Leadly vs Smith.ai
Both stop you missing enquiries. They do it in very different ways — here's a straight comparison so you can pick the right one.
At a glance
| Leadly | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | AI receptionist, flat monthly fee | Human-augmented service, priced per call or chat |
| Channels | Website widget, Leadly link, QR code, voice notes | Phone calls, web chat, SMS |
| Availability | 24/7 included | Depends on plan and hours |
| Bookings | Books live slots from your opening hours | Scheduling on supported plans |
| Deposits | Stripe payment link in chat, auto-confirmed | Not a core feature |
| Setup | Minutes — one script tag or a link | Onboarding and call routing setup |
| Best for | UK small businesses wanting instant replies and paid bookings | Firms wanting a human voice on inbound calls |
Smith.ai features and pricing change over time — check their site for current plans before deciding.
Where Leadly is stronger
- Replies land in seconds, at 2am as readily as at 2pm.
- Costs don't spike in a busy month — one flat fee, unlimited conversations.
- It closes the loop itself: quote, slot, deposit, confirmed booking in your diary.
- Everything is editable by you in the dashboard and live in the chat immediately.
Where a human service is stronger
If most of your work arrives as inbound phone calls, or callers expect a human voice for sensitive matters, a staffed answering service still earns its place. Plenty of businesses run both: Leadly for web, link and QR enquiries, a human line for the phone.
New to the category? Start with what an AI receptionist does or the virtual receptionist guide.
Questions people ask
What's the main difference between Leadly and Smith.ai?
Smith.ai is a human-augmented virtual receptionist and answering service priced per call or per chat. Leadly is a flat-fee AI receptionist that lives on your website, link or QR code, replies instantly and completes the booking and deposit itself.
Which is cheaper?
It depends on volume. Per-call plans are predictable at low volume and expensive at high volume. Leadly charges one flat monthly fee with unlimited conversations, so a busy month costs the same as a quiet one.
Does Leadly answer phone calls?
Leadly handles chat, web widget, link and QR conversations, and accepts voice notes which it transcribes and answers. If your enquiries mostly arrive by inbound phone call, a call-answering service still has a role alongside it.
Can I switch without changing my website?
Yes. You can share your Leadly link or QR code with no website changes at all, or paste a single script tag if you'd like the chat bubble on your site.
See how Leadly handles your enquiries
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