Short answer: Smith.ai is an AI receptionist. Here are 6 other ways to get your business phone answered, from AI agents to live receptionists.
Last updated: · 7 tools · How we pick
About this list
Smith.ai is an AI receptionist that answers calls, books appointments and takes messages. Our listing shows a free plan for 25 calls, with a Pro plan at $150 a month. If you want to compare other ways to get your phone answered, here are 6 more.
Options for any business: Ruby uses live, trained receptionists instead of AI, from $250 a month for 50 minutes. The ElevenLabs Phone Answering Agent answers your phone day and night, answers common questions and books appointments. It lists a free plan to try, with paid plans from $6 a month, and agent calls use your monthly credits. Dialpad is a cloud phone system with AI call notes, not a receptionist.
Options made for one industry: Avoca AI Front Office for home service companies, Mira for salons that use Mangomint, and Certus AI for restaurants that take phone orders.
We don’t rank these. Each one does a different job, so look at what each answers, books and costs, then test the one that fits.
The tool you’re comparing: Smith.ai
AI receptionist answers calls, books, and takes messages.
Any BusinessFree plan · Pro $150/moEasy
Options for any business
Any BusinessFrom $250/moEasy
Answers your business phone day and night, answers common questions, books appointments, and sends hard calls to staff.
Any BusinessFree to try · Paid plans from $6/moMedium
Any BusinessCheck siteEasy
Options made for one industry
Answers every call day and night and books the job. Texts new web leads within seconds. Follows up on missed calls and open estimates.
Home ServicesCheck siteEasy
Mira Salon AI Receptionist
20 hrs/wkAnswers salon calls and texts 24/7 and books, moves, or cancels appointments.
20hrs/wk savedShops & RestaurantsCheck siteEasyAnswers every call, even when your whole team is busy. Takes the order from your menu. Sends the order to your POS and kitchen, like a counter order.
Restaurants; delisCheck siteEasy
Compare them side by side
| Tool | What it does | Who it’s for | Cost (from maker) | Setup | Time saved | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith.ai Compared | AI receptionist answers calls, books, and takes messages. | Any Business | Free (25 calls); Pro $150/mo | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Smith.ai |
| Ruby | Live receptionists answer calls 24/7. | Any Business | From $250/mo (50 minutes) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Ruby |
| ElevenLabs Phone Answering Agent | Answers your business phone day and night, answers common questions, books appointments, and sends hard calls to staff. | Any Business | Free plan to try. Paid plans from $6/mo (Starter); Creator $22/mo; Pro $99/mo. Agent calls use your monthly credits. Check site | Medium | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for ElevenLabs Phone Answering Agent |
| Dialpad | Cloud phone with AI call notes. | Any Business | Check site (Essentials shown $39-$89/user/mo by plan) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Dialpad |
| Avoca AI Front Office | Answers every call day and night and books the job. | Home Services | Check site | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Avoca AI Front Office |
| Mira Salon AI Receptionist | Answers salon calls and texts 24/7 and books, moves, or cancels appointments. | Local Shops & Restaurants | Monthly add-on to a Mangomint plan; price shown in your Mangomint account (no setup fee) | Easy | 20 hrs/wk (maker's claim) | Source for Mira Salon AI Receptionist |
| Certus AI Restaurant Phone Orders | Answers every call, even when your whole team is busy. | Restaurants; delis | Check site (no price in the case study; the owner says there was no contract) | Easy | Maker hasn't shared this. Our estimate: ~1–3 hrs/wk | Source for Certus AI Restaurant Phone Orders |
Costs and hours come from each tool’s own source. “Our estimate” is our guess from similar tools, not a measured number. The directory is free to search; prices come from each maker and change often.
Questions people ask
What are some Smith.ai alternatives?
On this page: Ruby, ElevenLabs Phone Answering Agent and Dialpad for any business, plus Avoca AI Front Office, Mira and Certus AI for one industry each.
Is there a Smith.ai alternative with real people?
Ruby uses live, trained receptionists who answer calls 24/7. Our listing shows it from $250 a month for 50 minutes.
How much do these cost?
Of the 6 tools here, 1 shows a price, 1 lists a free plan or free self-hosting next to a paid price, and 4 don't show a clear price in our listing. See the Cost column for each one. Prices come from each maker and change often, so check the maker's site before you buy.
How does BusyWorkBots pick these?
Every listing links to a real source, a case study, a builder's post, or the maker's page. Numbers from the company selling the tool are labeled as a maker or vendor claim. We don't test every tool.
