ElevenLabs vs Retell AI
ElevenLabs (freemium, AI Score 9.2/10) vs Retell AI (freemium, AI Score 8.9/10). Side-by-side pricing, features, pros and cons, and which to pick.
The verdict
Both are credible in this slot.
Both are credible in this slot.
Side-by-side specs
| Spec | ElevenLabs | Retell AI |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Music | Chatbots |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| Headline pricing | Free tier + Starter $5/mo + Creator $22/mo + Pro $99/mo + Scale $330/mo + Enterprise custom | Free $10 credit, then ~$0.07/min usage-based |
| Free tier | 10,000 characters per month with 3 custom voices — enough to test voice quality and basic cloning | $10 free credit to test the platform — enough for roughly 140 minutes of calls |
| AI Score | 9.2/10 | 8.9/10 |
| Best for | — | — |
| Editor's pick | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Use cases | — | — |
| Date added | 2026-04-30 | 2026-05-01 |
Pros and cons
ElevenLabs
Music · freemium
Pros
- ✓Most realistic AI voices available — often indistinguishable from human recordings
- ✓Voice cloning works surprisingly well from very short audio samples (under 60 seconds)
- ✓32+ languages with cross-lingual cloning capability
- ✓Robust API with streaming and WebSocket support for real-time applications
Cons
- ×Character-based pricing adds up fast for high-volume use cases like audiobooks
- ×Free tier is limited to non-commercial use with only 10K characters
- ×Music generation is still early and can't compete with Suno or Udio
- ×Professional Voice Cloning locked behind Creator plan ($22/mo) or above
Retell AI
Chatbots · freemium
Pros
- ✓Sub-800ms latency makes conversations feel genuinely natural, not robotic
- ✓HIPAA-compliant with enterprise security certifications for regulated industries
- ✓Bring-your-own-LLM means you're not locked into a single AI provider
- ✓Extensive telephony features including call transfer, voicemail detection, and SIP support
Cons
- ×Requires developer skills — no true no-code builder for non-technical users
- ×Usage-based pricing can get expensive at high call volumes without enterprise negotiation
- ×Voice customization options are more limited than dedicated TTS platforms like ElevenLabs
- ×Documentation could be more thorough for advanced use cases like custom SIP integrations
FAQ
Is ElevenLabs better than Retell AI? ▾
ElevenLabs scores 9.2/10 in our evaluation versus Retell AI at 8.9/10. ElevenLabs edges ahead overall, but "better" depends on your use case — see the verdict block above.
Does ElevenLabs or Retell AI have a free tier? ▾
Both offer free access. ElevenLabs: 10,000 characters per month with 3 custom voices — enough to test voice quality and basic cloning. Retell AI: $10 free credit to test the platform — enough for roughly 140 minutes of calls.
Should I choose ElevenLabs or Retell AI in 2026? ▾
If capability matters most pick ElevenLabs. If capability matters most pick Retell AI. Both are credible — neither is a wrong choice.
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Updated 2026-05-26. Spec data sourced from official product pages and tracked in our public directory at /tools.