FrontDesk vs Smith.ai
Smith.ai alternative: FrontDesk — the AI receptionist that books the job, not just the message
FrontDesk is an AI receptionist for local businesses. Forward your existing number and it answers 24/7 in your business's own voice, using only the FAQ, hours, services and prices you approve. It checks your Google or Outlook calendar live and books the appointment while the caller is still on the phone, then emails you what happened. Setup takes about five minutes, and most owners start by forwarding only the calls they don't pick up. $49/mo Starter with 250 minutes included, or $99/mo Pro with 750, after a 14-day free trial. When it isn't sure of an answer it takes a message instead of guessing.
FrontDesk vs Smith.ai at a glance
| Feature | FrontDesk | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Pure AI, in your business's own voice | AI receptionist plans; their human receptionists are a separate, live-staffed service |
| Price | $49/mo Starter (250 min) · $99/mo Pro (750 min) | $0/mo Free (25 calls) · $150/mo Pro (75–300 calls) · $500/mo Enterprise (300–1,000+ calls) |
| Overage | $0.30/min beyond the included minutes | Per call — $3.00 on Free, $2.17–$2.50 on Pro, $2.10–$2.17 on Enterprise, by volume tier |
| Books appointments live on-call | Yes — Google or Outlook, on every plan | Yes — AI scheduling is listed on every plan |
| Transfer a live call to you | No — it takes a message and emails you the details | Call routing is listed on every plan; a person on the line is their separate live-receptionist service |
| Keep your existing number | Yes — forward every call, or only the ones you miss | Not published on their pricing page |
| Onboarding | About five minutes self-serve, or a free 20-minute setup call with us | Dedicated onboarding from Pro; full-service setup on Enterprise |
| Free trial | 14 days | A free plan (25 calls a month) rather than a trial; 30-day money-back on paid plans |
Smith.ai figures read from their pricing page on 2026-09-05. Pricing changes — check theirs before you decide.
When to choose Smith.ai instead
- You want an actual person available: their live-staffed receptionist service is a different product, not a pricier version of this one, and it matters for legal, medical or high-value intake.
- Your volume is tiny: 25 AI-answered calls a month on their free plan costs nothing.
- You are a law firm — that is the customer their product and integrations are built around.
When FrontDesk is the better fit
- Cost at volume: a hundred calls a month sits in their middle plan, where FrontDesk's $99 Pro covers 750 minutes of talk time.
- Per minute, not per call: a trade's forty two-minute calls a week cost less on a minute plan — compare the Price and Overage rows.
- Your own greeting and voice on every call, with no per-call meter running while the caller thinks.
- You want the caller booked into a real calendar slot during the call — on the $49 entry plan, not a higher tier.
- You won't change your published number: FrontDesk works by forwarding the line you already advertise, every call or only the ones you miss.
- You want strict grounding: it answers from the information you approved, and takes a message rather than improvising.
- You want a longer runway to evaluate: 14-day free trial.
Common questions
Does FrontDesk replace my phone number?
No — you keep the number you already advertise. You forward your existing line to FrontDesk, either every call or only the ones you don't pick up, and you can turn it off from your own phone settings.
Can I start with only the calls I miss?
Yes, and most owners should. Forward on no-answer and FrontDesk picks up the nights, weekends and rings-out that were already going to voicemail. Nothing about how you work today changes.
What happens when the AI doesn't know an answer?
It says so and takes a message. It answers only from the business information you approved and does not invent prices or policies. The call arrives in your dashboard with a summary and the full transcript.
How fast can I go live?
About five minutes: enter your business details or import your website, forward your number, and make a test call. You can also book a free 20-minute setup call and we'll build it with you.
What does FrontDesk cost?
$49/month for Starter with 250 call minutes included, or $99/month for Pro with 750, after a 14-day free trial. Minutes beyond the allowance are $0.30 each.
Hear it answer your own phone
Set it up in about five minutes and call your own line, or book 20 minutes and we'll build it with you. Start with only the calls you miss — the ones already going to voicemail.
Also compare: Rosie, Goodcall, Dialzara, My AI Front Desk, Ruby, PATLive.