Vapi vs Retell AI
An independent, side-by-side comparison to help you pick the right tool. Pricing, features, strengths, and trade-offs.
Pay-per-minute from $0.05/min / Enterprise custom
$40M total
Pay-per-minute / Enterprise custom
User ratings
4.5/5
on G2 (30 reviews)
Not yet rated on G2
Source: G2.com. Ratings may change over time.
At a glance
| Vapi | Retell AI | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Pay-per-minute from $0.05/min / Enterprise custom | Pay-per-minute / Enterprise custom |
| Type | Voice AI & Agents | Voice AI & Agents |
| G2 Rating | 4.5/5 (30 reviews) | — |
| Team Size | 11-50 | — |
| Funding | $40M total | — |
Feature comparison
| Feature | Vapi | Retell AI |
|---|---|---|
| Voice AI agent builder | — | |
| Sub-second latency pipeline | — | |
| Multi-provider LLM support | — | |
| Phone number provisioning | — | |
| Function calling and tool use | — | |
| Human-like voice agents | — | |
| No-code agent builder | — | |
| Full API access | — | |
| Call analytics | — | |
| Multi-language support | — |
What makes each tool different
Vapi
Vapi is the leading developer platform for voice AI agents. It provides a full stack for building phone-based AI agents: orchestration, speech-to-text, LLM processing, and text-to-speech. Its developer experience and low-latency pipeline set it apart.
Retell AI
Retell AI focuses on making voice agents sound human. Its low-latency pipeline and turn-taking model create conversations that feel natural. The no-code agent builder makes it accessible to non-developers while still offering full API access.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths
- Best-in-class developer experience
- Very low latency for natural conversations
- Flexible provider choices for each component
Weaknesses
- Per-minute costs add up at scale
- Requires development skills
- Phone-focused, less suited for in-meeting use
Strengths
- Natural-sounding conversations
- Both no-code and developer options
- Good documentation
Weaknesses
- Newer company, still proving scale
- Limited to voice interactions
- Pricing can be opaque
Try both and decide
The best way to choose is to test each tool with your own workflow. Most offer free tiers or trials.