The AI TillComparisons · AI receptionists
Comparison
Smith.ai AI Receptionist vs Upfirst
An AI receptionist that answers calls 24/7, qualifies leads and books appointments, with live human backup available. An AI receptionist that answers, summarises and transfers calls and books appointments.
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Upfirst | |
|---|---|---|
| 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: $24.95 a month for 30 calls ($20 billed annually), then $1.50 a call. Premium: $59.95 for 90 calls. Pro: $159.95 for 300 calls. 14-day free trial. |
| Free plan | Yes. 25 calls a month with 24/7 answering, recordings, transcripts, summaries and calendar booking. | No. No free plan; 14-day free trial with all features. |
| Best for | Trying an AI receptionist properly before spending anything. | Sole traders who get a handful of calls a day. |
| Watch out for | Per-call billing gets expensive with many short calls. Live agents are based in North America. | Human support hours are US Eastern time. |
| UK notes | US company, priced in dollars; confirm UK number support. | US company, priced in dollars. |
| Made by | Smith.ai | Upfirst |
| 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 Upfirst instead if this sounds like you: sole traders who get a handful of calls a day.
UK price difference
Cheapest paid plans: Smith.ai AI Receptionist $150 (Pro, per month); Upfirst $24.95 (Starter, per month). Upfirst is $125.05 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 Upfirst for: sole traders who get a handful of calls a day.
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
Rosie
An AI answering service that takes messages, sends booking links and, on higher plans, books and transfers calls.
Goodcall
An AI phone agent billed per unique customer rather than per minute.
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 · Upfirst tool page · How we check prices
Sources
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