Smith.ai vs. M1

Many businesses consider answering calls a hassle — but smart companies like yours know calls still drive revenue. AI receptionists offer a scalable, efficient alternative to juggling calls or hiring more staff.

But not all AI voice assistants are built to grow with your business. Here’s how AI Receptionist from Smith.ai compares to M1 AI Phone Assistant.

Features that both solutions offer

• 24/7 call answering: Never miss a call, day or night.
• Answering FAQs: Provide accurate answers to common questions.
• Call recording & transcription: Stay informed with full records.
• Simultaneous call handling: Manage multiple calls at once.
• Reporting & analytics: Track performance with detailed insights.

What sets Smith.ai apart

While both solutions offer basic AI answering features, only Smith.ai delivers a full-service customer engagement product. Unlike M1 — essentially an AI-assisted voicemail bot — AI Receptionist actively handles calls, standing out with 24/7 live agent escalation, appointment booking, advanced lead qualification, a unified web-based platform, and flexible call routing. Plus, Smith.ai boasts a proven 10-year track record.

Human-in-the-loop 

While AI receptionists handle calls efficiently, sometimes your callers need a real person. Our hybrid answering service blends AI with live virtual receptionists when needed. If your team is unavailable, our 24/7 receptionists step in to handle complex calls and keep your business running smoothly.

In contrast, M1 is fully AI-driven and can’t transfer or escalate calls to your team. Its main features are note-taking, information gathering, and call summaries, making it more like a smart voicemail than a call answering solution.

If you value the ability to offer your callers personalized human interaction when needed, M1’s purely AI approach can cause missed opportunities to truly connect with your customers and resolve their needs in real-time.

Complete scheduling capability

Smith.ai fully automates scheduling from intake to booking — with a live virtual receptionist confirming the appointment — and integrates with almost any calendar. 

M1, in contrast, cannot currently schedule appointments. It only suggests events for you to add to your calendar manually. This leaves the actual work of confirming availability and finalizing details with callers still squarely on your to-do list.

For growing businesses looking to truly automate appointment booking and reclaim valuable time, Smith.ai offers a comprehensive, hands-off solution that M1 simply doesn't match. M1 may be great for personal use, but growing businesses need a comprehensive AI call handling service — not just a smarter voicemail box.

High-value leads 

Lead qualification is paramount for businesses focused on growth. AI Receptionist excels in this area by thoroughly screening and qualifying leads based on your custom intake criteria, so your team spends less time on unqualified inquiries. 

M1 just summarizes calls — like voicemail with better notes — leaving you to follow up and qualify leads yourself.

Unified platform, extended usability

AI Receptionist is monitored via our web-based dashboard, where you can review call summaries, transcripts, recordings, and more to gain valuable insights into your customer interactions. Smith.ai provides advanced analytics essential for growing businesses that need scalable customer communication management.

M1, however, is a mobile application only available on the iPhone App Store. This limits its accessibility, immediately excluding many potential users who don’t use an iPhone. In addition, a mobile app like M1 simply isn't built to scale with your growing business's diverse operational needs.

Flexible call forwarding

Smith.ai offers advanced call forwarding so you can route VIPs directly to you or adjust rules by time or caller. Smith.ai's sophisticated conditional call forwarding options are designed to bend to your unique needs, so you're always connected exactly how and when you want to be.

While M1 offers call forwarding, its capabilities appear to be one-size-fits-all. There's no mention of the nuanced conditional forwarding that allows you to tailor call handling based on time, caller, or specific circumstances.

Longevity and reputation

Smith.ai has been delivering top-rated AI-powered call answering services since 2015, garnering many positive customer reviews on Trustpilot, Clutch, and G2.

In contrast, M1 has only been around since 2024. While new solutions can be exciting, Smith.ai’s proven track record means fewer risks and more reliable growth for your business, backed by years of dedicated service and customer success.

The final verdict

For growing businesses that want an interactive customer engagement solution with 24/7 human availability, end-to-end scheduling, thorough lead qualification, granular call forwarding control, and proven expertise, AI Receptionist is the obvious choice over M1.