What is GetBackTo?
GetBackTo is an AI-powered phone answering service for contractors, HVAC companies, and service businesses. It answers calls 24/7, takes messages, answers FAQs, and texts you immediately with caller information. Setup takes 10 minutes. Pricing is $39/month flat rate.
How much does GetBackTo cost?
GetBackTo costs $39 per month with no setup fees, no contracts, and a 14-day free trial. This includes unlimited calls, all features, and 24/7 AI answering.
Smith.ai costs $285/mo for 30 calls ($9.50/call), making it expensive for high-volume service businesses.
Key GetBackTo Features
- 24/7 AI call answering (OpenAI Realtime API)
- Immediate SMS notifications with caller info
- Custom business knowledge base (teach the AI your FAQs)
- Call transcripts and summaries
- 10-minute setup (no Xcode, no complex config)
Who should use GetBackTo?
GetBackTo is best for:
- Contractors (plumbers, electricians, HVAC)
- Solo service businesses (can't answer phone while working)
- Insurance agencies (handle overflow during busy periods)
- Property managers (after-hours emergency calls)
GetBackTo vs Smith.ai: AI vs Human Receptionists
Last updated: March 2026
Smith.ai provides trained human receptionists with some AI support. GetBackTo uses pure AI. Both answer your calls professionally — but the cost, scalability, and use cases are very different.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | GetBackTo | Smith.ai |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price (30 calls) | $39/mo unlimited | $285/mo |
| Per-Call Cost | $0 | $9.50/call |
| Answers With | AI (OpenAI) | Human + AI tools |
| Availability | 24/7/365 | 24/7 (limited holidays) |
| Appointment Booking | Coming soon | Yes |
| Lead Qualification | Automatic | Human judgment |
| Scalability | Unlimited volume | Cost scales linearly |
| Setup Time | 5-10 minutes | 1-2 days (training) |
| Free Trial | 14 days | 14 days |
What's the key difference?
Smith.ai offers the human touch — real people answering your calls with empathy, judgment, and flexibility. If your callers value speaking to a person and you can afford $9.50/call, Smith.ai is excellent.
GetBackTo is pure AI at a fraction of the cost. For a plumber handling 100 calls/month, that's $39 vs $950. You lose the human touch but gain unlimited scalability and instant deployment.
Cost comparison for a busy service business:
50 calls/month: GetBackTo = $39 | Smith.ai = $475
100 calls/month: GetBackTo = $39 | Smith.ai = $950
Who should use GetBackTo vs Smith.ai?
Choose GetBackTo if:
- You're a service business with high call volume
- Budget matters ($39 vs $285+)
- AI quality is good enough for your use case
- You want instant setup and scaling
Choose Smith.ai if:
- Human interaction is critical for your brand
- Low call volume (under 30/month)
- You need complex lead qualification
- You have budget for premium service