Retell AI vs Vapi
In short, Retell AI leads on voice and phone (8.4 to 8.2). Here's who should pick which.
Published · Updated . Facts checked November 12, 2026. Some links on this page are affiliate links; see our disclosure.
Which is better, Retell AI or Vapi?
It depends on your size and the job. By size, neither is built for small businesses; Vapi fits mid-size companies and enterprises better. By job, Retell AI leads on voice and phone. Choose Retell AI if you have someone who can build a custom voice agent and want high call quality at transparent per-minute prices. Choose Vapi if you have developers and want maximum control over models, voices and phone providers.
Choose Retell AI if you have someone who can build a custom voice agent and want high call quality at transparent per-minute prices.
Visit Retell AIChoose Vapi if you have developers and want maximum control over models, voices and phone providers.
Visit VapiFit by business size
| Measure | Retell AI | Vapi |
|---|---|---|
| Small business (1 to 50 people) | Not built for it | Not built for it |
| Mid-size company (50 to 1,000 people) | 7.2 | 7.4 |
| Enterprise (1,000+ people) | 7.4 | 7.6 |
Scores by job
| Measure | Retell AI | Vapi |
|---|---|---|
| Voice and phone | 8.4 | 8.2 |
Base scores
| Measure | Retell AI | Vapi |
|---|---|---|
| Does the work | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| Reach | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Setup | 5.5 | 4.5 |
| Control | 8.0 | 8.5 |
| Value | 8.0 | 7.5 |
| Trust | 7.5 | 7.5 |
| Enterprise readiness | 7.5 | 8.0 |
Which jobs each takes on
| Job | Retell AI | Vapi |
|---|---|---|
| Answers customers | ||
| Finds and follows up with leads | ||
| Writes and posts marketing | ||
| Handles email and calendar | ||
| Takes and makes phone calls | ||
| Back office: reports, docs, data | ||
| Runs on a schedule or trigger | ||
| Asks before risky actions | ||
| Connects to hundreds of apps | ||
| API or MCP access |
Price and fine print
Prices and terms as of November 2026, from each company's own site.
| Detail | Retell AI | Vapi |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Voice agent | Voice agent |
| Starting price | No monthly fee plus about $0.07 to $0.31 per minute | No monthly fee plus about $0.08 to $0.13 per minute all-in |
| Free plan | $10 in free credits | $5 in free credits |
| Extra charges | Extra concurrency $8 per line per month; numbers $2 per month | HIPAA add-on $2,000 per month; extra lines $10 per month |
| Refunds | Not stated | Not stated |
| Best for | Teams building custom voice agents for inbound or outbound calls. | Developers who want full control over voice agents. |
Retell AI
- Excellent call quality
- Transparent per-minute pricing
- Choice of models and voices
- Free credits to start
- You build the agent yourself
- Costs add up across components
- Voice only
- Some pricing page inconsistencies
Vapi
- Most configurable voice platform
- Bring any model or phone provider
- Models passed through at cost
- Compliance options
- Developer-only
- Many cost components
- HIPAA add-on is expensive
- Voice only
Retell AI vs Vapi: questions
Is Retell AI better than Vapi?
It depends on the job. In short, Retell AI leads on voice and phone (8.4 to 8.2). Choose Retell AI if you have someone who can build a custom voice agent and want high call quality at transparent per-minute prices. Choose Vapi if you have developers and want maximum control over models, voices and phone providers.
Which is built for my company's size?
Retell AI is built for: mid-size company, enterprise. Vapi is built for: mid-size company, enterprise.
Which costs less, Retell AI or Vapi?
Retell AI: no monthly fee plus about $0.07 to $0.31 per minute, as of November 2026. Vapi: no monthly fee plus about $0.08 to $0.13 per minute all-in, as of November 2026. Check extra charges too: Retell AI, extra concurrency $8 per line per month; numbers $2 per month; Vapi, hIPAA add-on $2,000 per month; extra lines $10 per month.