Clara vs Smith.ai

Smith.ai offers a free 25-call AI plan with per-call overage. Clara offers unlimited answered calls and a native mobile app built around trades and local service work.

At a glance

Direct answer

Choose Smith.ai when a free 25-call allowance or its named CRM integrations matter most. Choose Clara when you run a trade or local service business, want unlimited answered calls, and need the call log on a native mobile app while you are away from a desk.

Clara publishes this comparison and has a commercial interest in your decision. Competitor facts are vendor-reported and were last reviewed August 23, 2026.

Clara

$49.99/month

AI receptionist · 24/7 · US, UK, Canada

Unlimited answered calls. No per-minute charges. Self-serve setup. 7-day free trial on eligible monthly plans.

Smith.ai

$0/month for 25 calls

AI receptionist · US

AI receptionist with call-based plans and CRM integrations. Designed for law firms, marketing agencies, home services, professional services.

Clara vs Smith.ai, feature by feature

Feature
Clara
Smith.ai
Service type
AI receptionist
AI receptionist
Starting price (US)
from $39.99/month in the US

Free AI Receptionist plan, reviewed August 23, 2026

$0/month for 25 calls
Per-call / per-minute charges
None, flat monthly
$3 per call after the free allowance
Coverage
24/7, no surcharges
24/7 AI answering
Markets served
US, UK, Canada
US-focused
Setup time
Self-serve setup
Self-serve free plan; dedicated onboarding on paid plans
Free trial
7 days on eligible monthly plans
Free monthly plan
Who it's built for
Tradespeople, field-based small businesses
Law firms, agencies, professional services
CRM integrations
Email + SMS summaries; basic exports
Native Clio, Salesforce, HubSpot integrations
Mobile app
Native iOS and Android apps
Not found on the public pages reviewed
Contract
Monthly, cancel anytime
Monthly, cancel anytime

Where Clara is the better fit

  • Unlimited answered calls instead of a per-call allowance
  • A native mobile app for owners working away from a desk
  • Intake designed around trades and local service businesses
  • Published plans for the US, UK, and Canada

Where Smith.ai is the better fit

  • Free plan includes 25 calls each month
  • 24/7 AI answering with recording, transcription, and summaries
  • CRM integrations (Clio, Salesforce, HubSpot)
  • English and Spanish call handling

Choose Smith.ai when a free 25-call allowance or its named CRM integrations matter most. Choose Clara when you run a trade or local service business, want unlimited answered calls, and need the call log on a native mobile app while you are away from a desk.

Sources and limitations

Prices, included usage, app availability, and integrations can change. We checked the provider's public pages on August 23, 2026. We did not independently test call quality, reliability, support, integrations, or business outcomes.

Manage customer calls wherever the work takes you

★★★★★ 4.6 App Store
★★★★★ 4.6 Play Store
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