Comparison
EnoDesk vs Smith.ai
Smith.ai is the most established name in virtual receptionist services. But their hybrid human+AI model comes at a premium. Here's an honest comparison to help you decide.
Feature-by-feature comparison
| Feature | EnoDesk | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| EnoDesk advantages | ||
| Starting price | $29/mo | $95/mo (50 calls) |
| Pricing model | Flat monthly | Per-call + overage |
| Free trial | 5 days | None (30-day refund) |
| Google & Outlook Calendar sync | Via integrations | |
| Analytics dashboard | ||
| Built-in CRM / contact list | ||
| Repeat caller recognition | ||
| Website import (auto-setup) | ||
| Adapts to your industry | General only | |
| AI call summaries | ||
| SMS follow-ups | ||
| Missed-call alerts (email + SMS) | ||
| Privacy & retention controls | ||
| Smart Upload (photo/doc training) | ||
| Business insights (EnoIQ+) | ||
| Voice cloning | ||
| Call transcripts + recordings | Included | Add-on cost |
| Setup time | Under 5 min | Demo call required |
| Both offer | ||
| 24/7 AI answering | ||
| Appointment booking | ||
| Call transfer | ||
| After-hours handling | ||
| HIPAA & GDPR ready | ||
| Smith.ai advantages | ||
| Human backup agents | ||
| CRM integrations (Clio, HubSpot) | Coming soon | 7,000+ |
| Bilingual (English/Spanish) | Coming soon | |
| Outbound calling | Add-on | |
Why EnoDesk is the better choice for most small businesses
You pay less and get more. EnoDesk starts at $29/month with a flat price — no surprise charges when call volume goes up. Smith.ai charges per call, so a busy month can easily double your bill.
You're up and running in minutes, not days. Just enter your business details or import your website, and your AI receptionist is ready. Smith.ai requires a demo call and manual setup by their team.
You see exactly what's happening with your calls. Every plan includes a dashboard that shows call trends, why people are calling, and how calls are resolved. Smith.ai doesn't offer this.
Your callers are remembered automatically. EnoDesk creates a profile for every caller with their history, notes, and tags — so you always know who's calling and what they need. Smith.ai doesn't have a built-in contact list.
Your AI receptionist knows your business inside out. It adapts to your specific industry — whether you run a salon, HVAC company, dental office, or restaurant — and can learn from your website, menus, price lists, and documents.
What you actually pay
Smith.ai's per-call model means your bill grows with every ring.
EnoDesk
Flat pricing. No per-call fees. No overage charges.
Smith.ai
Per-call pricing. Overage charges apply. Call recording is an add-on.
Example: 100 calls/month
EnoDesk Starter: $49/mo (flat) vs Smith.ai: ~$215/mo ($95 base + 50 overage calls × $2.40). That's 77% savings with EnoDesk.
Which one should you pick?
Choose EnoDesk if you…
- Run a service business (salon, HVAC, dental, restaurant, etc.)
- Want flat pricing with no per-call surprises
- Need appointment booking with Google or Outlook Calendar
- Want AI summaries and an analytics dashboard for every call
- Want a built-in contact list that remembers repeat callers
- Want to import your website and be live in under 5 minutes
- Want to train your AI from photos or documents (Business plan)
- Want business insights from call data — EnoIQ+ (Business plan)
Choose Smith.ai if you…
- Need human agents for complex legal or financial intake
- Require 7,000+ CRM integrations (Clio, Salesforce, etc.)
- Want outbound calling from your receptionist
- Have a larger budget and prioritize human backup on every call
- Already use Smith.ai for live chat and want to bundle
Common questions
Same job. Fraction of the price.
5-day free trial. Cancel anytime. See why small businesses are switching from Smith.ai.