---
title: "Best HVAC answering services in 2026: live and AI"
canonical: "https://lobbystack.com/blog/best-hvac-answering-services/"
pubDate: "2026-10-09T13:00:00.000Z"
author: LobbyStack Team
description: "Compare live and AI HVAC answering services on price, setup fees, on-call dispatch and ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro or Jobber sync. Prices checked October 2026."
categories: [Comparisons]
---

The best HVAC answering services in October 2026 split by who answers. A Message Center, AnswerForce and PATLive use live agents, dispatch on-call techs and name ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro and Jobber. Among these live services, MAP Communications and Specialty Answering Service charge the least per extra minute. Jobber and Housecall Pro shops can add their software's AI receptionist.

LobbyStack publishes this list and sells an AI receptionist, so you'll find it in the AI section with its limits spelled out.

**Prices checked October 9, 2026.** We read every price on the vendor's own site that day, in US dollars before tax. Outside HVAC, see the [best answering services for small businesses](/blog/best-answering-service-for-small-business/).

## Which HVAC answering service is best for your shop?

Pick by who should answer a 2 a.m. no-heat call and where your jobs get booked. Live services cost more, and three of them say they follow an on-call roster. AI services cost less. The ones built into Jobber or Housecall Pro, or certified for ServiceTitan, book jobs where your dispatchers already work.

- **A Message Center, best HVAC-focused live service:** per-call billing from $47 a month plus $2.00 a call, and different on-call techs on different nights.
- **AnswerForce, best for software integrations:** human agents, with ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber and 12 more tools named.
- **PATLive, best published rate card:** 11 tiers, a 14-day trial and no contract.
- **MAP Communications and Specialty Answering Service, best low overage:** $1.28 to $1.54 per extra minute on plans up to 500 minutes, the lowest among the live services in this list.
- **Jobber Receptionist, best for Jobber shops:** a $29 add-on with 30 conversations a month.
- **Smith.ai, best AI with live receptionists behind it:** 25 free AI calls a month, plus setup guides for ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro and Jobber.
- **Sameday AI, best for ServiceTitan shops with a budget:** a certified ServiceTitan app from $449 a month.
- **LobbyStack (ours), best for Google Calendar shops with callers in many languages:** $30 a month for 150 minutes with no setup fee, and calls answered in the caller's language across 70+ languages.

## How do these HVAC answering services compare?

The table covers seven live services and seven AI or hybrid ones. They bill per call, per minute, per second, per unique caller or per conversation, so the last two columns price every service at the same call pattern.

**Assumptions:** 3 minutes a call (our assumption, not vendor data), every call answered, each caller unique, the cheapest plan or plan plus overage that covers the volume, no holiday fees, US dollars before tax, prices as of October 9, 2026.

| Service | Who answers | Entry price | Billing unit | Setup fee | 40 calls (120 min) | 100 calls (300 min) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [A Message Center](https://amessagecenter.com/pricing) | Live, HVAC focus | $47/mo + $2.00 a call | Per call | Not stated | $127 | $237.50 |
| [AnswerForce](https://www.answerforce.com/plans-direct) | Live, people only | $349/mo for 200 min | Per minute, rounded up | $75 on Intro only | $349 + $75 setup | $389 |
| [PATLive](https://www.patlive.com/pricing/) | Live | $49/mo + $2.99/min | First minute, then 6-second steps | None listed | $230.80 | $479 |
| [MAP Communications](https://www.mapcommunications.com/pricing/) | Live | $49/mo + $1.37/min | Whole minutes, rounded up | Not stated | $179 + telecom fee | $403 + telecom fee |
| [Specialty Answering Service](https://www.specialtyansweringservice.net/pricing/) | Live | $44/mo + $1.54/min | Per second | $0 | $187.80 | $384.20 |
| [Ruby](https://www.ruby.com/plans-and-pricing/) | Live | $250/mo for 50 min | 60 seconds, rounded up | None | $485 | $1,160 |
| [Nexa](https://www.nexa.com/plans/) | Live | Price on request | Not stated | Yes, amount not published | Price on request | Price on request |
| [Smith.ai Virtual Front Desk](https://smith.ai/pricing/receptionists) | Live receptionists | $300/mo for 30 calls | Per call | None | $415 | $915 |
| [Smith.ai AI Receptionist](https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist) | AI, with live escalation | $0 for 25 calls | Per call | None | $45 (Free), or $150 on Pro | $212.50 |
| [Jobber Receptionist](https://help.getjobber.com/en/articles/receptionistpowered-by-jobber-ai/) | AI inside Jobber | $29/mo add-on for 30 conversations | Per conversation | None listed | $36.90 + Jobber plan | $84.30 + Jobber plan |
| [Housecall Pro CSR AI](https://www.housecallpro.com/features/ai-team/csr-ai/) | AI inside Housecall Pro | Price not published | Not published | None listed | Not published | Not published |
| [Sameday AI](https://sameday.ai/pricing) | AI for home services | From $449/mo for 500 min | Not stated | Not stated | From $449 | From $449 |
| [Goodcall](https://www.goodcall.com/pricing) | AI | $79/mo for 100 unique callers | Per unique caller | Not stated | $79 | $79 |
| [Rosie](https://heyrosie.com/pricing) | AI | $49/mo for 250 min | 60 seconds, rounded up | Not listed | $49, or $149 with booking and transfers | $149 |
| [LobbyStack](/pricing/) (ours) | AI | $30/mo for 150 min | Per second | None on any plan | $30 | $60 |

The cost section below shows the plan and the math behind each cell.

## The best live HVAC answering services

All seven still put people on HVAC calls in 2026. Six of them also appear in our [answering service pricing guide](/blog/how-much-does-an-answering-service-cost/).

### A Message Center: best HVAC-focused live service

A Message Center's [HVAC page](https://amessagecenter.com/hvac-answering-service) covers no-heat and no-cool triage and maintenance-plan visits. After hours, agents dispatch the on-call tech by phone, text or dispatch app, and different techs can cover different nights. The page names ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro, Jobber, FieldEdge and ServiceFusion. Starter costs $47 a month plus $2.00 a call, and Standard costs $145 for 50 calls ([pricing page](https://amessagecenter.com/pricing)). You pay the same for a 10-minute no-heat call as for a 1-minute one. Watch the extras: the FAQ says holidays, outcalls and patching may cost more but lists no amounts, and the site doesn't state a setup fee, contract term or Spanish coverage.

### AnswerForce: best for software integrations

AnswerForce uses human agents only, in English and Spanish. Its [HVAC page](https://www.answerforce.com/hvac-answering-service) says agents capture emergency details, dispatch the on-call technician and book estimates. It names 15 tools, from ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro and Jobber to Salesforce. On the [plans page](https://www.answerforce.com/plans-direct), the $349 Intro plan carries a $75 setup fee, and the larger plans don't. AnswerForce rounds calls up to the minute, but the first 30 interactions under 30 seconds in each cycle cost nothing.

### PATLive: best published rate card

PATLive's [pricing page](https://www.patlive.com/pricing/) lists 11 tiers up to 5,000 minutes, starting at $49 a month plus $2.99 a minute, with overage falling at each step. It bills the first minute in full, then in 6-second steps, and doesn't bill after-call notes. Nights and holidays cost the listed price. Spanish costs nothing extra, and its [HVAC page](https://www.patlive.com/industries/hvac) puts Spanish hours at 8am to 10pm ET. That page also covers dispatch, booking in your field service software and transfers by each person's real-time status. The only one-time fee we found is $50 to turn on business texting.

### MAP Communications: best low overage with an on-call roster

MAP Communications' overage falls to $1.28 a minute on its $339 and $649 plans ([pricing page](https://www.mapcommunications.com/pricing/)). Its FAQ describes a Roster Service: you supply the on-call schedule and agents follow it. The [HVAC page](https://www.mapcommunications.com/industries/contractors/hvac-answering-service/) covers triage, scheduling and dispatch, and every plan includes English and Spanish. MAP's [terms](https://www.mapcommunications.com/terms/) (March 2026) round calls up to whole minutes and count after-call work toward them. They also add a $0.024 telecom fee per call and a holiday fee on seven holidays, with no amount stated.

### Specialty Answering Service: best per-second billing

Specialty Answering Service (SAS) bills by the second, from $44 a month plus $1.54 a minute, with $0 setup and no contract ([pricing page](https://www.specialtyansweringservice.net/pricing/)). The trial runs 14 days or 200 minutes with no card. Its [HVAC page](https://www.specialtyansweringservice.net/industries/construction/hvac-answering-service/) says SAS handles on-call staff changes and complex schedules, reaches techs by phone, text, email or pager, and can take payment before dispatch. Patching a caller through to you costs $0.10 a minute. SAS offers Spanish-speaking agents, but its pages quote two prices, so get the figure in writing.

### Ruby: best for Spanish at any hour

Ruby's plans differ only in minutes, from $250 for 50 to $1,725 for 500 ([pricing page](https://www.ruby.com/plans-and-pricing/)). Every plan includes Spanish 24/7, and Ruby's app warns you at 85% and 100% of your minutes. Ruby charges no setup or after-hours fees and doesn't bill robocalls its filter catches. The [HVAC page](https://www.ruby.com/industries/hvac/) says agents escalate emergency calls to your team. Included minutes work out to $3.45 to $5.00 each, the highest per-minute price here. Extra minutes cost $4.00 to $5.40, depending on the plan ([help center](https://rubyhelpcenter.helpjuice.com/billing-plans/am-i-on-the-right-billing-plan), checked October 10, 2026). Calls round up to 60 seconds (terms, March 2026).

### Nexa: price on request for calls, texts and chats

Nexa sells 100, 300 and 500-minute plans and quotes prices on request ([plans page](https://www.nexa.com/plans/)). It charges a setup fee but doesn't give the amount. Nexa lists English and Spanish, and its [HVAC page](https://www.nexa.com/industries/hvac/) covers calls, texts and chats, with CRM integration on Nexa 500. The page describes no emergency handling and names no field service software, so ask for the dispatch steps in writing with your quote.

## Is there an AI answering service for HVAC technicians?

Yes. Jobber and Housecall Pro sell AI receptionists inside their own software. Sameday AI and Avoca connect to ServiceTitan as certified apps. Smith.ai puts live receptionists behind its AI. Goodcall, Rosie and LobbyStack book into a calendar and transfer urgent calls to people you name, Rosie from its $149 plan.

Vendors sell these as an AI receptionist, an HVAC virtual receptionist or an AI CSR. [Avoca](https://www.avoca.ai/) quotes prices on request and aims at larger shops. It routes emergencies 24/7 and can hand calls to Avoca's human CSR team.

### Smith.ai: best AI with live receptionists behind it

Smith.ai's [AI Receptionist](https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist) charges $3.00 a call after the 25 free ones, or $150 for 75 calls on Pro. It speaks English and Spanish, and the pricing page lists no fee when the AI escalates to a live agent. The human [Virtual Front Desk](https://smith.ai/pricing/receptionists) costs $300 for 30 calls and charges $1.50 a call extra for booking. Neither product has a setup fee. The help center has setup guides for ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro and Jobber, and Smith.ai's HVAC article (April 2026) says safety-critical calls should go to a live receptionist at any hour.

### Jobber Receptionist: best for Jobber shops

Jobber Receptionist is a $29 monthly add-on with 30 conversations, then $0.79 each. Jobber Plus includes unlimited use at $399 a month billed annually ([help article](https://help.getjobber.com/en/articles/receptionistpowered-by-jobber-ai/), July 2026). You need a Jobber plan and a Jobber phone number in the US, Canada or the UK. It answers calls and texts 24/7, books into the Jobber calendar, and sends calls with your trigger words to an escalation contact. Spam doesn't count toward the limit.

### Housecall Pro CSR AI: best for Housecall Pro shops

Housecall Pro's help center calls [CSR AI](https://www.housecallpro.com/features/ai-team/csr-ai/) an optional paid add-on, and we found no price. It answers calls and chats 24/7, books in Housecall Pro, and escalates to a number you choose or to a Housecall Pro Assist Rep. Base plans start at $59 a month billed annually.

### Sameday AI: best for ServiceTitan shops with a budget

Sameday AI starts at $449 a month for 500 minutes and $789 for 1,000, and doesn't publish an overage rate ([pricing page](https://sameday.ai/pricing)). It's a certified ServiceTitan app that also connects to Housecall Pro, FieldRoutes and Service Fusion, and it books into the software during the call. Its nights-and-weekends "Emergency line" queue rings every member, and it offers round-robin queues. Multilingual voices come only on Enterprise.

### Goodcall: best for many repeat callers

Goodcall bills per unique caller and doesn't meter minutes: $79 a month covers 100 unique callers ([pricing page](https://www.goodcall.com/pricing)). A customer who calls three times in a month about one no-cool job counts once, and spam and wrong numbers don't count. The agent transfers callers it can't help to an escalation contact and can try up to three contacts if nobody answers. Goodcall's [FAQ](https://www.goodcall.com/faq) lists native connections to Google Calendar, Google Sheets and HighLevel; other systems, ServiceTitan included, need an API tool or MCP server you set up. The same FAQ limits Zapier to older GC3 agents, so ask whether the Zapier links to ServiceTitan, Jobber and Housecall Pro on its May 2026 [HVAC page](https://www.goodcall.com/answering-services/hvac-company) apply to a new account. Goodcall doesn't publish its languages.

### Rosie: best low-cost message taking

Rosie's $49 plan books only by texted link and has no transfers. The $149 plan adds calendar booking and live transfers, and the $299 plan adds waterfall transfers that try several numbers ([pricing page](https://heyrosie.com/pricing)). Going over moves you up a plan. Rosie speaks English and Spanish, and its [HVAC page](https://heyrosie.com/industries/hvac) says she "can't dispatch technicians directly". See [how Rosie's plans compare](/blog/rosie-ai-alternative/).

### LobbyStack (ours): best for Google Calendar shops with callers in many languages

LobbyStack's Starter plan costs $30 a month for 150 minutes, then $0.20 a minute. Pro costs $100 for 500 minutes, then $0.18. Billed annually, they cost $24 and $80 a month, and no plan has a setup fee. LobbyStack counts usage in seconds, and calls under 10 seconds or calls it ends as spam don't count. Plans don't limit how many calls it answers at once, and simultaneous calls share the same minutes.

Each call opens in the business's default language: English, French, Spanish, Serbian, German, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian or Dutch. The receptionist then answers in the caller's language: 70+ languages on OpenAI GPT-Live, including Spanish and Serbian. Your plain-language rules decide which calls are urgent, and it can transfer them to one number. If the transfer doesn't go through, it offers to take a message, and your team can get a "Live call transfer failed" alert. It books into Google Calendar and, when the caller agrees, texts a confirmation and a 24-hour reminder to US and Canadian numbers.

It doesn't sync with ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro or Jobber, and Google Calendar is its only calendar. Transfers go to one number without a briefing, and you get no on-call rotation. No human agents back it up, and the AI doesn't reply to texts. Free gives you 30 voice minutes and a US or Canadian number free for 14 days, with no card. See how it handles urgent calls on the [AI receptionist for HVAC companies](/solutions/ai-receptionist-for-hvac/) page.

## How much does an HVAC answering service cost?

At 40 three-minute calls a month, the live services here cost $127 to $485 and the AI services $30 to $149, with Sameday AI from $449. At 100 calls, the live services with complete published prices run $237.50 to $1,160 and the AI services $60 to $212.50, again with Sameday AI from $449. Setup fees and add-ons can raise both.

Housecall Pro and Nexa publish no prices, so we left them out. For other trades, see [what an answering service costs outside HVAC](/blog/how-much-does-an-answering-service-cost/), or our comparisons of [answering services for plumbers](/blog/best-plumbing-answering-services/) and [answering services for contractors](/blog/best-answering-services-for-contractors/).

### A shoulder month (40 calls) and a heat-wave month (100 calls)

Each line shows the cheapest option for 40 calls (120 minutes), then for 100 calls (300 minutes):

- **A Message Center:** $47 + 40 x $2.00 = $127; $145 + 50 x $1.85 = $237.50
- **MAP Communications:** $179 for 125 minutes; $339 + 50 x $1.28 = $403. Telecom fees add $0.96, then $2.40.
- **Specialty Answering Service:** $159 + 20 x $1.44 = $187.80; $269 + 80 x $1.44 = $384.20
- **PATLive:** $189 + 20 x $2.09 = $230.80; $479 for 300 minutes
- **AnswerForce:** $349 for 200 minutes, plus $75 setup once; $389 for 300 minutes
- **Smith.ai Virtual Front Desk:** $300 + 10 x $11.50 = $415; $810 + 10 x $10.50 = $915. Booking on every call adds $60, then $150.
- **Ruby:** $395 + 20 x $4.50 = $485; $720 + 100 x $4.40 = $1,160
- **Smith.ai AI Receptionist:** Free plan, 15 extra calls x $3.00 = $45; Pro, $150 + 25 x $2.50 = $212.50
- **Jobber Receptionist:** $29 + 10 x $0.79 = $36.90; $29 + 70 x $0.79 = $84.30, plus a Jobber plan
- **Rosie:** $49, or $149 with booking and transfers; $149, because 300 minutes passes the $49 plan's 250
- **Goodcall:** $79 at both volumes
- **Sameday AI:** from $449 at both volumes
- **LobbyStack (ours):** $30; $30 + 150 x $0.20 = $60

### Fees that change the bill

AnswerForce charges $75 setup on Intro, and Nexa charges a setup fee it doesn't publish. A Message Center may charge for holidays, outcalls and patching. MAP adds telecom and holiday fees, SAS charges $0.10 a minute to patch calls to you, and Smith.ai's live booking costs $1.50 a call. Jobber Receptionist also needs a Jobber plan, and Rosie moves you up a plan when you pass your minutes.

LobbyStack has no setup fee on any plan. On Starter and Pro, owners and admins can set a monthly overage cap, and LobbyStack sets none by default. Once spending reaches the cap, new calls get a busy signal.

## Can an answering service dispatch your on-call tech?

Yes, if it works from your on-call schedule. A Message Center, MAP and SAS describe following one, so they can reach whoever is on call that night. Most AI services send urgent calls to one escalation number, try a short list of contacts in turn, or ring a team queue. LobbyStack uses one number. For nights and weekends only, see [after-hours answering for contractors](/solutions/after-hours-answering-service-for-contractors/).

| Service | Urgent calls | On-call schedule | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|
| A Message Center | Dispatch by phone, text or dispatch app | Different techs on different nights | Not stated |
| MAP Communications | Triage, then dispatch | Roster Service follows your schedule | English, Spanish |
| Specialty Answering Service | Reaches techs by phone, text, email or pager | Handles complex on-call schedules | English, Spanish (price unclear) |
| AnswerForce | Dispatches the on-call tech | Not described | English, Spanish |
| PATLive | Dispatch; transfers by real-time status | Not detailed | English, Spanish (8am to 10pm ET) |
| Ruby | Escalates emergency calls to your team | Not described | English, Spanish 24/7 |
| Nexa | Not described | Not described | English, Spanish |
| Smith.ai | Its HVAC guide says safety-critical calls should go to a live receptionist | Not named | English, Spanish |
| Jobber Receptionist | Trigger words go to an escalation contact | Not described | Not stated |
| Housecall Pro CSR AI | Escalates to a number you pick or an Assist Rep | Not described | Not stated |
| Sameday AI | Emergency line rings every member on nights and weekends | Round-robin queues | Multilingual on Enterprise |
| Goodcall | Routing and dispatch flows; transfers to an escalation contact, trying up to three | Not described | Not published |
| Rosie | Transfers from $149; waterfall on $299 | Waterfall tries several numbers | English, Spanish |
| LobbyStack (ours) | Your rules decide what's urgent; transfer to one number; message and alert if the transfer fails | One transfer number you change in settings | Opens in your choice of 8 languages, answers in 70+ languages |

### Services that follow an on-call schedule

A Message Center, MAP and SAS say on their sites that they work from your on-call schedule. During a trial, send next week's on-call calendar and ask how a 2 a.m. call would reach the tech on duty. Sameday AI's round-robin queues, Rosie's waterfall transfers and Goodcall's three escalation contacts reach more than one person, but their pages don't describe following a dated on-call schedule.

### Services that send urgent calls to one number

Jobber Receptionist, Housecall Pro CSR AI and LobbyStack send urgent calls to a contact or number you choose. That works when one phone always reaches the person on call. With LobbyStack, you change that number in the receptionist settings when the on-call tech changes. The tech gets no briefing during the transfer and can read the call summary in the dashboard afterward.

## Which HVAC answering services work with ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro and Jobber?

A Message Center, AnswerForce and PATLive name all three on their HVAC pages, and Smith.ai has setup guides for all three. Sameday AI and Avoca are certified ServiceTitan apps that also connect to Housecall Pro. Jobber and Housecall Pro build their own AI receptionists. LobbyStack connects to none of the three.

| Service | ServiceTitan | Housecall Pro | Jobber | How |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Message Center | Named | Named | Named | Named on its HVAC page; method not stated |
| AnswerForce | Named | Named | Named | Named on its HVAC page with 12 other tools |
| PATLive | Named | Named | Named | Agents book into your field service software |
| Smith.ai | Setup guide | Setup guide | Setup guide | Guides in Smith.ai's help center |
| Sameday AI | Certified app | Yes | Not named | Books into the software during the call |
| Avoca | Certified app | Yes | Not named | Price on request |
| Goodcall | API tool you set up | API tool you set up | API tool you set up | FAQ: native links to Google Calendar, Google Sheets and HighLevel; Zapier only on older GC3 agents |
| Jobber Receptionist | No | No | Built in | Jobber only |
| Housecall Pro CSR AI | No | Built in | No | Housecall Pro only |
| Rosie | Not named | Not named | Not named | Zapier on every plan |
| Ruby | Not named | Not named | Not named | Zapier |
| Nexa | Not named | Not named | Not named | CRM integration on Nexa 500 |
| MAP Communications, SAS | Not named | Not named | Not named | None named |
| LobbyStack (ours) | No | No | No | Google Calendar; signed webhooks; REST API; Zapier through the webhooks and API; an MCP server |

If your dispatchers work in ServiceTitan and you need the job written there during the call, pick Sameday AI, Avoca, Smith.ai or a live service that names ServiceTitan, and ask each one to write a test job there before you sign. LobbyStack fits shops that book in Google Calendar, or that copy bookings into their software by hand or push them there with LobbyStack's webhooks.

## Is an HVAC answering service worth it?

It pays off when the jobs you'd save cover the bill. Multiply the calls you miss in a month by the share that would have booked and by your average margin per job, then compare that with the month's price above. Run it for July and for April, because HVAC call volume follows the weather.

Take an example with made-up inputs: 20 missed calls, 1 in 4 of them booking and $300 of margin per job come to $1,500. A 100-call month costs $60 to $1,160 on the services with complete prices above. Try your own numbers in the [missed-call revenue calculator](/missed-call-revenue-calculator/).

Most of a plan sized for July goes unused in April. Pay-as-you-go plans at A Message Center, SAS, MAP and PATLive keep the slow-month bill low. SAS and PATLive let you change plans for the next month, and LobbyStack lets you upgrade or downgrade from billing settings.

## How do you choose an HVAC answering service?

### 1. Count your calls by month

Pull last July's and last April's call counts and average call length from your phone bill, then price both months. Per-call and per-caller plans need the count, and per-minute plans need the minutes.

### 2. Place three test calls before you sign

Call each finalist three times: a 2 a.m. no-heat call with a baby in the house, a tune-up booking, and a Spanish-speaking caller. Check who answered, what the summary said, and whether the on-call tech got the call. Trials: PATLive 14 days, SAS 14 days or 200 minutes, MAP and Housecall Pro free trials, Rosie 7 days, Smith.ai's AI Free plan, and LobbyStack Free, with 30 minutes and a US or Canadian number free for 14 days.

### 3. Read the terms for billing and fees

A 20-second wrong number bills as a full minute at MAP, PATLive, Ruby and Rosie, and at AnswerForce after its first 30 short calls each cycle. SAS bills it by the second, and LobbyStack counts 20 seconds. Then check holiday, telecom and setup fees, and notice periods: MAP wants written notice a month before your next invoice.

### 4. Keep your number with call forwarding

Forward your existing number from your carrier for overflow, after-hours or every call, so the number on your trucks stays the same. Jobber Receptionist needs a Jobber phone number. With LobbyStack, your carrier's forwarding rule decides which calls it answers, and you can ask the team to port your number instead.

## HVAC answering service FAQ

### Is there a free HVAC answering service?

No live service in this list is free; trials come closest. Smith.ai's AI Free plan covers 25 real calls a month. LobbyStack Free gives you 30 voice minutes a month and a US or Canadian number free for 14 days, so it can answer your business line for two weeks if you forward it.

### Can I use an HVAC answering service only after hours?

Yes. Set your carrier to forward calls when you close. PATLive, Ruby and Smith.ai say they charge the same rate after hours. LobbyStack answers whatever your carrier forwards, so your forwarding rule sets its hours.

### Can an HVAC answering service answer in Spanish?

Yes. AnswerForce, PATLive, MAP, Ruby, Nexa, Rosie and Smith.ai's AI plans list English and Spanish, and Smith.ai's live plans charge $1.00 a call for a dedicated Spanish line. SAS offers Spanish but quotes two prices for it. LobbyStack opens each call in your choice of eight languages, then answers in the caller's language across 70+ languages, Spanish included.

### What happens if the on-call tech doesn't pick up?

Goodcall can try up to three escalation contacts, Rosie's $299 plan tries several numbers, Sameday AI's emergency line rings every member, and MAP's agents work from the roster you supply. LobbyStack's receptionist leaves the call once the tech's phone starts ringing. If the tech doesn't pick up, the caller reaches that phone's voicemail, if it has one. If the transfer doesn't go through, LobbyStack tells the caller, offers to take a message and can send your team a "Live call transfer failed" alert. We didn't find an answer on the other vendors' pages, so ask during the trial.

## How we checked these services

Updated October 9, 2026. We read each price, billing unit and setup fee on the vendor's own pricing page, help center or terms that day. We mark quote-only services price on request, and we compare different billing units only at the call pattern above. We checked Ruby's overage rates in its help center on October 10, 2026. LobbyStack's figures come from its [pricing page](/pricing/). Some older lists quote prices that have since changed; Ruby's 50-minute plan costs $250 today. Our next price check is January 2027.

Sources, all read October 9, 2026:

- A Message Center: [pricing](https://amessagecenter.com/pricing), [HVAC page](https://amessagecenter.com/hvac-answering-service)
- AnswerForce: [plans](https://www.answerforce.com/plans-direct), [HVAC page](https://www.answerforce.com/hvac-answering-service)
- PATLive: [pricing](https://www.patlive.com/pricing/), [HVAC page](https://www.patlive.com/industries/hvac)
- MAP Communications: [pricing](https://www.mapcommunications.com/pricing/), [terms](https://www.mapcommunications.com/terms/), [HVAC page](https://www.mapcommunications.com/industries/contractors/hvac-answering-service/)
- Specialty Answering Service: [pricing](https://www.specialtyansweringservice.net/pricing/), [HVAC page](https://www.specialtyansweringservice.net/industries/construction/hvac-answering-service/)
- Ruby: [pricing](https://www.ruby.com/plans-and-pricing/), [overage rates](https://rubyhelpcenter.helpjuice.com/billing-plans/am-i-on-the-right-billing-plan), [HVAC page](https://www.ruby.com/industries/hvac/)
- Nexa: [plans](https://www.nexa.com/plans/), [HVAC page](https://www.nexa.com/industries/hvac/)
- Smith.ai: [AI Receptionist pricing](https://smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist), [Virtual Front Desk pricing](https://smith.ai/pricing/receptionists)
- Jobber: [Receptionist help article](https://help.getjobber.com/en/articles/receptionistpowered-by-jobber-ai/), [pricing](https://www.getjobber.com/pricing/)
- Housecall Pro: [CSR AI](https://www.housecallpro.com/features/ai-team/csr-ai/), [pricing](https://www.housecallpro.com/pricing/)
- Sameday AI: [pricing](https://sameday.ai/pricing)
- Avoca: [homepage](https://www.avoca.ai/)
- Goodcall: [pricing](https://www.goodcall.com/pricing), [HVAC page](https://www.goodcall.com/answering-services/hvac-company), [FAQ](https://www.goodcall.com/faq)
- Rosie: [pricing](https://heyrosie.com/pricing), [HVAC page](https://heyrosie.com/industries/hvac)

## Which HVAC answering service should you pick?

- **People on every call and an on-call roster:** A Message Center, MAP Communications or Specialty Answering Service.
- **ServiceTitan, with the job written there:** AnswerForce or PATLive for live agents, Sameday AI or Smith.ai for AI.
- **Jobber or Housecall Pro:** try the built-in receptionist first.
- **Google Calendar booking, overflow and after-hours calls for $30 to $100 a month, and callers in other languages:** LobbyStack.

Want to hear LobbyStack take a no-heat call before you pay? [Create a free account](https://app.lobbystack.com/en/signup) and test it with 30 voice minutes and a free number for 14 days, no card needed. Paid plans have no setup fee, and you can cancel from billing settings with no cancellation fees. Then see how urgent calls, bookings and transfers work on the [AI receptionist for HVAC companies](/solutions/ai-receptionist-for-hvac/) page.