Smith.ai vs. Arise SMB Call Center: Live Answering Service Comparison

When you’re deciding on a live answering service for your business, there are many things to consider. Business owners have plenty of options, but it’s crucial to take the time making comparisons to choose which service is ideal for your company. Today, we compare Smith.ai virtual receptionists to Arise SMB Call Center.

Setup Fees & Trial Periods

Smith.ai

• No setup or cancellation fees
• No contract
• Free consultation
• 14-day money-back guarantee
  

Arise SMB Call Center

Arise does not offer a trial period or money-back guarantee.

Discussion: It’s always beneficial to try out a product before you make a purchase. Because Arise does not openly offer a trial period, that can be difficult for business owners to see what they're getting before they commit to a paid plan.

Monthly Plans

Smith.ai

• $285 for 30 live receptionist calls and 1 live transfer number
• $765 for 90 live receptionist calls and 2 live transfer numbers
• $1,950 for 300 live receptionist calls and 10 live transfer numbers
• Custom plans available
• 10% annual discount when paid upfront
  

Arise SMB Call Center

Like Smith.ai, Arise only charges the client on a per-call basis, rather than per-minute. However, pricing information is not available on the Arise website. You must inquire for details.

Discussion: Smith.ai allows for flexibility with pricing depending on your call volume and your business’ needs. And Smith.ai is transparent — our pricing is prominently displayed on our site. While Arise also claims they offer flexibility, there’s no range of monthly plans displayed on their website. In general, the more costly the service, the harder it is to find pricing!

Features

Smith.ai and Arise SMB Call center both offer the following features:

• 24/7 live answering
• Inbound and outbound calling from live virtual receptionists
• Pay per call
• Custom call handling procedures and script building
• Bilingual answering
  

Smith.ai offers the following additional features:

• Live call transfers
• Integration with all major calendaring and scheduling software programs
• Integration with all major CRMs, like Clio, Clio Grow, Hubspot, Lexicata, Capsule CRM, and more
• One free CRM integration
• Integration with helpdesk ticketing software programs
• Ability to map client history to the incoming number so clients receive personalized attention
• Messages texted to you
• Recommended business referral
• After-hours and overflow answering
• Facebook, webchat, and SMS answering
• Custom greetings
• Lead qualification and lead intake form completion
• Payment collection
• Daily call summary reports
• No charge for spam calls or wrong numbers
• Call recording and transcription
  

Arise SMB Call Center offers the following additional features:

• Independently run micro-call centers located across the U.S.
• Cloud-based security system to protect caller information
• Secure interactive voice response (IVR)
• Virtual receptionists who speak various languages other than Spanish
  

Discussion: Arise utilizes micro-call centers around the country, however, they utilize an IVR system, which can create an impersonal experience for the caller when they have to interact with that automated system versus a live receptionist. Smith.ai offers businesses a lot more opportunities to customize how we answer calls, giving your customers a more personalized approach. We also train and oversee all receptionists in-house, which results in consistently high quality call handling.

Summary

Arise is capable, but takes a cookie-cutter approach. Since teams are distributed and managed by numerous independent call center operators, receptionists must rely on scripts to deliver a consistent experience to your callers. At Smith.ai, we hire bright and capable receptionists with a keen ability for critical thinking, who are trained and empowered to speak naturally with your callers without scripts. They're still armed with information about your business and are committed to accuracy, but their approach is much more personable. Scripts lead to callers not feeling "heard;" Smith.ai delivers the experience of a seasoned in-house receptionist who is well versed in your business and hence, requires no script. Your callers will never know they're not in the office with you.

Smith.ai Client Testimonial

Now that you’ve learned some features of Smith.ai, read what a happy client had to say about us:

“Smith was perfect for my solo law practice. Callers were greeted with a live person and my overhead did not take a hit. Their customer service is one of the most responsive I have ever experienced as well. I highly recommend Smith for outsourcing call reception duties.”

- Jonathan Hill, lawyer

Learn More About Smith.ai Virtual Receptionists

At Smith.ai, we strive to give your callers a personal experience that feels far from outsourced. To learn more about our virtual receptionist services, sign up for a free consultation with our team or get started risk-free with our 14-day money-back guarantee!