Trilix AI vs. Retell AI
Looking for a Retell AI alternative because you'd rather not build a voice agent yourself? Retell is a developer platform for AI phone agents. You pick the language model, voice and phone carrier, build the call flow, and pay per minute for what runs (Retell pricing).
Trilix AI is on the other side of that line. We build custom phone agents and run them for operators, mostly multi-location auto service groups. We're not a Retell partner, and this page isn't a knock on the platform. It's about who should build on it and who should hire it out.
Checked October 28, 2026. Features and prices change, so confirm details with each vendor.
Quick answer
Retell AI is a pay-as-you-go platform for building voice agents, at $0.07 to $0.31 a minute with $10 in free credits. It's the better pick if you have a developer or agency and want full control at a low per-minute cost. Trilix fits operators who want the agent built, connected to their POS and cameras, audited and run for them.
Side by side
10 points compared
What you get
A platform to build voice agents onA built, connected and maintained phone agentWho builds it
You, your developer or a Retell partnerOur teamPricing model
Per minute: $0.07 to $0.31 on pay-as-you-goSetup fee plus monthly, quoted after a callModel and voice choice
YesMany LLMs and voice providersWe choose and test the stack for your callsConcurrency
20 free concurrent calls; more on requestSized to your stores
The short version
Retell AI gives you the building blocks: voice infrastructure, model and voice choices, testing, analytics and an API. Voice agents cost $0.07 to $0.31 a minute on pay-as-you-go, with $10 in free credits and no contract (Retell pricing). If you don't want to build, Retell lists certified solution partners who will.
Trilix AI delivers a finished system: the agent, each store's call flow, the connections to your POS and cameras, call audits and an owner dashboard. Setup fee plus monthly, quoted after a call, and most first builds go live in about 10 days.
Side-by-side
| Feature | Retell AI | Trilix AI |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | A platform to build voice agents on | A built, connected and maintained phone agent |
| Who builds it | You, your developer or a Retell partner | Our team |
| Pricing model | Per minute: $0.07 to $0.31 on pay-as-you-go | Setup fee plus monthly, quoted after a call |
| Model and voice choice | Yes. Many LLMs and voice providers | We choose and test the stack for your calls |
| Concurrency | 20 free concurrent calls; more on request | Sized to your stores |
| Testing tools | Simulation testing, post-call analysis | Tested on your real calls before launch |
| Call audits after launch | Tools for you to run them | Done by our team on a schedule |
| Live wait times from bays | Not offered as a feature; you'd build it | Yes, from TrixLink cameras or POS |
| Camera analytics | Not offered | Yes. TrixLink on cameras you already have |
| Owner dashboard | Call analytics | Executive dashboard with calls, car counts and ticket average |
"Not offered" means it isn't a Retell product. A developer could build it on the platform.
Retell AI pricing (checked Oct 2026)
Retell's pay-as-you-go plan starts at $0 with $10 in free credits, and voice agents run $0.07 to $0.31 a minute depending on what you choose (Retell pricing). The per-minute cost is built from parts:
| Component | Listed price |
|---|---|
| Retell voice infrastructure | $0.055/min |
| Voice (Retell platform voices) | $0.015/min |
| Voice (ElevenLabs options) | $0.04 to $0.10/min |
| Language model | From under $0.01 to over $0.30/min, by model |
| US phone line through Retell's Twilio | $0.015/min |
| Your own SIP or custom telephony | No charge from Retell |
| Knowledge base | +$0.005/min |
Enterprise pricing is custom and adds options like dedicated implementation support (as an add-on), SSO, custom MSA and DPA terms and higher concurrency.
A sense check: a store taking 1,800 minutes a month at $0.11 a minute (the example in Retell's calculator) pays about $200 a month in usage. The bigger cost is usually the build: someone has to write the call flows, connect your systems, test it and keep it right.
When Retell AI is the better choice
- You have a developer or an agency you trust. Retell gives them a low per-minute cost and a lot of control.
- You want to own every setting. Model, voice, prompts, carrier and data retention are yours to choose.
- Your call volume is high and your needs are simple. At scale, paying per minute with no markup on a service team can be the cheapest route.
- You want to experiment first. $10 in credits and no contract make it easy to try.
When Trilix fits better
- Nobody in-house wants to own a voice agent. We build it, host it and fix it. Our AI voice agents page explains what that covers.
- You run several stores with different hours, prices and rules. We set up a persona for each store in our AI phone agent.
- The agent needs your live data. We connect it to your POS and TrixLink camera analytics so it can answer "how long's the wait?" for that store.
- You want calls audited for you. At one of our clients, a multi-store quick lube in Texas, a second AI reviews calls every 2 hours during shop hours, and we fix what it flags (case study).
If you're weighing platforms rather than a build, our neutral Vapi vs Retell AI page compares the two side by side. For a wider view on build vs buy, see custom AI development.
What to ask any vendor or builder
- What's my all-in cost per minute, including model, voice and phone line?
- Who writes and maintains the call flows after launch?
- Which of my systems will it read from, and who builds those connections?
- How are calls tested before customers hear them?
- Who listens to calls each week, and how fast are fixes made?
- Who owns the agent, prompts, recordings and data if we part ways?
Frequently asked questions
Something else on your mind? Ask us directly or call 416-262-2723.
How much does Retell AI cost?
Retell lists $0.07 to $0.31 a minute for voice agents on pay-as-you-go, with $10 in free credits. Enterprise pricing is custom (Retell pricing).
Do I need a developer to use Retell AI?
Retell offers templates and a builder, but connecting your systems and maintaining the agent usually takes technical work. Retell also lists certified solution partners who build on it for you.
Is Trilix built on Retell?
We choose and test the voice stack for each build based on your calls. If you have a preference, tell us on the first call.
Is a per-minute platform cheaper than Trilix?
On usage alone, often yes. Add the cost of building, connecting and maintaining it, and the gap narrows. Our missed call calculator shows what the calls are worth before you decide.
How much does Trilix cost?
A one-time setup fee plus a monthly fee, quoted after a first call. The AI cost guide shows what drives the price.
How long does a Trilix build take?
Most first builds go live in about 10 days from an agreed spec, starting at one or two locations.
Keep reading
- Vapi vs Retell AITwo voice AI developer platforms: per-minute costs, plans, concurrency and who each suits.
- Custom AI voice agentsInbound and outbound voice agents built on your phone lines and systems.
- Custom AI developmentAgents, dashboards, CRMs and assistants built to your spec, owned by you.
- A multi-store quick lube in TexasAI front-desk phone agent, call audits every 2 hours, camera analytics and private employee coaching.
- Missed call calculatorEstimate what unanswered calls cost your stores each month.
Want it built for you?
Tell us how many locations you run and what systems you use. We'll tell you straight whether you're better off building on a platform or having us build it.
Also see: Vapi vs Retell AI · Trilix vs Synthflow
Spotted something out of date? Email admin@trilix.ai and we'll fix it.