Last updated: March 2026. Pricing and features verified against smith.ai and thecalltaker.com.
The Call Taker and Smith.ai both answer business phone calls, but they work differently. Smith.ai uses human receptionists who take messages. The Call Taker uses an AI receptionist named GIDEON that answers instantly and books appointments on the spot. Here is how they compare.
| Plan | The Call Taker | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | $97/month (After-Hours) | $292.50/month (30 calls) |
| Mid plan | $497/month (24/7 Starter) | $675/month (90 calls) |
| Pro plan | $997/month (Pro) | $1,500+/month (150+ calls) |
| Per-call charges | None. Unlimited calls. | $9.75 per call over plan limit |
| Free trial | 14 days, no credit card | No free trial |
| Contract | No contract. Cancel anytime. | Monthly, but annual discount requires commitment |
| Feature | The Call Taker | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Answer speed | Under 2 seconds | 10 to 30 seconds (human routing) |
| Availability | 24/7/365 | 24/7 (may go to voicemail if busy) |
| Appointment booking | Books live on the call | Takes a message for callback |
| Custom greeting | Uses your business name | Uses your business name |
| Lead qualification | Asks intake questions on the call | Basic screening available |
| Texts you details | Instant SMS after every call | Email summary after call |
| Industries trained for | 17 industries with custom prompts | General receptionist (not industry-specific) |
| Spanish support | Not yet | Available |
| CRM integration | GoHighLevel native | Zapier, Salesforce, HubSpot |
The Call Taker costs less, answers faster, and books the appointment live instead of taking a message. Smith.ai is a better fit if you need a human voice on every call and are willing to pay $292+ per month for it. For service businesses that want speed and automatic booking at a lower price, The Call Taker is the stronger option.
The Call Taker starts at $97 per month with unlimited calls. Smith.ai starts at $292.50 per month for 30 calls, with additional calls charged at $9.75 each. A business receiving 60 calls per month would pay $97 with The Call Taker and $585 with Smith.ai.
Yes. The Call Taker books appointments directly into your calendar during the call. The customer receives a confirmed time before hanging up. Smith.ai takes a message and emails it to you to follow up.
The Call Taker answers every call in under 2 seconds. There is no hold time, no queue, and no routing delay. Smith.ai routes calls to available human receptionists, which typically takes 10 to 30 seconds.
Yes. The Call Taker serves 17 service industries with industry-specific training. GIDEON knows locksmith terminology, HVAC service types, plumbing emergencies, and other industry-specific workflows. Smith.ai uses general receptionists.
The Call Taker offers a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. Forward your after-hours calls and see real results before paying. Smith.ai does not offer a free trial.
The Call Taker is the most affordable Smith.ai alternative for small service businesses. It costs $97 per month compared to Smith.ai's $292.50, answers in under 2 seconds, and books appointments automatically. Other alternatives include Ruby Receptionists ($235/month for 50 calls), Abby Connect ($329/month), and AnswerConnect ($325/month).
Hear GIDEON answer for your business. Takes 30 seconds.
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