ElevenLabs vs Retell AI: Honest Comparison (2026)

Major takeaways

Who should pick ElevenLabs over Retell AI? Teams that care about voice quality and already use ElevenLabs TTS, or need multilingual support with 29 languages, should consider ElevenLabs' conversational AI offering.

Who should pick Retell AI over ElevenLabs? Developers building custom voice products who need fine-grained control over interruption handling, LLM choice, and telephony integration typically find Retell AI's API-first architecture a better fit.

How do their pricing models differ? ElevenLabs charges per character for TTS plus conversational AI fees; Retell AI charges per minute with separate billing for telephony, LLM, and speech services, making all-in costs harder to predict without usage data.

If you care about X, pick Y

How we evaluated these platforms

This comparison draws on vendor documentation from ElevenLabs' and Retell AI's websites, published pricing pages, developer docs, and third-party reviews on G2, Trustpilot, and TrustRadius. We assessed build model, telephony options, LLM and voice provider flexibility, compliance statements, and pricing transparency.

No test calls were placed and no agents were built for this review. Pricing and feature availability were verified as of October 2026. Public review volume for developer-focused voice platforms is typically lower than for packaged SaaS tools; where coverage was thin, we note it explicitly.

What each platform does

ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs is a voice AI platform known for speech synthesis and voice cloning, which launched conversational AI agents in 2024. The platform targets content creators, developers, and enterprises needing multilingual voice automation.

Users build agents through a web interface, configure prompts and knowledge bases, and deploy to phone numbers or embed in applications. ElevenLabs supports 29 languages and has voice cloning for brand-consistent agents. The platform is used for customer support, content narration, and interactive voice applications, though public customer counts for the conversational AI product were not disclosed at time of writing.

Retell AI

Retell AI is an API-first AI voice agent platform designed for developers building custom phone automation. Founded in 2023, the platform focuses on low-latency voice interactions with configurable interruption handling and bring-your-own LLM support.

Developers integrate Retell AI via SDK, configure agents with custom prompts and tools, and connect to telephony providers (Twilio, Vonage, or bring-your-own SIP). The platform handles both inbound and outbound calls and is used for appointment booking, lead qualification, customer support deflection, and after-hours reception. Retell AI reports sub-800ms latency for first response and has customers in healthcare, real estate, and contact-center automation, though specific customer counts were not publicly listed.

Feature comparison: ElevenLabs vs Retell AI

Pricing and cost per minute

ElevenLabs pricing

ElevenLabs charges separately for text-to-speech and conversational AI usage. TTS pricing starts at $5 per month for 30,000 characters on the Starter plan, scaling to $99 per month for 500,000 characters on the Creator plan, and $330 per month for 2 million characters on the Independent Publisher plan. Enterprise pricing is available on request.

Conversational AI pricing was not published on the main pricing page at time of writing; the platform notes that conversational agents consume TTS credits plus additional fees for the conversational layer. Telephony costs (phone numbers, inbound/outbound minutes) are billed separately and were not itemized publicly. All-in per-minute costs depend on call length, TTS usage, and telephony region, making direct comparison difficult without a custom quote.

Source: ElevenLabs Pricing, accessed October 2026.

Retell AI pricing

Retell AI charges per minute of conversation, with separate billing for telephony, LLM inference, and speech-to-text/text-to-speech services. The platform does not publish a per-minute rate on its website; pricing is available on request and varies by volume commitment.

Based on third-party sources, estimated per-minute costs for Retell AI range from $0.10 to $0.30 per minute for the platform fee, excluding telephony (typically $0.01–$0.02 per minute via Twilio or Vonage), LLM costs (OpenAI GPT-4 at ~$0.03–$0.10 per call depending on length and token usage), and TTS/STT fees (ElevenLabs TTS at ~$0.02–$0.05 per minute, Deepgram STT at ~$0.01 per minute). All-in costs reportedly range from $0.20 to $0.50 per minute depending on configuration and volume, though these figures are unverified and should be confirmed with Retell AI directly.

Source: Third-party developer forums and estimated component pricing, October 2026.

What a month of calls might cost

To estimate monthly spend, multiply the number of calls by average call length in minutes, then by the all-in per-minute rate, and add any platform fees or minimums.

For example, if a team handles 1,000 calls per month at an average of 3 minutes per call, that's 3,000 minutes. At an illustrative all-in rate of $0.30 per minute (a midpoint estimate for Retell AI with GPT-4 and ElevenLabs TTS), the monthly cost would be $900 plus any platform subscription or minimum commitment.

For ElevenLabs, if the same 3,000 minutes consume 450,000 TTS characters (assuming ~150 characters per minute of agent speech) and the conversational AI layer adds an estimated $0.15 per minute, the calculation would be $99 for TTS (Creator plan) + $450 for conversational AI + telephony fees, totaling roughly $600–$700 depending on telephony region.

These are illustrative assumptions; actual costs depend on call complexity, LLM choice, voice provider, and volume discounts. Request a custom quote from each vendor with your expected usage profile.

What users say about ElevenLabs and Retell AI

ElevenLabs user feedback

Public review coverage for ElevenLabs' conversational AI product was limited at the time of writing. The platform's core TTS product has extensive reviews on G2 and Trustpilot, with users praising voice quality and multilingual support, but the conversational AI agent offering launched more recently and has fewer documented deployments.

Developers on third-party forums note that the web-based builder simplifies setup for non-technical users, though some report that the lack of fine-grained control over interruption handling and LLM choice limits customization for complex use cases. Pricing transparency for the conversational layer was flagged as a concern, with users noting that all-in costs are unclear without a custom quote.

Retell AI user feedback

Retell AI's user base is primarily developers, and public review volume on G2 and Trustpilot is low. Developer feedback on GitHub and Reddit highlights the platform's low latency and configurable turn-taking as strengths, with users reporting sub-second response times in production.

Some developers note that the API-first model requires more upfront engineering work compared to no-code platforms, and that debugging call flows can be time-consuming without built-in visual tools. Pricing opacity was mentioned in third-party discussions, with users reporting that per-minute costs vary significantly based on LLM and TTS provider choices, making budgeting difficult without a pilot.

One developer on a public forum noted: "Retell's interruption handling is the best I've tested, but you need to know what you're doing to configure it right."

Strengths and gaps

What ElevenLabs does well

Voice quality and multilingual support. ElevenLabs' core TTS technology is widely regarded as best-in-class, with 29 languages and voice cloning that maintains consistency across deployments. Teams needing brand-specific voices or non-English automation report that ElevenLabs' native multilingual support reduces the need for third-party TTS integrations.

No-code agent builder. The web-based interface allows non-developers to configure agents, upload knowledge bases, and deploy to phone numbers without writing code. This lowers the barrier to entry for operations teams testing voice automation for the first time.

Integrated platform. ElevenLabs bundles TTS, conversational AI, and telephony in one platform, reducing the number of vendor relationships and simplifying billing for teams that don't need bring-your-own infrastructure.

Where ElevenLabs has gaps

Pricing transparency. Conversational AI pricing is not published, and the separation of TTS credits from conversational layer fees makes all-in per-minute costs difficult to estimate without a custom quote. Teams with strict procurement budgets report frustration with the lack of upfront pricing.

Limited LLM flexibility. ElevenLabs' conversational AI uses its own models, and documentation on bring-your-own LLM support was sparse at time of writing. Developers needing GPT-4, Claude, or custom fine-tuned models may find the platform restrictive.

Interruption handling. While the platform supports turn-taking, the level of configurability is less granular than API-first competitors. Developers building high-stakes use cases (e.g., healthcare triage) where precise interruption control is critical may find the platform's defaults insufficient.

Compliance documentation. SOC 2 Type II certification was not published for the conversational AI product at time of writing, and HIPAA-specific guidance was limited. Enterprises in regulated industries should request compliance documentation directly.

What Retell AI does well

Low latency and interruption control. Retell AI's architecture is optimized for sub-800ms first response, and the platform's configurable endpointing thresholds allow developers to fine-tune when the agent stops listening and starts responding. This is critical for natural-feeling conversations and is frequently cited as a differentiator in developer feedback.

LLM and TTS flexibility. Retell AI supports bring-your-own LLM (OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure, custom endpoints) and integrates with multiple TTS providers (ElevenLabs, Deepgram, Azure). This allows teams to optimize for cost, latency, or voice quality based on their specific use case.

API-first architecture. The platform's SDK and webhook model give developers full control over call flows, function calling, and integrations. Teams building custom voice products or embedding voice agents in existing applications report that Retell AI's API design is well-documented and flexible.

Compliance and security. Retell AI publishes SOC 2 Type II and GDPR compliance statements, and the platform's architecture supports HIPAA-eligible deployments with appropriate BAAs. This makes it a stronger fit for healthcare, finance, and other regulated verticals.

Where Retell AI has gaps

No visual builder. Retell AI requires SDK integration and code to configure agents. Non-technical teams or those without developer resources will find the platform inaccessible without hiring engineering support.

Pricing complexity. The platform's per-minute fee excludes telephony, LLM, and TTS costs, which are billed separately. Teams without prior experience estimating token usage or TTS character consumption may struggle to predict monthly spend, and the lack of published pricing makes procurement difficult.

Outbound campaign tooling. While Retell AI supports outbound calls via API, it does not include built-in dialer or campaign management features. Teams running high-volume outbound campaigns need to integrate with third-party dialers or build custom orchestration.

Onboarding curve. Developer feedback notes that configuring interruption handling, custom functions, and telephony integrations requires trial and error. The platform assumes familiarity with voice AI concepts, and teams new to the space may face a steep learning curve.

Which use cases fit each platform

Pick ElevenLabs if you...

• Need a no-code builder and don't have developer resources to integrate an API-first platform.
• Care about voice quality and already use ElevenLabs TTS for other applications.
• Require multilingual support across 29 languages with consistent voice cloning.
• Prefer a bundled platform with telephony included rather than managing multiple vendor relationships.

Pick Retell AI if you...

• Are a developer building a custom voice product and need fine-grained control over LLM, TTS, and call flows.
• Require sub-800ms latency and configurable interruption handling for natural-feeling conversations.
• Need to integrate with existing telephony infrastructure (Twilio, Vonage, SIP) or bring your own phone numbers.
• Operate in a regulated industry and need published SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA-eligible architecture.

Note: if the calls you're automating are inbound sales conversations that need to sit alongside an outbound AI SDR in one platform, teams in that position typically also evaluate 11x's Julian.

Verdict: ElevenLabs vs Retell AI in 2026

ElevenLabs and Retell AI serve different buyer profiles.

ElevenLabs is the stronger fit for non-technical teams that need multilingual voice automation with minimal setup and are willing to accept less control over LLM choice and interruption handling in exchange for a simpler deployment. The platform's voice quality and no-code builder make it accessible to operations teams testing voice automation for the first time, though pricing opacity and limited compliance documentation may slow enterprise procurement.

Retell AI is the better starting point for developers building custom voice products or enterprises that need fine-grained control over latency, LLM choice, and telephony integration. The platform's API-first architecture and published compliance statements make it a stronger fit for regulated industries and high-stakes use cases, though the lack of a visual builder and the complexity of estimating all-in per-minute costs create barriers for non-technical buyers.

If you're choosing between the two, build the same short test flow on both platforms to compare voice quality, latency, and ease of configuration at your expected call volume. Request a detailed cost breakdown from each vendor that includes platform fees, telephony, LLM, and TTS charges, and confirm compliance documentation if you operate in a regulated vertical.

Frequently asked questions

Is ElevenLabs cheaper than Retell AI?

All-in per-minute costs depend on call length, LLM choice, TTS provider, and volume. ElevenLabs bundles TTS and conversational AI but does not publish conversational layer pricing, making direct comparison difficult. Retell AI's per-minute fee excludes telephony, LLM, and TTS, which are billed separately; estimated all-in costs range from $0.20 to $0.50 per minute based on third-party sources. Request custom quotes from both vendors with your expected usage profile.

Which is easier to build with if I can't code?

ElevenLabs has a web-based agent builder that allows non-developers to configure agents, upload knowledge bases, and deploy to phone numbers without writing code. Retell AI is API-first and requires SDK integration, making it inaccessible without developer resources. If you don't have engineering support, ElevenLabs is the only viable option between the two.

Can I bring my own phone numbers or carrier to each?

Retell AI supports bring-your-own telephony via Twilio, Vonage, or SIP, allowing teams to use existing phone numbers and carrier relationships. ElevenLabs provides bundled phone numbers in select regions; bring-your-own carrier support was not documented at time of writing. If you need to preserve existing phone numbers or use a specific carrier, Retell AI is the stronger fit.

Which handles outbound calling campaigns better?

Retell AI's API integrates with dialers and supports bulk outbound calling with custom orchestration, making it better suited for high-volume campaigns. ElevenLabs supports outbound calls but lacks built-in campaign management or dialer integration, limiting it to single-call use cases like reminders or confirmations. For outbound sales or large-scale reminder campaigns, Retell AI is the stronger choice.

Are ElevenLabs and Retell AI HIPAA compliant?

Retell AI publishes a HIPAA-eligible architecture and has Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) for healthcare customers, though compliance depends on how the platform is deployed and configured. ElevenLabs' HIPAA-specific documentation for conversational AI was not published at time of writing. If you operate in healthcare or another regulated industry, request compliance documentation and BAA terms from each vendor before deploying.

Can either transfer a call to a human?

Both platforms support warm transfer to human agents. ElevenLabs' web builder includes transfer configuration in the agent settings. Retell AI supports transfer via API with custom routing logic, allowing developers to route calls based on intent, sentiment, or CRM data. If you need complex transfer rules, Retell AI's API has more control.

What do users complain about most?

For ElevenLabs, users cite pricing opacity and the lack of fine-grained control over LLM choice and interruption handling. For Retell AI, developers note the steep learning curve for non-technical teams and the complexity of estimating all-in per-minute costs when telephony, LLM, and TTS are billed separately. Both platforms have limited public review volume for their conversational AI products compared to more established voice platforms.

How does 11x's Julian compare to ElevenLabs and Retell AI?

Julian is 11x's AI phone agent for inbound speed-to-lead and qualification, sold as part of the 11x platform alongside Alice, the outbound AI SDR. Julian is a packaged sales agent optimized for revenue teams, not a general-purpose voice-building platform like ElevenLabs or Retell AI. Teams building custom voice products or embedding voice agents in non-sales applications typically compare ElevenLabs and Retell AI directly; Julian is evaluated when the use case is inbound sales automation that needs to integrate with outbound prospecting in one system.

What latency can I expect from each platform?

Retell AI reports sub-800ms latency for first response and allows developers to configure endpointing thresholds to control when the agent stops listening and starts responding. ElevenLabs does not publish specific latency benchmarks for its conversational AI product; latency depends on TTS model choice, telephony region, and network conditions. If sub-second response time is critical, request a test call from each vendor at your expected call volume.

Can I use custom LLMs with either platform?

Retell AI supports bring-your-own LLM via OpenAI, Anthropic, Azure, or custom endpoints, allowing teams to use GPT-4, Claude, or fine-tuned models. ElevenLabs' conversational AI uses its own models; documentation on bring-your-own LLM support was sparse at time of writing. If you need to use a specific LLM or fine-tuned model, Retell AI is the stronger fit.

Last updated: October 2026.