Goodcall vs Smith.ai: which AI receptionist fits your business?
Goodcall and Smith.ai both sell an AI receptionist that answers your phone 24/7. They're built on different ideas. Goodcall is AI only and bills by the number of different people who call. Smith.ai started as a live receptionist company, bills per call, and can hand any call to a person.
We don't sell either one, and neither company asked us to write this. Trilix AI builds custom phone agents, so we look at these tools often. Every price below links to the vendor's own page.
Checked October 23, 2026. Plans change, so confirm with each vendor.
Quick answer
Pick Goodcall if you want a low, predictable monthly bill and are happy with AI only: plans run $79 to $299 a month, billed by unique callers with no minute metering. Pick Smith.ai if you want a live North America-based receptionist behind the AI: its AI plans start free and run $150 a month for about 75 calls.
Side by side
8 points compared
AI answering 24/7
YesYesYesYesLive human backup
NoAI onlyYesTransfers to live North America-based receptionistsEntry price
$79 a month for 100 unique customersFree for 25 calls; Pro from $150 a monthBilling basis
Unique customers a month, no minute meteringPer call, with lower rates on bigger plansSetup
Self-serveSelf-serve AI setup, with a test studio before going…
Side-by-side
| Goodcall | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| AI answering 24/7 | Yes | Yes |
| Live human backup | No. AI only | Yes. Transfers to live North America-based receptionists |
| Entry price | $79 a month for 100 unique customers | Free for 25 calls; Pro from $150 a month |
| Billing basis | Unique customers a month, no minute metering | Per call, with lower rates on bigger plans |
| Setup | Self-serve. A builder writes the agent from your description | Self-serve AI setup, with a test studio before going live |
| Keep your number | Yes, by forwarding | Yes |
| Integrations | Google Calendar, HighLevel, Zapier; 1 to 15 external tools by plan | CRM and Zapier connections; appointment booking on live plans is an add-on |
| Fully human option | Not offered | Yes. Live receptionist plans from $300 a month for 30 calls |
How each one bills
This is the biggest practical difference, so it's worth doing the math on your own call log.
Goodcall counts unique customers: one phone number, once a month. If the same person calls five times in March, that's one customer, and spam and wrong numbers don't count. Starter is $79 a month for 100 unique customers, Growth $129 for 500 and Scale $299 for 2,000. Extra customers cost 79¢, 26¢ or 15¢ depending on the plan. Minutes are never metered, so long calls cost the same as short ones (Goodcall pricing).
Smith.ai counts calls. The AI Receptionist has a free plan for 25 calls a month, then $3.00 a call. Pro is $150 a month, which works out to $2.00 a call, and Enterprise is $500 a month at $1.67 a call (Smith.ai AI Receptionist pricing). Live receptionist plans start at $300 a month for 30 calls (Smith.ai receptionist pricing).
What that means. If many of your callers ring more than once a month, or your calls run long, Goodcall's model tends to cost less. If you get a modest number of calls and want a person available for the hard ones, Smith.ai's per-call model is easier to justify.
Where Goodcall is stronger
- Predictable bills. No minute metering, and repeat callers don't add to the count.
- Low cost at volume. About 3,000 calls a month fit in the $299 Scale plan, by Goodcall's own estimate.
- Fast setup. You describe the business in plain language and its builder writes the greeting, questions and steps. You can test an agent before you pay.
Where Smith.ai is stronger
- A person when it matters. Calls the AI can't handle can go to a live receptionist, day or night.
- A path to fully human answering. If AI doesn't suit your callers, you can move to live plans without changing vendors.
- A free tier to start. 25 calls a month lets you test on real calls at no cost.
Which one to pick
- One location, lots of calls, AI is fine for most of them: Goodcall.
- Callers often ring back or stay on the line a long time: Goodcall, because of the billing model.
- Calls that sometimes need a person's judgment, like legal or sensitive intake: Smith.ai.
- You're not sure AI will work for your callers: Smith.ai's free tier is a cheap test, with live plans to fall back on.
- Several locations, and the answers live in your POS, scheduler or cameras: neither is built for that out of the box. That's where a custom AI receptionist is worth a look.
Comparing them against a custom build instead? We've written separate, disclosed comparisons: Trilix vs Goodcall and Trilix vs Smith.ai.
Frequently asked questions
Something else on your mind? Ask us directly or call 416-262-2723.
Is Goodcall or Smith.ai cheaper?
At higher volume, Goodcall usually is, because it bills by unique customers and doesn't meter minutes. At low volume, Smith.ai's free plan costs nothing for up to 25 calls a month.
Does Goodcall have live receptionists?
Not on the pages we reviewed. Goodcall is an AI answering service. Transfers go to your own team.
Can Smith.ai's AI hand calls to a person?
Yes. Smith.ai says complex calls can transfer to a live North America-based receptionist at any time.
Which is better for an auto repair shop or quick lube?
Both are general-purpose. Neither listed auto-specific call flows on the pages we checked. Our best AI receptionist for auto shops roundup covers tools built for shops.
Can I keep my existing phone number?
Yes, with both. Goodcall works by forwarding your current number.
Keep reading
- Goodcall alternativeSelf-serve AI receptionist vs a custom build for multi-store groups.
- Smith.ai alternativePer-call AI and live receptionists vs a connected phone agent.
- AI receptionistWhat an AI receptionist does, what it costs and when a custom one is worth it.
- Best AI receptionist for auto shops (2026)Nine options compared on auto features, integrations and public pricing.
Not sure either one fits?
If you run several locations or need the receptionist tied to your own systems, we'll tell you straight whether a packaged tool or a custom build makes more sense.