Honest comparison
Riley vs Numa
Both answer your phone when you can't. They're priced very differently, built for different people, and your callers hear different things. Here's a straight look.
The short version
Riley and Numa are not the same product.
Numa is an AI phone and text assistant marketed primarily to car dealerships, with industry-tuned voice and messaging flows.
Riley is a flat $149/month AI receptionist built for small businesses and trades: she answers your business line when you can't, captures the job in plain English, flags urgent calls, and tries to reach you when a caller asks for a person. Price includes your Riley phone number, call minutes and the AI; no per-call or per-minute fees.
| Riley | Numa | |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | AI voice built around trade intake | AI voice |
| Pricing shape | Flat $149/month | Custom (not published) |
| What's included | Your Riley number, call minutes and the AI | Pricing is custom per dealership/location and not publicly listed. Enterprise sales motion with onboarding and account management. |
| Overage fees | None | Depends on the custom plan |
| Urgent-call flagging | Built in (leak, no-heat, lockout, etc.) by trade | Whatever your script says |
| Setup | Self-serve in minutes | Sales call + managed onboarding |
| Trial / proof | Call the demo line (361) 301-9955 — no account needed | Varies by vendor |
Where Riley is different
Why trades pick Riley
- Built for small-business trades and home-service, not dealerships
- Self-serve, flat $149/month, no sales call
- Owner answers back directly when a caller asks for a person
We're new, so we don't lean on testimonials — the demo line (361) 301-9955 answers for a sample roofing company so you can hear exactly what your customers would hear before you pay.
Where Numa may fit better
We'll say it plainly.
- Deep tuning for dealership workflows (service appointments, parts, BDC)
- Enterprise rollout and account team
- Integrations with dealership-specific systems
Who Numa fits
- Auto dealerships that want an AI tuned to service/BDC workflows
- Multi-location operators that need enterprise rollout and support
- Teams already using dealership-specific CRMs and DMS systems
Trade-offs to know about Numa
- Not aimed at small-business trades (roofers, plumbers, HVAC, etc.)
- No published price; expect enterprise sales process
- Narrower industry focus means less flexibility outside dealerships
A simple way to decide
If you want a flat monthly bill, trade-specific capture, and self-serve setup, try Riley. If you need a live human on every call or deep CRM workflows for a specialized industry, Numa is a closer fit. Nobody's wrong — just know what you're buying.
Try Riley
Hear her first, then decide.
Call the demo line — Riley answers for a sample roofing company so you can hear exactly what your customers would hear. Free. No account needed.
Questions people ask about Riley vs Numa
Can I use Numa for my roofing company?
You can ask, but Numa's product and sales motion is built around car dealerships. Riley is built for trades like yours.