Estarta vs Smith.ai: Human-First Call Center Alternative
Smith.ai pioneered AI-first call answering with human backup. Estarta takes the opposite approach: 100% human agents enhanced by AI tools. For businesses where caller experience and complex call handling matter, human-first wins.
Estarta delivers 100% human agents, industry-trained specialists, flexible month-to-month plans, and go-live in as little as 48 hours.
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Who This Page Is For
If you're evaluating Smith.ai or considering a switch, this comparison is built for you.
- Legal Firms
Client intake and case qualification requiring human judgment
- Medical Practices
HIPAA-compliant patient communication with empathy
- Home Services
Emergency dispatch for HVAC, plumbing, electrical, locksmith
- Real Estate Agencies
Lead qualification and appointment scheduling
- Financial Services
Compliance-sensitive client communications
- SaaS Companies
Technical support and customer success
- Professional Services
Accounting, consulting, and advisory firms
- Business Owners & Founders
Looking for cost-effective customer support without sacrificing quality
- Operations Managers
Seeking reliable, scalable call handling with clear reporting
- Customer Experience Directors
Prioritizing human connection and customer satisfaction metrics
- Practice Managers (Medical/Legal)
Requiring compliant call handling with industry-specific training
- IT/SaaS Support Leaders
Needing technical support teams that understand software products
Why Companies Search for a Smith.ai Alternative
These are the real pain points that drive businesses to explore other options.
AI Frustration
Customers get frustrated when they realize they're talking to a bot, especially in emotional situations.
Per-Call Pricing Adds Up
Smith.ai's $292.50/month for just 30 calls can become expensive as volume grows.
Limited Complex Handling
AI struggles with nuanced conversations, escalating to humans adds delay and inconsistency.
Script Limitations
Template-based scripts can't adapt to unique business workflows and edge cases.
At a Glance
Human-first call center for growing businesses
- 100% human agents on every call
- 40-60% cost savings vs US providers
- Month-to-month, no volume minimums
- Go live in 48 hours to 5-7 days
- 16+ industry specializations
AI-first virtual receptionist with human backup
Strengths:
- Fast onboarding with AI templating
- Transparent per-call pricing
- Good for simple, predictable calls
Limitations:
- AI struggles with emotional/complex calls
- Per-call pricing expensive at volume
- Template scripts limit customization
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
A detailed look at how Estarta and Smith.ai compare across 20+ key capabilities.
| Feature | Estarta | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Core Service | ||
| Agent Type | 100% Human Agents | AI-First with Human Backup |
| Complex Call Handling | Full human judgment & empathy | AI handles simple, escalates complex |
| 24/7 Availability | Yes - Human agents around the clock | Yes - AI with human overflow |
| Industry Specialization | 16+ vertical specializations | General purpose scripts |
| Bilingual Support | Native English + Spanish fluency | Limited language support |
| Pricing & Contracts | ||
| Pricing Model | Custom quote (40-60% savings) | $292.50/month for 30 calls |
| Cost Per Call | Volume-based pricing | $9.75+ per call |
| Contract Terms | Month-to-month, no minimums | Month-to-month |
| Setup Fees | No setup fees | No setup fees |
| Technology | ||
| AI Approach | AI assists human agents | AI handles calls, humans backup |
| CRM Integrations | 50+ native integrations | 30+ integrations |
| Custom Scripting | Fully customizable workflows | Template-based scripts |
| Call Recording | 100% call recording + QA | Available |
| Compliance | ||
| HIPAA Compliance | Full compliance with BAA | Available |
| PCI DSS | Level 1 compliant | Available |
| Data Security | SOC 2 Type II certified | SOC 2 certified |
| Quality & Support | ||
| Caller Experience | Human empathy & adaptability | AI efficiency, less personal |
| Onboarding Time | 48 hours to 5-7 days | Same-day to few days |
| Account Management | Dedicated account manager | Self-service with support |
| Quality Monitoring | 100% QA with feedback loops | AI quality scoring |
The Human-First Difference
While many competitors rely on AI and automation to cut costs, Estarta invests in real human agents who understand context, show empathy, and build genuine connections with your customers.
- Real conversations that adapt to customer needs
- Empathetic handling of frustrated or urgent callers
- Industry expertise that AI cannot replicate
- Custom scripts and workflows for your business
- Bilingual support (English + Spanish) available
Real-World Call Scenarios
How each service handles different types of calls your business receives.
A panicked customer locked out of their car in an unfamiliar neighborhood.
Human agent immediately recognizes urgency, calms the customer, gathers precise location details, dispatches nearest technician, and stays on line until help arrives.
AI may struggle with emotional cues and location clarification. Complex situations often require transfer to human backup, adding delay.
An elderly patient calling about concerning symptoms after hours.
Trained medical intake specialist asks appropriate screening questions, recognizes urgency indicators, and follows HIPAA-compliant protocols to reach on-call provider.
AI handles basic scheduling but may miss nuanced symptom descriptions. Sensitive conversations benefit from human empathy.
A potential client calling about a complex personal injury case.
Legal intake specialist conducts full qualification, builds rapport, asks industry-specific questions, and schedules consultation with appropriate attorney.
Can capture basic information and schedule appointments. Complex legal qualification may require human escalation.
How to Switch from Smith.ai
Our proven migration process ensures zero disruption to your business. Go live in as little as 48 hours.
Discovery Call
We analyze your current Smith.ai setup, scripts, integrations, and call patterns.
Day 1Custom Plan
Receive a tailored transition timeline designed to improve upon your current experience.
Day 2Agent Training
Our team learns your business, industry terminology, and customer expectations.
Days 3-5Parallel Testing
Run both services briefly to validate quality before full cutover.
Days 5-7Go Live
Switch over with dedicated support and continuous optimization.
Day 7+Get 20% Off When You Switch from Smith.ai
Use code SWITCH-SMITH20 for 20% off your first 3 months. We'll handle the migration at no extra cost.
Transparent, Flexible Pricing
Pay for outcomes, not overhead. Estarta offers month-to-month options with no long-term contracts required.
- No setup fees
- No volume minimums
- Cancel anytime
Enterprise-Grade Security & Compliance
Your data is protected by industry-leading security practices and compliance certifications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about switching from Smith.ai to Estarta.
Smith.ai's AI-first approach works for simple calls, but many businesses find that complex, emotional, or high-value calls suffer. Estarta's 100% human agents provide better caller experiences, deeper industry expertise, and often lower costs as volume grows. We're the leading Smith.ai alternative for businesses prioritizing quality.
Yes. Every call is answered by a trained human agent. We use AI to assist our agents with information retrieval and workflows, but a real person always handles your customers—unlike Smith.ai's AI-first model.
Smith.ai charges $292.50/month for just 30 calls ($9.75/call). As volume grows, costs escalate quickly. Estarta offers custom volume-based pricing that typically saves 40-60% compared to US providers and becomes more cost-effective at higher volumes.
We exceed them. Estarta integrates with 50+ CRMs, scheduling tools, and business software including all major platforms like Salesforce, HubSpot, Clio, ServiceTitan, and more.
While Smith.ai can activate quickly due to AI templating, Estarta's human-first approach requires training. Most businesses go live within 5-7 days, with the benefit of agents who truly understand your business.
Absolutely. The difference is especially clear in complex, emotional, or nuanced conversations. Our clients consistently report better caller satisfaction scores after switching from AI-first services.
Yes. Unlike enterprise BPOs, Estarta is designed for SMBs with no volume minimums, month-to-month terms, and pricing that works for growing businesses. We're the ideal call center outsourcing solution for small businesses.
Yes. Estarta serves US businesses, GCC companies expanding into North American markets, and global businesses needing English-language customer support with US quality standards.
Most businesses transition from Smith.ai to Estarta within 5-7 days. We handle the setup, training, and integration so you can focus on your business.
Estarta provides the best of both worlds: human agents enhanced by AI tools. Our agents use technology for information retrieval, CRM updates, and workflow automation while providing the empathy and judgment that only humans can deliver.
Serving US Businesses with Global Coverage
Estarta is the trusted call center outsourcing partner for US businesses, GCC companies expanding into North American markets, and China-facing businesses needing English-language customer support. Our Jordan-based team delivers US-quality service at globally competitive rates.
Learn About Our Global ServicesReady to Make the Switch?
Join hundreds of US businesses who've discovered the human-first difference. Start your 3-day free trial with no credit card required.