Smith.ai vs. Prybar: The Honest Comparison
Smith.ai is a great receptionist. Prybar is a receptionist, booker, and back office in one — for less than a third of the price.
Smith.ai pioneered the virtual receptionist — real humans (plus AI) answering your calls for $285+/month, with extra fees for after-hours, overflow, and every additional number. If you're a contractor, that adds up fast, and calls are only half the battle. Your customers text.
Prybar is built for the way customers actually reach you now: text. It answers in seconds, 24/7, books jobs, sends quotes and invoices, and captures every lead — all for one flat $79/mo. No per-minute pricing, no add-ons.
The Pricing Problem
| Feature | Smith.ai | Prybar |
|---|---|---|
| Answers customer texts | — | ✓ |
| Responds 24/7 with no after-hours fee | Extra fee | ✓ |
| Books jobs into your calendar | Limited | ✓ |
| Sends quotes & estimates | — | ✓ |
| Sends invoices & takes payments | — | ✓ |
| Captures & tracks every lead | — | ✓ |
| Handles multiple numbers at no extra cost | Per-number fee | ✓ |
| Job dashboard & scheduling | — | ✓ |
| Setup time | Days | 5 minutes |
| Flat monthly price | — | $79 |
*Competitor pricing from their public sites — always verify. Prybar: $79/mo founding rate, everything included.
Why contractors switch from Smith.ai
01
Text is where the leads are
Smith.ai answers phone calls. But most customers — especially for trades — text first. Prybar lives in the text thread, where your customers already are.
02
No per-minute or per-number fees
Smith.ai's $285+ base is before after-hours, overflow, and extra numbers. Prybar is one flat price, no meter running.
03
It does the whole job, not just the call
A receptionist takes a message. Prybar books the job, sends the quote, and invoices — the work gets done, not just logged.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Prybar different from Smith.ai?+
Smith.ai is built around human agents or a full CRM. Prybar is an AI text receptionist: it answers every customer text in seconds, books jobs, sends quotes and invoices, and captures every lead — 24/7, with no per-minute fees and no add-on pricing. One flat price, everything included.
Do I need to replace my current software?+
No. Prybar works alongside what you already use. You can import customers from Jobber, HouseCall Pro, ServiceTitan, or QuickBooks, and keep using your existing tools while Prybar handles the front line.
Is there a contract or setup fee?+
No contracts, no setup fees, no cancellation fees. 7-day free trial, no credit card required. If it's not for you, cancel anytime.
What happens when the AI can't answer something?+
Prybar only answers with what you've told it. When it can't help, it tells the customer it'll check with the team, flags the conversation for you, and texts you so you can jump in from your phone.