Quick Answer
SkipCalls is one of the cheapest AI receptionists you can buy: $29.99 a month, or $249.99 a year, for about 200 calls a month, set up by you in an app. If you want to run it yourself and price is everything, keep it. If you want it set up, scripted and booking for you, look at a done-for-you service.
Our data: how often callers can't get through
From Sockly's own scan of Google Maps reviews of independent businesses (chains removed), updated November 3, 2026. A business counts when a review from the last 12 months says the caller couldn't get through, never got a call back, or was treated badly at the front desk.
| Trade | Businesses checked | With a recent complaint | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| HVAC | 117 in 8 metros | 11 | 9% |
| plumbing | 107 in 8 metros | 5 | 5% |
| roofing | 117 in 8 metros | 10 | 9% |
| electrical | 74 in 8 metros | 2 | 3% |
Not every caller who gives up leaves a review, so these are floor figures. Method and full data: missed-call research.
We read skipcalls.com/pricing on November 13, 2026, both the monthly and yearly views. Every SkipCalls number below comes from that page. Most "SkipCalls alternatives" pages that rank today are on SkipCalls' own blog or are directory listings without reviews, so we kept to the vendor's own published plans.
What SkipCalls is
An AI receptionist you set up yourself, on the web or in the iPhone and Android app. Every plan answers 24/7 in English and Spanish, books on your calendar, filters spam and texts you a summary. Starter is 1 AI agent and 1 number; PRO adds 3 agents, premium voices, AI text replies, website chat, CRM links and team accounts; Business adds 10 agents and 1,000 minutes with optional extra minutes at $0.19 a minute.
What it costs
Monthly plans come with a 7-day free trial, card required, and you're charged when it ends unless you cancel. Yearly plans are charged at signup. Every plan has a 30-day money-back guarantee and no contract. Starter and PRO are "unlimited" under a fair-use policy the page puts at about 200 and 350 calls a month.
Where SkipCalls wins
Price, by a wide margin. Nothing on our pricing pages costs less for a one-person shop that is happy to set up its own script, test it and change it from an app. Spanish on every plan and a public demo line are real advantages too.
When to look at something else
These are the cases where the cheapest plan stops being the cheapest outcome.
- Nobody has time to write the script, test it and fix it. Sockly is set up for you and changed for you after launch.
- You get more than about 350 calls a month. SkipCalls' fair-use caps are 200 and 350; Sockly covers up to 500.
- Every call is worth hundreds of dollars and a wrong answer costs a job. Test any AI on your hardest call, not your easiest.
- You want one company responsible for how your phone sounds, not a settings screen.
What Sockly does instead
Sockly answers your existing number in your business's name. We write the questions with you, connect your Google Calendar or Outlook, test it, and change it when your business changes. It books the job during the call and texts you a summary of every call. It costs far more than SkipCalls: $997 a month for up to 500 calls, $0 setup. Right now it's 2 months for $997, month two on us. You're live this week, you can cancel anytime, and there's a 30-day money-back window after activation.
SkipCalls plans next to Sockly (read November 13, 2026)
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly | Included |
|---|---|---|---|
| SkipCalls Starter | $29.99 | $249.99 ($20.83/mo) | 200 calls (fair use) |
| SkipCalls PRO | $49.99 | $499.99 ($41.67/mo) | 350 calls (fair use) |
| SkipCalls Business | $129 | $1,290 ($107.50/mo) | 1,000 minutes, then $0.19/min if on |
| Sockly Starter (done for you) | $997 | $8,973 (three months free) | 500 calls, $0 setup |
Sources: skipcalls.com/pricing (monthly and yearly views), read November 13, 2026; sockly.ai/pricing. Trade numbers: our scan of public Google reviews, see the table below.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SkipCalls cost?
On November 13, 2026: Starter $29.99 a month or $249.99 a year; PRO $49.99 a month or $499.99 a year; Business $129 a month or $1,290 a year, with extra minutes at $0.19 a minute if you turn them on.
Does SkipCalls have a free trial?
Yes, 7 days on monthly plans, with a card required. You're charged when the trial ends unless you cancel. Yearly plans are charged at signup and covered by the 30-day money-back guarantee.
Why is Sockly so much more than SkipCalls?
Because it is a done-for-you service, not an app. The setup, the script, the calendar connection and every change after launch are handled for you, and the price covers up to 500 calls a month.
Can I try Sockly first?
Call 470-280-8910 and say your business name. It answers as you, right then.
Call 470-280-8910 and say your business name. You'll hear your own phone answered and a job booked.
Ready to Never Miss Another Call?
Live on your number this week. $997/month for up to 500 calls, $0 setup, 30-day money-back guarantee.
Get it on your numberOr hear it first: call 470-280-8910 and say your business name.
Related Resources
Published: November 13, 2026
Last Updated: November 13, 2026