Bland AI vs Retell AI pricing
Short answer. Bland charges one per-minute rate that covers the model, speech to text, and voice: $0.14 on Start and $0.12 on Build, which adds a $299 monthly fee. Retell lists $0.07 to $0.31 a minute based on the model and voice you pick, and its calculator defaults to $0.11. Retell gives 20 concurrent calls free. Bland Start gives 10. We read both pricing pages on October 26, 2026.
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Side by side
| Bland AI | Retell AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Per-minute price | $0.14 on Start, $0.12 on Build | $0.07 to $0.31, default $0.11 |
| Model and voice | In the rate | Priced by your pick |
| Monthly fee | $0 on Start, $299 on Build | $0 pay as you go |
| Free to start | No card, 2 credits, and an inbound number | $10 in credits |
| Concurrent calls | 10 on Start, 50 on Build | 20 free, then $8 each a month |
| Call caps | 100 calls a day on Start | Not listed |
| Phone numbers | 1 inbound number with Start | $2.00 a month each |
| Uptime SLA | 99.9% on all plans | Not listed |
Source: Bland pricing and Retell pricing, checked October 26, 2026.
What 1,000 and 5,000 minutes cost
| Minutes a month | Bland Start | Bland Build | Retell default | Retell with Twilio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $140 | $419 | $110 | $125 |
| 5,000 | $700 | $899 | $550 | $625 |
Our math from the prices above, before tax. Retell with US Twilio telephony comes to $0.125 a minute, $0.015 below Bland Start. Bland bills carrier costs on top of its rate, so add your carrier to the Bland columns.
Bland's FAQ claims most production stacks run $0.11 to $0.25 a minute on Retell. That is Bland's estimate, not a Retell figure.
Which one fits a contracting business
- Pick Bland for one flat rate with no model or voice math, and a 99.9% uptime SLA on every plan.
- Pick Retell for the lower default rate and 20 free concurrent calls, which helps on busy days.
- Neither is a done-for-you receptionist. If no one on your team builds, see AI answering service for contractors.
Related: Bland AI pricing, Retell AI pricing, Vapi vs Bland AI, Vapi vs Retell AI, Bland AI listing, Retell AI listing, Retell AI alternatives, Vapi alternatives, Bland AI alternatives, Retell AI vs Twilio.
FAQ
Is Bland AI cheaper than Retell AI? Not at default settings. Retell's default is $0.11 a minute. Bland Start is $0.14. Retell costs more if you pick premium models and voices.
Does Retell include the AI model in its price? No. Retell prices the model and voice on top of $0.055 a minute for voice infra. Bland's rate includes them.
Which has more free concurrent calls? Retell, with 20 free. Bland Start allows 10.
Do Bland and Retell charge for phone numbers? Retell charges $2.00 a month per number. Bland Start comes with an inbound number that Bland values at $15 a month.
When does Bland Build make sense? Build lowers the rate to $0.12 a minute for a $299 monthly fee. It pays off past 14,950 minutes a month, by our math in the Bland AI pricing guide.
Checked 2026-10-26. Prices and policies change. Confirm on the source before you buy.
Sources
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