Smith.ai alternative for contractors: Ringback vs Smith.ai
Checked October 9, 2026 on Smith.ai's own site. Prices change, so follow the sources before you buy.
Smith.ai answers your calls (with trained people or an AI receptionist); Ringback does not answer calls at all, it texts the caller back from your own number when you miss one. They solve different problems at very different prices, so here is how to tell which one an HVAC, plumbing or electrical business needs.
| Ringback | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $17/month (or $170/year), flat per business | Human receptionists from $300/month for 30 calls ($11.50 per extra call); AI receptionist free for 25 calls/month then $3/call, or Pro at $150/month for 75 calls |
| Setup fee | $0 | None listed on the pricing page |
| Trial / terms | 7-day free trial | Month to month; 30-day money-back guarantee for new clients (overage calls excluded) |
| Your phone number | Keeps your number as is: an app on the Android phone your business line already rings on sends the text from that number. No forwarding, porting or new number. (With an iPhone: the Mac helper, beta, texts from your iPhone's own number through a Mac that stays on; or unanswered calls are forwarded to a spare Android and the text comes from that phone's number.) | You forward your calls to a number Smith.ai sets up for you, and its receptionists answer them. |
| Also includes | Online booking page with confirmations and day-before reminders, lead inbox with replies from the dashboard, business-hours and after-hours messages, automatic STOP/START handling. | People or AI answer 24/7, qualify leads, transfer calls and take messages; paid per-call add-ons include appointment booking ($1.50), text and email follow-up ($0.50) and a Spanish line ($1.00). |
Where Smith.ai is better
- Someone (a person or an AI) actually answers the call and talks to the customer. Ringback only texts afterwards.
- Can screen urgent calls and transfer them to you live.
- Works with any phone, including landlines and iPhones, because it runs on call forwarding.
Where Ringback is better
- $17 a month flat, against $300 a month for 30 calls on Smith.ai's smallest human plan.
- No per-call charges, so a busy week costs the same as a quiet one.
- Nothing changes for the caller: no forwarding, and the text comes from your own number.
- Includes an online booking page with reminders.
The catch with Ringback
Ringback runs on an Android phone that your business number rings on (iPhones cannot send texts automatically). With an iPhone and a Mac that stays on, the Ringback Mac helper (beta) texts from your iPhone's own number. Otherwise, if your calls ring only on a desk phone or an iPhone, forward unanswered calls to a spare Android phone running Ringback (see the iPhone guide); texts then come from that phone's number, not your main number. Or choose a tool that works through call forwarding.
Questions
Is Ringback an answering service like Smith.ai?
No. Ringback does not answer calls. When a call goes unanswered it texts the caller from your own number so they can reply or book. If you need a person or an AI on the phone, Smith.ai is the closer fit; many shops use text-back for overflow and a live service only after hours.
How much does Smith.ai cost?
Per its pricing page on October 9, 2026: human receptionist plans start at $300 a month for 30 calls ($11.50 per extra call), and the AI receptionist has a free tier of 25 calls a month ($3 per call after that) and a Pro plan at $150 a month for 75 calls.
Can I use both?
Yes. Calls you forward to Smith.ai get answered there; Ringback only acts on calls that ring your Android phone and go unanswered.
Sources: smith.ai/pricing · smith.ai/pricing/ai-receptionist