Smith

What is smith.ai

Smith.ai is a virtual reception, live chat, and client intake service that combines human receptionists with AI-assisted workflows to handle inbound phone calls, outgoing outreach, and website chat for small businesses and professional services. The service is positioned for businesses that need responsive front-desk coverage without hiring in-house staff: law firms, real estate teams, medical practices, consulting firms, and e-commerce operations commonly use Smith.ai to qualify leads, schedule appointments, and capture client information.

Smith.ai operates as a managed service with configurable workflows, offering both voice answering and 24/7 or business-hours coverage. Calls can be answered by live receptionists, routed to on-call staff, forwarded to voicemail, or processed via scripted intake flows. The company also provides website chat handled by live agents who can perform lead intake and warm transfer to sales or intake teams.

Operationally, Smith.ai blends live staff with automation: calls and chat transcripts can be transcribed, summarized, and pushed into CRMs and case-management platforms. That combination is intended to reduce missed leads, improve response times, and create reliable contact records without requiring users to change their core systems.

Smith.ai features

What does smith.ai do?

Smith.ai answers phone calls, engages website visitors via live chat, performs client intake, schedules appointments, collects payments, and performs outbound calls for follow-up and lead nurturing. The service can screen and qualify leads using custom scripts, route calls according to business rules, and trigger actions in connected applications.

Core features include:

• Live phone answering and message-taking available during business hours or 24/7 coverage
• Website live chat with transfer to phone or calendar booking
• Custom intake and qualification scripts that capture case or lead details
• Appointment scheduling and calendar integration with Google Calendar and Microsoft Office 365
• Payment collection over the phone and via secure payment links
• Call recording and transcription for quality control and record-keeping
• CRM and practice-management integrations to create and update contacts, tasks, and cases

Smith.ai also offers features intended for higher-volume or enterprise customers: dedicated account management, configurable SLA and routing logic, advanced reporting and analytics, and options for integrated marketing follow-up. For many clients, the service is a turnkey front-office solution that reduces time spent triaging inbound leads.

Smith.ai pricing

Smith.ai offers these pricing plans:

• Pay-as-you-go: $0.60–$2.00/minute depending on service type and volume (voice answering, outbound calls, or chat staffing)
• Starter: $195/month including a set number of included minutes and pay-as-you-go rates thereafter
• Professional: $495/month with a larger included minutes allotment and reduced per-minute overage rates
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for high-volume customers with dedicated support, custom SLAs, and integration services

Smith.ai uses a hybrid pricing model: a monthly retainer for a block of included minutes or chats, plus pay-as-you-go charges for usage beyond the included allotment. Pricing varies by the mix of services (phone answering vs. outbound calling vs. chat), hours of coverage (business hours vs. 24/7), and any premium integrations or dedicated staffing.

Check Smith.ai's current pricing plans for the latest rates and any promotions on their official pricing page: View Smith.ai's pricing plans (https://www.smith.ai/pricing).

How much is smith.ai per month

Smith.ai starts at $195/month for a basic starter plan that includes a limited bundle of minutes and chat sessions. Most small-business customers choose a mid-tier plan in the $195–$995/month range depending on coverage hours and included minutes; larger or 24/7 setups typically fall in higher tiers or custom enterprise agreements.

Monthly costs depend heavily on your call volume and how many minutes or chats you use that exceed included amounts. Smith.ai provides clear usage reporting so customers can adjust plans or move to annual billing if that reduces overall cost.

How much is smith.ai per year

Smith.ai costs approximately $2,340/year for a $195/month Starter plan when billed monthly (12 × $195 = $2,340), but many customers commit to larger bundles or enterprise contracts that include discounts for annual prepayment. Enterprise customers that negotiate custom SLAs will have bespoke annual pricing.

If you anticipate steady monthly volume, ask Smith.ai about annual billing options or committed-minute discounts to lower the effective per-minute rate. Check Smith.ai's pricing page for current annual or prepay discounts: Smith.ai annual billing options (https://www.smith.ai/pricing).

How much is smith.ai in general

Smith.ai pricing ranges from approximately $195/month to custom enterprise rates, plus per-minute charges that typically fall between $0.60 and $2.00 per minute. Lower overall cost profiles are achieved by buying larger minute bundles, restricting coverage hours to business hours, or using chat-only coverage where per-interaction cost is lower.

In general, budget for two components: a monthly base plan that provides predictable coverage and a variable per-minute component that scales with usage. For businesses with unpredictable call volumes, pay-as-you-go or a mid-tier plan with overage protection often balances cost and coverage.

What is smith.ai used for

Smith.ai is used primarily to ensure that inbound leads and client contacts are answered promptly, routed correctly, and captured as actionable records inside a business’s CRM or practice-management system. The service removes the need to hire, train, and manage dedicated in-house reception staff while providing professional, script-driven intake.

Common uses include: initial client intake for law firms, appointment scheduling for healthcare and professional services, lead qualification for sales teams, live website chat conversion for e-commerce and SaaS, and outbound follow-up and payment collection. For businesses that rely on timely responses to convert prospects, Smith.ai functions as an outsourced front-desk team.

In regulated industries or where privacy is important, Smith.ai supports call recording consent workflows and secure handling of payment information. The combination of human agents and automation helps standardize intake, reduce missed opportunities, and maintain compliance-oriented workflows for sensitive client types.

Pros and cons of smith.ai

Pros:

• Professional live answering and chat handled by trained receptionists available 24/7 if required
• Tight integrations with CRMs, calendars, and practice-management systems to reduce manual data entry
• Flexible pricing model that supports pay-as-you-go minutes and monthly bundles
• Customizable intake scripts and routing rules for industry-specific workflows
• Recording, transcription, and analytics to review interactions and train processes

Cons:

• Cost can be higher than in-house solutions for very high-volume teams unless enterprise pricing is negotiated
• Per-minute pricing means costs vary with unpredictable call spikes
• Advanced integrations or bespoke workflows can require professional services or additional setup time
• Some businesses may prefer a fully in-house receptionist for culture and direct control over communications

Choosing Smith.ai involves evaluating trade-offs: better lead capture and professional answering vs. the incremental cost of an outsourced service. Many firms find the ROI positive when factoring time saved, improved conversion, and fewer missed calls.

Smith.ai free trial

Smith.ai commonly offers a demo and may provide trial credits for new users to test phone answering and chat in a limited capacity. Demos let you validate call scripts, test routing, and see how integrations populate your CRM before committing to a full plan.

Trial details vary by promotion and customer type. Law firms and high-volume customers frequently receive tailored demos and pilot programs. To confirm whether a time-limited trial or pilot is currently available, view Smith.ai's pricing plans and demo request options: Smith.ai demo and trial information (https://www.smith.ai/pricing).

Is smith.ai free

No, Smith.ai is not free. The service is a paid managed receptionist and chat solution with monthly plans and usage-based charges. However, Smith.ai may offer limited trial credits or demos so that prospective customers can evaluate the service without a full financial commitment.

Smith.ai API

Smith.ai exposes programmatic interfaces enabling customers to receive call and chat data, push leads into CRMs, and trigger actions via webhooks or integration endpoints. Typical API capabilities include delivering intake fields, transcripts, recordings, and status updates to downstream systems.

Common API and integration patterns supported by Smith.ai include:

• Webhooks that post lead data and transcripts in real time when a call or chat occurs
• Pre-built connectors for HubSpot, Salesforce, Clio, Google Calendar, Microsoft 365, and other CRMs/practice-management tools
• Zapier integration to create easy automations with hundreds of other SaaS tools

Developers use the Smith.ai API and webhooks to automate workflows: create lead records, open tickets in helpdesk systems, schedule appointments, or notify on-call staff via Slack. For detailed developer documentation and available endpoints, check Smith.ai's integrations and developer resources: Smith.ai integrations and API details (https://www.smith.ai/integrations).

10 Smith.ai alternatives

Paid alternatives to Smith.ai

• Ruby — Live virtual receptionist and chat services with a focus on small to mid-size businesses and concierge-style message handling.
• AnswerConnect — 24/7 answering, lead capture, and appointment setting with per-minute and monthly plans.
• PATLive — Virtual receptionist services offering both inbound and outbound call handling and message delivery.
• VoiceNation — Live answering and overflow solutions with flexible plans for SMBs.
• VoiceSquad — Receptionist outsourcing and call-answering services for professional practices.
• Zendesk — While primarily a helpdesk, Zendesk offers messaging and call management integrated with customer support workflows.
• Intercom — Focuses on live chat and messaging with automation and bot-assisted routing for sales and support teams.

Open source alternatives to Smith.ai

• Asterisk — Open source PBX and telephony platform that can be configured to build a custom automated answering and IVR system; requires self-hosting and administration.
• FreePBX — GUI-based distribution for Asterisk that simplifies building on-premise phone systems and scripts for automated answering.
• Kamailio — High-performance SIP server for building scalable VoIP and routing systems; suited for technical teams creating custom voice flows.
• OpenSIPS — SIP routing platform for advanced call routing and low-level telephony workflows, useful for companies that want complete control over call handling.

Frequently asked questions about Smith.ai

What is Smith.ai used for?

Smith.ai is used for virtual receptionist, live chat, and intake services. Businesses use it to answer calls, capture lead information, schedule appointments, collect payments, and push contact data into CRMs or practice-management systems so teams can respond faster and reduce missed opportunities.

Does Smith.ai offer 24/7 answering?

Yes, Smith.ai offers 24/7 coverage as an option. Customers can choose business-hours-only plans or elect continuous 24/7 answering and chat so calls and chats are handled outside normal office hours.

How much does Smith.ai cost per month?

Smith.ai starts at $195/month for a basic starter plan that includes a bundle of minutes. Most customers pay between $195/month and higher mid-tier plans depending on coverage and volume, with additional per-minute charges for overages.

Can Smith.ai integrate with my CRM?

Yes, Smith.ai integrates with common CRMs and practice-management tools. Native connectors and Zapier workflows allow lead, contact, and appointment data to flow into systems such as HubSpot, Salesforce, Clio, and others.

Does Smith.ai provide call recordings and transcripts?

Yes, Smith.ai provides call recordings and can generate transcripts. Recordings and transcripts are available for quality review, intake confirmation, and automatic attachment to CRM records when integrations are configured.

Can Smith.ai schedule appointments directly into my calendar?

Yes, Smith.ai can book appointments into Google Calendar and Microsoft Office 365. Agents follow your scheduling rules and available time windows to create events and send confirmations to clients.

Is there a free trial of Smith.ai?

Smith.ai may offer demo accounts or trial credits for evaluation. Availability varies by promotion and customer type; prospective customers should request a demo or check Smith.ai's pricing page for current trial options.

Can Smith.ai handle payment collection?

Yes, Smith.ai can collect payments by phone and via secure payment links. Agents can process card payments according to your authorization and PCI requirements and place payment information into client records or billing workflows.

Does Smith.ai provide industry-specific workflows for law firms?

Yes, Smith.ai offers law-firm-focused intake and integrations. They provide specialized scripts for legal intake, integrate with legal practice-management software, and handle risk-and-privacy workflows relevant to attorney-client communications.

How secure is Smith.ai with client data?

Smith.ai uses industry-standard security practices to protect data and supports secure handling of calls, recordings, and payments. They offer encrypted storage of recordings, role-based access controls, and integrations that transmit lead data to secure CRMs; enterprise customers can discuss additional controls and compliance requirements.

Smith.ai careers

Smith.ai hires customer-facing agents, account managers, sales, and engineering staff to support its 24/7 service model. Roles often emphasize communications skills, privacy and compliance awareness (especially for law-firm work), and the ability to operate scripted intake workflows. For current openings and hiring practices, visit Smith.ai's careers page and company information: Smith.ai careers (https://www.smith.ai).

Smith.ai affiliate

Smith.ai runs partner and referral programs that let marketing agencies, consultants, and technology partners refer clients in exchange for referral fees or account credits. Affiliates and partners often receive co-branded onboarding materials and access to partner dashboards for tracking referrals. For partner program details, see Smith.ai partner information: Smith.ai partnerships (https://www.smith.ai/partners).

Where to find Smith.ai reviews

Independent reviews of Smith.ai can be found on software and review platforms such as G2, Capterra, and Trustpilot where real customers share experiences about reliability, call quality, and business impact. For official case studies and customer testimonials, consult Smith.ai's customer stories and resources pages: Smith.ai case studies and testimonials (https://www.smith.ai/resources).