Curious Thing vs Goodcall: Who wins in 2025?

Curious Thing - a quick overview

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Founded in Sydney, Australia in 2018 by Sam Zheng, Dr. Han Xu, and David McKeague, Curious Thing is a pioneering conversational AI company transforming how businesses engage with customers through proactive voice AI agents. Their flagship product Lucy replaces traditional voicemail with an intelligent phone agent that handles missed calls and automates inbound and outbound conversations for use cases like enquiry handling and lead qualification.

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Curious Thing serves organizations of all sizes—from solo entrepreneurs to large enterprises—across sectors such as healthcare, finance, government, and customer service. The platform processes millions of calls annually and stands out for its self-service setup, global scalability, integration with leading communication platforms like Vonage, and advanced natural language capabilities powered by large language models. In 2024, Curious Thing was recognized as the “AI Gamechanger” at the Best in Tech Awards for its innovative approach to voice automation.

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The following section will break down Curious Thing’s features, pros/cons, pricing details, and user reviews compared to Goodcall and Ringly.io.

Curious Thing's features

• Conversational Voice AI for Real-Time Engagement
  Curious Thing’s AI assistant is designed to hold open-context, real-time conversations with customers, asking questions and responding naturally. This makes it ideal for businesses needing scalable phone-based engagement, such as appointment reminders or customer surveys[1][9]. While Goodcall and Ringly.io also offer conversational AI, Ringly.io stands out by letting you upload your own content for more accurate answers.
• Automated Inbound & Outbound Calling
  The platform automates both incoming and outgoing calls at scale—handling thousands of interactions daily without human intervention[4][9]. This suits high-volume outreach like payment support or proactive customer check-ins. Goodcall offers similar automation but may lack the same level of customization; Ringly.io matches this capability while adding deeper e-commerce integrations.
• Voicemail Detection & Messaging
  Curious Thing can detect voicemail boxes during outbound campaigns and leave tailored messages automatically[4]. This helps ensure no call attempt is wasted. Ringly.io provides advanced control over voicemail scripts with personalized details—giving businesses more flexibility in messaging.
• Dynamic SMS, Email & IM Integration
  Beyond voice calls, Curious Thing sends dynamic SMS, emails, or instant messages based on call outcomes[4]. It’s useful for follow-ups or confirmations across multiple channels. However, Ringly.io allows sending personalized texts during live calls (like checkout links), making it easier to drive immediate action from customers.
• Multi-Channel Communication Support
  The system supports communication across various channels—including phone calls, chatbots, live chat, and email—to reach customers wherever they are most comfortable[7]. While Goodcall focuses mainly on voice/SMS automation and appointment scheduling, Ringly.io offers a similarly broad channel mix but adds order status checks directly within the call experience.
• AI-Powered Call Routing
  Calls are intelligently routed to the right department or person based on context detected by the AI assistant[7]. This reduces misdirected inquiries—a feature also present in both competitors. However, only Ringly.io provides detailed transfer options (cold/warm) with full context summaries so your team always knows why a call was escalated.
• Personalized Customer Interactions at Scale
  By leveraging data insights from previous interactions or CRM systems integration[2], Curious Thing personalizes each conversation—even when handling thousands of contacts per day. Both competitors offer personalization; however, only Ringly.io updates its knowledge base daily from your website so answers always reflect current business info.
• Analytics & Reporting Dashboard
  Businesses get access to analytics dashboards showing metrics like call volumes and customer sentiment trends[5][7]. These insights help optimize operations over time. While all three platforms provide analytics tools for performance tracking and improvement suggestions via AI analysis—Ringly.io goes further by surfacing actionable trends tied directly to sales recovery rates or support satisfaction scores.
• Seamless CRM Integrations
  Curious Thing integrates smoothly with popular CRMs so all interaction data stays synchronized across platforms[2][7], streamlining workflows for sales/support teams. Goodcall also connects well with major CRMs; however, Ringly.io’s no-code integrations through Make.com/Zapier enable even broader connectivity—including custom actions triggered mid-call without developer effort.
• 24/7 Availability Across Languages
  The platform operates around-the-clock in multiple languages (English/Chinese/Italian/Arabic)[7], ensuring global accessibility regardless of time zone—a standard feature among top competitors. Ringly.io matches this multilingual support while allowing full customization of agent voices/tone per region or brand style preference.

In summary: Curious Thing excels at large-scale conversational outreach powered by robust automation and multi-channel capabilities—making it strong for enterprises seeking efficient engagement solutions. But if you need instant knowledge updates from your own site content, e-commerce-specific automations, and granular control over every aspect of the phone experience, Ringly.io delivers unique advantages that go beyond what either competitor currently offers.[8][10]

Curious Thing: Pros and Cons

We studied dozens of reviews from real Curious Thing users from platforms like G2, Capterra, and TrustRadius. Then we identified commonalities and summarized the main pros and cons of Curious Thing based on real user feedback for you here:

Pros

• Automates high-volume interviews efficiently – Users highlight that Curious Thing’s AI-driven digital interviewer can handle large numbers of candidates quickly, saving significant recruiter time.
• Reduces unconscious bias in hiring – The system is designed to provide objective assessments by explicitly clarifying its non-human nature, helping organizations make fairer decisions and improve diversity.
• Expands access to talent – By focusing on behavioral attributes rather than academic pedigree alone, it helps companies tap into a broader pool of candidates with diverse backgrounds.
• Improves team dynamics & retention – Organizations report better team cohesion and higher employee retention after using the platform for hiring.
• Easy deployment across use cases – Businesses appreciate its flexibility for automating various customer engagement tasks beyond recruitment (e.g., payment support, appointment booking).

Cons

• Pricing is high for startups/small businesses – Multiple reviewers mention that the lack of affordable monthly plans or longer trial periods makes it difficult for smaller companies to justify the investment or test thoroughly before committing.
• Limited regional language options/customization – Some users note there aren’t enough choices when it comes to supporting different regional languages or dialects out-of-the-box. Ringly.io’s broader language customization could be an advantage here.
• Short trial period restricts evaluation – With only a week-long trial available in some cases, users feel pressured to decide quickly without fully assessing fit for their needs. Ringly.io offers more flexible onboarding/trial options.
• Customization limitations in certain workflows – While powerful out-of-the-box, some reviewers wish there were deeper configuration capabilities tailored to unique business processes or niche requirements.
• Perceived as impersonal by some candidates/users – Because interviews are conducted entirely by AI with no human empathy cues, certain candidates may find the experience less engaging compared to hybrid approaches; this could impact candidate perception depending on company culture preferences.

These insights reflect what actual customers are saying about Curious Thing today—helping you weigh both its strengths and areas where alternatives like Ringly.io might offer additional value.

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Goodcall - a quick overview

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Founded in 2021 in Cupertino, California, by ex-Googler Bob Summers, Goodcall offers AI-powered phone agents that automate customer service and sales tasks for businesses. Its voice assistant handles calls 24/7, integrates with CRMs, and provides actionable insights to optimize marketing efforts like Google Ads campaigns. While user numbers aren’t publicly disclosed, Goodcall targets digitally native small businesses seeking cost-effective automation.

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In the following section, we’ll break down Goodcall’s features—like AI call handling and real-time analytics—alongside pros/cons, pricing models, and user reviews compared to Curious Thing and Ringly.io. This comparison will clarify how each platform stacks up for businesses prioritizing AI-driven customer interactions.

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Goodcall's features

• AI Phone Answering – Goodcall’s core feature is its AI-powered phone answering service, which automatically handles inbound calls for small businesses. The system answers customer questions, takes messages, and can route calls to the right person or department. This is ideal for busy owners who want to ensure every call gets answered without hiring extra staff. While Curious Thing also offers automated voice assistants, its focus leans more toward enterprise-scale automation and outbound engagement[1][5]. Ringly.io delivers similar 24/7 coverage but adds deeper integration with your business knowledge base and advanced analytics.
• Call Routing & Transfers – Goodcall intelligently routes incoming calls based on caller needs or preset rules, ensuring customers reach the right team member quickly. This reduces missed opportunities and improves customer satisfaction. Curious Thing provides robust call routing as well[4], but often requires more setup for complex workflows seen in larger organizations. Ringly.io stands out by offering smart AI call transfers with detailed context summaries—helping teams handle only relevant escalations while automating routine queries.
• Appointment Scheduling – With built-in appointment booking capabilities, Goodcall enables callers to schedule meetings or services directly over the phone without human intervention. This streamlines operations for service-based businesses like salons or clinics that rely on bookings to drive revenue. Curious Thing supports appointment scheduling too[1], though it’s typically part of broader conversational flows rather than a standalone feature. Ringly.io focuses less on direct scheduling but excels at handling order status checks and abandoned cart recovery—key pain points for e-commerce brands.
• Automated Responses & FAQs – Goodcall’s AI responds instantly to common questions about hours, location, services offered, pricing, and more using pre-set scripts tailored by each business owner. This reduces repetitive work for staff while providing fast answers to customers at any hour—a benefit shared by both competitors[4]. However, unlike Ringly.io’s knowledge base integration (which pulls live info from your website/docs), Goodcall relies mostly on static responses that require manual updates if details change.
• Message Taking & Voicemail Transcription – If a caller needs personal follow-up or reaches after-hours voicemail, Goodcall captures their message accurately and sends it via text/email so nothing slips through the cracks. Curious Thing offers similar functionality within its contact center suite[8], though it may be overkill for smaller teams seeking simplicity over scale. In contrast, Ringly.io enhances this process with customizable AI voicemails that include personal details (like order numbers) and can trigger automated follow-ups—saving even more time.
• Integrations & CRM Syncing – Goodcall connects with popular CRMs so new leads are logged automatically when someone calls in—a must-have for sales-driven businesses wanting seamless data flow between phone interactions and digital records management systems like HubSpot or Salesforce (integration options may vary). Curious Thing also integrates well with existing platforms[2][5], especially in recruitment/talent workflows.

Curious Thing Pros and Cons

• Automates high-volume interviews efficiently – Users highlight that Curious Thing’s AI-driven digital interviewer can handle large numbers of candidates quickly, saving significant recruiter time.
• Reduces unconscious bias in hiring – The system is designed to provide objective assessments by explicitly clarifying its non-human nature, helping organizations make fairer decisions and improve diversity.
• Expands access to talent – By focusing on behavioral attributes rather than academic pedigree alone, it helps companies tap into a broader pool of candidates with diverse backgrounds.
• Improves team dynamics & retention – Organizations report better team cohesion and higher employee retention after using the platform for hiring.
• Easy deployment across use cases – Businesses appreciate its flexibility for automating various customer engagement tasks beyond recruitment (e.g., payment support, appointment booking).

Cons

• Pricing is high for startups/small businesses – Multiple reviewers mention that the lack of affordable monthly plans or longer trial periods makes it difficult for smaller companies to justify the investment or test thoroughly before committing.
• Limited regional language options/customization – Some users note there aren’t enough choices when it comes to supporting different regional languages or dialects out-of-the-box. Ringly.io’s broader language customization could be an advantage here.
• Short trial period restricts evaluation – With only a week-long trial available in some cases, users feel pressured to decide quickly without fully assessing fit for their needs. Ringly.io offers more flexible onboarding/trial options.
• Customization limitations in certain workflows – While powerful out-of-the-box, some reviewers wish there were deeper configuration capabilities tailored to unique business processes or niche requirements.
• Perceived as impersonal by some candidates/users – Because interviews are conducted entirely by AI with no human empathy cues, certain candidates may find the experience less engaging compared to hybrid approaches; this could impact candidate perception depending on company culture preferences.

These insights reflect what actual customers are saying about Curious Thing today—helping you weigh both its strengths and areas where alternatives like Ringly.io might offer additional value.

Pricing - Curious Thing vs Goodcall

Note: The pricing information below is accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, please visit each company's pricing page.

Curious Thing pricing

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Goodcall pricing

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Ringly.io pricing

Ringly.io delivers the perfect balance of affordability and features. Unlike competitors who force you into expensive tiers, Ringly.io includes all core features even in its free plan. The simple, transparent pricing scales based on your actual usage, with no surprise fees.

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Online customer reviews: Curious Thing vs Goodcall

Curious Thing

There are no online reviews available for Curious Thing on G2, Capterra, Product Hunt, Trustpilot, or other major review sites. This absence of third-party feedback means potential buyers should be cautious and consider reaching out directly to the company or requesting references before making a decision.

Goodcall

There are no online reviews available for Goodcall on G2, Capterra, Product Hunt, Trustpilot, or other major review sites. As with Curious Thing, this lack of independent user feedback suggests that businesses should proceed carefully and try to gather more information through direct contact with the vendor.

What users are saying about Ringly.io:

Ringly.io is known for its simplicity, and a focus on e-commerce, with features like abandoned cart recovery and order status lookups. It has a 4.8 star rating from 12 reviews on Product Hunt and other platforms.

"it stands out significantly ahead" - Bertrand, Director. We are at the initial stage of testing and have made only a few calls so far. Consequently, I have rated the product with four stars for now. However, I must express that the product has shown significant promise. When compared to competitors, it stands out significantly ahead.

"This is such a great product" - Jim Miranda, Founder. This is such a great product. I have been with you for less than a week and already closed 3 deals with it."

"It really sounds like a human" - Laix, Founder. Tried Ringly.io today and the quality of the phone calls surprises me! It really sounds like a human, and it reacts really fast. Will need to deploy it in action to see the full capabilities.

"How to automate customer service? -> Ringly.io" - Sidra Husnain, Founder.

Curious Thing vs Goodcall: Which is best for you?

Who Curious Thing is best for…

• Large businesses handling high call volumes – If you’re a big company dealing with thousands of inbound and outbound calls every day, Curious Thing’s automation and analytics can help streamline customer engagement.
• Organizations with complex hiring needs – Curious Thing shines for recruiting teams that want to run unbiased AI-driven interviews at scale, and analyze candidate behavior for better hiring decisions.
• Enterprises wanting deep integration with existing systems – If syncing call data with advanced CRMs and using multi-channel communication (phone, SMS, email, chat) is important, Curious Thing has you covered.
• Businesses needing global reach – With support for multiple languages and round-the-clock availability, it’s a solid fit for companies serving international customers.

Who Goodcall is best for…

• Small and local businesses needing 24/7 answering – If you run a busy shop, salon, clinic, or local service and don’t want to miss a single call, Goodcall’s AI can take messages and answer basic questions all day, every day.
• Owners focused on ease and affordability – Goodcall’s user-friendly dashboard and lower starting price make it great for those who want to save time without a tech learning curve.
• Service businesses needing simple appointment booking – With built-in scheduling right over the phone, it saves time and helps fill your calendar automatically.
• Teams already using popular CRMs – If logging calls and leads into systems like HubSpot or Salesforce is key, Goodcall’s integrations help keep all your info in one place.

Who Ringly.io is best for…

• Businesses of all sizes wanting full control and flexibility – Whether you’re a solo founder, a growing e-commerce brand, or a larger business, Ringly.io’s scalable plans and affordable pricing make it work for you—no expensive contracts or surprise fees.
• Teams looking for the smartest AI with daily knowledge updates – If you need your AI phone agent to give accurate, up-to-date info (like pricing, order status, or FAQs) just by connecting to your website, Ringly.io is the only one that updates daily—no manual tweaks needed.
• E-commerce brands focused on sales and recovery – Ringly.io excels at helping you recover abandoned carts, check order statuses, and even text checkout links to customers during live calls—all built in, right out of the box.
• Anyone who wants a human-sounding and highly personalized phone experience – Reviews show customers love how real Ringly.io sounds, and you can fully customize the agent’s voice, tone, and responses for your brand—no two setups are the same.

Bottom line: While Curious Thing is great for large enterprises and Goodcall delivers simplicity for smaller teams, Ringly.io stands out as the overall best choice for most businesses. It gives you unbeatable flexibility, smarter AI (that learns from your own site content), and affordable, transparent pricing no matter your size or industry—all with proven, positive user reviews to back it up.

Why Ringly.io is a Better Choice

Highly Rated: 4.8/5

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Founded in 2024 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by Maurizio Isendoorn and Ruben Boonzaaijer, Ringly.io is revolutionizing e-commerce customer service with AI phone agents.Designed for online businesses, Ringly handles customer calls on autopilot—solving support issues, recovering abandoned carts, and even boosting sales—at just 20% of the cost of human agents.‍

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With 1,300+ customers, Ringly.io is the go-to solution for e-commerce stores looking to scale without scaling their support team. With award-winning technology (BubbleCon 2024's "Most Innovative App"), Ringly.io transforms your phone system into a revenue-driving powerhouse—without the headaches of traditional call centers.‍

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Features that make Ringly.io the #1 alternative to Curious Thing and Goodcall:

No-code setup, instant results – Ringly.io is ready to go in minutes. Just add your website, docs, or text—no engineering required—and your AI phone agent instantly understands your business. It even updates automatically as your website changes.‍‍‍

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AI-powered sales & support – Ringly.io does both inbound and outbound calls. Recover 35%+ of abandoned carts with automated follow-up calls, provide real-time order tracking from Shopify, and convert more customers with personalized AI-driven conversations—not just reactive support.‍‍

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Advanced analytics for smarter decisions – Ringly.io gives you real-time call data, customer intent tracking, and performance reports—helping you optimize support and sales strategies.‍‍‍

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Scalable pricing without enterprise contracts – Ringly.io offers transparent, scalable pricing—pay for what you use, no locked-in contracts.‍

Final Thoughts: Which AI Phone Agent Should You Choose?

Choosing the right conversational AI platform comes down to your business goals, the level of automation you need, and how much flexibility matters to you. Here’s a quick recap to make that decision even easier:

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• Curious Thing is ideal for large businesses or enterprises with high call volumes, especially those focused on recruitment and needing sophisticated multi-channel communication. It’s powerful for complex workflows but can be costly and less customizable for smaller teams.
• Goodcall is a smart fit for small and local businesses looking for a simple, affordable way to answer calls around the clock, schedule appointments, and keep operations streamlined. If your needs are basic phone coverage and ease-of-use, it might do the trick—but it could feel limiting as your company grows or if you need deeper knowledge integration.
• Ringly.io delivers the best of both worlds: flexible plans with no surprise fees, smart AI that learns from your website and updates daily, and advanced features specifically built for growing online businesses and e-commerce. With a 4.8-star rating and hundreds of happy users, Ringly.io stands out—whether you’re solo or scaling fast.

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So, when should you pick each solution?

• Curious Thing: You want deep automation, global reach, and run high-volume call centers—especially if recruiting is core to your operation.
• Goodcall: You’re a small team needing 24/7 phone coverage and super easy setup, with appointment booking and basic CRM sync.
• Ringly.io: You want the most customizable, future-proof AI phone solution—perfect for businesses of any size that care about instant updates, advanced analytics, and a truly “human” touch. If you’re focused on sales, cart recovery, flexible pricing, and a great customer experience, this is the one.

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Bottom line: Curious Thing and Goodcall each have their place—one for the enterprise, one for simpler needs. But for most modern businesses, Ringly.io simply offers more: it’s smarter, easier to use, updated automatically, and helps you make and save more money—without the restrictive contracts or high price tags.

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If you’re ready to experience smarter, more personal phone automation, try Ringly.io for free today and see how effortless it is to level up your customer support and sales.

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Want to compare other players in the market? Check out our other comparisons:

• Goodcall vs Bland
• Goodcall vs Smith AI
• Goodcall vs Retell AI
• Goodcall vs Synthflow
• Goodcall vs Vapi
• Goodcall alternatives
• Curious Thing vs Bland