If you’re reviewing Smith.ai pricing, you’ll see that it follows a per-call structure — starting at $95/month for 50 calls, with additional usage billed separately. This model is designed to suit businesses that prefer a hybrid receptionist approach, where human receptionists are supported by AI to deliver consistent, personalized call handling.
As shown below, Smith.ai’s pricing page highlights how their per-call model works:
For many organizations, it’s a great fit when call volume is steady and they value a blend of automation and live-agent support.
At the same time, businesses with variable or high call volumes often explore alternatives that provide more predictable monthly costs. That’s where Welco, an AI phone receptionist, offers a different approach.
Instead of per-call billing, Welco pricing starts at $39/month and offers flexible plans. Businesses can plan their budgets confidently, knowing their call-handling capacity grows with them — without the uncertainty of variable, per-call costs.
Both Smith.ai and Welco are designed to help businesses deliver seamless customer experiences—Smith.ai caters to both small businesses and enterprises with its hybrid human-AI receptionist model. At the same time, Welco focuses on a fully autonomous AI solution tailored for small and mid-sized companies, managing calls, FAQs, and appointment bookings 24/7.
To better understand how Smith.ai’s approach works, let’s look at what its AI Receptionist actually does.
What is Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist?
Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist is an intelligent call-handling system that automates incoming business calls using conversational AI. It understands caller intent, captures lead details, and routes calls to the right person or department—without human involvement.
Powered by voice AI, speech recognition, and CRM integrations, it helps businesses maintain professional communication 24/7, greet callers, qualify leads, and sync data with tools like HubSpot, Salesforce, and Clio.
Key Features of Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist:
| Features | Description |
|---|---|
| Voice AI & Transcription | Converts every conversation into searchable text for easy record-keeping and quick follow-up. |
| Smart Call Routing | Directs calls based on caller type, department, or predefined workflows to ensure the right person always receives the call. |
| CRM & App Integrations | Automatically logs call details into connected software like HubSpot, Salesforce, or Clio for seamless lead management. |
| Custom Workflows | Enables setup of personalized greetings, call flows, and business hours to match unique business needs. |
Smith.ai is widely used by small businesses, law firms, agencies, and service providers to eliminate missed calls, project a professional image, and streamline administrative tasks.
How Much Does Smith.ai AI Receptionist Cost?
Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist pricing starts at $95 per month for 50 calls, with higher plans available for larger call volumes. Each plan includes 24/7 answering, lead qualification, and CRM integration — with no setup fees or long-term commitments.
How Smith.ai Prices Its AI Receptionist Plans
Smith.ai offers four main pricing tiers for its AI Receptionist service:
| Plan | Monthly Calls Included | Price (per month) | Overage Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 50 calls | $95.00 | $2.40 per call over 50 |
| Basic | 150 calls | $270.00 | $2.30 per call over 150 |
| Pro | 500 calls | $800.00 | $2.10 per call over 500 |
| Enterprise | Custom volume | Custom pricing | Adjusted to business needs |
Smith.ai Pricing Plans Explained
Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist offers four main pricing tiers designed for different business sizes and call volumes. Each plan includes the same set of powerful features — such as lead qualification, CRM integration, and appointment booking — with differences mainly in call volume limits and overage rates.
Let’s break down what each plan offers and who it’s best suited for:
1. Starter Plan — $95/month (50 calls)
Best for: Solopreneurs, freelancers, or small teams with low monthly call volumes.
The Starter plan provides up to 50 calls per month, ideal for testing the platform or handling occasional customer inquiries. Beyond 50 calls, an overage of $2.40 per call applies. All essential features — like lead qualification, CRM sync, and call summaries — are included, along with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
2. Basic Plan — $270/month (150 calls)
Best for: Growing small businesses or service providers with steady inbound calls.
This plan supports up to 150 calls monthly, with an overage of $2.30 per extra call. It includes the same AI + human hybrid experience as the Starter plan, plus greater flexibility for businesses that rely on consistent client interactions or appointment scheduling.
3. Pro Plan — $800/month (500 calls)
Best for: Mid-sized businesses or agencies with high call volumes.
Offering up to 500 calls per month, the Pro plan is designed for companies that handle daily inquiries or lead generation at scale. The overage rate drops to $2.10 per call, making it slightly more economical for high-volume users. This plan also provides full access to Smith.ai’s AI-human handoff feature, where complex calls can be escalated to live agents 24/7
4. Enterprise Plan — Custom Pricing
Best for: Enterprises or franchises managing multiple departments or high call volumes.
Smith.ai offers custom pricing for organizations needing tailored workflows, multiple lines, or API-based integrations. The plan is adjusted based on business needs and may include volume discounts.
Smith.ai Reviews: What Users Say About Pricing
User opinions on Smith.ai’s pricing are mixed. Many appreciate the value the service provides, but others find the per-call model and add-on costs less flexible for small teams. Here’s what real users have said on G2:
1. Kimberley F. — Attorney (Small Business)
“The pricing structure is confusing. It’s hard to determine what counts as an in-depth intake. I wish the pricing was more inclusive or that unused benefits rolled over to the next month since I am not meeting my 20 calls per month.”
Takeaway:
Smith.ai’s structure can feel complex for solo professionals or small firms, especially when call volumes vary month to month.
2. Colleen S. — Owner (Small Business)
“They charge per call and often the potential client calls are too short. They also charge more for integration with legal software and completing intake.”
Takeaway:
While the service saves time, per-call charges and integration fees can make it expensive for smaller practices.
3. Brady M. — Business Systems Analyst (Small Business)
“Smith.ai’s pricing plan makes predicting charges easy, and their system makes training a receptionist simple.”
Takeaway:
Not all users struggle with cost—some find the per-call pricing transparent and predictable, especially for steady call volumes.
4. Unnamed Reviewer — Small Business
“The price is expensive on a per-call basis compared to an hourly employee who would take calls.”
Takeaway:
For some businesses, the cost per call may outweigh the value, particularly when compared to hiring an in-house receptionist.
Smith.ai’s pricing earns praise for clarity and reliability. Still, smaller businesses often find it rigid or costly compared to usage-based or scalable alternatives such as Welco, which adapts better to fluctuating needs.
Smith.ai Customer Reviews & User Feedback
Smith.ai maintains consistently strong ratings across major review platforms, earning praise for its professionalism, responsiveness, and reliable AI-human hybrid model. However, some users note that per-call pricing can be expensive for smaller businesses or those with fluctuating call volumes.
Overall Ratings:
Here’s the overall rating of Smith.ai from Trustpilot, Capterra, G2, and Clutch
| Trustpilot: 4.4 / 5 (300+ reviews) | Capterra: 5.0 / 5 | G2: 4.9 / 5 | Clutch: Ranked among the top virtual receptionist services in the U.S |
These ratings highlight Smith.ai’s consistent performance and customer satisfaction — but as with any service, user experiences vary.
Let’s explore what customers like most about the platform and what challenges they’ve reported.
What Users Like About Smith.ai
- Professional and Friendly Call Handling
“The AI receptionist is highly responsive and natural in tone, handling calls and messages quickly and professionally—giving the impression of a live assistant rather than an AI.”
- Effortless Call Filtering & Automatic Scheduling
“Smith.ai lets me filter calls effortlessly, mark spam to keep my phone clear, and automatically book appointments based on my calendar—saving tons of time and ensuring I never miss important calls.”
- Professional Client Communication Without Machine Greetings
“Smith.ai ensures clients and potential clients never receive a machine greeting or voicemail—they get professional human interaction every time, with solutions tailored to our specific needs that exceed expectations.”
What Users Complain About Smith.ai
- Duplicate Information Requests During Transfers
“When I first signed up, Smith.ai’s AI would ask the caller for all their information and then transfer them to a live person, who would ask for the same details again—annoying prospects and making the process less smooth.”
- Limited Suitability for Retail Businesses
“It seems to be tailored for service-based businesses and not retail, making it less suitable for companies focused on retail operations.”
- Billing and Support Problems with Account Setup
“Billing and support can be terrible—losing days of calls due to mistakes setting up accounts or forwarding rules, and getting confusing, messy billing when more than one account is involved.”
Overall:
Smith.ai earns strong marks for reliability, call quality, and customer support, making it a solid choice for growing businesses that value professional hybrid reception.
However, startups and small teams often find their per-call pricing less predictable — which is why many are exploring alternatives like Welco, where pricing is transparent, not volume-based, and scales more naturally with business growth.
However, startups and small teams often find their per-call pricing less predictable — which is why many are exploring alternatives like Welco, where pricing is flat, not volume-based, and scales more naturally with business growth.
Smith.ai Pricing vs Competitors
Here’s how Smith.ai alternatives compare with other leading AI receptionist and communication tools in terms of pricing and features
| Feature / Platform | Smith.ai | Welco.ai | Retell AI | Quo (OpenPhone) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per-call & tier-based | Transparent subscription (predictable monthly billing) | Pay-as-you-go (per minute) | Per-user/month |
| Starting Price | $95 / month (50 calls) | $39 / month (Starter) | $0.07+/min | $15 / user / month (billed annually) |
| Free Trial | 30-day money-back guarantee | 7-day free trial (real calls) | $10 free credits + free calls | 7-day free trial |
| AI Model | Hybrid (AI + human backup) | 100% AI-first (autonomous) | Fully AI voice & chat (customizable LLMs) | AI assistant for calls/messages |
| Integrations | HubSpot, Salesforce, Clio, Zapier | API, webhooks, CRM integrations | API, custom LLMs, webhooks | HubSpot, Salesforce, Slack, API |
| Call Recording & Transcripts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 24/7 Handling | Yes (with live agent escalation) | Yes (AI-powered) | Yes | Depends on plan |
| Ideal For | Teams that value human backup & consistent quality | Teams that want predictable monthly bills & full AI automation | Devs & enterprises building custom voice agents | Small teams wanting unified phone + messaging |
Smith.ai’s per-call pricing can be a good fit for organizations that prefer the safety net of live agent backup and have predictable monthly volumes.
However, businesses that want predictable monthly bills and full AI automation often choose platforms offering transparent subscriptions (like Welco) or pay-as-you-go voice agents (like Retell). Quo (formerly OpenPhone) targets teams that need unified phone and messaging with per-user pricing.
Looking for a Smith.ai Alternative? Try Welco
If you’re exploring modern, AI-first receptionist solutions, Welco.ai presents a practical alternative to hybrid platforms like Smith.ai.
Where Smith.ai blends human receptionists with AI assistance, Welco takes a fully autonomous approach — using advanced conversational AI to answer calls, handle FAQs, and book appointments around the clock.
With transparent, fixed monthly pricing that scales by business size, it removes per-call unpredictability entirely. Plus, Welco includes smart features such as Call Transfer, Intake Forms, and SMS management, ensuring seamless lead management and communication.
Beyond cost control, Welco integrates with tools such as Google Calendar, Zapier, HubSpot, and Salesforce, creating an end-to-end automated reception system for growing teams.
FAQs about Smith.ai pricing
Can I change my Smith.ai plan based on monthly call volume?
Yes. Smith.ai allows businesses to upgrade or downgrade their plan based on the number of calls they receive each month. If your call activity increases, you can easily switch to a higher tier for additional coverage. However, changes usually take effect in the next billing cycle rather than immediately mid-month. It’s best to review call reports toward the end of your cycle to adjust accordingly.
Are there any hidden or setup fees with Smith.ai’s AI Receptionist?
Smith.ai maintains a transparent pricing structure, but there can be additional costs in specific cases. For example, if you request advanced integration support, custom onboarding, or API-based automation, these may incur setup charges. Most standard users, however, can get started without any hidden fees or long-term contracts.
What happens if I exceed my plan’s call or chat limit?
When your plan’s call or chat limit is exceeded, Smith.ai automatically charges an overage fee based on a per-call or per-chat rate. The cost per extra interaction varies by plan and can slightly increase your monthly spend during high-volume periods. Regularly monitoring your call dashboard helps prevent unexpected overage charges.
Is the AI Receptionist pricing different from Smith.ai’s human receptionist services?
Yes. The AI Receptionist plans are more affordable than Smith.ai’s hybrid or human receptionist plans. The AI-only model handles calls autonomously, while the hybrid service adds live receptionists for complex or high-touch interactions. Businesses that need 24/7 live coverage or personalized call handling generally opt for the higher-tier hybrid packages.
How does Welco’s pricing flexibility compare to Smith.ai’s?
Welco takes a more adaptive approach with transparent pricing. Instead of committing to fixed call limits or rigid tiers, teams pay based on actual usage and the features they select. This model is beneficial for startups or small businesses with unpredictable call volumes, as it minimizes wasted costs while maintaining automation quality.
