Honest comparison · Updated Oct 19, 2026
Best AI receptionist for small HVAC and trade contractors (2026)
Disclosure: First Deploy wrote this page, and First Deploy is one of the options on it. Competitor prices and features come only from each vendor's own public pages, read October 19, 2026, and are listed under Sources. Vendors change prices, so check their page before you buy. If something here is out of date, call (320) 335-6186 and we'll fix it.
Who wrote this: First Deploy (AgentHive Inc). We sell one of the products in this table, so read it knowing that. We haven't ranked anyone. Every competitor figure comes from that vendor's own page, read October 19, 2026, and listed below. We left out anything we couldn't source.
The table
| Vendor | Published starting price | How usage is billed | Who sets it up | Built for (per their page) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rosie | $49/mo (250 min) | Monthly minute allowance | You; Growth plan ($299) lists white-glove onboarding | Small businesses, including home services |
| Goodcall | $79/mo (100 unique customers) | Per unique customer over allowance; no minute charge | You, with plain-English edits | Solo operators to multi-location |
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Free (25 calls), Pro from $150/mo | Per call | You on Free/Pro; their team on Enterprise (from $500/mo) | Businesses wanting AI with live-agent backup |
| Sameday | From $449/mo (500 min) | Monthly minutes | Demo-led; Enterprise lists hands-on training | Home-service businesses; ServiceTitan-style scheduling |
| Avoca | Not published | Not published | Demo-led | Service businesses; ServiceTitan Certified App |
| RepForce.ai | DIY from $0.40/min or $297/mo; Done For You unpriced | Per minute | Done For You or DIY | AI sales and support reps across many industries |
| First Deploy (us) | $500 setup + $100/mo | Flat monthly, no meter | We do | Trade shops' after-hours calls |
See First Deploy pricing · Hear our desk answer: (320) 335-6186
How to choose for a small shop
- Lowest monthly price, and you'll set it up yourself: look at Rosie or Goodcall.
- You want a live human available on hard calls: look at Smith.ai.
- You run ServiceTitan and want AI booking onto the board: look at Sameday or Avoca.
- You want outbound sales calling: look at RepForce.ai.
- You want it built, tested and tuned for you at one flat price: that's what First Deploy does.
Questions to ask any vendor, including us
- What does it say on a gas-smell or water-through-the-ceiling call? Ask to hear it.
- Does it read the callback number back?
- Will it quote prices or promise arrival times? Can you turn that off?
- What happens to the bill on your busiest week?
- Who changes the script when you need it changed, and how fast?
Longer write-ups: Rosie, Goodcall, Smith.ai, Sameday and Avoca, RepForce.ai, Ruby.
First Deploy, in one paragraph
First Deploy builds and runs an after-hours AI phone desk for trade shops. We write the script with you, set it up on the number you already have (you forward it after hours or when you don't pick up), test it with practice calls before go-live, and keep tuning it while the monthly is on. It answers in your shop's name, takes the caller's name, callback number (read back), address, problem and urgency, flags emergencies under rules you approve, and sends you the details right away. By default it never quotes prices, promises arrival times or gives out your cell, and every call opens with a recording notice. Price: $500 setup ($250 to start, balance at completion), then $100/mo from go-live. Month to month. No per-minute or per-call charge.
Want to talk first? Book a free 30-min call. Full details on the pricing page.
Questions owners ask
What is the best AI receptionist for a small HVAC company?
It depends on whether you want to set it up yourself, need live-human backup, run ServiceTitan, or want it done for you. This page lists each vendor's published price and billing model so you can match one to your shop. First Deploy wrote it and is one of the options.
Which AI receptionists publish their prices?
On October 19, 2026, Rosie, Goodcall, Smith.ai, Sameday and RepForce.ai (DIY plans) published prices on their own sites. Avoca did not; it directs buyers to a demo.
Which ones don't charge per minute?
Goodcall says it never meters minutes (it counts unique customers). Smith.ai bills per call. First Deploy charges a flat $100 a month after setup with no per-minute or per-call charge.
Is this list sponsored?
No vendor paid to be listed. First Deploy wrote the page and sells one of the products in it.
Sources
- Source: Rosie pricing (heyrosie.com/pricing), checked October 19, 2026. See First Deploy pricing
- Source: Goodcall pricing, checked October 19, 2026. See First Deploy pricing
- Source: Smith.ai AI Receptionist pricing, checked October 19, 2026. See First Deploy pricing
- Source: Sameday pricing, checked October 19, 2026. See First Deploy pricing
- Source: Avoca AI homepage, checked October 19, 2026. See First Deploy pricing
- Source: RepForce.ai pricing, checked October 19, 2026. See First Deploy pricing
- First Deploy pricing and homepage, checked October 19, 2026.
Related: AI receptionist vs answering service for emergency calls, What a done-for-you AI receptionist includes, and all comparisons.