AI Phone Front Desk vs Smith.ai
An honest side-by-side for local businesses choosing an AI receptionist. Their details are from their pricing page, checked October 20, 2026.
| AI Phone Front Desk | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Plans | $99/mo (200 min), $199 (450), $299 (750, 2 lines) | Free (25 calls); Pro from $150/mo (75 calls) |
| Extra usage | $0.35/min, stops at a monthly cap you set | Per call: $3.00 on Free, about $2.17 to $2.50 on Pro |
| Trying it | Free browser test calls before paying; automatic full refund within 7 days | Free tier |
| Spam calls | Spam calls and calls under 20 seconds are free | Spam screening; up to 10% of calls can be credited |
| Calendars | Google, Outlook, Apple (calendar link) and Calendly | Calendly and others; Clio, HubSpot, Salesforce |
| Web lead texting | Texts web-form leads in about 10 seconds (after carrier approval) | SMS on Pro |
| Website chat | Website chat via the AI Chat Front Desk bundle ($139 or $229/mo) | Separate product |
| Integrations | Zapier / any webhook, Slack, CSV export | Zapier, Make, Clio, HubSpot, Salesforce |
| After each call | Text + email after every call: caller, reason, booking, next step, transcript, recording | Recording and transcript |
| Sales calls | None. Sign up and set up yourself | Self-serve, with human receptionist plans too |
Where Smith.ai may suit you better
- You want the option of live human receptionists as well.
- You are a law firm that lives in Clio.
Why owners pick AI Phone Front Desk
- Per-minute, not per-call: short calls cost a fraction.
- Flat monthly plans from $99 with 200 minutes.
- Automatic refund in the first 7 days.
Is AI Phone Front Desk cheaper than Smith.ai?
It depends on your call volume. AI Phone Front Desk is $99/month for 200 answered minutes with extra minutes at $0.35, capped. Smith.ai: Free (25 calls); Pro from $150/mo (75 calls). Use our missed-call calculator and your own numbers.
Can I switch from Smith.ai?
Yes. Set up your line here in about ten minutes, test-call it in the browser, then change your call forwarding. Your phone number stays the same.
Where do these numbers come from?
From Smith.ai's public pricing page on October 20, 2026. Prices change; check their page for the latest.
Smith.ai is a trademark of its owner. AI Phone Front Desk is not affiliated with Smith.ai. Other comparisons: Rosie, Dialzara, My AI Front Desk.