). We answer in French, Dutch, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and German.
Customer reviews
On Trustpilot, Ruby shows 4.5 out of 5 from 853 reviews as of 5 November 2026 (source 4). VocalReception does not publish customer reviews yet.
Our advice
If you are in North America and want a person on every call, Ruby is a good pick. If your business is in Europe, your callers speak French or Dutch, or you need more minutes for less, start with VocalReception or try the demo.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Ruby cost?
On 5 November 2026, Ruby's virtual receptionist plans were $250 for 50 minutes, $395 for 100, $720 for 200 and $1,725 for 500 minutes a month. Minutes beyond the plan are charged at the plan's per-minute rate, which the pricing page does not publish.
Is Ruby available in Europe?
Ruby's FAQ says it provides service anywhere in the United States, Canada and the US Caribbean. For a business in France, Belgium or the Netherlands, ask Ruby directly before you sign up.
How does Ruby count a receptionist minute?
Ruby bills in 60-second increments and rounds each call up to the next 60-second mark. VocalReception also bills per started minute.
Sources
- Ruby: plans and pricing (ruby.com)
- Ruby: FAQ (service area, minutes, guarantee, cancellation) (ruby.com)
- Ruby: terms of use (Ruby Receptionists, Inc.) (ruby.com)
- Trustpilot: Ruby reviews (trustpilot.com)
- VocalReception: pricing (vocalreception.com)
Written by VocalReception, so not neutral. Every competitor fact comes from their public pages, cited below, on the date shown. Prices exclude VAT unless stated; offers change, so check the vendor’s site. Spotted an error? Email us and we fix it within 48 hours.