Buyer's guide · UK trades · prices read 2026-09-24
Choosing an AI receptionist for a UK trade business
If you are on the tools all day, the phone rings when you cannot answer it, and the caller rings the next firm. An AI receptionist answers for you. They are not all the same, and the headline price is the least useful thing to compare.
We make RingQuay. So read this knowing that. We have listed other providers with the price printed on their own pricing page, linked each one so you can check it, and dated when we read it. Prices change; if one is out of date, tell us at ringquay@digiautomate.com and we will correct it.
Seven questions to ask any provider
- Does it say it is an AI? Callers find out anyway. One that pretends to be a person loses trust the moment it slips.
- Does it check your diary before it gives a time? Taking a request is not the same as booking. Ask whether it reads your real calendar first.
- What happens with an emergency? A burst pipe or a lockout should reach a named person straight away, with the details written down.
- What is included in the monthly price? Minutes, text-back for missed calls, website chat, reminders to your customers. Compare like for like.
- Does the trial need a card? Some do, some do not. Know before you start.
- Do you keep your number? You should. Diverting your existing number when you are busy is one short code on your phone.
- Does it work with your job software? If you live in ServiceM8, Tradify or Jobber, an integration saves typing. Ask, because not every service has one.
Published UK prices, side by side
The cheapest monthly plan each provider prints on its own pricing page. Plans differ in what they include, so follow the link before you decide.
| Provider | Cheapest plan | Free trial | Books into your diary | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RingQuay (us) | £79 a month150 AI minutes included | 14 days, card taken, nothing charged until day 15 | Yes, only after your calendar confirms the slot | our pricing pagelive price |
| Reception Genie | £8.99 a month (about 20 call minutes); a free tier also exists | 30 days, card taken at sign-up | Not on the cheapest plan (Google Calendar from Pro) | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| Moneypenny (AI receptionist) | From £25 a month; full price by quote | Not stated | Connects to booking tools such as Calendly | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| Clara | £39.99 a month (unlimited calls answered) | 7 days | Not on the cheapest plan (calendar on Pro) | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| Down to Earth AI | £45 a month plus a £299 setup fee (100 minutes, then 20p a minute) | No free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee | Not stated | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| Hey Jodie | £49 a month ex VAT (unlimited minutes) | 7 days, no card | Not on the cheapest plan (from £99) | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| Ringmere | £49 a month ex VAT (150 call minutes) | 14 days | Yes | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| Trade Receptionist | From £49 a month | 14 days | Yes | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| TradeMore | £50 a month for the plan with the AI receptionist (75 AI calls) | Free Solo plan with no time limit | Yes | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| Whoza | £59 a month (100 call minutes and 10 jobs, then £4.50 a job) | 7 days, no card | Yes (Google, Outlook, Apple) | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
| ARROW | £99 a month (150 minutes) | No trial stated; a live test number to ring | Not stated on the pricing page | their pricing page read 2026-09-24 |
Where RingQuay fits, and where it does not
It is not the cheapest. If you only want calls answered and a message taken, a lower-priced service above may be all you need.
Where it is strong: it tells every caller it is an AI in its first sentence. It books only when your own calendar confirms the slot, and takes a callback when it cannot. It passes urgent calls to the person you name. Missed-call text-back, website chat, a reminder to your customer the day before and an end-of-day summary text to you are included.
Where it is not, yet: there is no ServiceM8, Tradify or Jobber integration today. If your whole day runs through one of those, weigh that.
Hear one before you choose
Do not buy any of these on a web page. Ring one and listen. Ours answers now:
Ring 07861 937376 and hear it answerSee it for your tradeStart the 14-day trial
Questions trades ask
Should an AI receptionist say it is an AI?
Yes. Callers find out anyway, and a receptionist that pretends to be a person costs trust the moment it slips. Ask any provider what its first sentence is on a call.
Can an AI receptionist book jobs straight into my diary?
Some can. Ask whether it checks the slot against your real calendar before it tells the caller a time, or only takes a request. A booking your diary never saw is a double-booking waiting to happen.
Do I have to change my phone number?
Usually not. Most services work by diverting your existing number when you are busy or do not answer, using a short code on your phone. Your number stays yours.
What does an AI receptionist cost in the UK?
Published prices for trades start at around the price of a few takeaway meals a month and rise with included minutes and features. Compare what is included, not just the headline figure: minutes, booking, text-back and whether the trial needs a card.
What should happen with an emergency call?
It should be recognised and passed to a named person straight away, with the details already written down, rather than filed as a message for later.