Moneypenny vs an AI receptionist for contractors
Moneypenny is the cheapest live-receptionist entry plan on the market, and it sells an AI plan too, which makes it a useful comparison for a one- to three-truck shop. Here’s how its live plan, its AI plan and a per-minute AI receptionist compare on a contractor’s calls, with October 2026 prices.
Moneypenny or an AI receptionist: which should a contractor pick?
Moneypenny’s $99 live plan buys 30 minutes, about ten three-minute calls, then $2.99 a minute; its AI plan is $69 for 25 calls or $99 for 50, then $1.89–$2.49 a call. A per-minute AI receptionist is $49–$99 for 100–200 minutes and $0.25–$0.50 after, and books into your calendar. For a solo electrician at 120 calls, Moneypenny live runs roughly $1,080, Moneypenny AI about $270, a per-minute AI about $150. Under 15 calls a month, or for big-ticket first calls, the $99 live plan is a fair way to get a human voice cheaply.
| Moneypenny | AI receptionist (per-minute plan, or a GoHighLevel build) | |
|---|---|---|
| Entry price (Oct 2026) | Live: $99/mo, 30 minutes; $189 personalised plan · AI: $69/mo for 25 calls, $99 for 50 | $49–$99/mo with 100–200 minutes; GoHighLevel build: per-minute usage, no seat fee |
| Overage | Live: $2.99/min · AI: $1.89–$2.49 per call | $0.25–$0.50 per minute |
| Books into your calendar | Scheduling offered on plans; confirm the destination | Yes, into your calendar or job software by zone |
| Knows your prices and service area | What’s on the script | What you load, with a no-quote rule |
| After-hours | 24/7 on plans | 24/7, no surcharge |
| Angry customer, warranty dispute | Operators handle it well | Hands off to you or a live fallback |
| Setup | Script and a few days | A few hours plus a tuning week |
| Billing unit | Minutes (live) or calls (AI) | Minutes |
When is Moneypenny the better choice?
- Very low volume: under 15 calls a month, $99 for a human is hard to beat.
- Big tickets where a human first contact closes the job.
- A customer base that wants a person.
- You want a brand name and zero setup work.
When is an AI receptionist the better choice?
- Volume. Over 60–80 calls a month, per-call or per-minute live pricing stops making sense; at 300 calls in a summer month the live-service overage alone passes what an AI plan costs for the year.
- Booking. You want the caller booked into tomorrow’s 8–10 window, not a message that says they called.
- After-hours and overflow. The AI’s marginal cost of a 2 a.m. call is a few cents.
- Your own calendar and texts. Confirmation, reminder, on-the-way and follow-up texts come from the same system that answered.
- Tuning. Fix a wrong answer once and it stays fixed.
What do they cost in a contractor’s busiest month?
Same three shops we use on every comparison, about three minutes a call.
| Shop | Calls | Moneypenny (entry plan + overage) | Per-minute AI ($99 for 200 min, $0.25 after) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo electrician, Austin | 120 (≈360 min) | Live: $99 + 330 × $2.99 ≈ $1,085 · AI: $99 + 70 × ~$2.20 ≈ $255 | ≈ $150 |
| 3-truck plumber, Houston | 250 (≈750 min) | Live: $99 + 720 × $2.99 ≈ $2,250 · AI: $99 + 200 × ~$2.20 ≈ $540 | ≈ $215 |
| 6-truck HVAC, Dallas, July | 600 (≈1,800 min) | Live: ≈ $5,400 · AI: ≈ $1,310 | ≈ $475 |
Can you run both?
Yes: AI answers first and books; anything it flags as angry, complex or “wants a person” forwards to Moneypenny or to you. That keeps the live bill to the handful of calls that need a human voice and gives the 85% who say they prefer a person a way to get one. The reverse (live first, AI overflow) suits big-ticket trades where the first call closes the sale.
Texas notes
Whichever answers, any text it sends under your name carries your TDLR or TSBPE licence number in the signature, goes 9 a.m.–9 p.m., and stays a reply unless you have consent on file; ask Moneypenny how they store consent before letting them text past customers. Texas is one-party consent for recording. The Texas rules page has the detail.
Questions owners ask
Is Moneypenny’s AI plan the same as an AI receptionist?
It’s an AI answering plan priced per call; a per-minute AI or a GoHighLevel build is priced per minute and wired to your own CRM, calendar and texts. Compare on your busiest month.
What does the $99 live plan actually cover?
About 30 minutes, roughly ten short calls. Fine for a very quiet line; overage at $2.99 a minute adds up fast in season.
Does Moneypenny book appointments?
Scheduling is offered; confirm whether it lands in your job software.
What does it cost a solo electrician in a busy month?
Roughly $1,085 live, $255 on Moneypenny AI, $150 on a per-minute AI at 120 calls.
Can I use Moneypenny behind an AI?
Yes: AI answers and books; flagged calls forward to Moneypenny or to you.
Is there a contract?
Plans are generally monthly; confirm current terms.
Does it integrate with Jobber or Housecall Pro?
It lists common integrations; verify the specific push on your account.
What about Spanish?
Ask about bilingual coverage on the live plan; AI platforms switch mid-call.
Which sets up faster?
AI: hours plus tuning. Moneypenny: a script and days.
Where do these prices come from?
Moneypenny’s published plans as of October 2026, checked by the pricing guides linked below.
Next pages
Sources
- Nextiva, “Answering Service Cost: What You Can Expect to Pay in 2026,” updated 23 Sep 2026: nextiva.com
- NextPhone, “AI Receptionist Cost: 2026 Pricing Guide,” prices checked 5 Oct 2026: getnextphone.com
- Moneypenny pricing (verify current plans before signing): moneypenny.com
Not sure whether Moneypenny or AI fits your shop?
Thirty minutes on Central Time. Bring last month’s call count; we price both for your busiest month and play you the AI on three of your real call types.