The Real Question
You're deciding between: A human receptionist service that charges per call and might put you on hold during busy times, versus an AI that picks up instantly every time for a flat monthly fee. Both work. But they work differently.
What most comparison pages won't tell you: Smith.ai's $292/month "starting price" covers 30 calls. If your firm handles 150 calls/month, you're paying $1,200+. ClaireAI's $650/month covers 150 calls flat. Run the math for YOUR call volume before choosing.
Platform Overview
ClaireAI: No Humans. No Variability. No Hold Music.
ClaireAI is a fully autonomous AI that answers your phones. There's no person involved. The AI handles the call from start to finish—qualifies the lead, books the appointment, puts the data in your CRM. Done.
What that actually means:
- 0.6 seconds to answer. Not "within 3 rings." Sub-second. Every time.
- Same quality at 3am Saturday vs 9am Monday. No tired receptionists, no staffing issues, no "sorry we're experiencing high call volume."
- $650/month flat for 150 calls. Call 149 or 150—same price. No surprise bills.
- Data in Clio in 8 seconds. Not "someone will enter it later." Instant.
Smith.ai: Humans First, AI Assists, Per-Call Billing
Smith.ai employs actual people to answer your phones. They use AI to help with transcription and some routing, but a human being handles each conversation. They've been around since 2015 and have a solid reputation.
What that actually means:
- Real humans = real variability. Some receptionists are great. Some have bad days. Some are new. That's just how it works.
- AI helps in the background. Transcription, call summaries, basic automation—the tech supports the humans, not the other way around.
- $8-10 per call average. Their "$292/month" plan covers 30 calls. After that, each additional call is $9.75. High-volume firms pay $1,500-2,500/month.
- 24/7 staffing. They have night shifts. Real people work nights. That costs them more, so it costs you more.
At a Glance
| Attribute | ClaireAI | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Core Technology | Autonomous AI | Human + AI assist |
| Starting Price | $650/month | $292.50/month |
| Pricing Model | Flat monthly rate | Per-call charges |
| Response Time | Instant (0 seconds) | Variable (depends on agent availability) |
| 24/7 Coverage | Yes | Yes |
| Bilingual (EN/ES) | Yes | Yes |
| Legal CRM Integrations | Clio, Lawmatics, MyCase, Filevine, PracticePanther | Clio, Lawmatics, MyCase, others |
| Setup Time | Same day | 1-2 weeks |
Feature Comparison Table
The following table compares specific capabilities relevant to law firm operations. These features address common requirements for legal intake, client communication, and practice management.
| Feature | ClaireAI | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Response Time | Instant pickup, no hold time | Variable; may include brief hold during high volume |
| Availability | 24/7/365, no capacity limits | 24/7/365, staffed by live agents |
| Call Handling Model | Fully autonomous AI processes entire call | Human agent handles call with AI assistance |
| Legal Intake Depth | Configurable intake scripts, conflict checking, case qualification | Customizable scripts, lead qualification, appointment booking |
| Consistency | Identical quality across all calls | Varies by agent experience and training |
| Cost Scaling | Flat rate regardless of volume | Increases with each additional call |
| CRM Sync Speed | Real-time (instant) | Near real-time to delayed |
| Conflict Checking | Yes - during call | Not available |
| Call Transcription | Yes - automatic | Yes - available |
| Spam Filtering | AI-powered automatic filtering | Agent-based screening |
| Appointment Scheduling | Yes - calendar integration | Yes - calendar integration |
| Payment Processing | Yes | Yes |
How Does Pricing Compare?
Pricing structure is one of the most significant differences between these services. The model you choose directly impacts budget predictability and cost-per-acquisition for new clients.
- Predictable monthly expense
- No per-call charges
- Spam calls don't affect bill
- Higher tiers available for volume
- Lower entry point
- Pay for what you use
- Good for very low volume
- Additional calls billed separately
Cost at Different Call Volumes
The following estimates illustrate how monthly costs differ based on call volume. These figures help firms project expenses based on their actual usage patterns.
| Monthly Call Volume | ClaireAI Est. Cost | Smith.ai Est. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 30 calls | $650 | $292.50 |
| 75 calls | $650 | ~$585 |
| 150 calls | $650 | ~$975 |
| 250 calls | $950* | ~$1,450 |
| 500 calls | $1,450* | ~$2,700+ |
*ClaireAI offers higher-tier plans for increased volume. Smith.ai estimates based on published per-call rates.
Cost Predictability Considerations
For law firms, budget predictability often matters as much as total cost. Consider these factors:
- Seasonal variation: Firms with fluctuating call volume may see significant monthly cost swings with per-call pricing
- Marketing campaigns: Running ads that increase inbound calls can create unexpected expenses with usage-based billing
- Spam and robocalls: Per-call models may charge for unwanted calls that flat-rate models absorb
- Long intake calls: Complex legal matters often require extended conversations that increase per-minute costs
What Are the Operational Differences?
Beyond features and pricing, the way each service operates day-to-day affects firm workflow and client experience.
Speed and Responsiveness
ClaireAI: Calls are answered instantly by AI. There is no queue, hold time, or dependency on agent availability. Peak hours, holidays, and overnight calls receive identical treatment.
Smith.ai: Calls are answered by available human agents. During high-volume periods, callers may experience brief holds. Agent availability can vary, though the service maintains 24/7 staffing.
Scalability
ClaireAI: AI systems scale automatically. Whether handling 10 calls or 1,000 calls in a day, the system maintains consistent response times without additional infrastructure or staffing decisions.
Smith.ai: Scaling requires hiring and training additional receptionists. Rapid growth may temporarily strain response times until staffing catches up with demand.
Training and Customization
ClaireAI: Customization happens through configuration rather than training. Intake scripts, FAQs, and routing rules are set up in the platform and take effect immediately.
Smith.ai: Receptionists undergo training on firm-specific protocols. Changes to scripts or procedures require communicating updates to the team, which may take time to implement consistently.
Which Service Fits Which Firm Type?
Different firm sizes and practice models have different requirements. The following guidance matches common firm profiles with the service most likely to meet their needs.
Solo & Small Firms
For practices with fewer than 50 calls per month, Smith.ai's lower entry price may be more cost-effective. However, firms expecting growth or running marketing campaigns should consider whether per-call pricing will remain sustainable.
Mid-Size Firms
Firms handling 100+ calls monthly typically see better economics with ClaireAI's flat-rate model. The consistency of AI-handled calls also reduces quality variance that can occur with rotating human agents.
High-Growth Firms
Practices investing heavily in marketing and expecting rapid intake growth benefit from ClaireAI's predictable costs and automatic scaling. Per-call pricing can create budget uncertainty when lead flow increases.
Balanced Pros and Cons
Every service involves trade-offs. The following assessment presents advantages and disadvantages of each platform based on documented capabilities and common user feedback.
- Instant response, no hold times ever
- Predictable flat-rate monthly cost
- Consistent quality on every call
- Real-time conflict checking
- Same-day setup and deployment
- Scales automatically with demand
- Higher starting price for low-volume users
- AI may not match human nuance in sensitive calls
- Newer company, smaller market presence
- Human agents for complex conversations
- Lower entry price for minimal volume
- Established company since 2015
- Personal touch some clients prefer
- Costs scale unpredictably with volume
- Variable response times during peaks
- Agent quality can vary
- Longer setup and training period
- No real-time conflict checking
The Honest Answer: It Depends on Your Call Volume
Do the math. 150 calls/month? ClaireAI wins. 30 calls/month? Smith.ai might be cheaper.
ClaireAI makes sense when: You handle 100+ calls monthly, hate unpredictable bills, need instant pickup (not "within 3 rings"), or you're running TV/radio ads that spike call volume. At 200 calls/month, Smith.ai costs $1,800+. We cost $650.
Smith.ai makes sense when: You're a solo practitioner with 20-40 calls/month. Their $292 plan covers 30 calls. If you don't need instant pickup and don't mind per-call billing, they're a solid option at low volume.
Here's what we'd actually say: If your firm is growing, per-call pricing will eat you alive. Every new marketing dollar you spend increases your answering service bill. With flat-rate, you can scale without watching the meter. That's why most firms switch to us when they hit 100+ calls/month.
Want to see how ClaireAI handles calls for your practice area?