The short version
What is Numa, and how is Riley different?
Numa is an AI phone and text assistant marketed primarily to car dealerships, with industry-tuned voice and messaging flows.
Riley is the missed-call safety net for small trades. Your phone rings first. You keep the number you already have. Only unanswered calls forward to Riley (*71 / **61*). She captures the job without guessing prices and texts you a 3-line summary.
You reply CALL or YES [NAME] from your phone. $149.99/month flat.
| Riley | Numa | |
|---|---|---|
| When it answers | Only after your phone rings first and you don't pick up (*71 / **61*) | AI voice |
| Pricing shape | $149.99/month flat | Custom (not published) |
| What's included | Your forwarding number, call minutes, SMS job alerts, and calendar check | 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 |
| How you manage it | 100% by text message (reply CALL, YES [NAME], NO [NAME]) — no dashboard required | Web portal / app dashboard |
| Setup | 3 minutes, self-serve | Sales call + managed onboarding |
| Trial / proof | Call the demo line (361) 301-9955 — no account needed | Varies by vendor |
Where Riley is different
Why do small trades pick Riley over Numa?
- 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
Riley is new. We do not invent testimonials. Call (361) 301-9955 to hear a missed trade call before you pay.
Where Numa may fit better
When is Numa the better choice?
- 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
So which should you pick?
If you work with your hands and want a predictable $149.99/month bill, put Riley on the calls you miss. Your phone still rings first. You get a text.
If you need a call-center receptionist on every call, or deep legal CRM workflows, Numa is a closer fit.
Numa is a dealership product. Riley is not.
I read numa.com. The workflows are service lanes, BDC, parts. That is a car store. It is not a roof.
You can ask Numa if they will take a plumbing company. Their motion is enterprise and dealership-shaped. Expect a sales process. Expect no public price.
Riley will take a plumbing company today for $149.99. She will not talk to your DMS. She will not run a BDC shift.
When to stop reading this page
If you run a dealership, go to Numa. This comparison exists because people search both names. It is not a close fight for either side.
If you are not a dealership
Stop here. Numa is not aimed at you. Riley is. $149.99. Demo line (361) 301-9955.
Dealerships that want a Numa-style product should stay on Numa's site. Trades that want a missed-call text should call the demo and then decide.
I will not invent a Numa price. Their published positioning is automotive. That is enough to split the page.
Sources used in this comparison
- Numa product site (primary — vendor's own page) — Vendor's own positioning as a dealership-focused AI assistant
- Numa reviews on G2 (independent) — Independent reviews on industry fit
Checked on . If a link breaks, email hello@rileyai.org and I'll fix it.
Hear Riley first
Hear Riley first, then decide.
Call the demo line (361) 301-9955 to hear how Riley handles a missed trade call—then turn it on for your own phone in 3 minutes.
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.