A Canadian AI alternative to Smith.ai
Smith.ai is an established North-American receptionist service that pairs AI with live human agents, with plans that are typically usage-based. It's a capable option, especially if you want real people as backup on the unusual call. Here's the honest difference: HeyDiane is a pure AI receptionist named Diane, built and supported in Sherwood Park, Alberta by The Human Frequency Inc., on one flat monthly price — and she's configured to your specific trade rather than set up from a generic template.
| HeyDiane | Smith.ai | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price (as published) | From $199/mo CAD — 500 calls included | AI plans from $95 USD/mo for 50 calls; live-agent plans from $300 USD/mo (as published) |
| Billing model | Flat monthly — no per-minute meter | Per-call — about $2.40/call beyond plan |
| Billing currency | CAD | USD |
| Built for trades | Yes — HVAC, plumbing, electrical, restoration and more | Partial — general-purpose with some home-services content |
| Field-service system integration | Assisted FSM workflow setup (Crew and Fleet plans) | Zapier and app integrations; no direct ServiceTitan/Jobber/Housecall Pro push named |
| Canadian company / PIPEDA framing | Yes — built in Sherwood Park, Alberta; PIPEDA-aware handling | No — US company |
Smith.ai figures from Smith.ai AI Receptionist pricing, accessed July 2026. Prices and plans change — verify with the vendor. HeyDiane figures from /pricing.
Smith.ai
A hybrid AI + live-agent service
- Combines AI with live human agents.
- An established North-American service.
- Plans are typically usage-based.
- Strong if you want human agents as backup.
HeyDiane
A Canadian AI receptionist
- Diane is AI, disclosed on request.
- Flat $199 a month CAD, no per-minute billing.
- Built and supported in Alberta, configured to your trade.
- Books jobs into your calendar; texts you real emergencies.
How HeyDiane is different
Diane is built around your business, not handed to you as a generic bot. A real person in Alberta configures her with your service area, your pricing and after-hours rates, and your emergency and escalation rules, then tunes her on real calls. She answers the calls you can't, day or night, books routine jobs into your calendar with text and email confirmation, quotes the after-hours fee you set, and texts your cell on a genuine emergency. The price is flat — $0 founder setup and $199 a month CAD, month-to-month, one-click cancel — so it doesn't climb with your call volume or move with the exchange rate.
The fair tradeoff: Smith.ai's hybrid model puts live human agents behind the AI, and for the complicated, sensitive, or out-of-the-ordinary call, some businesses genuinely prefer having a person there. Diane is AI, disclosed on request. The question isn't which is better in the abstract — it's whether you want a usage-billed hybrid service or a flat-priced AI receptionist built for your trade in Alberta.
$0 founder setup + $199/month. Live in 48 hours.
Common questions
How is HeyDiane different from Smith.ai?
Smith.ai is a hybrid service that pairs AI with live human agents, typically billed by usage. HeyDiane is a pure AI receptionist on a flat $199 a month CAD, built and supported in Alberta, and configured to your trade's emergencies and after-hours pricing. She books jobs into your calendar and texts you the real emergencies.
Does HeyDiane include live human agents like Smith.ai?
No. Diane is an AI receptionist, disclosed on request, with the founder building and tuning her around your business. Smith.ai's live-agent backup is a fair reason some businesses choose it; HeyDiane's bet is that a well-configured AI on a flat price catches the routine and after-hours calls you're losing today.
Is HeyDiane billed by usage like Smith.ai?
No. HeyDiane is flat — $0 founder setup plus $199 a month CAD in Canadian dollars, with no per-minute or per-call charges and no exchange-rate surprises. Live in 48 hours.