Smith.ai vs. Bland AI

If you're scouting for AI call answering services to relieve you and your staff but are having difficulty navigating the Bland AI's of the AI phone answering world, you're in the right place. We're happy to break it down for you. Both Smith.ai Voice Assistant and Bland AI offer essential features like 24/7 call answering, simultaneous call handling, FAQ responses, call transfers, and call recording & transcription. However, not all AI phone agents deliver the same level of performance. Below, we explore the differences to help you find the best service for your business.

Features both Smith.ai & Bland AI offer

Both Smith.ai and Bland AI provide the following foundational features:

• 24/7 call answering: Ensure every call is answered, no matter the time of day.
• Simultaneous call handling: Never miss a call, even during peak times.
• FAQ answering: Respond to common customer inquiries.
• Call transfers: Transfer calls to a member of your team when prompted.
• Call recording & transcription: Keep track of every conversation for quality assurance.

Where Smith.ai stands out

While the above features are important, they’re just the beginning. Your business needs more comprehensive features from an exceptional AI answering service. Smith.ai empowers businesses to succeed by offering more comprehensive tools and features, with a higher level of service and support.

Professional, human assistance whenever customers need it

AI is great for routine tasks, but when things get complicated, human expertise is essential. Smith.ai combines state-of-the-art AI technology with live, 24/7 receptionist backup — something Bland AI doesn’t offer. Smith.ai’s hybrid model ensures that when AI hits its limits, our highly-trained virtual receptionists step in to deliver the human touch your clients need. Your customers are never left feeling frustrated or unheard, and your business maintains a professional, reliable image. It's a win-win.

Appointment scheduling

Smith.ai's Voice Assistant takes the hassle out of appointment scheduling by booking appointments live on the call and inputting the details directly into your preferred calendaring system. Whether you use Google Calendar, Calendly, or another platform with a public link, it’s as simple as pasting the link to your calendar in our easy-to-use dashboard.

Bland.ai classifies scheduling as a "custom tool" and requires users to build it themselves using APIs and coding. Smith.ai is built for business owners, not developers. We make features easy and accessible so you can focus on running your business instead of managing technical setups.

Simplicity: The busy business owner's best friend

Setting up your call-handling solution shouldn’t be complicated. Smith.ai offers a straightforward setup process. No coding or prompting is required with our service. Simply enter your business details (hours, location, website, etc.), and our AI takes care of the rest.

With plug-and-play call flows, you can have your system up and running in minutes. Need extra help? Our expert support team is ready to guide you every step of the way. 

Bland AI’s overly complex setup requires intricate customizations through prompt writing, webhooks, and coding. That can leave business owners frustrated — and that's time better spent growing your business.

Stay in the know

It’s crucial for business owners to stay informed about client calls and interactions. That’s why Smith.ai provides instant call summaries via text, email, Slack, or Microsoft Teams — giving you real-time updates in the format that works best for you. Staying connected to your business is as easy as typing in your email address. In contrast, Bland AI requires additional customizations using webhooks to access notifications and transcripts post-call, adding unnecessary steps. 

Our big three: Longevity, reputation, and quality

When planning for business growth, you likely need partners who are trustworthy and experienced. Smith.ai has over a decade of experience with AI technology and call center solutions. Unlike Bland AI, we're not just a novice tech company that emerged in 2023. See for yourself: we're highly rated on Clutch and G2. Smith.ai consistently delivers outstanding service that strengthens customer relationships, and we have time in the game. 

In addition, our quality assurance is unmatched; we used our proprietary AI technology to create an AI quality assurance tool that runs through thousands of call scenarios, catching mistakes before the calls even hit your line. You can also review your call data to analyze for call improvement. That's the quality and care you want for your business.

Transparent pricing you can trust

At Smith.ai, we believe pricing should be straightforward. Our volume-based, per-call pricing model scales with your business and is completely transparent — no hidden fees, no contracts, and no surprises. Bland AI, on the other hand, lacks pricing transparency. Their website directs users to contact sales for information or signup, making it difficult to compare costs and requires you to give them your personal information to get a quote.

Putting our money where our mouth is

Smith.ai stands behind its quality with a 14-day money-back guarantee of up to $1,000, giving you two full weeks to experience our unmatched service — risk-free. Bland AI offers just $2 in free credits. That’s barely enough for a trial and doesn’t offer the chance to gain confidence in their product.

Smith.ai is the smarter choice

If you’re looking for a conversational AI phone agent that goes beyond the basics, Smith.ai Voice Assistant is the clear choice. From 24/7 human backup & excellent quality assurance to simple setup & transparent pricing, Smith.ai delivers greater value and the tools your business needs to succeed.

For growth-minded business owners focused on turning calls into opportunities and providing a superior customer experience, Smith.ai stands out as the smarter, more efficient choice for your 24/7 AI call answering service over Bland AI.