Smith.ai vs. SoundHound

When it comes to managing your business calls, both Smith.ai Voice Assistant and SoundHound Smart Answering offer essential features like 24/7 call answering, simultaneous call handling, quick responses about business information, and call transfers. But, not all AI answering solutions deliver the same experience. Let's highlight the key differences to help you decide which is best for your business.

The bare minimum: Basic features both services offer

Smith.ai and SoundHound provide the following core features for handling your calls effectively:

• 24/7 call answering: Ensures you never miss a call, no matter the time of day.
• Simultaneous call handling: Manages multiple calls at once so your customers never need to wait on hold or hear a busy signal
• Business information: Answers common customer inquiries, such as hours, location, prices, etc.
• Call transfers: Directs calls to the right team members or departments.

These features are the foundation of any smart answering solution, but there’s much more to consider if you're looking for premium, powerful tools for your business. Let’s explore what sets Smith.ai apart.

The Smith.ai advantage

Professional, human assistance — 24/7/365

AI technology is powerful, but it can’t completely replace the human touch. Smith.ai combines our proprietary AI technology with live, professional receptionists available around the clock. When AI alone isn’t enough, Smith.ai’s receptionists ensure every interaction is handled with care and expertise — plus they’re highly trained to pick up calls where the AI left off for a smooth transition. Our hybrid model helps preserve your reputation and provide a seamless experience for your customers who need human intervention for complex or sensitive scenarios. Contrarily, SoundHound doesn’t offer 24/7 human backup, making Smith.ai the clear choice for businesses that value reliability and personalized service.

Live appointment scheduling

While both Smith.ai and SoundHound offer appointment scheduling, the difference is in the details. SoundHound just texts a link to callers, requiring them to complete scheduling themselves. This hands-off approach for booking might seem convenient but can fall short if you’re looking to deliver a top-tier customer experience. We assist during the call, tailoring the interaction for each caller by answering questions, addressing concerns, and building trust in real time. A text link is just a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t build rapport with your customers, and this is where Smith.ai wins.

Unlike SoundHound, we schedule your appointments live, directly on the call. Our friendly receptionists step in to confirm and complete bookings, ensuring accuracy so you know your appointments are set correctly. We capture and schedule your leads, while SoundHound leaves it up to a link, presenting the risk that callers will forget or second-guess. SoundHound lacks our proactive model that keeps your calendar full without leaving callers feeling detached from your business. 

Excellent quality assurance & reputation

Smith.ai takes quality assurance to the next level. While SoundHound’s long-standing experience in voice AI is notable, Smith.ai’s strong background in call center operations gives us a unique edge that enhances the quality of our Voice Assistant. 

We know what it takes to nurture a good call, and we have used years of analytics and improvement from our virtual receptionists to bring our AI voice agent services to what they are today — quality call answering.

Our Voice Assistant AI system is continuously tested and refined to ensure accuracy, catching potential issues before they reach your customers. Our human agents also use AI to smoothly guide their calls, and we prioritize accuracy with that side of our AI technology, too. With real-time analytics and human backup, Smith.ai provides an all-rounder service you can trust to represent your business professionally. Every call is an opportunity, and we’re dedicated to making the most of them. We understand that longevity doesn’t always guarantee quality, but aim to prioritize quality in everything we do.

SoundHound, despite bragging about its years of experience in the voice AI industry, lacks online reviews. We checked for reviews on Google, Trustpilot, and other popular review sites and found nothing — which should be a red flag if you’re looking into how Smart Answering’s actual performance could affect your business. With Smith.ai, the proof is in the pudding: check out these stellar reviews of our virtual receptionists on Clutch & G2.

Lead qualification beyond basic call answering

Smith.ai goes beyond basic call answering to actively help grow your business. Our Voice Assistant can ask qualifying questions to identify leads, ensuring the right callers are scheduled or directed as you prefer. Our advanced lead qualification uses strict criteria you set, allowing you to focus on the callers best aligned with your services. This reduces your administrative load while maximizing your business potential. SoundHound doesn’t mention lead qualification capabilities, making Smith.ai’s offering a standout feature for businesses focused on growth.

Stay in the know

It’s important for business owners to stay informed about their calls. Smith.ai provides instant call summaries via your preferred method — text, email, Slack, or Teams — so you’re always in the loop. SoundHound’s options are limited to text notifications, offering less flexibility. With Smith.ai, you get the updates you need when and how you want them. 

Smith.ai is the real deal

If you’re looking for a smart answering voice assistant that goes way beyond the basics, Smith.ai is the clear winner. Whether you need 24/7 professional human backup, live appointment scheduling, or advanced lead qualification — Smith.ai delivers the tools and support your business needs to thrive. When it comes to smart answering voice AI, don’t settle for less.

For growth-minded business owners who care about the importance of human backup, advanced quality assurance, and detailed lead qualification, Smith.ai is the more robust AI call-answering solution that works harder for your success over SoundHound.