The AI TillComparisons · AI receptionists
Comparison
Smith.ai AI Receptionist vs Goodcall
An AI receptionist that answers calls 24/7, qualifies leads and books appointments, with live human backup available. An AI phone agent billed per unique customer rather than per minute.
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Goodcall | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free: 25 calls a month, then $3.00 a call. Pro: $150 a month (75 calls, about $2.00 a call). Enterprise: from $500 a month. | Starter: $79 a month for 100 unique customers, then 79¢ each. Growth: $129 for 500. Scale: $299 for 2,000. |
| Free plan | Yes. 25 calls a month with 24/7 answering, recordings, transcripts, summaries and calendar booking. | No. Build and test a demo agent free; you pay when you connect a number. |
| Best for | Trying an AI receptionist properly before spending anything. | Businesses whose regular customers call back often, or whose calls run long. |
| Watch out for | Per-call billing gets expensive with many short calls. Live agents are based in North America. | Check what counts as a unique customer for your call pattern. |
| UK notes | US company, priced in dollars; confirm UK number support. | US company, priced in dollars. |
| Made by | Smith.ai | Goodcall |
| Checked | 2026-10-14 | 2026-10-14 |
Our verdict
For most small UK businesses starting out, Smith.ai AI Receptionist is the easier first pick because it has a free plan. Pick Goodcall instead if this sounds like you: businesses whose regular customers call back often, or whose calls run long.
UK price difference
Cheapest paid plans: Smith.ai AI Receptionist $150 (Pro, per month); Goodcall $79 (Starter, per month). Goodcall is $71 a month cheaper at entry level. Check on the provider page whether VAT is included before you buy.
Who should pick which?
- Choose Smith.ai AI Receptionist for: trying an AI receptionist properly before spending anything.
- Choose Goodcall for: businesses whose regular customers call back often, or whose calls run long.
Only Smith.ai AI Receptionist has a free plan, so you can try it first at no cost. Prices change, so check the provider's page before buying.
Other ai receptionists to consider
Upfirst
An AI receptionist that answers, summarises and transfers calls and books appointments.
Rosie
An AI answering service that takes messages, sends booking links and, on higher plans, books and transfers calls.
Frontdesk (My AI Front Desk)
Phone answering plus web chat, two-way text, a simple CRM and automations in one plan.
Moneypenny AI Receptionist
A UK answering company offering an AI receptionist with the option of real receptionists.
Full details
Smith.ai AI Receptionist tool page · Goodcall tool page · How we check prices
Sources
Free daily email
One useful AI tool each weekday: what it costs, who it suits and a tip to try. Five minutes to read.
Unsubscribe any time. Privacy.