# ElevenLabs Agents vs OpenAI Realtime API

> ElevenLabs Agents vs OpenAI Realtime API: ElevenLabs Agents is our pick, leading for agencies and developers. Verified July 2026.

![ElevenLabs Agents logo](https://www.versusref.com/logos/elevenlabs-agents.png)

ElevenLabs Agents (Voice-quality leader, agents platform) and OpenAI Realtime API (Frontier speech-to-speech model API (gpt-realtime family) for low-latency voice agents over WebRTC, WebSocket, and SIP.) are Voice AI platforms. Below: the bottom line, verified head-to-head facts, and real production costs.

Voice AI platforms · 20 facts compared · all sourced · pricing verified Jul 30, 2026

## Bottom line

ElevenLabs Agents wins three use cases outright and ties the remaining two, giving it a clear overall lead. For no-code agency deploys and SMB receptionist work, its built-in no-code agent builder lets teams launch without writing code, while a free plan with 10k credits per month and a $0 monthly platform fee lower the barrier to entry dramatically. At $0.05/min it is straightforward to budget, and no annual contract is required. For custom pipeline control, its API-first architecture combined with support for 70 languages and a 75 ms median end-to-end latency gives developers a fast, flexible foundation. OpenAI Realtime API cannot bring its own TTS voice or a third-party LLM, limiting customization for teams that want those options.

## Verdict summary

| Use case | Winner | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No-code agency deploys | ElevenLabs Agents | For a no-code agency deploying and reselling voice AI, the ability to build agents without coding is essential. |
| Custom pipeline control | ElevenLabs Agents | For engineering teams building custom pipelines, bring-your-own LLM support and API-first control are the deciding factors. |
| Healthcare compliance | Tie | For HIPAA-bound healthcare workflows, the single most critical requirement is a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement. |
| Outbound sales campaigns | Tie | Neither tool has published information covering native outbound campaign management or concurrency limits, which are the most critical capabilities for outbound sales and call-center campaigns. |
| SMB receptionist and booking | ElevenLabs Agents | For an SMB receptionist setup, keeping monthly overhead low is the deciding factor. |

## ElevenLabs Agents vs OpenAI Realtime API: head-to-head facts

| Fact | ElevenLabs Agents | OpenAI Realtime API | Verified |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Base price / min | ~$0.05 ([source](https://elevenlabs.io/pricing)) | n/a | Jul 15 |
| HIPAA BAA on base plan | ◑  Enterprise only ([source](https://elevenlabs.io/pricing)) | n/a | Jul 15 |
| Native SIP trunking | n/a | ✓  Yes ([source](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/realtime-sip)) | Jul 30 |
| Median e2e latency | ~75 ms ([source](https://elevenlabs.io/docs/overview/intro)) | n/a | Jul 15 |
| Bring-your-own LLM | n/a | ✗  No ([source](https://developers.openai.com/api/docs/guides/realtime)) | Jul 30 |
| Free tier credit | Free plan $0, 10k credits/month ([source](https://elevenlabs.io/pricing)) | n/a | Jul 15 |

## ElevenLabs Agents vs OpenAI Realtime API pricing: true cost at 3 usage tiers

All-in monthly: platform fee + per-minute + telephony. Assumes GPT-4o class model, ElevenLabs voice.

| Volume | Buyer | ElevenLabs Agents | OpenAI Realtime API | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1K min/mo | Solo builder | $50 | n/a | Includes estimated telephony. Free credits can offset the first month. |
| 10K min/mo | Agency | $500 | n/a | Volume pricing typically starts to apply at this tier. |
| 100K min/mo | Call center | $5,000 | n/a | Both platforms offer custom contracts at this tier. Negotiate. |

## ElevenLabs Agents vs OpenAI Realtime API: verdicts by use case

### No-code agency deploys → ElevenLabs Agents

For a no-code agency deploying and reselling voice AI, the ability to build agents without coding is essential. ElevenLabs Agents explicitly offers a no-code agent builder, while the OpenAI Realtime API is API-first with no no-code builder available. That single difference is decisive for this use case. ElevenLabs Agents also charges $0 per month in platform fees, whereas no platform fee information is available for the OpenAI Realtime API. Production cost for ElevenLabs Agents runs at $0.05 per minute. Neither tool publishes white-label or sub-account details, so that factor cannot decide the comparison. ElevenLabs Agents also supports 70 languages, broadening resale potential. The no-code builder alone, the single most important capability for a non-technical agency, tips this clearly toward ElevenLabs Agents.

### Custom pipeline control → ElevenLabs Agents

For engineering teams building custom pipelines, bring-your-own LLM support and API-first control are the deciding factors. ElevenLabs Agents supports bring-your-own LLM, while OpenAI Realtime API locks you into its own model with no BYO-LLM option. Both platforms are fully API-first. On latency, ElevenLabs Agents posts a 75 ms median end-to-end figure, which is competitive. OpenAI Realtime API does not allow bringing your own TTS voice either, whereas ElevenLabs Agents gives teams control over voice selection. OpenAI Realtime API does offer native SIP trunking, an edge for telephony integration, but this does not outweigh the LLM flexibility gap.

### Healthcare compliance → Tie

For HIPAA-bound healthcare workflows, the single most critical requirement is a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement. ElevenLabs Agents restricts its BAA to enterprise plans only, meaning self-serve or lower-tier customers cannot obtain one without a custom contract. The OpenAI Realtime API has no published BAA information either. Neither tool surfaces verified SOC 2 Type II certification, consent and recording compliance tooling, or GDPR/EU residency details. With both tools failing to demonstrate accessible HIPAA BAA coverage and neither providing evidence on the other decisive compliance attributes, there is no factual basis to favor one over the other for this use case.

### Outbound sales campaigns → Tie

Neither tool has published information covering native outbound campaign management or concurrency limits, which are the most critical capabilities for outbound sales and call-center campaigns. On production cost, ElevenLabs Agents is priced at $0.05/min, while OpenAI Realtime API has no base per-minute rate published. On native SIP trunking, OpenAI Realtime API has confirmed support while ElevenLabs Agents has no published information. Without data on the deciding attributes for either tool, no winner can be identified.

### SMB receptionist and booking → ElevenLabs Agents

For an SMB receptionist setup, keeping monthly overhead low is the deciding factor. ElevenLabs Agents charges $0 per month in platform fees, while OpenAI Realtime API bundles costs into per-minute usage with no separate platform fee but also offers no no-code builder. ElevenLabs Agents includes a no-code agent builder, making it practical for small businesses without a dev team. OpenAI Realtime API supports native number provisioning via SIP trunking, while ElevenLabs does not provision numbers in-platform, a real gap. However, the $0 platform fee and no-code builder together tip the balance for cost-conscious SMBs.

## ElevenLabs Agents vs OpenAI Realtime API: common questions

### Is ElevenLabs Agents cheaper than OpenAI Realtime API?

A direct price comparison is difficult because the two tools bill differently. ElevenLabs Agents charges $0.05 per minute with no monthly platform fee and no annual contract required. OpenAI Realtime API bundles LLM and TTS costs into its own pricing rather than passing them through at cost, so the effective per-minute rate depends on your usage mix and model choices. To find which is cheaper for your workload, you should benchmark both against your expected call volume.

### ElevenLabs Agents vs OpenAI Realtime API: which is better for no-code agency deploys?

ElevenLabs Agents is the stronger fit for no-code agency deployments. It includes a built-in no-code agent builder, supports self-serve signup with no annual contract required, and has a $0/mo platform fee with usage billed at $0.05/min. OpenAI Realtime API is API-first with no no-code builder, making it better suited to developer teams than agencies looking to deploy without writing code.

### Is ElevenLabs Agents or OpenAI Realtime API better for multilingual voice applications?

ElevenLabs Agents supports 70 languages, making it the stronger choice when broad language coverage is a priority. No equivalent language count is confirmed for OpenAI Realtime API, so buyers needing a documented multilingual guarantee should lean toward ElevenLabs Agents.

### Does ElevenLabs Agents or OpenAI Realtime API support SIP trunking for telephony integrations?

OpenAI Realtime API supports native SIP trunking, making it a solid fit for teams integrating with traditional telephony infrastructure. ElevenLabs Agents does not have confirmed native SIP trunking support, so telephony-heavy buyers may want to verify this before committing.

### Can I bring my own LLM or custom TTS voice to OpenAI Realtime API?

OpenAI Realtime API does not support bring-your-own LLM or bring-your-own TTS voices. Buyers who need to swap in their own model or voice provider will need to evaluate alternatives.

### Is ElevenLabs Agents or OpenAI Realtime API better for HIPAA-compliant healthcare use cases?

ElevenLabs Agents offers a HIPAA BAA, though only on enterprise plans. No HIPAA information is available for OpenAI Realtime API in this comparison. Healthcare buyers considering ElevenLabs Agents should expect to negotiate an enterprise contract to access HIPAA coverage.

### What is ElevenLabs Agents' latency, and is it fast enough for real-time voice AI?

ElevenLabs Agents reports a median end-to-end latency of 75 ms, which is well within the range considered acceptable for real-time conversational voice experiences.

### Does ElevenLabs Agents have a free tier I can test before paying?

Yes. ElevenLabs Agents offers a free plan at $0/mo that includes 10,000 credits per month, with no platform fee and no annual contract required. Self-serve signup is available, so you can get started immediately.

### Does OpenAI Realtime API let me buy or port phone numbers directly in the platform?

No. The OpenAI Realtime API does not support buying or porting numbers in-platform. Teams that need number provisioning must manage that through a separate telephony provider and connect via the supported WebRTC, WebSocket, or SIP interfaces.

### Is ElevenLabs Agents or OpenAI Realtime API a better alternative for developers who want full API lifecycle control without annual contracts?

Both tools are API-first and neither requires an annual contract for best pricing. ElevenLabs Agents also adds a no-code builder for non-developer teammates. The choice comes down to other factors such as telephony needs, language support, or voice flexibility.

Source: https://www.versusref.com/voice-ai/elevenlabs-agents-vs-openai-realtime-api/