Retell AI alternatives (2026 prices)
Short answer. Retell lists $0.07 to $0.31 a minute, and its default setup comes to $0.11 a minute, or $330 for 3,000 minutes. Telnyx estimates near $0.06 a minute ($180). Vapi's calculator scales to $246 to $387. ElevenAgents Scale is $299 a month with 3,738 minutes, plus LLM. Bland Start is $0.14 a minute ($420). We read all six pricing pages on October 26, 2026.
Build voice agents for trades? Get your tool listed free.
Retell's default per-minute stack
| Part | Price a minute |
|---|---|
| LLM | $0.04 |
| Voice infra | $0.055 |
| Text to speech | $0.015 |
| Telephony | $0.00 |
| Total | $0.11 |
Retell gives $10 in free credits, about 90 minutes at that rate. Phone numbers cost $2.00 a month. The first 20 concurrent calls are free, then $8.00 a month each. Source: Retell pricing, checked October 26, 2026.
Alternatives at 3,000 minutes a month
| Platform | How it bills | 3,000 minutes |
|---|---|---|
| Telnyx Voice AI | $0.05 voice engine, near $0.06 all in | $180 |
| Vapi | $0.05 hosting plus models and phone | $246 to $387, scaled from its 1,000-minute calculator |
| ElevenAgents Scale | $299 a month with 3,738 minutes, LLM on top | $299 plus LLM |
| Retell AI default | $0.11 a minute | $330 |
| Bland AI Build | $0.12 a minute plus $299 a month | $360 plus $299 |
| Bland AI Start | $0.14 a minute, no platform fee | $420 |
| Synthflow | Enterprise from $30,000 a year | Contract |
Source: each vendor's pricing page, listed at the end, checked October 26, 2026.
Free credits and free plans
| Platform | Free start |
|---|---|
| Retell AI | $10 in credits |
| Vapi | $5 in credits |
| ElevenAgents | Free plan with 15 minutes |
| Bland AI | Start plan, no card |
| Telnyx | Pay as you go, $0 a month |
Which one fits
- You want the lowest rate: Telnyx, if you can wire the agent to its carrier.
- You want the same build style as Retell: Vapi. Both let you pick the model, voice, and carrier.
- You want one flat bill: ElevenAgents. Plans run from $6 to $990 a month with minutes included.
- You want one simple rate: Bland Start at $0.14 a minute.
Stay on Retell if your call volume needs many lines at once. Its 20 free concurrent calls beat Vapi's 4 and Bland Start's 10.
Compare Retell: Retell AI pricing · Retell AI vs ElevenLabs · Vapi vs Retell AI · Bland AI vs Retell AI
Related: Vapi alternatives, Synthflow alternatives, ElevenLabs agents pricing, Telnyx voice AI pricing, Retell AI listing, Bland AI alternatives, Retell AI vs Twilio.
FAQ
What is the best alternative to Retell AI? Vapi is the closest match in how it works. Telnyx is the lowest per-minute estimate we found, near $0.06. ElevenAgents suits a flat monthly bill.
How much does Retell AI cost per minute? $0.07 to $0.31 a minute, by the parts you pick. The default setup on its calculator is $0.11 a minute.
Is Bland AI cheaper than Retell AI? No, at default settings. Bland Start is $0.14 a minute. Retell's default is $0.11. Bland Build is $0.12 a minute plus $299 a month.
Does Retell AI have free credits? Yes. $10 in free credits, about 90 minutes at the default rate. It includes 20 concurrent calls free.
Is ElevenLabs cheaper than Retell AI? At 3,000 minutes, ElevenAgents Scale is $299 a month plus LLM costs. Retell's default is $330. The LLM bill decides which comes out ahead.
Checked 2026-10-26. Prices and policies change. Confirm on the source before you buy.
Sources
- https://www.retellai.com/pricing
- https://vapi.ai/pricing
- https://www.bland.ai/pricing
- https://elevenlabs.io/pricing/agents
- https://telnyx.com/pricing/voice-ai
- https://synthflow.ai/pricing
More guides
- Abby Connect pricing: plans, Abby Minutes, and AI vs human cost (2026)
- AI answering service cost in 2026: $29 to $500 a month, 8 services compared
- AI answering service for contractors: prices compared (2026)
- AI receptionist for appliance repair: 5 options from $24.95 a month (2026)
- AI receptionist for auto repair shops: 7 options from $24.95 a month (2026)
- AI receptionist for cleaning businesses: 7 options from $0 to $449 a month (2026)