Cadence fits when
- Callers ask the same questions all day: hours, area, prices, services.
- You mostly need the name, number and what they need.
- You want a written summary the moment the call ends.
- You'd rather pay by the minute at AI rates.
BUYER'S GUIDEAI receptionist or
AI receptionist or
answering service?
Both pick up when you can't. They differ in who answers, what it costs and what you get afterward.
Choose an AI receptionist when most calls are the same questions and you mainly need the caller's details and a quick summary, at about $1.07 to $1.66 a minute with Cadence. Choose a live answering service when calls need a person's judgment or you want appointments booked on the call; Ruby, for example, publishes (as of September 2026) $3.45 to $5.00 a minute. Voicemail is free, but callers get no answers and you get a recording to play back.
SIDE BY SIDEHow they
How they
compare.
Cadence's column describes what every Cadence plan includes. Answering services vary, so check the one you're considering.
Swipe the table sideways to see every column.
| Question | Cadence (AI receptionist) | Live answering service | Voicemail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who picks up | An AI assistant using your approved answers | A live receptionist | Nobody. The caller leaves a message. |
| Published cost | $249 to $799 a month for 150 to 750 minutes | Ruby, as of September 2026: $250 to $1,725 a month for 50 to 500 minutes | Usually included with your phone service |
| Per minute | $1.07 to $1.66 | $3.45 to $5.00 | None |
| Answers questions | Yes, the ones you approve: services, hours, area, prices | Yes, from the script you give them | No |
| Books appointments | No. Texts you the request to confirm. | Often, depending on the service and plan | No |
| After the call | A summary text right away; transcript in your portal | A message by text, email or app, depending on the service | A recording to listen to |
| Transfers to you | Yes, to your transfer number when a caller asks | Usually | No |
Source: Ruby plans and pricing, prices as of September 2026 (checked September 29, 2026). Cadence prices exclude tax.
An answering service fits when
- Calls need a person's judgment or a sensitive touch.
- You need appointments booked on the call.
- Callers must always reach a human, never an AI.
- The higher per-minute price is worth it to you.
Is an AI receptionist the same as an answering service?+
No. An answering service puts live people on your calls. An AI receptionist like Cadence is an AI assistant that answers from the information you approve, gets the caller's details and texts you a summary.
Will callers know it's AI?+
They should. Cadence is an AI assistant, and the Cadence terms ask you to tell callers they're speaking with an AI and that calls are recorded. Callers who want a person can ask to be transferred to your transfer number.
Can Cadence book appointments like an answering service?+
No. Cadence gets the caller's details and the time they'd like, and texts you a summary so you can confirm.
Can I use Cadence only after hours?+
Cadence answers whatever calls you forward to it. Many phones let you forward only unanswered or busy calls, so you can keep picking up yourself when you're free.
CADENCE BY TRADEAny business
Any business
that gets calls.
Cadence works the same way for every business: your approved answers, the caller's details and a summary text. These pages show what that sounds like in a few trades.
Don't see your trade? Cadence answers for any business. You set up your own services, hours and answers in your portal. See how Cadence works
Hear the difference on your own calls.
Forward your calls to Cadence and see what the summaries look like.
7 days free. Cancel anytime from your portal.