AI receptionists
The Best AI Receptionist for Canadian Contractors (2026): Compared With Real Prices
Short answer
For Canadian trades that want the phone answered, jobs booked and the website handled by one team, GLO is the best AI receptionist in Canada: it answers your existing number 24/7, books estimate visits into your real calendar, puts real jobs through to your cell, and every plan includes a new website built free, from $297 a month in CAD. If you only want the cheapest bot to answer and take details, Clara starts at $49.99 a month in CAD. If a French-first receptionist matters most, look at Mihron or Polaris Voice.
Key takeaways
- AI receptionists in Canada run from about $50 to $500 a month. Watch the currency: several popular ones bill in US dollars.
- Pricing models differ: unlimited calls, bundles of minutes, per call or per customer. Match the model to how your phone actually rings.
- For a contractor, booking matters more than answering. A receptionist that only takes messages leaves you calling everyone back.
- GLO is the best fit for trades that want it done for them: 24/7 answering, real bookings, live transfers and a free website, set up and run by our team.
- We’re GLO, so we’re biased. Every competitor price below comes from its own pricing page, linked, so you can check.
What is the best AI receptionist in Canada for contractors?
GLO is the best AI receptionist in Canada for trade and home-service businesses that want calls answered, visits booked and the website handled by one team. It answers your existing number 24/7, checks your real availability, books estimate visits, and puts real jobs straight through to your cell with a summary first. It’s proven on a real Canadian line: 1,051 calls answered for an Ottawa paving company in one season, with 58 visits booked by the receptionist and 224 real jobs put through to the owner. It isn’t the cheapest option, and it isn’t the right pick for everyone, so here’s how the field compares.
How do the top AI receptionists compare on price?
| Receptionist | Starting price | Pricing model | Books & transfers | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GLO | $297/mo CAD, $0 setup | 150 voice minutes, then $0.35/min | Yes, into your real calendar; live transfer with summary | Free website included; done for you; office software on Operating System |
| Clara | $49.99/mo CAD ($89.99 Pro) | Unlimited calls | Live transfers on Pro | Single user on base plan; 7-day free trial |
| Hey Jodie | C$99/mo | Unlimited minutes | From C$199/mo (Professional) | UK-based company; 7-day free trial |
| Mihron AI | $299/mo CAD | Fair-use minutes, then per minute (rates not published) | Books into Google Calendar or Cal.com | English and French; Toronto-based; setup included |
| Polaris Voice | $99/mo CAD | 150 min, then $0.75/min | See plan details | English and French; data stored in Canada |
| Jobber Receptionist | US$29/mo add-on | 30 conversations, then US$0.79 each | Inside Jobber | Requires a Jobber plan; included on Jobber Plus |
| Smith.ai (AI) | US$150/mo for 75 calls | Per call | Human receptionists can take over a call | US pricing; free tier of 25 calls |
| My AI Front Desk | US$99/mo (US$79 annually) | 200 min, then about US$0.25/min | See plan details | US pricing; Canada not stated |
| Goodcall | US$79/agent/mo | 100 unique customers, then US$0.50 each | See plan details | US pricing |
| Rosie | US$49/mo | 250 min | Booking and transfers from US$149/mo | US pricing; English and Spanish |
Which AI receptionist is best for your situation?
| If you… | Best pick |
|---|---|
| Want the phone, bookings and a new website handled for you | GLO (Front Desk, $297/mo) |
| Also want quotes, invoices and payments in one system, set up for you | GLO (Operating System, $797/mo) |
| Just want the cheapest bot to answer and take details | Clara |
| Need a French-first, bilingual receptionist | Mihron AI or Polaris Voice |
| Already run Jobber and want answering inside it | Jobber Receptionist, or GLO Front Desk if you also need the website |
| Want a human who can take over any call | Smith.ai |
Want to hear what a contractor-grade receptionist sounds like on your own business? Start with your new website, built free, and we’ll set it all up.
Get your free siteWhat should an AI receptionist do for a trades business?
It should turn calls into booked visits, not messages. Here’s the checklist we’d hold any receptionist to, including ours:
- Answer your existing number 24/7 through call forwarding, so you don’t change the number on your truck.
- Check your real availability and book the visit: the right day, address and job, straight into your calendar.
- Know when to hand off: existing customers, emergencies and big jobs go through to your cell with a summary before you pick up.
- Capture the job details: service, address, timeline and anything you need to quote.
- Filter spam and hang-ups so you only hear about real calls.
- Send a summary and transcript after every call, so nothing lives only in the AI’s memory.
- Be honest: if a caller asks whether they’re talking to AI, it should say yes.
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Canada?
Most AI receptionists cost between about $50 and $500 a month in Canada, depending on how they charge. The pricing model matters more than the headline price, because trades calls are uneven: quiet in January, slammed in May.
| Model | How it works | Examples | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unlimited calls | Flat monthly fee, no meter | Clara, Hey Jodie | Features like transfers or booking often sit on higher tiers |
| Minutes bundle | Included minutes, then a per-minute rate | GLO, Polaris Voice, My AI Front Desk, Rosie | The overage rate in your busy season |
| Per call | A price per answered call | Smith.ai | Spam and wrong numbers can count as calls |
| Per customer | A price per unique caller per month | Goodcall | Repeat callers are cheaper than many new ones |
For scale, on one Ottawa paving company’s line the average real conversation lasted 1.6 minutes, and calls where the receptionist booked a visit averaged 4.7 minutes. GLO’s Front Desk includes 150 minutes a month and Operating System 500, with extra minutes at $0.35. For a full cost comparison with answering services and hiring, see AI receptionist vs answering service vs hiring.
Why GLO is the best AI receptionist in Canada for trades that want it done for them
- It books, it doesn’t just answer. Estimate visits go into your real calendar, and real jobs reach your cell with a summary first.
- It comes with a new website, built free, made for Google and AI search, so callers who check your site first can book there too.
- It’s done for you. We train it on your services, prices and service area, and you approve it before it takes a live call. No evenings spent configuring software.
- It grows into the whole office. On Operating System, the same system runs quotes, deposits, invoices and payments.
- It’s proven on a Canadian line: 1,051 calls, 58 booked visits and 224 live transfers for an Ottawa paving company in one season.
- It’s priced in Canadian dollars, month-to-month after go-live.
Not the right fit if…
you only want the cheapest possible bot to take messages (Clara is cheaper), you need a French-first receptionist from day one (compare Mihron and Polaris Voice, or ask us), or you get only a few calls a month.
| Plan | Monthly | Setup | Voice minutes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Front Desk | $297/mo | $0 setup · first month paid at signing | 150/mo | For crews whose website and phone are losing them calls. |
| Operating SystemRecommended | $797/mo | $1,497 setup · 50% now, 50% at go-live | 500/mo | For owner-operators who quote, invoice and chase deposits themselves. It's what the company in our case study runs. |
| Growth | $1,497/mo | $1,997 setup · 50% now, 50% at go-live | 1,000/mo | For operators who want more jobs coming in, not just fewer missed. |
How do you switch to an AI receptionist?
You keep your number and forward it. The major Canadian carriers support call forwarding on business and postpaid lines, usually with a short dial code or a setting on your phone. We walk through the codes for Bell, Rogers, Telus, Fido, Koodo, Freedom and more in how to forward your business line to an AI receptionist. With GLO, we set it up with you and test it before it goes live.
AI receptionist FAQ for Canadian contractors
What is the best AI receptionist in Canada?
For trade and home-service businesses that want calls answered, visits booked and the website handled by one team, GLO is the best choice, from $297 a month in CAD with a free website. For the lowest price, Clara starts at $49.99 a month in CAD. For French-first service, compare Mihron AI and Polaris Voice.
How much does an AI receptionist cost in Canada?
Most cost between about $50 and $500 a month. Some charge a flat fee for unlimited calls, others include a bundle of minutes, and some charge per call or per customer. Check the currency, since several bill in US dollars.
Can I keep my business phone number?
Yes. You forward your existing number to the AI receptionist, so customers keep calling the number they already have.
Will customers know they’re talking to AI?
A good receptionist sounds natural, and it should tell the truth if someone asks. GLO’s receptionist says it’s AI when asked, and puts real jobs through to you.
Can an AI receptionist book appointments into my calendar?
The good ones can. GLO checks your real availability and books estimate visits straight into your calendar during the call. Some budget options only take messages, or put booking on a higher tier.
Does an AI receptionist replace an answering service?
For most trades, yes. It answers 24/7, costs less than a live service at typical volumes, and can book the visit instead of taking a message. See the full cost comparison in our AI receptionist vs answering service guide.
Sources
- Clara pricing (Canada), viewed Sept 28, 2026
- Hey Jodie pricing (Canada), viewed Sept 28, 2026
- Mihron AI, viewed Sept 28, 2026
- Polaris Voice pricing, viewed Sept 28, 2026
- Jobber help: Receptionist powered by Jobber AI
- Smith.ai AI Receptionist pricing, viewed Sept 28, 2026
- My AI Front Desk pricing, viewed Sept 28, 2026
- Goodcall pricing, viewed Sept 28, 2026
- Rosie pricing, viewed Sept 28, 2026
Get a receptionist that books the job, and a new website built free, set up and run for you.
Get your free siteKeep reading
- AI Receptionist vs Answering Service vs Hiring a Receptionist: Real Costs in Canada (2026)
- What Missed Calls Really Cost a Trades Business: Data From 1,051 Real Calls (2026)
- How to Forward Your Business Line to an AI Receptionist in Canada (Bell, Rogers, Telus, Fido, Koodo, Freedom and More)
- How Much Does a Contractor Website Cost in Canada? (2026 Price Guide)
Written by
Founder, GLO
Tiago Jahchan is the founder of GLO, a Canadian company that builds websites, 24/7 AI receptionists and back-office software for trade and home-service businesses across Canada. He builds and runs the systems his clients use every day, and writes about what actually works when a trades business puts AI to work.
- Founder of GLO, serving trade and home-service businesses across Canada
- Builds and runs the AI receptionists and websites GLO clients use
- Proven on a real Ottawa contractor’s phone line