Beside next to the names people actually shop.
Smith.ai, Ruby, and Rosie are the receptionist columns. Podium is the reviews and messaging suite in the last column.
| Category | Beside | Smith.ai | Ruby | Rosie | Podium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $29.99 to $99.99 / user | $300 for 30 human calls | $250 for 50 minutes | Varies | Quoted. Often $399+ / mo |
| How they bill | Per user / month | Per call | Per minute | Often metered | Annual. Modules add up. |
| Setup fee | None | None | None | Varies | Varies |
| You own the number | Yes. Port or forward. | Usually yours | Usually yours | Usually yours | Only with Podium Phones |
| 24/7 answering | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | AI Employee add-on |
| Books from the call | Included | Add-on on human plans | Plan feature | Varies | AI Employee can book |
| Spam and junk | Blocked, not billed as work | Not billed as a call | Minutes can still run | Varies | Not a call meter |
| Transcripts | Included | Add-on | Included on plans | Varies | On phone plans |
| Try before you buy | Call the live demo | Talk to sales | Talk to sales | Varies | Watch a demo |
Smith.ai, Ruby, and Podium figures are published or commonly quoted starting points. They change. Confirm on their sites before you buy any of us.
No setup fees- No annual contracts
- No per-minute AI fee
- No sales call required to try it
Compare Beside to other receptionist and phone products
Each page is one fight: where they differ, then a live call so you can decide without a deck.
Named comparison
Beside vs. Podium
Podium owns reviews, webchat, and the text inbox a lot of local shops already pay for. Beside is the business phone and the AI receptionist that books when they call. Keep Podium if the reviews work. Put Beside on the number.
Read Beside vs. PodiumReviews, messaging, and suites
Podium is the named one here: reviews, webchat, and a shared inbox. Keep a working review machine. Put Beside on the number that still dumps to voicemail.
- Beside vs. PodiumPodium is a reviews, webchat, and messaging suite many local shops already pay for. Beside is the business phone plus an AI receptionist that books when the lead finally calls. They can coexist. They are not the same door.
- Beside vs. ThryvThryv is an all-in-one SMB platform: CRM, payments, listings, and more. Beside is the phone and receptionist you can turn on this afternoon, with a waitlist for the rest of the suite.
AI receptionists and answering
Voice agents and answering products. Many sit on a number you still buy somewhere else.
- Beside vs. GoodcallGoodcall is an AI voice agent you can add to a number. Beside is the number, the receptionist, the transcript, and the team inbox. If you already live on a carrier and only want a bot, that is a different job.
- Beside vs. RosieRosie is a well-known AI answering service for trades. Beside is the business phone plus a receptionist that can put a time on the calendar, with a transcript you can search tomorrow.
- Beside vs. My AI Front DeskMy AI Front Desk sells an AI receptionist for small shops. Beside sells the line those shops already need, with the receptionist included, plus a live demo you can call before you buy.
- Beside vs. Smith.aiSmith.ai is a live receptionist, billed per call, with optional AI plans. Beside is the business phone plus an AI receptionist that books, billed per user. If you want a human on every ring, they still do that. If you want the line and the booking without a meter, that is this page.
Live virtual receptionists
Human-answered services billed per call or per minute. Strong when you want a person. Steep when a storm week hits.
- Beside vs. Smith.aiSmith.ai is a live receptionist, billed per call, with optional AI plans. Beside is the business phone plus an AI receptionist that books, billed per user. If you want a human on every ring, they still do that. If you want the line and the booking without a meter, that is this page.
- Beside vs. RubyRuby is a live virtual receptionist billed by the minute. Beside is the business phone plus an AI receptionist billed by the user. Ruby is the right buy if you want a person. Beside is the right buy if you want the line answered, the calendar written, and a transcript you can search.
Business phones
VoIP and virtual numbers. Beside is this, plus a receptionist that can book while the caller is still on the line.
- Beside vs. Quo SonaQuo, formerly OpenPhone, is a modern team phone with Sona as the AI receptionist: shared numbers, SMS, a clean app. Beside is that job plus an AI receptionist that can book while you are on a roof. If your team already answers every ring, Quo is enough. If the ring is the thing you miss, it is not.
- Beside vs. GrasshopperGrasshopper gave small shops a real-looking number, extensions, and voicemail. Beside is the next version of that job: the number, plus an AI receptionist that answers and books. If you only needed a vanity number in 2014, Grasshopper did it. The missed call is a different problem.
- Beside vs. Google VoiceGoogle Voice is a cheap second number with voicemail transcripts and spam filtering. Beside is a business phone with an AI receptionist. Voice is fine for a side project. It is not a front desk.
Try it live