Home / Blur vs Ruby
Blur vs Ruby in 2026: which fits your calls
Pick Ruby if you want a live human on every call, around the clock. Pick Blur if you mostly need after-hours calls booked on your calendar at a flat monthly price.
Looking for a Ruby receptionist alternative? Short answer: Ruby is live people billed by the minute. Blur is an AI that books after-hours jobs for a flat price. We sell Blur. This page compares it with Ruby. Blur serves most of the US; check coverage for your area.
Key takeaways
- Ruby lists minute plans: 50 minutes for $250 a month, 100 for $395, 200 for $720 and 500 for $1,725.
- Ruby lists 24/7 live answering, Spanish and bilingual call handling, scheduling and an online portal.
- Ruby says there are no extra fees for activation, onboarding or setup. Blur is $897 setup month to month, or $0 on a 12-month plan.
- Blur is $297 a month flat with calendar booking and an owner text summary. Spanish is an add-on on request.
- If your callers expect a human, Ruby fits. If your calls are bookable jobs after hours, Blur fits.
The decision
A Saturday caller wants a Monday estimate. A live receptionist can take the details and schedule it under a minutes plan. An AI can book the slot and text you, at a flat monthly price that does not count minutes.
How we compared
We read each company's public pricing and product pages on 2026-10-15. Documented means read on their site. Nothing on this page is marked tested: we have not run Ruby or recorded a test call for this comparison. We have no client results to show yet, so there are none here.
Same job, both ways (documented only)
Documented only. These steps come from each company's own published pages. We have not tested either product for this page.
Ruby
- A live receptionist answers, 24/7 (Ruby pricing).
- The receptionist handles scheduling under your call-handling instructions.
- You check activity and messages in the online portal.
Blur
- We build Nora for your greeting, jobs and calendar rules and run test calls (pricing).
- After hours, Nora answers and books an open slot by your rules.
- You get a text summary of the call.
Side by side
Source link in each cell. Checked 2026-10-15.
| Row | Ruby | Blur |
|---|---|---|
| Calendar booking (Blur core) | Scheduling listed (source) | Yes, books jobs on your calendar by your rules (pricing) |
| Owner summary (Blur core) | Online portal with activity and messages (source) | A text summary of every after-hours call (pricing) |
| Integrations | See Ruby's pages for supported tools (source) | We have no built CRM integrations. We log in and run it inside the tools you already use. |
| Dashboard | Online portal (source) | No customer dashboard |
| Emergency transfer, Spanish | 24/7 Spanish and bilingual call handling available (source) | Available on request and not included in the plan: emergency transfer, missed-call text-back (only once texting registration is approved), Spanish, daytime overflow and callback. Priced on request (pricing). |
| Price and setup | 50 min $250/mo; 100 min $395; 200 min $720; 500 min $1,725. No extra setup or onboarding fees (source) | $297 a month, plus $897 setup (non-refundable) month to month, or $0 setup on a 12-month plan. If you cancel the 12-month plan early, the waived $897 becomes due (pricing) |
Which fits your situation
| If | Choose |
|---|---|
| Every caller should reach a human | Ruby |
| You need bilingual answering included | Ruby |
| Most of your missed calls are after-hours bookable jobs | Blur |
| You want a price that does not count minutes | Blur |
Pricing scenario
Scenario C: about 100 minutes of calls a month, first year. Ruby 100-minute plan: $395 x 12 = $4,740 (source, checked 2026-10-15). Overage beyond your minutes is not shown here; ask Ruby.
Blur month to month, year one: $897 setup + 12 x $297 = $4,461. Setup is non-refundable.
Blur 12-month plan, year one: 12 x $297 = $3,564 with $0 setup. If you cancel early, the waived $897 becomes due (pricing).
Add-ons such as emergency transfer or Spanish are priced on request and not included above.
Switching
Change your forwarding, copy your greeting and call-handling rules, connect your calendar, run test calls, and check Ruby's cancellation terms before you switch.
FAQ
How much does Ruby cost per minute?
Ruby sells monthly minute plans rather than a single per-minute rate: 50 minutes for $250, 100 for $395, 200 for $720 and 500 for $1,725 (Ruby pricing, checked 2026-10-15).
Is Ruby Receptionist AI?
Ruby's plans are built around live receptionists answering 24/7. It also lists AI-powered transcripts (source).
Is an AI receptionist as good as a human one?
For questions that need judgment or a human voice, a person is better. For booking routine jobs after hours, an AI can cover it at a flat price. Try the demo line and decide for yourself.
What does Blur cost per month?
$297 a month, plus $897 setup month to month or $0 setup on a 12-month plan (pricing).
Can Blur answer in Spanish?
Spanish is an add-on available on request and priced on request. It is not included in the base plan.
Can I keep my business number?
Yes. You forward your existing number, so callers dial the same number.
Hear it before you decide
Blur answers your line after hours, books jobs on your calendar by your rules, and texts you a summary of every after-hours call. $297 a month, plus $897 setup (non-refundable) month to month, or $0 setup on a 12-month plan. If you cancel the 12-month plan early, the waived $897 becomes due (pricing). Call the demo line, (816) 683-2229, to hear Nora. It is a demo and does not book. After the demo you talk with John.