The short version
What is Smith.ai, and how is Riley different?
Smith.ai is a well-known 24/7 virtual receptionist service that uses US-based human agents and recently added AI assist for some workflows.
Riley is the missed-call safety net for small trades. Your phone rings first. You keep the number you already have. Only unanswered calls forward to Riley (*71 / **61*). She captures the job without guessing prices and texts you a 3-line summary.
You reply CALL or YES [NAME] from your phone. $149.99/month flat.
| Riley | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| When it answers | Only after your phone rings first and you don't pick up (*71 / **61*) | Mix of AI and live humans |
| Pricing shape | $149.99/month flat | Per answered call (monthly plan) |
| What's included | Your forwarding number, call minutes, SMS job alerts, and calendar check | Priced per answered call on tiered monthly plans. The published entry plan is in the low-$200s/month for a small bundle of calls and goes up from there; extra calls over the plan are billed per call. |
| Overage fees | None | Yes — per minute or per call once you exceed your plan |
| How you manage it | 100% by text message (reply CALL, YES [NAME], NO [NAME]) — no dashboard required | Web portal / app dashboard |
| Setup | 3 minutes, self-serve | Account setup and script writing |
| Trial / proof | Call the demo line (361) 301-9955 — no account needed | Varies by vendor |
Where Riley is different
Why do small trades pick Riley over Smith.ai?
- Flat $149/month, every call included (no overage fees)
- Built around trade intake: urgent-call flagging, address + job type, appointment requests you confirm
- No contract or minimum call volume
Riley is new. We do not invent testimonials. Call (361) 301-9955 to hear a missed trade call before you pay.
Where Smith.ai may fit better
When is Smith.ai the better choice?
- US-based human receptionists who can do nuanced live conversations
- Deeper CRM/scheduling integrations with legal and professional-services tools
- Longer track record and third-party reviews
Who Smith.ai fits
- Law firms and professional services that want human agents who can take payments and do intake
- Teams that need live call transfer and CRM integrations (Clio, Lex Reception, HubSpot, etc.)
- Businesses with low, predictable call volume
Trade-offs to know about Smith.ai
- Per-call pricing means a busy month costs more than a slow one; it's hard to budget
- Call volume caps mean overages, which can surprise a seasonal trade
- A lot of their value is tuned to legal/professional workflows, which trades don't need
So which should you pick?
If you work with your hands and want a predictable $149.99/month bill, put Riley on the calls you miss. Your phone still rings first. You get a text.
If you need a call-center receptionist on every call, or deep legal CRM workflows, Smith.ai is a closer fit.
How I read Smith.ai's pricing page
I opened smith.ai/pricing on October 10, 2026. Plans are sold per answered call. The published entry plan sits in the low-$200s for a small bundle.
Extra calls over the bundle are billed per call. I did not invent a per-call dollar figure that the page did not print. If they hide a number, I say so.
G2 reviews are the second source. I used them for the "where Smith.ai fits better" list. Not for a star rating we do not own.
A limit of this comparison
I have not been a Smith.ai customer. I have not sat in their legal intake flow. If a feature changed after I checked the page, email hello@rileyai.org and I will fix the row.
Riley is the worse fit when you need a human to take a payment or run Clio. Say that out loud. It is true.
Per-call math on a busy week
If a plan includes a small bundle and extras are per call, a storm week is a different product. Riley does not do that.
Smith.ai is stronger on legal and payments. Riley is stronger on a flat trade bill. Both can be true.
Call (361) 301-9955 if you want to hear Riley. I will not play a Smith.ai call I do not own.
Sources used in this comparison
- Smith.ai pricing (primary — vendor's own page) — Published plan tiers, call allowances and per-call pricing used in the pricing-shape column of our table
- Smith.ai reviews on G2 (independent) — Independent user reviews we checked for the 'where Smith.ai fits better' section
Checked on . If a link breaks, email hello@rileyai.org and I'll fix it.
Hear Riley first
Hear Riley first, then decide.
Call the demo line (361) 301-9955 to hear how Riley handles a missed trade call—then turn it on for your own phone in 3 minutes.
Questions people ask about Riley vs Smith.ai
Is Smith.ai or Riley cheaper?
It depends on your call volume. Smith.ai bills per answered call on monthly plans, so a slow month is cheaper and a busy month is more. Riley is a flat $149/month with no per-call charges, so you know your bill before the month starts.
Does Riley do everything Smith.ai does?
No. Smith.ai has human agents who can handle very nuanced conversations, take payments, and run deep workflow integrations with tools like Clio. Riley is an AI focused on the small-business and trades playbook: answer, capture the job, flag urgent, hand off to you.
Is Riley a Smith.ai alternative?
For trades, home-service businesses, property managers and other owner-operators who want a flat monthly bill and a receptionist that gets the job down in plain English, yes. For legal or heavily-integrated workflows, Smith.ai is a different fit.