PATLive vs Ruby: cost at your call volume
For: Owners who want people, not AI, answering and are comparing two live receptionist services. At 100 calls a month of 2.5 minutes each, PATLive costs $448.50/mo and Ruby costs $1,725/mo on their cheapest fitting plans.
Both vendors' prices read on their own sites on Sep 23, 2026. Not financial advice.
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Which is cheaper, by volume
With 2.5-minute calls and every call answered: from 1 to 200 calls a month, PATLive costs less; from 201 to 500 calls a month, one of them doesn't publish a price for that volume.
| Calls/mo | PATLive plan | PATLive | Ruby plan | Ruby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | 50 minutes | $128.77/mo | 100 minutes | $395/mo |
| 50 | 100 minutes | $241.25/mo | 200 minutes | $720/mo |
| 100 | 200 minutes | $448.50/mo | 500 minutes | $1,725/mo |
| 150 | 300 minutes | $620.75/mo | 500 minutes | $1,725/mo |
| 200 | 500 minutes | $759/mo | 500 minutes | $1,725/mo |
| 300 | 500 minutes | $1,206.50/mo | 500 minutes | $1,725+ (contact vendor) |
| 400 | 1,000 minutes | $1,499/mo | 500 minutes | $1,725+ (contact vendor) |
Longer calls raise minute-billed prices only; a different average changes where the lines cross. The calculator redraws this for your numbers.
Differences that change the bill
- Both bill by minutes, so longer calls raise both bills.
- PATLive publishes its overage: $2.99, $2.29, $2.09, $1.99, $1.89, $1.79, $1.69 per min, depending on the plan.
- Ruby does not publish a rate for usage beyond a plan, so past its largest fitting plan the only honest answer is "contact vendor".
- PATLive's page says every call is recorded; callers in all-party-consent states such as Illinois generally must be told.
Side by side
| Fact | PATLive | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Live (human) receptionists | Live (human) receptionists |
| Billed by | Minutes | Minutes |
| Plans | Pay as you go: $49/mo, 0 min 50 minutes: $99/mo, 50 min 100 minutes: $189/mo, 100 min 200 minutes: $349/mo, 200 min 300 minutes: $479/mo, 300 min 500 minutes: $759/mo, 500 min 1,000 minutes: $1,499/mo, 1,000 min | 50 minutes: $250/mo, 50 min 100 minutes: $395/mo, 100 min 200 minutes: $720/mo, 200 min 500 minutes: $1,725/mo, 500 min |
| Beyond the plan | $2.99 per min; $2.29 per min; $2.09 per min; $1.99 per min; $1.89 per min; $1.79 per min; $1.69 per min | Not published (contact vendor) |
| Spanish | Yes | Yes |
| Books appointments | Yes | Yes |
| Live transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Recording | Every call is recorded | Not mentioned on the pricing page |
| Trial or free plan | Try any plan completely free for 14 days | Not stated |
| Requires | Nothing else | Nothing else |
| Checked | Sep 23, 2026 | Sep 23, 2026 |