Alternatives
Retell AI alternatives worth comparing
Platform for building AI voice agents that answer and place phone calls, with chat and SMS agents too. Usage is billed per minute, split into voice infrastructure, LLM, voice and telephony components. Teams compare alternatives when they want more control over each component, a different billing model, or an enterprise vendor that manages the deployment for them.
Facts read from each vendor’s own site, most recently on 16 October 2026.
What are the best Retell AI alternatives?
Retell AI alternatives include Vapi, Bland AI, Synthflow and PolyAI. Vapi suits developers who want to choose and pay for each component directly, at $0.05 a minute for hosting. Bland AI charges $0.14 a minute talk time including the model and voices. Synthflow and PolyAI are enterprise options priced by contract rather than published per-minute rates.
Retell AI and its alternatives on price
| Product | Free plan | Starts at | Billing model | Usage charges | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retell AIOfficial pricing | Not verified | From $0.07 per minute, all components | per minute + usage-based + per call + usage credits | Retell Voice Infra: $0.055 per minuteVoice: Retell Platform Voices: $0.015 per minute | 16 October 2026 |
| VapiOfficial pricing | Not verified | $0.05 per minute hosting, plus model, voice and telephony | subscription + per minute + usage-based | Vapi hosting: $0.05 per minuteHIPAA compliance add-on: $2,000 per month | 16 October 2026 |
| Bland AIOfficial pricing | Not verified | From $0.14 per minute talk time, telephony extra | subscription + per minute | Talk time (Start): $0.14 per minuteTransfer time (Start): $0.05 per minute | 16 October 2026 |
| SynthflowOfficial pricing | Not verified | From $30,000/year | subscription | None published | 16 October 2026 |
| PolyAIOfficial pricing | Not verified | Contact sales | Custom quote | None published | 16 October 2026 |
Each alternative, and when it fits
1. Vapi by Vapi
You want to pick your own model, voice and phone provider and pay their rates directly, on top of $0.05 a minute hosting.
$0.05 per minute hosting, plus model, voice and telephony. Billing: subscription + per minute + usage-based. Free plan: not verified.
2. Bland AI by Bland AI
You want one talk-time rate that includes the model and voices, with no platform fee on the Start tier.
From $0.14 per minute talk time, telephony extra. Billing: subscription + per minute. Free plan: not verified.
3. Synthflow by Synthflow AI
You want an enterprise contract with call volume, integrations and launch support agreed up front.
From $30,000/year. Billing: subscription. Free plan: not verified.
4. PolyAI by PolyAI
You run a large contact centre and want a vendor-led deployment with ongoing support.
Contact sales. Billing: Custom quote. Free plan: not verified.
Features compared
Confirmed on the vendor’s site Vendor says it is not offered Not verified (not the same as no)
| Feature | Retell AI | Vapi | Bland AI | Synthflow | PolyAI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone calls | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Voice conversation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Developer API | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Books appointments | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Not verified |
| Multiple languages | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Questions
Is there a cheaper alternative to Retell AI?
Vapi's hosting fee of $0.05 a minute is lower than Retell AI's lowest all-in rate of $0.07, but it excludes the model, voice and telephony. Bland AI's Start tier has no platform fee and charges $0.14 a minute talk time. The cheapest option depends on the model and voice you use.
Sources and method
- Retell AI, checked 16 October 2026: pricing page, product page, docs
- Vapi, checked 16 October 2026: pricing page, product page, docs, docs
- Bland AI, checked 16 October 2026: pricing page, product page, docs, docs (llms.txt)
- Synthflow, checked 16 October 2026: pricing page, product page, docs (sales-led pricing), docs (pricing scoped with sales)
- PolyAI, checked 16 October 2026: pricing page, product page, product page, docs
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