At a glance
Side by side.
| Feature | Upfirst | Blumeo. |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | AI receptionist; no live receptionist plans | AI receptionist (it tells callers it's automated), with emergencies and anything it can't handle passed to you |
| Starting price | $24.95/month (Starter) | $197/month (Starter) |
| Included each month | 30 calls (plans up to 600 calls for $299) | 100 calls and 500 texts on Starter; spam, wrong numbers and hang-ups aren't counted |
| Past the allowance | $1.50 a call on Starter, down to 70¢ on Scale | $1 a call |
| Setup fee | None | None |
| Contract | None, cancel any time | None, cancel any time |
| Free trial | 14 days or 100 calls, no card needed | 7 days |
| Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Spanish | Yes, plus 35+ other languages | Yes |
| Books appointments | Yes: Google Calendar, Outlook, Calendly and others; ServiceTitan, Jobber and Housecall Pro through Zapier | Yes, into Google Calendar |
| Emergencies | Routes urgent calls to your on-call tech; warm transfers | Passed to your on-call phone |
| Texts back missed callers | Texts callers links and info; a missed-call text-back isn't stated | Yes, within a minute, on every plan |
Upfirst's details come from its own website, checked on November 12, 2026. Prices and plans change, so check Upfirst's site before you decide. Blumeo wrote this page.
Which one fits
Who should pick which.
Upfirst is the better pick if
- You get very few calls and want the lowest monthly price.
- Your customers call in languages beyond English and Spanish.
- You're not in the trades, or you want one receptionist across several kinds of business.
Blumeo is the better pick if
- You're an HVAC, plumbing, electrical or roofing contractor and want a receptionist built only for those trades.
- You want every missed caller texted back within a minute.
- You want Google review requests and estimate follow-up on the same plan (Pro and up).
- You get enough calls that 100 a month for $197 is the better deal.
Questions
Blumeo vs Upfirst: what owners ask.
Upfirst starts at $24.95. Why does Blumeo cost more?
Upfirst's Starter plan covers 30 calls; Blumeo Starter covers 100 calls for $197 and adds missed-call text-back, with review requests and estimate follow-up on Pro. If you get only a few calls a month, a smaller plan may suit you better. Check Upfirst's pricing page for its current plans.
Do both connect to ServiceTitan or Jobber?
Upfirst says it connects to ServiceTitan, Housecall Pro and Jobber through Zapier. Blumeo books into Google Calendar today; ask us about your field-service software before you sign up.
Can I try Blumeo before choosing?
Search for your business on blumeo.ai and Blumeo builds a receptionist from your Google listing in about 30 seconds. You can talk to it before you sign up, then forward only the calls you miss to start.
More comparisons
- Blumeo vs Smith.ai
- Blumeo vs Ruby
- Blumeo vs AnswerForce
- Blumeo vs Rosie
- Blumeo vs Abby Connect
- Best HVAC answering services
- Best plumbing answering services
- Best electrical answering services
- Best roofing answering services
- AI receptionist vs answering service vs voicemail
Sources, checked November 12, 2026
Your phone could ring right now
Let's make sure someone answers it.
The AI Receptionist: Live today. Free for 7 days. Plans from $197 a month, every one with a 7-day free trial. No setup fee, no contract, no sales call: build it, hear it and switch it on yourself.
Questions first? Ask support, 24/7