Best AI receptionists for Aussie tradies
Stop sending paid work to voicemail while you're up a ladder. Six options compared in plain English.
You can't answer the phone while you're under a house or halfway through a weld. A lot of customers won't leave a message. They just ring the next name on Google. An AI receptionist answers for you, takes the job details, often books it in, and sends you a summary so you can get back to it at smoko.
We went through the six AI receptionists in our directory and checked each one against its own website in October 2026. We haven't paid any of them, none of them have paid us, and we haven't made up any reviews or stats. Where a vendor doesn't publish something, we tell you.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Aussie fit | Published price |
|---|---|---|
| Sophiie | Markets itself as an AI virtual receptionist for Australia. | Not clearly published on the pages we checked. Ask for a quote. |
| Johnni | Brisbane-based. | From A$49/month + GST |
| Chime Labs | Sydney-based. | Free tier, paid plans from A$99/month + GST |
| AiDial | Australian, onshore, serves Australian businesses only. | Not published on the pages we checked. |
| BackOnTools | Australian-built, speaks Australian English. | Receptionist plan A$99/month |
| Rosie | US-focused. We couldn't confirm Australian phone numbers on its site. | Starting at $49/month |
Prices are as shown on each vendor's site in Oct 2026 and can change. Confirm with the vendor before you sign up, including whether GST is included.
The six, one by one
Sophiie
AI receptionistWho it suits: Trades businesses wanting calls answered and jobs booked straight into the calendar, with follow-ups handled too.
Key features (per its site, checked Oct 2026):
- Answers calls 24/7, checks your availability and books jobs into your calendar
- Follow-ups such as quote reminders and review requests
- Connects to ServiceM8, Xero, QuickBooks and Google Calendar
Aussie fit: Markets itself as an AI virtual receptionist for Australia.
Price: Not clearly published on the pages we checked. Ask for a quote.
Visit site ↗Johnni
AI receptionistWho it suits: Sole traders and small crews already running ServiceM8, Simpro or AroFlo who want an Aussie-sounding voice on the phone.
Key features (per its site, checked Oct 2026):
- 24/7 AI receptionist with an Australian voice
- Books jobs into ServiceM8, Simpro, AroFlo and others
Aussie fit: Brisbane-based.
Price: From A$49/month + GST (per its site at our earlier check; its site didn't load for our Oct 2026 re-check, so confirm with Johnni).
Visit site ↗
Chime Labs
AI receptionistWho it suits: Tradies who want callers qualified before the job hits the calendar, and want to try it free first.
Key features (per its site, checked Oct 2026):
- Qualifies callers and books jobs
- Books into ServiceM8 or Google Calendar (AroFlo logo also shown on its site)
Aussie fit: Sydney-based.
Price: Free tier, paid plans from A$99/month + GST (per its site at our earlier check; confirm current pricing).
Visit site ↗
AiDial
AI receptionistWho it suits: Bigger trade businesses that care about calls and data staying onshore, and also want outbound follow-up calls.
Key features (per its site, checked Oct 2026):
- Onshore AI call answering and outbound follow-up
- Integrates with ServiceM8, Tradify, AroFlo, Fergus and Simpro
- Also serves other industries such as legal, childcare and government
Aussie fit: Australian, onshore, serves Australian businesses only.
Price: Not published on the pages we checked.
Visit site ↗
BackOnTools
AI receptionistWho it suits: Small trade businesses that want the phone answered and a light job, quote and invoice app in one bill.
Key features (per its site, checked Oct 2026):
- Answers only when you miss the call, on your own number, 24/7
- Quotes from your own price book, books into the calendar, texts you a summary and recording
- Also includes invoicing, payment chasing, dispatch, GST/BAS reports and imports from ServiceM8 or Tradify
- Public demo lines you can ring for nine trades
Aussie fit: Australian-built, speaks Australian English.
Price: Receptionist plan A$99/month (60 calls); Tools A$59, Pro A$197, top plan A$349/month; 30-day free trial. Prices shown with $ and no GST note, so check whether GST is extra.
Visit site ↗
Rosie
AI receptionistWho it suits: Owners comfortable with a US-built general answering service, after checking it works on an Aussie number.
Key features (per its site, checked Oct 2026):
- 24/7 AI call answering
- Books appointments and texts you the details of every call
Aussie fit: US-focused. We couldn't confirm Australian phone numbers on its site.
Price: Starting at $49/month (likely USD) per its site.
Visit site ↗How to choose
- Start with your job app. If you live in ServiceM8, Simpro, AroFlo, Tradify or Fergus, shortlist the receptionists that book straight into it. Otherwise you'll be re-typing jobs.
- Ring a demo. Listen for whether it sounds natural to an Aussie customer, and whether it gets the address and the problem right.
- Check the call limits. A cheap plan with a low call cap can cost more once you're busy. Ask what happens when you go over.
- Decide missed calls vs. all calls. Some only pick up when you don't, while others act as your front desk for every call.
- Ask where data is kept. If onshore matters to you or your clients, AiDial makes it a selling point. Ask the others.
- Use the free trial. Run it for a couple of busy weeks before you commit.
FAQ
Will an AI receptionist sound like a robot?
Most now use natural-sounding voices, and some offer an Australian accent. The easiest test is to ring a demo line. BackOnTools, for example, lists public demo numbers on its site.
Do I have to change my phone number?
Usually not. Most set up call forwarding so missed or after-hours calls go to the AI while customers keep ringing your normal number. Check how each one works before signing up.
Can it book straight into ServiceM8 or Simpro?
Several can. Sophiie, Johnni, Chime Labs, AiDial and BackOnTools all list job-app or calendar connections on their sites. Check that yours is on the list.
How much does an AI receptionist cost?
Of the published prices we found, plans start around A$49 to A$99 a month. Watch for call limits, per-minute charges and whether GST is included.
Is it worth it for a sole trader?
If you regularly miss calls while you're on the tools, probably. Work out what one lost job is worth to you and compare that with the monthly fee. A free trial makes it easy to test.
Listings are not endorsements. Tradie AI may run clearly labelled sponsored placements in future. Info checked against vendor sites, Oct 2026.