Ruby vs Smart Text Back
Ruby (formerly Ruby Receptionists) provides 100% US-based live receptionists who answer calls professionally. At $250/mo for 50 minutes, it's a premium service — and per-minute billing makes costs unpredictable for businesses with variable call volume. Ruby doesn't offer 2-way SMS or review management. It's a live answering service, not a text-back tool, so the comparison is about approach: human answering vs. automated text recovery.
| Feature | Smart Text Back | Ruby |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $297/mo flat | $250/mo |
| Setup Fee | $1,000 one-time | None |
| Contract Required | Monthly — cancel anytime | Monthly |
| Missed Call Text-Back | ||
| 2-Way SMS | ||
| Review Management | ||
| Mobile App | ||
| Multi-Line Support | ||
| Scheduling / Booking | ||
| AI Call Answering |
Ruby Pros & Cons
Pros
- 100% US-based live agents
- Polished, professional voice experience
- Mobile app for call management
- Good for premium brands
Cons
- $250/mo for just 50 minutes
- Per-minute billing is unpredictable
- No 2-way SMS
- No review management
Smart Text Back Pros & Cons
Pros
- Flat $297/mo — no per-user or per-minute billing
- All-in-one: text-back, 2-way SMS, reviews, mobile app
- Done-for-you setup — we handle everything
- Keep your existing business number
- Facebook & Google chat integration
Cons
- $1,000 one-time setup fee
- No AI call answering — text-back only
- SMS carrier usage rates apply on top of monthly fee
Pricing: $297/mo vs $250/mo
Smart Text Back is a flat $297/month with no per-user or per-minute charges. Ruby starts at $250/mo.
Ruby charges no setup fee, while Smart Text Back has a $1,000 one-time setup fee. The trade-off: Smart Text Back's setup fee covers done-for-you configuration, number setup, message templates, and team training — you don't touch any technical settings. With Ruby, you save on setup but may need to handle configuration yourself.
Both services offer month-to-month billing with no long-term contracts — you can cancel either one anytime.
The key pricing difference: Smart Text Back includes everything in one flat fee. With Ruby, check whether the starting price includes all the features you need — some providers gate key features behind higher tiers or charge add-on fees that push the effective monthly cost above the advertised rate.
What Ruby Doesn't Include
Smart Text Back is an all-in-one platform: missed call text-back, 2-way SMS, review monitoring and replies, Facebook/Google chat, and a mobile app — all included.
Ruby is missing review management and reply tools, scheduling and booking features, true 2-way SMS conversations. If you need those capabilities, you'd have to add separate tools, which means more logins, more cost, and more complexity.
For businesses that want one platform to handle all their customer communication, Smart Text Back provides better value — even if the headline price looks similar.
Who Each Tool Is Best For
Ruby is best for: Premium businesses wanting a polished live answering service.
Smart Text Back is best for: small businesses that want a flat-rate, all-in-one missed call text back service with done-for-you setup, review management, and a mobile app — without per-user pricing or annual contracts.
If you're a small business owner who just wants to stop losing leads to missed calls without overpaying for features you don't need, Smart Text Back is the simpler, more affordable choice.
The Verdict
Choose Ruby if:
- 100% US-based live agents
- Polished, professional voice experience
- Mobile app for call management
Choose Smart Text Back if:
- You want a flat monthly rate with no per-user pricing
- You need text-back, 2-way SMS, and review management in one
- You want done-for-you setup with your existing number
Ruby vs Smart Text Back: FAQ
Data last verified: 2026-08-24
Pricing and features change frequently. Verify directly with the provider before making a decision.