Compare Smith.ai’s live receptionists with Penny’s intake for your trade.
Published by Penny · Updated · Sources and corrections
Penny asks the questions your trade needs and books the visit while you work. Smith.ai’s live service puts a person on the line. Compare the intake, booking, and bill below; this page covers Smith.ai’s live plans, separately from its AI offering.
14 days of Pro included. No credit card.
Start with who you want answering.
Choose a live receptionist if having a person handle the conversation is a requirement. Smith.ai offers human receptionists as well as a separate AI product; ask for the live-service quote when using this comparison.
Penny is an AI receptionist with a reference for your trade and your business rules. For an electrician, that means recording which outlet stopped working and any reported warning signs without walking the caller through an electrical repair. She can book an allowed visit on Google Calendar or Outlook during the call.
What the two plans include.
Smith.ai facts come from the live-service pricing page linked below. Penny’s higher-tier features are marked where they appear.
| Penny (AI) | Smith.ai (live plans) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who answers | AI receptionist | Human receptionists on the live plans compared here |
| Call instructions | Trade knowledge pack, website information, and your business rules | Custom lead criteria and business-specific intake |
| Entry subscription | $29/mo billed annually; $35 monthly; 100 min | $300/mo · 30 calls |
| Overage | $0.24–$0.29/minute depending on plan | $11.50/call Starter; $10.50 Basic; $8.50 Pro |
| Appointment booking | Google Calendar or Outlook on Starter and higher | Scheduling offered as a per-call add-on |
| English and Spanish | Both on every phone plan; can switch during the call | Bilingual answering available; dedicated Spanish line priced separately |
| 24/7 | Every phone plan; no separate after-hours surcharge | Included on live plans without an after-hours premium |
| Spam | Screens spam; phone usage follows the plan’s minute allowance | No charge for qualifying spam when forwarded caller ID is passed through |
| Transfers | Single destination on Starter; warm transfer and on-call rotation on Pro+ | Included destinations vary by plan; additional routing available |
Smith.ai pricing as of 2026-09-07, from Smith.ai live receptionist pricing. Providers change pricing without notice; spot an outdated number and we will fix it.
Count calls for Smith.ai. Count minutes for Penny.
Smith.ai’s live entry plan is $300/mo · 30 calls; extra-call rates are $11.50/call Starter; $10.50 Basic; $8.50 Pro, as of 2026-09-07. Its pricing page also lists per-call feature add-ons. Use billable call count and the features you need when estimating the total.
Penny’s annual plans work out to $29, $99, or $249/month with 100, 375, or 1050 minutes. Additional minutes cost $0.24–$0.29 each, depending on plan. Longer calls and a busy month can raise that total.
Compare a normal month and your busiest month on both services. Use call count for Smith.ai and talk time for Penny, including the charges beyond each allowance.
See the full breakdown of human and AI pricing in the answering service cost guide, or compare more options on the compare hub.
Choose the live service when you want a person answering.
A human receptionist may suit conversations that require discretion or a more flexible intake discussion. Compare Smith.ai’s live plan with the call count, add-ons, and transfer destinations your office needs.
A per-call allowance can also suit longer conversations. Check the provider’s reasonable-use terms before assuming any call length is included.
Let callers book during your next service visit.
Penny suits an owner who wants routine intake and calendar booking handled during the call. She asks for the required details, checks the appointment rules, and writes an available slot to your connected calendar. When a visit needs your approval first, she records the request.
Use Pro or higher for an on-call rotation and a warm handoff. Configure the people who receive calls, then test the transfer and the unanswered-call fallback before forwarding your main line.
Call Penny and try it
The live demo uses Summit Heating, a fictional HVAC business. Listen to her intake here; test your own trade’s rules in your Penny account. The industry transcripts are scripted examples.
(630) 297-4128- Ask the shared HVAC demo about an AC that runs without cooling the house.
- Ask for an appointment and listen for the available time and confirmation.
- Switch to Spanish during the conversation. Test your own trade during the Pro trial.
Free website chat. Phone answering from $29 a month.
Every paid plan comes with trade knowledge, your intake questions, and calendar booking. Bigger plans add minutes, on-call dispatch, integrations, texting, and reporting.
Billed annually, ~17% less than month to month.
100 phone minutes a month · $348 billed annually
- Everything in Free
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when a person picks up a transfer.100 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when a person picks up a transfer.
- The flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.$0.29/min after thatThe flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.
- The chat widget on your site with no conversation cap and no “answered by Penny” mark.Unlimited website chat without the Penny markThe chat widget on your site with no conversation cap and no “answered by Penny” mark.
- Penny checks open slots and your booking rules before adding an appointment to Google Calendar or Outlook during a call or chat.Calendar booking in Google or Outlook, on phone and chatPenny checks open slots and your booking rules before adding an appointment to Google Calendar or Outlook during a call or chat.
- Edit your trade’s emergency rules in plain English. Penny attempts a transfer to the number you choose and follows your fallback if nobody answers.Your trade’s emergency rules and a transfer numberEdit your trade’s emergency rules in plain English. Penny attempts a transfer to the number you choose and follows your fallback if nobody answers.
- Review call details and available transcripts, then send supported call, lead, and appointment data through Zapier or signed webhooks.Call log with transcripts; Zapier and webhooksReview call details and available transcripts, then send supported call, lead, and appointment data through Zapier or signed webhooks.
375 phone minutes a month · $1,188 billed annually
- Everything in Starter
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when a person picks up a transfer.375 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when a person picks up a transfer.
- The flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.$0.27/min after thatThe flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.
- Set who is on call by day and hour. Penny attempts the transfer and tells the receiving person who is calling after they answer. Your fallback rules apply if nobody picks up.On-call schedule and dispatch; warm transferSet who is on call by day and hour. Penny attempts the transfer and tells the receiving person who is calling after they answer. Your fallback rules apply if nobody picks up.
- Send intake records to Jobber, Housecall Pro, or ServiceTitan for your office to review and schedule. HubSpot and Salesforce connect through Zapier or signed webhooks.Jobber, Housecall Pro, ServiceTitan, HubSpot, SalesforceSend intake records to Jobber, Housecall Pro, or ServiceTitan for your office to review and schedule. HubSpot and Salesforce connect through Zapier or signed webhooks.
- Callers get a text confirming the booking, a missed call gets a text back, and a caller can text a photo of the problem for the ticket.Text confirmations, missed-call text-back, photo-by-textCallers get a text confirming the booking, a missed call gets a text back, and a caller can text a photo of the problem for the ticket.
- Several numbers or locations under one account, each with its own greeting, hours, and routing, plus call flows written for how your office works.Multiple numbers and locations; custom workflowsSeveral numbers or locations under one account, each with its own greeting, hours, and routing, plus call flows written for how your office works.
1050 phone minutes a month · $2,988 billed annually
- Everything in Pro
- Live talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when a person picks up a transfer.1050 phone minutes a monthLive talk time on the phone, counted per second. Screened spam never counts, and the clock stops when a person picks up a transfer.
- The flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.$0.24/min after thatThe flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.
- Call volume, outcomes, leads, and bookings over time, with a read API and export for your own reporting.Analytics and reporting; API and exportCall volume, outcomes, leads, and bookings over time, with a read API and export for your own reporting.
- Transcripts that keep protected health information to a minimum, retention controls you set, and a BAA on request.Compliance mode (PHI-minimized, retention, BAA)Transcripts that keep protected health information to a minimum, retention controls you set, and a BAA on request.
- Front-of-the-line support and a guided setup session that tunes Penny to how your office runs.Priority support and guided setupFront-of-the-line support and a guided setup session that tunes Penny to how your office runs.
14 days of Pro included. No credit card.
Chat on your website. 100 conversations a month.
- One visitor session counts as one conversation, however long it runs. The count resets every month.100 chat conversations a monthOne visitor session counts as one conversation, however long it runs. The count resets every month.
- The free widget carries a small “answered by Penny” mark. Starter removes it.A small “answered by Penny” mark on the widgetThe free widget carries a small “answered by Penny” mark. Starter removes it.
- A visitor asks for a time, Penny takes the request, and you confirm it from the email. Live booking onto your calendar begins on Starter.Appointment requests you confirmA visitor asks for a time, Penny takes the request, and you confirm it from the email. Live booking onto your calendar begins on Starter.
- Penny notices the caller’s or visitor’s language and switches, mid-conversation if needed, at no extra charge.English and SpanishPenny notices the caller’s or visitor’s language and switches, mid-conversation if needed, at no extra charge.
- Penny reads your site for services, hours, and service area, and starts with a working reference on your line of work.Answers from your website and your trade’s knowledgePenny reads your site for services, hours, and service area, and starts with a working reference on your line of work.
- The details each visitor shares, their question, and the outcome, in your inbox as the conversation ends.Lead capture, with an email after every conversationThe details each visitor shares, their question, and the outcome, in your inbox as the conversation ends.
Phone answering, live booking, and call transfers begin on Starter.
Try Penny freeFrom $3,000 a year, with custom volume and a named account team.
- Everything in Business
- Minutes sized to your call volume, on a contract you negotiate with the account team.Custom phone volumeMinutes sized to your call volume, on a contract you negotiate with the account team.
- The flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.$0.21/min after that, the lowest rateThe flat per-minute rate for talk time past your plan. No per-call fee and no rounding up.
- Chat on your site with no conversation cap and no mark.Unlimited website chatChat on your site with no conversation cap and no mark.
- A named team that knows your setup, with contractual response times.A dedicated account team and SLAsA named team that knows your setup, with contractual response times.
- Connectors built for your systems and a hands-on onboarding for your team.Custom integrations and onboardingConnectors built for your systems and a hands-on onboarding for your team.
Billed annually on a custom contract.
Talk to usNo setup fee. Keep your number and cancel from billing. Enterprise uses a custom annual contract.
Before switching from Smith.ai’s live service.
Listen to the shared HVAC demo, then test your own business during the Pro trial.
Start with the type of service you need. This page compares Penny’s AI receptionist with Smith.ai’s live receptionists. Penny is a candidate if you want trade intake and calendar booking handled by AI; a live service fits if every call must begin with a person. Smith.ai also has AI offerings, which need their own plan comparison.
How Penny handles calls in your trade.
Penny asks whether the furnace starts and quits or never starts at all, then puts the caller’s answer on the service ticket.
Penny records the property, unit, and access instructions together, so the maintenance coordinator can act on the request.
A slow-drain request includes which fixture is affected and whether other drains are backing up, so your plumber can prepare for the visit.
Or start with the AI answering service overview to hear how Penny handles a call.
Give Penny a call before you forward yours.
Try the HVAC demo, then set up Penny for your business. Your account includes 14 days of Pro; Free keeps your website chat after the trial.
14 days of Pro included. No credit card.