Velogics vs Smith.aiwhich fits your front desk?
Both solve the same problem, never miss a lead, but they are different kinds of product. Smith.ai is a live-staffed receptionist service from $300/mo. Velogics is AI-first software from $69/mo for the base, plus a $149/mo voice add-on. Here is the honest, publicly-sourced breakdown.
Short answer: Smith.ai and Velogics both exist to make sure you never miss a lead, but they are different kinds of product. Smith.ai is a premium live-staffed receptionist service, real people answer, backed by AI, priced from $300/mo. Velogics is AI-first software you run yourself: an AI Front Desk that answers chats, forms, and calls from $69/mo for the base, plus $149/mo for the AI Receptionist voice add-on. If you want humans on every call and have the budget, Smith.ai fits. If you want software economics and an AI that also handles your website chat, forms, booking, and review follow-up, Velogics fits.
Real Public Numbers, Not Marketing Math
Every figure below is copied from each company's own public pages on 2026-07-27, Smith.ai from smith.ai/pricing, Velogics from our own pricing page. Prices change, always check the live pages before quoting.
| Velogics | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | AI-first software (you run it) | Live-staffed receptionists + AI (they run it) |
| Entry price | $69/mo early-bird ($129 standard), AI Front Desk base | $300/mo, Starter |
| Voice / call answering | $149/mo early-bird ($249 standard) add-on + $199 one-time setup | Included in every plan (live agents) |
| What the entry price includes | AI Chatbot, Smart Forms, automatic booking, CRM sync, review follow-up, 300 AI conversations/mo | 30 calls/mo answered by live agents |
| Mid tier | Usage-metered, not tiered | $810/mo Basic (90 calls) |
| Top published tier | Add specialists a la carte (Prospector $79, Loyalty $59, and more) | $2,100/mo Pro (300 calls); Enterprise custom |
| Overage | $0.50 per 50 chat conversations; $0.25/voice min | $8.50 to $11.50 per call, depending on plan |
| Setup fee | $0 for base; $199 one-time for AI Receptionist voice | No setup fees |
| Free trial | 14 business days free on the AI Front Desk base | No free trial; 30-day money-back guarantee (up to $1,000) |
| Contract | Month-to-month, cancel with 30 days notice | Month-to-month; 10% off for annual |
The honest read on price: Smith.ai charges service-business rates because real people answer the calls, a genuine, higher-touch product, and the per-call overage ($8.50 to $11.50) reflects human labor. Velogics charges software rates because the AI does the answering. A voice-capable Velogics setup runs about $218/mo early-bird($69 base + $149 receptionist) plus a one-time $199, versus Smith.ai's $300/mofloor. The gap widens fast at volume: 300 answered interactions is Smith.ai's $2,100/mo Pro plan, while Velogics meters overage in cents.
One System vs a Staffed Call Desk
Where a Smith.ai capability could not be confirmed on a public page, it is marked conservatively.
| Feature | Velogics | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Answers inbound phone calls | Yes (AI Receptionist add-on) | Yes (live agents + AI) |
| Live human agents | No | Yes (its core differentiator) |
| Website chat widget | Yes (bundled in base) | Yes (chat plans) |
| Web form instant follow-up | Yes (Smart Forms) | Limited |
| Missed call text back | Yes (bundled in AI Receptionist) | Available |
| Books into your calendar | Yes | Yes |
| CRM sync | FollowUpBoss native + Zapier to HubSpot, Salesforce, Jobber, ServiceTitan | Yes (broad) |
| Review follow-up automation | Yes (bundled) | No |
| Outbound (email / voice) | Yes (AI Prospector, AI Sales Rep) | Limited |
| Compliance | A2P 10DLC, TCPA, GDPR | Yes |
| Time to live | 24 to 48 hours (base) | Onboarding-led |
| Country coverage | US + Canada (Ottawa-based) | US-focused |
Who Should Pick Which
Neither is "better." Smith.ai buys you humans; Velogics buys you an always-on AI front desk at software prices.
Pick Smith.ai if
- You want a real person on every call, complex intake, legal or professional-services conversations, high-empathy situations where a human judgment call matters.
- Your calls are high-value enough that $300 to $2,100/mo is easily covered by one or two booked jobs.
- You would rather fully outsource the front desk than run software yourself.
Pick Velogics if
- You want software economics, a flat monthly base plus a voice add-on, not $8.50 to $11.50 per call.
- You are a solo or small service business (home services, trades, clinics, salons) that wants one system covering website chat, web forms, phone, booking, CRM, and review follow-up.
- You want to try it free for 14 business days and go live in a day or two.
- You are comfortable with an AI answering, with anything unusual flagged straight to you.
Velogics vs Smith.ai, Common Questions
1Is Velogics a Smith.ai alternative?
Yes, for businesses that want AI-first call and lead handling rather than a live-staffed service. Velogics answers calls, chats, and forms with AI, books appointments, and follows up for reviews, starting at $69/mo for the base plus a $149/mo AI Receptionist add-on for voice. Smith.ai uses real human agents and starts at $300/mo.
2How much does Smith.ai cost?
As of July 2026, Smith.ai's public pricing is $300/mo (Starter, 30 calls), $810/mo (Basic, 90 calls), and $2,100/mo (Pro, 300 calls), with per-call overage of $8.50 to $11.50 and no setup fee. Check smith.ai/pricing for current numbers.
3How much does Velogics cost?
The AI Front Desk base is $69/mo early-bird ($129 standard) with a 14-business-day free trial and no setup fee. Adding the AI Receptionist for live-voice answering is $149/mo early-bird ($249 standard) plus a one-time $199 voice-and-knowledge-base setup. It is month-to-month.
4Does Velogics use real people?
No. Velogics is AI-first: an AI named Ana answers, qualifies, and books, with anything it cannot resolve flagged straight to the owner. Smith.ai's model is the opposite: real human agents backed by AI.
See What Your AI Front Desk Would Actually Cost
Software pricing, a 14-day free trial, and live in a day or two. Most small service businesses we talk to want the AI, not the call center.