Updated 29 July 2026 · prices verified from public pages
Five services, their published prices, and the catch in each one. Including the three rows where we lose — because a comparison where the author wins everything is an ad, not a comparison.
Everything here comes from each company's own public pricing page in July 2026. Prices change and some vendors quote per-seat or per-location; check before you buy. Stay Bookd is in Canadian dollars because we are a Canadian company — the others publish in USD, which is roughly 35% more once your card is charged.
| Stay Bookd | Rosie | Goodcall | Smith.ai | Podium | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | $89 CAD/mo | $49 USD/mo | ~$59 USD/mo | $95 USD/mo | $249 USD/mo |
| Usage limit | None. Flat rate. | 250 minutes, then $149 / $299 tiers | Unlimited minutes on flat rate | Per-call packages | Tiered by location |
| Overage charges | No | Yes — next tier up | No | Yes — extra calls billed | Varies by contract |
| Free trial | 7 days, starts on your first real missed call | Yes | Yes | Trial credit | Demo only |
| Setup fee | None | None | None | None | Onboarding fee typical |
| Contract | None — cancel by email | Monthly | Monthly | Monthly | Annual typical |
| Answers by | Text message | Voice | Voice | Voice + real humans | Text |
| Keep your number | Yes — forward unanswered calls only | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The pattern worth noticing: most of this category bills by the minute or by the call, which means your bill goes up in exactly the month you got busy. A flat rate is not automatically cheaper — at very low call volume, Rosie's $49 tier wins. It is predictable, which is a different thing.
Three real ones. If any of these describes you, buy something else — we would rather you did than churn in month two.
No voice
We reply by text. If your customers are older, or driving, or the job needs a real back-and-forth conversation, a voice product like Rosie or Goodcall fits better. Some callers will never read a text.
No humans
Smith.ai puts trained receptionists behind the AI. That costs more and it is worth more for high-value or legally sensitive work. We do not have that.
Canada only
We are built for Canadian numbers and Canadian carriers. If you are in the US or overseas today, we are not the right fit yet.
The closest competitor and genuinely good. Voice, trades-focused, cheapest entry at $49. Watch the 250-minute cap — a busy month pushes you to $149.
Flat-rate unlimited minutes on voice, aimed at very small businesses. The strongest answer if you want voice without metered billing.
AI plus real receptionists, priced accordingly. Built around law and professional services. Overkill for a two-van plumbing outfit.
A whole marketing platform with messaging inside it. If you only want your missed calls handled, you are paying for a lot of software you will not open.
Several services now sit at $25–30/month. Read the minute allowance carefully; that price usually buys a very small bucket.
Text-back only, flat $89 CAD, no metering, Canadian. Best fit if you are a Canadian service business whose real problem is that nobody follows up on missed calls before the customer phones the next name on the list.
Next: how call forwarding actually works on Telus, Rogers, Bell and Fido — the dial codes, and what happens to your number.