The short answer
Down To Earth AI is a managed service for UK tradesmen. The pricing is £299 one-time setup, then £45 a month for the AI Receptionist, plus a separate £23 a month for the WhatsApp add-on. Total monthly cost with WhatsApp enabled is £68 a month, plus the £299 upfront.
Automatyn is self-serve. Starter is free with 25 conversations a month. Pro is £29 a month with 150 conversations. Max is £69 a month with unlimited conversations. WhatsApp is included on every plan. No setup fee. No add-ons.
If you want a managed service where someone configures the agent for you and you pay a one-time setup fee, Down To Earth AI is the right shape. If you want to try the agent yourself for free, then pay £29 a month if it works, Automatyn is the right shape.
Pricing side-by-side
| Cost component | Down To Earth AI | Automatyn |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | £299 one-time | None |
| Free trial | No | Yes (Starter plan, 25 conversations a month) |
| Base monthly fee | £45 (AI Receptionist) | £0 / £29 / £69 |
| WhatsApp add-on | £23 a month extra | Included on every plan |
| Effective monthly cost with WhatsApp | £68 | £0 to £69 |
| First-year total (with WhatsApp) | £299 + (£68 x 12) = £1,115 | £0 to £828 |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days | 7 days (plus free tier) |
Managed vs self-serve
Down To Earth AI describes itself as "100% done for you." Their setup fee covers configuring the agent against your specific business, your service area, your pricing, your protocols. You hand off the work, they build, you start receiving polished WhatsApp replies.
Automatyn is self-serve. You answer a configuration sheet, the agent goes live, and you tune the responses by sending feedback to the agent during the first few days. There is no person assigned to set you up. The trade-off is no setup fee and a permanent free tier where you can test on real messages.
Neither approach is wrong. They suit different owners. A trade business owner who hates configuring software and is happy to pay £299 to never touch it will prefer Down To Earth AI. An owner who wants to start free, see what the agent says to a real client, and only pay if it works will prefer Automatyn.
Try Automatyn free before paying anything.
Free Starter plan included. 25 conversations a month, no credit card. Live in 10 minutes on your existing WhatsApp Business number.
See pricing →Features that overlap
- WhatsApp Business integration on your existing number
- 24/7 automated responses
- Photos, videos, and voice notes captured from clients
- Lead capture and handover to the owner
- GDPR-compliant data handling
Features that differ
Down To Earth AI: done-for-you setup, named UK tradesmen focus, £299 onboarding by their team, monthly contract.
Automatyn: free Starter tier, self-serve configuration, geo-priced (GBP for UK / EUR for EU / USD for US), unlimited tier at £69, no setup fee, broader vertical coverage including gardeners, tree surgeons, vets, accountants.
The bottom line for UK trades
Pure money in the first year:
- Down To Earth AI with WhatsApp: £1,115 first-year total
- Automatyn Pro: £348 first-year total
- Automatyn Max (unlimited): £828 first-year total
- Automatyn Starter: £0, capped at 25 conversations a month
For most single-van plumbers, electricians, or gardeners running fewer than 150 client WhatsApps a month, Automatyn Pro at £348 a year is the most efficient option. For high-volume trades pushing 200+ conversations a month, Automatyn Max at £828 a year is still £287 cheaper than Down To Earth AI.
Start a free Automatyn account, run it for a week, and the comparison stops being theoretical.
Frequently asked questions
Is Automatyn cheaper than Down To Earth AI?
Yes, significantly. Down To Earth AI charges £299 setup plus £45 base plus £23 WhatsApp add-on, totalling £68 a month after the £299 setup. Automatyn is £29 a month on Pro with WhatsApp included and no setup fee.
Does Down To Earth AI have a free trial?
No. Down To Earth AI offers a 30-day money-back guarantee but you pay upfront. Automatyn has a permanent free Starter tier.
Do both support photos and voice notes from WhatsApp clients?
Yes. Both capture photos, voice notes, and video attachments.
Which trades does each support?
Down To Earth AI lists 13 trade categories. Automatyn supports the same plus gardeners, tree surgeons, vets, accountants, and gyms.