Vapi vs Retell AI: AI Agent Builder Comparison
Vapi and Retell AI are developer platforms for building voice AI agents.
- Verified 13 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this page
- 8 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
- No winner declaredFit depends on your criteria
- Not tested by Stack18Editorial summary of documented facts
Vapi vs Retell AI: the short answer
Vapi and Retell AI are developer platforms for building voice AI agents. Vapi charges $0.05 a minute for hosting plus provider costs, often $0.10 to $0.30 all-in, while Retell bundles voice at $0.07 to $0.31 a minute depending on models.
Vapi is API-first and highly configurable; Retell adds a visual builder and $10 of free credit to start. We compare what documentation supports and mark everything else Unknown. We declare no overall winner, because the better choice depends on channels, integrations, oversight needs, pricing model and budget.
Choose Vapi if you- Developers and agencies building voice agents
- Teams wanting provider choice
- Products embedding voice in apps
Choose Retell AI if you- SMBs and agencies building phone agents
- Teams wanting visual design plus API
- Appointment-heavy businesses
Vapi and Retell AI at a glance.
One card per product, drawn from each full profile. Open a profile for features, pricing plans, limits and sources.
Vapi
Vapi · AI Chatbot Builders
Vapi is a developer platform for building, testing and deploying voice AI agents that answer and place phone calls or run in web and mobile apps. Developers choose their own speech-to-text, language model and text-to-speech providers, and Vapi orchestrates them with low latency, charging a per-minute hosting fee.
Agentic tool- Pricing
- $0.05 a minute hosting plus provider costs (often $0.10 to $0.30 all-in); Scale custom.
- Best for
- Developers and agencies building voice agents
Retell AI
Retell AI · AI Chatbot Builders
Retell AI is a platform for building, testing and deploying AI voice agents for inbound and outbound phone calls, plus chat agents. Teams design agents in a visual conversation-flow builder or through the API, connect telephony, knowledge bases and tools, and pay per minute with no platform fee.
Agentic tool- Pricing
- $0.07 to $0.31 a minute for voice; chat from $0.002 a message; $10 free credit.
- Best for
- SMBs and agencies building phone agents
Vapi vs Retell AI: feature-by-feature comparison.
Every row is drawn from the sources listed below. Rows that differ are marked, and you can filter the table to show only those.
- YesDocumented
- PartialAvailable with limits or on some plans
- NoDocumented as unavailable
- UnknownNot documented in the sources reviewed
| Dimension |  Vapi |  Retell AI |
|---|---|---|
| Product | ||
| Channels and interface | YesPhone, web and mobile; API. | YesPhone, web chat and API. |
| AI models | YesAny provider or your own keys. | YesChoice of LLMs. |
| Open-source or self-hosting | NoProprietary platform. | NoProprietary. |
| Pricing | ||
| Free tier | NoNo (trial credits). | NoNo ($10 free credit). |
| Pricing model | Yes$0.05 a minute plus providers. | Yes$0.07 to $0.31 a minute. |
| Published plan prices reviewed | Yes$0.05 a minute plus add-ons published. | Yes$0.07 to $0.31 a minute; add-ons published. |
| Agent actions | ||
| Actions in business systems | YesTool calls, transfers and booking. | YesBooks, transfers and runs tools. |
| Extensibility | ||
| Integrations, API and MCP | PartialTool calling and APIs; MCP support not reviewed. | PartialFunction calling and integrations; MCP not reviewed. |
| Control | ||
| Human handoff and approval controls | YesCall transfer to humans. | YesCall transfer and QA. |
| Administration | ||
| Security, compliance and adminDiffers | YesSOC 2, PCI, SSO and RBAC on Scale. | PartialEnterprise options; certifications not reviewed. |
Vapi vs Retell AI pricing.
Vapi pricing
Per-minute hosting fee plus pass-through provider costs; Scale annual contracts; compliance add-ons.
- Build (pay-as-you-go)$0.05 per minute
- ScaleCustom
- HIPAA add-on$2,000 per month
- Zero data retention$1,000 per month
Prices from a vendor-published source. Checked 13 Nov 2026.
All Vapi plans and sources
Retell AI pricing
Pay-as-you-go per minute (voice) and per message (chat); add-ons; Enterprise custom.
- Voice (pay-as-you-go)$0.07 to $0.31 per minute
- Chat (pay-as-you-go)From $0.002 per message
- Phone number$2 per month
- EnterpriseCustom
Prices from a vendor-published source. Checked 13 Nov 2026.
All Retell AI plans and sourcesVapi: $0.05 a minute hosting plus provider costs (often $0.10 to $0.30 all-in); Scale custom.
Retell AI: $0.07 to $0.31 a minute for voice; chat from $0.002 a message; $10 free credit. Prices and allowances change often, so confirm on each vendor's live page.
Prices and plans change. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you decide.
Vapi vs Retell AI: implementation, ecosystem, AI and security.
Ease of implementation and usability
We did not test setup or onboarding effort. Pilot both on a real, bounded process from your business, with your own data, policies and escalation rules.
Integrations and ecosystem
Vapi: OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Deepgram, ElevenLabs, Cartesia. Retell AI: OpenAI, Anthropic, Twilio, Telnyx, SIP trunks, Cal.com.
AI capabilities
AI models: Vapi - Any provider or your own keys. Retell AI - Choice of LLMs.
Security, deployment and administration
Security and admin controls: Vapi - SOC 2, PCI, SSO and RBAC on Scale. Retell AI - Enterprise options; certifications not reviewed. Check each vendor's security documentation for certifications and data-retention terms.
Vapi and Retell AI: each option, in balance.
Vapi
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Maximum control over providers and latency.
- Low platform fee and pay-as-you-go start.
- Compliance options for regulated use.
- Advertised $0.05 is only part of the bill.
- Requires developer skills.
- HIPAA costs $2,000 a month.
Retell AI
Strengths and limitations from the profile
- Published per-minute rates with no platform fee.
- Visual builder plus API.
- Highly rated on G2.
- Real cost depends on model, voice and add-ons.
- Premium models raise costs quickly.
- No permanent free tier.
Vapi or Retell AI: which fits which situation?
No overall winner is declared. The better choice depends on the criteria that matter most to you, so test both against your own requirements.
Choose Vapi if you…
- Developers and agencies building voice agents
- Teams wanting provider choice
- Products embedding voice in apps
Choose Retell AI if you…
- SMBs and agencies building phone agents
- Teams wanting visual design plus API
- Appointment-heavy businesses
Switching between Vapi and Retell AI.
Moving between Vapi and Retell AI means porting phone numbers or SIP trunks, rebuilding call flows and prompts, re-testing latency, voices and languages, and re-checking call recording and consent settings. Pilot the same call type on both before migrating.
- Export a sample of your data and test an import into the other product.
- List the automations, integrations and permissions you would need to rebuild.
- Pilot with one team before a full cut-over.
- Check contract terms and notice periods with both vendors.
General guidance, not specific to either vendor. Confirm migration options with the vendors.
Vapi vs Retell AI: questions and answers
Is Vapi or Retell AI better?
The sources reviewed do not support a single ranking. Vapi charges $0.05 a minute for hosting plus provider costs, often $0.10 to $0.30 all-in, while Retell bundles voice at $0.07 to $0.31 a minute depending on models. Pilot both on a sample of your own conversations, leads or workflows before choosing.
Does Vapi have a free plan?
No permanent free plan; trial credits are provided for testing.
Does Retell AI have a free plan?
No permanent free plan; new accounts get $10 of free credit.
Which is cheaper, Vapi or Retell AI?
Vapi: $0.05 a minute hosting plus provider costs (often $0.10 to $0.30 all-in); Scale custom. Retell AI: $0.07 to $0.31 a minute for voice; chat from $0.002 a message; $10 free credit. The cheaper option depends on seats, usage and which plan features you need.
How do Vapi and Retell AI differ on integrations?
Vapi: Tool calling and APIs; MCP support not reviewed. Retell AI: Function calling and integrations; MCP not reviewed.
Where this comparison comes from.
- Vapi pricing blueprint UsagePricing Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Vapi AI plans and pricing CloudTalk Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Vapi AI pricing in 2026 Cekura Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Vapi AI pricing guide Nurix Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- How much does Retell AI cost in 2026? Macha Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Retell AI pricing in 2026 KrispCall Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Retell AI verified listing Developers Digest Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
- Retell AI plans and pricing CostBench Third-party Accessed 13 Nov 2026
Comparison rows summarise the sources listed and the two profiles. Confirm current details with each vendor. Stack18 has not tested either product.
Ready to test Vapi and Retell AI?
Check each vendor's current pricing and terms, run both against a real scenario from your business, or talk to Stack18 if off-the-shelf software is not the answer.
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