Different billing units, different questions
CallJive: Monthly subscription with included call minutes.
Smith.ai: Monthly plans priced by calls, with call allowances and extra-call charges.
Separate the subscription allowance, the tier's included-call rate and the extra-call rate. Ask which answered calls count, how repeat callers are treated and how live receptionist escalation is charged. Do not multiply an included-call rate by every call and assume it represents the entire bill.
Use your own call history to compare allowances, repeat callers, duration, channels and additional usage. The figures below are provider plan terms, not a forecast of your bill or a claim that one service costs less for every business. Taxes, optional services and contract-specific terms should be confirmed with each provider.
CallJive monthly pricing snapshot
Monthly subscription with included call minutes.
The current plans include monthly minute allowances. Review current additional-usage terms before choosing a plan.
| Plan | Monthly subscription (USD) | Included usage | Rate details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | $99 | 300 minutes/month | Review current additional-usage terms with the provider. |
| Professional | $149 | 500 minutes/month | Review current additional-usage terms with the provider. |
| Business | $249 | 1,000 minutes/month | Review current additional-usage terms with the provider. |
Smith.ai monthly pricing snapshot
Monthly plans priced by calls, with call allowances and extra-call charges.
Pro and Enterprise have volume tiers. The displayed per-call tier rate describes the included allowance, not the extra-call rate. Check the tier and extra-call charges separately.
| Plan | Monthly subscription (USD) | Included usage | Rate details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 25 calls/month | $3 per extra call. |
| Pro | $150 | 75 calls/month at the starting tier | $2 per included call at this tier; $2.50 per extra real call. |
| Enterprise | $500 | 300 calls/month at the starting tier | $1.67 per included call at this tier; $2.17 per extra real call. |
Compare the workflow, not just the subscription
These are published product descriptions, not independent performance tests. Feature availability can depend on the plan, the connected system and configuration. A feature not established in this snapshot is not being described as absent.
Check whether a booking is written to the calendar, an appointment link is texted or a request is sent for staff follow-up. For transfers, confirm whether the destination is your own team or a provider's staffed service, and what happens if nobody answers.
| What to check | CallJive | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | 24/7 AI call answering. | 24/7 AI call answering. |
| Trial or free starting option | 14-day free trial; card required. No charge until day 15. | Free plan: $0/month with 25 calls/month; extra calls can incur charges. |
| Channels | Call answering and SMS on all plans. Website AI chat on Professional and Business; website voice on Business. | AI phone answering; Pro includes custom SMS branding. |
| Appointment workflow | Appointment booking with your configured calendar; appointment options depend on the connected calendar and business setup. | AI scheduling, including Calendly and other supported connections. |
| Transfers to people | Transfers callers to your configured team destination on Professional and Business. | Call routing and warm transfers to team members. |
| Integrations | Calendar connection and configuration are part of setup. Confirm your calendar provider and booking requirements before going live. | Native integrations including Clio and Zapier. |
| Languages | English and Spanish support on Professional and Business. | English and Spanish bilingual call handling. |
| Appointment reminders | Appointment reminders: Included in Professional and Business. | Not established in this snapshot; confirm with the provider. |
| White-label widget | White-label widget: Included in Business. | Not established in this snapshot; confirm with the provider. |
| Team members | Up to 3 read-only team members: Included in Business. | Not established in this snapshot; confirm with the provider. |
| After-hours routing rules | After-hours routing rules: Included in Business. | Not established in this snapshot; confirm with the provider. |
| Setup and training | Build a personalized demo from your website. Production setup includes call forwarding, calendar configuration and checking the call flow. | Quality Studio supports training and scenario testing. Pro includes dedicated onboarding setup; Enterprise includes full-service setup and ongoing optimization. |
| Call records and lead details | Call summaries and transcripts for follow-up; capture caller details. | Recording, transcription and summaries, with lead qualification and routing. |
Clarify the live receptionist backup
Live human receptionist backup is available according to Smith.ai's AI receptionist pages. Confirm availability and any add-on charges for your selected AI plan.
A transfer to your own team and a transfer to a provider's human receptionist are different operating arrangements. Confirm destination, availability, escalation rules and charges before treating them as equivalent.
Evaluate both services against your requirements
Write down your opening hours, the systems your team already uses, routine questions and the situations that need a person. Give each service the same fictional caller scenarios and check the resulting booking, handoff and follow-up record.
Include a correction to contact details, an unavailable appointment and a request outside your business's scope. Review the configuration and the record afterward. Do not use sensitive customer information just to test a demo.
CallJive's existing website-personalized demo is a way to hear the conversation before signup. Calendar and call-forwarding configuration belong to production setup; the demo is not a promise of bookings, revenue or uninterrupted service.
Sources
This is a CallJive-published comparison, not an independent review. The links below are the official provider pages used for this dated snapshot.
- CallJive: official pricingLast verified: October 2, 2026
- CallJive: product FAQsLast verified: October 2, 2026
- CallJive: product featuresLast verified: October 2, 2026
- CallJive: setup guidanceLast verified: October 2, 2026
- Smith.ai: official pricingLast verified: October 2, 2026
- Smith.ai: official product websiteLast verified: October 2, 2026