Smith.ai alternative: A Smith.ai alternative without per-call pricing.
Smith.ai is a well-known answering service with AI and live receptionists, priced per call. Global AI is an AI receptionist priced by the month, with booking and website chat included. Here's an honest look at both.
30 free minutes · No credit card · Set up in about 10 minutes
Side by side
Global AI vs. Smith.ai
Smith.ai's prices are from their own website, checked on October 11, 2026. Prices change, so check theirs before you decide.
| Compare | Global AI | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | An AI receptionist, 24/7 | An AI receptionist, or live receptionists on separate plans |
| How you pay | One monthly price with call minutes included. Extra minutes $0.25 each | Per call. Live receptionist plans start at $300/month for 30 calls |
| Lowest paid plan | $99/month for 200 call minutes | AI Pro from $150/month for 75 calls |
| Try it free | 30 free minutes, no credit card | Free AI plan for 25 calls, then $3.00 per call |
| Booking | Books appointments into your Google Calendar | AI scheduling. On live plans, booking is an extra $1.50 per call |
| Reaching a person | Transfers calls to you or your team on Growth and up | The AI can hand calls to a live receptionist |
| Text follow-ups | Not yet. Text confirmations are coming soon | Text and email follow-up, an extra $0.50 per call on live plans |
| Setup | Self-serve from your phone in about 10 minutes | Onboarding included on paid AI plans |
| Contract | Month to month, cancel any time | Month to month, with 30 days' notice to cancel |
Which fits you
An honest answer.
Both are good at different things. Here's how to choose.
Global AI is the better fit if
- You'd rather pay one monthly price than count calls. Starter covers 200 minutes of calls, short or long.
- You want booking included in the price, with website chat too.
- You want to set it up yourself tonight, from your phone, and test it in your browser first.
- You want to keep your number and forward only the calls you can't take.
Smith.ai is the better fit if
- You want a live person to be able to take over from the AI, or to answer every call.
- You run a law firm and need detailed legal intake, like conflict checks, done by people.
- You need a long list of ready-made connections to other software, such as Clio.
- You get very few calls. Their free AI plan covers 25 calls before you pay.
Questions
Switching from Smith.ai?
Something else on your mind? Talk to us.
Sources, checked October 11, 2026: Smith.ai AI receptionist pricing, Smith.ai live receptionist pricing.
It depends on your calls. Smith.ai charges per call; Global AI charges a flat monthly price with minutes included, starting at $99 for 200 minutes. If you get many short calls, a flat price usually works out better. If you get very few calls, Smith.ai's free AI plan may cost less.
No. Global AI is an AI receptionist only, and it tells callers so. On the Growth plan and up it can transfer a call to you or your team when someone needs a person.
Yes. Keep your number and change where your calls are forwarded. You can test Global AI in your browser before you move any calls.
From Smith.ai's own pricing pages, checked on October 11, 2026. Prices change, so check their site for today's numbers.
Set up for your kind of business
Hear it answer your calls.
Set up your receptionist free and talk to it in your browser before you move a single call.
30 free minutes · No credit card · Cancel any time