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Choosing the right phone AI agent is crucial for streamlining your call handling and giving your business a competitive edge. Both AI Receptionist from Smith.ai and Curious Thing offer automated solutions, but the differences in functionality, transparency, and support make one stand out. Let’s dive in to see why Smith.ai is the clear winner for businesses looking for a reliable and robust phone AI agent.
What’s included with both solutions?
Both AI Receptionist from Smith.ai and Curious Thing’s "Lucy" share a few core features:
- 24/7 call answering: Never miss a call, no matter the time of day.
- Instant call summaries by email: Stay informed with a detailed recap of every call.
- Custom intake: Customize the questions your AI asks and the information it gathers from callers.
While these features are a starting point, they’re just the basics. The real value comes from the additional capabilities that help your business thrive — something Curious Thing struggles to deliver.
Where Smith.ai outshines Curious Thing
Functionality without limits
Curious Thing’s plans are feature-based, meaning what you get depends on how much you’re willing to pay. Lucy, their free plan, offers extremely limited functionality, like answering only 3 FAQs. For more robust features, you’ll need to upgrade to one of their higher-tiered plans — though pricing isn’t easily accessible on the website.
With Smith.ai, all plans include the same comprehensive features, regardless of price. Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise, you’ll have access to:
- Up to 50 FAQ responses: Program detailed answers to common questions while still covering business basics like hours and location.
- Call qualification: Go beyond information gathering to screen leads effectively.
- Appointment scheduling: Book appointments directly during the call — something Lucy can’t do. Curious Thing’s solution sends a text message to the caller, leaving it up to them to do the work. Let Smith.ai make it easy for your customers.
- Flexible notification options: Stay updated in real-time with call details delivered straight to your choice of communication tools, from text or email to Slack & Microsoft Teams. With Curious Thing, summaries are only sent by text or email, and are limited to 20 summaries on the free plan, while Smith.ai provides summaries for every call.
- Native CRM integrations: Easily connect with platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, HighLevel, and Clio (and thousands more through our Zapier & Make integrations) to keep operations running smoothly.
The only thing that impacts Smith.ai’s pricing is call volume — no hidden fees, no complicated tiers, and no sacrifices on functionality.
Professional branding
Unlike Smith.ai, Curious Thing’s free Lucy plan comes with Curious Thing branding on your calls. If you’re trying to maintain a polished, professional image, this can detract from your business’s credibility.
White-glove setup and support
Smith.ai offers white-glove setup and support for every customer. AI Receptionist is fully DIY, but we’re here to assist with everything from technical setup to tactical advice. With Smith.ai, you’re never left stranded, no matter your plan.
Transparent pricing with no surprises
Smith.ai’s pricing is simple and transparent: you pay per call. Curious Thing hides pricing details. You can't find pricing easily on the Curious Thing website, which creates confusion. (We eventually found it by searching on Google.) Smith.ai makes it easy for businesses to compare plans and understand costs upfront. This clarity ensures you can confidently choose the best solution without worrying about hidden fees or surprises.
The verdict
When it comes to phone AI agents, Smith.ai delivers the functionality, transparency, and support your business needs to succeed. While Curious Thing’s tiered approach limits access to key features, Smith.ai provides everything you need in every plan — no compromises, no confusion.
For growth-minded business owners who care about unlimited functionality, professional branding, advanced support, and price transparency, Smith.ai is the superior choice for your 24/7 AI call answering service over Curious Thing.
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