People on a business line, or your own AI?
Ruby vs Vicem: when each fits
Ruby is a 24/7 answering service where trained people answer a business’s calls, in English or Spanish. Vicem is an AI that answers your own phone, for everyone who calls you, and books into your calendar.
Dated.
What are the facts?
| Question | Ruby | Vicem |
|---|---|---|
| Price | RubyFrom $250 a month for 50 receptionist minutes | VicemFrom $24 a month, your US or Canadian number included. Free for 3 days. |
| Countries | RubyNot stated on the pages we read | VicemLocal numbers: 68 countries. Forwarding in many countries |
| Languages it answers in | RubyEnglish and Spanish, 24/7 | Vicem37 languages |
| A number of its own to give out | RubyHosts or ports your business number | VicemYes, with an email and a page |
| Works with your phone off | RubyYes, live people, 24/7 | VicemYes |
| Answers the caller, or only screens | RubyPeople answer, take intake, schedule and transfer | VicemAnswers and talks with the caller |
| Tells callers it’s an AI | RubyNot an AI: trained people answer | VicemYes, on every call |
| Books appointments | RubyYes: appointment scheduling | VicemYes, into your calendar |
| Tells you what happened | RubyNotifications by mobile app and email | VicemA summary of every call; urgent ones reach you at once |
Checked on October 14, 2026
- Ruby: Ruby pricing, Ruby home page
When the other is better.
Which one fits you?
Choose Ruby when:
- You want a real person on every call. Ruby home page
- You want callers helped in English or Spanish, 24/7. Ruby home page
- You want payments taken during the call. Ruby home page
Choose Vicem when:
- You want your own phone answered, for everyone who calls.
- Callers speak any of 37 languages.
- You want it to ask you before anything important.
Credit where it’s due.
What does Ruby do well?
- Trained people answer, 24/7, weekends and holidays included. Ruby home page
- Bilingual receptionists take calls in English and Spanish. Ruby home page
- They qualify leads, take intake and schedule appointments. Ruby home page
- They can collect payments and connect callers to you. Ruby home page
In their own words.
Where does Ruby stop?
- Plans differ only in their monthly receptionist minutes.Ruby pricing
- Its calls are never answered by AI alone.Ruby home page
Checked on October 14, 2026
People, or an AI?
Ruby puts trained people on a business’s line.
Vicem is always an AI, on your own phone.
How do they compare?
| What it does | Ruby | Vicem |
|---|---|---|
| Works when your phone is off | RubyYes, live people, 24/7 | VicemYes |
| Books into your calendar during the call | RubyAppointment scheduling | VicemYes |
| Emails the caller back | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Its own number, email and page | RubyYour business number | VicemYes |
| Speaks the caller’s language | RubyEnglish and Spanish | Vicem37 languages |
| Asks you before anything important | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Anyone can check what it did | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Works on any phone | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Calls for you | Does not apply | VicemYes, with Vicem Plus |
| Waits on hold for you, up to the time you set | Does not apply | VicemYes, with Vicem Plus |
| Cancels a subscription for you and gets the reference | Does not apply | VicemYes, with Vicem Plus |
| Spam calls it turns away never count against your minutes | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Junk calls and texts are handled without interrupting you | RubyRobocall filtering | VicemYes |
| Tell it who you’re expecting: they ring straight through | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Always an AI, never a call center | RubyNo: trained people answer | VicemYes |
| Never gives out your passwords or codes | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Never says yes to extras you didn’t approve | Does not apply | VicemYes |
| Never gives out your address or where you are without asking you | Does not apply | VicemYes |
Only what Vicem does today; a dash means not stated or doesn’t apply.
- Ruby: Ruby home page, Ruby pricing
Step by step.
How do you switch?
- If your calls forward to Ruby, turn that forwarding off.
- Get your Vicem: your first US or Canadian number is included.
- Forward missed calls to that number with your phone company’s codes.
- Call yourself from another phone and let it ring out.
What do people ask?
Is Vicem a Ruby alternative?
For one person, yes: Ruby staffs business lines; Vicem answers you.
Keep my number?
Yes: calls you miss forward to Vicem.
Does Vicem say it’s an AI?
Yes: every call starts by saying it’s an AI.
Want it answering your calls?
Vicem is an AI that answers your phone when you can’t. Free for 3 days.
Start free trial