Vapi vs Retell AI: which voice AI platform fits?
Vapi and Retell AI are two of the most-searched platforms for building AI phone agents. Both give developers the plumbing (speech recognition, a language model, a voice and a phone line) and charge by the minute. They price and package it differently, and that's where most of the choice comes from.
We don't sell either platform, and neither company asked us to write this. Trilix AI builds custom phone agents for operators, so we get asked "should we build on Vapi or Retell?" a lot. We describe the third route, having it built for you, at the end, with that disclosure up front. Every price below links to the vendor's own pricing page.
Checked October 28, 2026. Prices change often, so confirm with each vendor.
Quick answer
Vapi and Retell AI are both developer platforms for voice agents, billed per minute. Vapi charges $0.05 a minute for hosting with models passed through at cost, plus optional support packages from $29 a month. Retell lists $0.07 to $0.31 a minute all in, with 20 free concurrent calls. Both need someone technical to build and maintain the agent.
Side by side
10 points compared
What it is
Developer platform for voice agentsDeveloper platform for voice agentsPlatform fee per minute
$0.05/min hosting$0.055/min voice infrastructureModel, voice and transcription
Passed through at provider costPriced per component by RetellAll-in range published
Calculator: 1,000 min = $82 to $129/mo$0.07 to $0.31/minFree start
$5 in credits$10 in credits
Side-by-side
| Feature | Vapi | Retell AI |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Developer platform for voice agents | Developer platform for voice agents |
| Platform fee per minute | $0.05/min hosting | $0.055/min voice infrastructure |
| Model, voice and transcription | Passed through at provider cost | Priced per component by Retell |
| All-in range published | Calculator: 1,000 min = $82 to $129/mo | $0.07 to $0.31/min |
| Free start | $5 in credits | $10 in credits |
| Concurrent calls on free tier | 4 | 20 |
| Paid support packages | Core $29/mo, Pro from $999/mo, Premier custom | Enterprise, custom pricing |
| Extra concurrency | $10 per line per month | More available on demand |
| HIPAA | $2,000 add-on with BAA | Listed in Enterprise compliance |
| Phone lines | Vapi telephony free; Twilio, Vonage, Telnyx at their rates | Retell's Twilio $0.015/min US; your own SIP free |
What does Vapi charge?
Vapi's usage pricing is $0.05 a minute for hosting, prepaid, with the model, transcriber and voice "passed through at cost." You start with $5 in free credits, one Vapi phone number and four concurrent calls (Vapi pricing).
On top of usage, you can add a support package:
| Vapi package | Price | Main additions |
|---|---|---|
| Usage only | $0 | Discord and email support, no SLA, 14 days of data |
| Core | $29/month | 5 numbers, 10 concurrent calls, 30 days of data, 2-business-day email SLA |
| Pro | $999/month minimum (10% of hosting fee) | 30 concurrent calls, 180 days of data, Slack support, 99% uptime SLA |
| Premier | Custom | Named team, 1-hour P0 response, 99.9% uptime, SSO |
Vapi's own calculator puts 1,000 minutes a month at about $82 to $129 with default providers. Extra concurrent lines are $10 each per month, and HIPAA handling with a BAA is a $2,000 add-on.
What does Retell AI charge?
Retell's pay-as-you-go plan lists $0.07 to $0.31 a minute for voice agents, with $10 in free credits and 20 concurrent calls included (Retell pricing). Its per-minute price is built from components: $0.055 for voice infrastructure, $0.015 and up for the voice, the language model you choose, and $0.015 a minute for a US line through its Twilio account (no charge if you bring your own SIP). A knowledge base adds $0.005 a minute.
Retell's calculator shows an example at $0.11 a minute. Enterprise pricing is custom and adds options like SSO, custom contract terms, higher concurrency and dedicated implementation support as an add-on.
Bland, a competitor of both, publishes its own estimate that most production setups land around $0.13 to $0.30 a minute on Vapi and $0.11 to $0.25 on Retell (Bland pricing). Treat that as one vendor's view of two rivals, and run your own test calls.
How do they differ in practice?
- How you pay for models. Vapi passes provider costs through at cost and charges its own hosting fee. Retell prices each component on one menu. If you want to bring your own provider contracts, Vapi's model may suit you. If you want one bill with known rates, Retell's may.
- Concurrency. Retell's free tier includes 20 concurrent calls. Vapi includes 4 on usage only and 10 on Core, then $10 per extra line. For a business with several locations ringing at once, that difference shows up quickly.
- Support. Vapi sells support as packages, from $29 a month to a $999 monthly minimum. Retell offers community and email support on pay-as-you-go and 24/7 support on Enterprise.
- Getting help to build. Retell lists a directory of certified solution partners. Vapi runs a developer community and an annual conference, VapiCon, set for November 11–12.
Which one should you pick?
- A developer team that wants to swap models and voices freely: Vapi's pass-through pricing gives you that control.
- A team that wants simple per-component pricing and more free concurrency: Retell.
- A small test with no budget: both are close. Retell gives $10 in credits, Vapi $5.
- Regulated data such as patient calls: price Vapi's $2,000 HIPAA add-on against Retell's Enterprise terms before you build.
- No developer at all: neither platform will run itself. See the next section.
What about having it built for you?
Disclosure: this part is us. Trilix AI builds and runs custom phone agents for operators, mostly multi-location auto service groups, connected to their POS, cameras and reports. We choose and test the voice stack for each build, then audit calls after launch. It's a setup fee plus a monthly fee, quoted after a call, and most first builds go live in about 10 days.
That route makes sense when nobody in-house wants to own a voice agent, or when the agent needs live data from your stores. If you have a capable developer and simple needs, building on Vapi or Retell will cost less. Our disclosed pages compare Trilix with Retell AI and Trilix with Synthflow, and our AI voice agents page explains what a custom build covers.
What to ask before you build on either
- What's my all-in cost per minute with the model and voice I actually want?
- How many calls will ring at once at my busiest hour, and what does that concurrency cost?
- Who writes the call flows and connects my systems?
- Who listens to calls after launch and fixes mistakes?
- What's the data retention, and do I need a BAA?
- If the developer leaves, can someone else pick up the agent?
Frequently asked questions
Something else on your mind? Ask us directly or call 416-262-2723.
Is Vapi cheaper than Retell AI?
It depends on your models and voices. Vapi's hosting fee is $0.05 a minute with providers at cost, and its calculator shows 1,000 minutes at about $82 to $129 a month. Retell lists $0.07 to $0.31 a minute all in. Price your exact setup on both calculators.
Which has more free concurrent calls?
Retell includes 20 concurrent calls on pay-as-you-go. Vapi includes 4 on usage only and 10 on its $29 Core package, with extra lines at $10 a month each.
Do Vapi and Retell support HIPAA?
Vapi lists HIPAA-eligible handling with a BAA as a $2,000 add-on. Retell lists HIPAA and BAA terms among its Enterprise compliance options. Confirm details with each.
Can a non-technical business owner use either one?
Both offer builders and templates, but connecting your systems and keeping the agent accurate usually takes technical work. Retell lists certified partners who build on it for you.
What do these platforms not include?
Neither is a finished receptionist for your business. You still need call flows, connections to your scheduling or POS, testing and ongoing review. Our guide on AI voice agents vs answering services covers the human side too.
Keep reading
- Retell AI alternativeA pay-per-minute voice AI platform you build on vs an agent we build and run for you.
- Synthflow alternativeEnterprise voice AI from $30,000 a year vs a custom build sized for operators.
- Custom AI voice agentsInbound and outbound voice agents built on your phone lines and systems.
- AI voice agent vs answering servicePublished per-minute and per-call prices, and when to keep humans.
- Custom AI developmentAgents, dashboards, CRMs and assistants built to your spec, owned by you.
Want a second opinion?
Tell us your call volume, locations and systems. We'll tell you whether to build on a platform or have it built, even if the answer isn't us.
Also see: Trilix vs Retell AI · Goodcall vs Smith.ai
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