Best 5 AI Receptionists for Tradesmen in 2026
A practical, trades-focused comparison of the five AI receptionists worth looking at in 2026. Pricing, strengths, weaknesses, and which one fits a UK sole trader.
The best AI receptionist for tradesmen in 2026 is the one that answers every call, captures the job details your business actually needs, and drops the lead straight into the tool you use for quoting. For UK sole traders that means Soteriaa. For larger multi-van firms, tools like Goodcall and Rosie are worth a look. Here are the five that matter this year, ranked for how they actually perform for a trade business.
What makes an AI receptionist good for tradesmen?
Trades businesses need something different from a general-purpose answering service. The caller is usually on a mobile, often in a rush, and the job description matters more than the greeting. A good AI receptionist for tradesmen captures caller name, number, address, the specific job, the urgency, and the preferred timing. It then routes that information into a CRM or sends an SMS alert without the owner having to log in anywhere.
- Answers on the first ring, 24 hours a day, including evenings and weekends.
- Captures the full job brief, not just the name and number.
- Flags emergencies so boiler leaks and lockouts get routed differently from quote enquiries.
- Integrates with a CRM so nothing lives only in a voicemail or text message.
- Costs less than a human receptionist, because trade margins cannot absorb £400 to £800 a month.
1. Soteriaa — best for UK sole traders and small trade firms
Soteriaa is the only option on this list that bundles an AI receptionist with a mobile-first CRM, quoting, payments, and scheduling in a single £29.99 per month subscription. The AI assistant, Martin, is built specifically for trades. He handles boiler breakdowns, lockouts, leaks, and callouts with the right urgency, and he speaks in English, Welsh, Spanish, Punjabi, and Urdu. The lead goes straight into the CRM with the job type, urgency, and address already tagged.
Where Soteriaa wins for tradesmen is the price-to-capability ratio. Most competitors either charge per minute, per call, or per user, which punishes busy trades. Soteriaa is one flat price with everything included.
2. Goodcall — best for multi-location service businesses
Goodcall is a US-focused AI receptionist that does a solid job of handling FAQs, routing calls, and booking appointments. It works well for service businesses that already have a front-office system and just need to plug a phone layer onto it. For a one-person plumbing business it is overkill, and the pricing starts to climb once you add call volume.
Want more articles like this?
Explore more on the blog, or get in touch if you want to see how Soteriaa can help your trades business capture more leads and run a sharper CRM workflow.
Alex
Founder
Practical insights from the Soteriaa team on AI reception, CRM workflows, quoting, and growth systems for trades businesses.
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