Side-by-side comparison
Stop Overpaying for
Phone Coverage
Traditional receptionist services charge hundreds per month to do less. Here's how Frontera stacks up against Ruby Receptionists, Smith.ai, and in-house hiring — on every metric that matters.
Try Frontera Free →No credit card required. Up and running today.
By the numbers
Competitor pricing sourced from public websites as of April 2026.
| Feature | Frontera AI | Ruby Receptionists | Smith.ai | In-House Hire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $49/mo | $449+/mo | $292+/mo | $3,200+/mo |
| 24/7 availability | ✓ Always on | ✗ Limited hours | ~ AI 24/7, live limited | ✗ Business hours only |
| Setup time | Same day | 2–5 business days | 1–3 business days | 2–4 weeks to hire |
| Scheduling built-in | ✓ Full booking | ✗ Message-taking only | ~ Add-on required | Manual, inconsistent |
| Bilingual support | ✓ English & Spanish | ✗ English only | ✗ English primary | Depends on hire |
| Call summaries | ✓ Every call | Basic messages only | ✓ Yes | ✗ Manual notes only |
| Missed call rate | 0% — answers every call | ~20% during off-hours | ~15% during off-hours | ~60% after hours |
| Contract required | ✗ Cancel anytime | Month-to-month | Month-to-month | Employment obligations |
Why local businesses are switching
The traditional receptionist model was designed for a different era.
The cost difference is hard to ignore
At $49/month, Frontera costs less than one hour of a receptionist's time per month. For businesses spending $449+ on Ruby or $3,200+ on staff, the math is immediate: same or better results for a fraction of the price.
Save $4,800–$38,000/yr
Every call answered, all day, every day
Ruby Receptionists has limited evening and weekend hours. In-house staff go home at 5pm. Your customers don't. An HVAC emergency at 8pm Friday needs an answer right then — not a voicemail and a callback Monday.
168 hrs/wk coverage
Live today, not three weeks from now
Hiring takes 2–4 weeks of recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding. Ruby and Smith.ai take several business days to configure. Frontera is up and answering calls the same day you sign up.
Same-day setup
See it answer a call live.
Watch Frontera handle an incoming call, book the appointment, and send you a summary — in under 60 seconds. No signup required.
Try Frontera Free →Starter plan from $49/month. No credit card required.