Vapi vs Retell AI
This comparison uses only what each vendor publishes. It does not rank one above the other. The right choice depends on your call volume, whether you want to pick your own models, and how much setup you can take on.
| Vapi | Retell AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer voice platform | Developer voice platform |
| Pricing | Usage-based: $0.05/min Vapi hosting fee; STT, LLM, TTS and telephony passed through at cost. Optional success packages: Core $29/mo, Pro 10% of hosting fee ($999/mo minimum). | Pay-as-you-go $0.07–$0.31/min for voice agents depending on LLM and voice; Retell voice infra $0.055/min; enterprise custom. |
| Per minute | $0.05/min hosting (plus pass-through model and telephony costs) | $0.07–$0.31/min (all-in range shown by vendor) |
| Free tier | $5 in free credits | $10 in free credits |
| Key features | API-first agent builder; bring-your-own STT/LLM/TTS; Twilio, Vonage, Telnyx, SIP and WebRTC transports; HIPAA/BAA add-on | Voice agent builder; 20 concurrent calls on PAYG; choice of LLMs and voices (Retell, ElevenLabs, Minimax, Fish); PII removal; QA tools |
| Best for | Developers who want to mix and match model providers | Teams wanting an all-in per-minute price with a visual builder |
| Checked | 2026-10-16 | 2026-10-16 |
How to decide
- Estimate your real per-minute cost, including the LLM, voice, transcription and phone line, in the calculator.
- Check whether published rates include model costs or are platform fees only.
- Run the same test script on both free tiers or trials before you commit.