How we review
Every tool gets a checklist score built from facts we check on the vendor's own site. A hands-on test score comes on top, only for tools we have actually tested.
Two kinds of scores
- Checklist score (for example "5/7 checks") — every tool has one. It counts how many of a category's key criteria the tool meets, using only what the vendor states publicly.
- Scope score (out of 10) — only for tools we've tested hands-on. Until a tool is tested, its page says so and shows no Scope score.
We never estimate a Scope score from marketing, and we never present a checklist score as a test result.
The checklist score
For each category we list the criteria that matter most to a trades business. We then check each tool's pricing, features and integration pages, and record what the vendor states, with the date and the source on the tool's page. Each criterion is worth one point:
- Yes — the vendor clearly offers it: 1 point.
- No or not stated — 0 points. If a vendor doesn't say it publicly, you can't count on it before you buy, so neither do we.
Within a category, tools are ranked by checklist score. Ties keep our editorial order.
AI Receptionist
7 criteria- Public pricing — You can see the price without booking a sales call.
- Free trial — You can try it before you pay.
- Answers 24/7 — Nights, weekends and holidays are when trades miss the most calls.
- Transfers calls to a person — Emergencies and upset callers can reach you or your on-call tech.
- Books appointments — It fills your calendar instead of just taking a message.
- Handles Spanish — Spanish-speaking customers can call and book too.
- Works with Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan — It connects to the field service software most trades already run.
Reviews & Reputation
3 criteria- Public pricing — You can see the price without booking a sales call.
- Free trial — You can try it before you pay.
- Works with Jobber, Housecall Pro or ServiceTitan — It connects to the field service software most trades already run.
AI Search Visibility
2 criteria- Public pricing — You can see the price without booking a sales call.
- Free trial — You can try it before you pay.
Field Service Management
4 criteria- Public pricing — You can see the price without booking a sales call.
- Free trial — You can try it before you pay.
- Online booking — Customers can book a visit from your website.
- Syncs with accounting — Invoices flow to QuickBooks or Xero without retyping.
What the checklist doesn't tell you
A checklist shows what a tool offers on paper, not how well it does it. Two AI receptionists can both "book appointments" while one gets the details wrong. That's what hands-on tests are for — and why we show the facts behind every checklist so you can judge for yourself.
The Scope score (hands-on tests)
When we test a tool, we sign up like a normal customer, set it up for a realistic trades business and run it through real scenarios: after-hours calls, quote requests, rescheduling, payment reminders. The Scope score out of 10 is built from five weighted criteria:
Does it handle real trade workflows: emergency calls, service areas, job types, technicians in the field?
Does it do the job well? For a receptionist: are calls answered, understood and booked correctly?
Can an owner or office manager set it up and run it without a developer?
Does it connect to the tools trades already use, like Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan or Google Calendar?
Is the price fair for what a small crew gets? Are there hidden fees, contracts or per-minute surprises?
Tested tools show the test date next to their Scope score. We'll publish the first test results here as they're done.
What "Editor's pick" means
An Editor's pick is the tool we would recommend first for most businesses in a category, after testing. It is never sold, and we don't award it to untested tools.
How we make money
Some links on this site are affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Software vendors can also buy sponsored placements, which are always labelled "Sponsored" or "Featured". Vendors cannot buy a score, a checklist point, a ranking, an Editor's pick or a change to a review.
Found a mistake?
Prices and features change fast. If something on a page is out of date — including a checklist point — tell us through the contact details on our About page and we'll check it again and fix it.