# Retell AI vs Ultravox

> Retell AI vs Ultravox: each wins for a different team. Base rates $0.07 vs $0.05/min. They split on white-label / sub-accounts for agencies and native.

![Retell AI logo](https://www.versusref.com/logos/retell.png) ![Ultravox logo](https://www.versusref.com/logos/ultravox.png)

Retell AI (API plus no-code, production telephony fast) and Ultravox (Realtime speech model + platform) are Voice AI platforms, priced from $0.07/min and $0.05/min respectively. Below: the bottom line, verified head-to-head facts, and real production costs.

Voice AI platforms · 32 facts compared · all sourced · pricing verified Jul 15, 2026

## Bottom line

Retell AI suits teams needing a full-featured platform: a no-code builder, testing suite, BYO LLM support, 20 concurrent calls at base tier, and richer integrations. Ultravox suits cost-sensitive or developer-first teams, with a base rate of $0.05/min versus Retell's $0.07/min, and a flat real cost of $0.055/min versus Retell's $0.085 to $0.415/min range. Neither option dominates overall; the right choice depends on whether budget or feature richness is the higher priority.

## Verdict summary

| Use case | Winner | Why |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No-code agency deploys | Retell AI | For no-code agency deploys and white-label resale, Retell AI offers a dedicated no-code agent builder while Ultravox does not. |
| Custom pipeline control | Retell AI | For custom pipeline control by engineering teams, Retell AI supports bring-your-own LLM, giving teams direct model control, while Ultravox does not. |
| Ecommerce support and orders | Retell AI | For ecommerce support and order flows, Retell AI holds several decisive advantages. |
| Healthcare compliance | Retell AI | For HIPAA-bound healthcare workflows, HIPAA BAA availability is the critical requirement. |
| Outbound sales campaigns | Retell AI | For outbound sales campaigns, Retell AI wins on multiple dimensions. |
| SMB receptionist and booking | Retell AI | For an SMB receptionist and booking use case, Retell AI holds several decisive advantages. |

## Retell AI vs Ultravox: head-to-head facts

| Fact | Retell AI | Ultravox | Verified |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Base price / min | ~$0.07 ([source](https://www.retellai.com/pricing)) | ~$0.05 ([source](https://www.ultravox.ai/pricing)) | Jul 15 |
| Real production cost / min | ~$0.09-0.41 ([source](https://www.retellai.com/pricing)) | $0.06-0.06 ([source](https://www.ultravox.ai/pricing)) | Jul 15 |
| HIPAA BAA on base plan | ◑  Enterprise only ([source](https://www.retellai.com/pricing)) | n/a | Jul 15 |
| Native SIP trunking | ✓  Yes ([source](https://www.retellai.com/pricing)) | ✓  Yes ([source](https://www.ultravox.ai/pricing)) | Jul 15 |
| Concurrency limit (base) | ~20 calls ([source](https://www.retellai.com/pricing)) | ~5 calls ([source](https://www.ultravox.ai/pricing)) | Jul 15 |
| Median e2e latency | Not verified | n/a |  |
| Bring-your-own LLM | ✓  Yes ([source](https://www.retellai.com/pricing)) | ✗  No ([source](https://docs.ultravox.ai/overview)) | Jul 15 |
| Free tier credit | $10 free credits on signup ([source](https://www.retellai.com/pricing)) | 30 minutes free, then $0.05/min ([source](https://www.ultravox.ai/pricing)) | Jul 15 |

## Retell AI vs Ultravox pricing: true cost at 3 usage tiers

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

| Volume | Buyer | Retell AI | Ultravox | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1K min/mo | Solo builder | $250 | $55 | Includes estimated telephony. Free credits can offset the first month. |
| 10K min/mo | Agency | $2,500 | $550 | Volume pricing typically starts to apply at this tier. |
| 100K min/mo | Call center | $25,000 | $5,500 | Both platforms offer custom contracts at this tier. Negotiate. |

## Retell AI vs Ultravox: verdicts by use case

### No-code agency deploys → Retell AI

For no-code agency deploys and white-label resale, Retell AI offers a dedicated no-code agent builder while Ultravox does not. Retell AI also provides partial white-label and sub-account support for agencies, while Ultravox offers none. Additionally, Retell AI includes a simulation and testing suite and broader native integrations including Go High Level and HubSpot, all critical for agency workflows. Ultravox lacks these features entirely.

### Custom pipeline control → Retell AI

For custom pipeline control by engineering teams, Retell AI supports bring-your-own LLM, giving teams direct model control, while Ultravox does not. Retell AI also includes a simulation and testing suite, which Ultravox lacks, and this is critical for iterating on custom pipelines. Both platforms are API-first, but Retell's bring-your-own LLM support and testing tooling give engineering teams meaningfully more pipeline control.

### Ecommerce support and orders → Retell AI

For ecommerce support and order flows, Retell AI holds several decisive advantages. Its no-code agent builder lets non-technical teams configure order and support workflows without engineering help, while Ultravox lacks this capability. Retell AI also includes a simulation and testing suite to validate order flows before going live, which Ultravox does not offer. Retell AI integrates natively with HubSpot, Zapier-compatible tools, and Go High Level, which is critical for CRM-driven ecommerce. Its base concurrency of 20 calls versus Ultravox's 5 also supports the higher traffic volumes typical in ecommerce.

### Healthcare compliance → Retell AI

For HIPAA-bound healthcare workflows, HIPAA BAA availability is the critical requirement. Retell AI offers HIPAA BAA, though enterprise only per fact d14bad2a. No corresponding HIPAA fact exists for Ultravox, so it cannot be confirmed as HIPAA compliant. Retell AI also has SOC 2 Type II certification per fact d0356357, GDPR tooling per fact 76e59556, and consent and recording compliance tooling per fact c40b11ca, all strengthening its compliance posture. The margin is narrow because Retell AI HIPAA is enterprise only, not available on base plans.

### Outbound sales campaigns → Retell AI

For outbound sales campaigns, Retell AI wins on multiple dimensions. Its base concurrency is 20 calls vs Ultravox's 5 calls, critical for high-volume dialing. Real production costs range 0.085-0.415 vs Ultravox's flat 0.055, but Retell includes BYO LLM support, a no-code agent builder, a simulation and testing suite, and partial white-label capability, none of which Ultravox offers. Retell also has broader native integrations including Go High Level and HubSpot, which are standard in sales stacks. Ultravox lacks barge-in handling and a testing suite, both important for live sales call quality.

### SMB receptionist and booking → Retell AI

For an SMB receptionist and booking use case, Retell AI holds several decisive advantages. It offers a no-code agent builder (fact d2e2a0d3), which SMBs need to set up agents without developers, while Ultravox does not (fact 9049ca31). Retell AI also includes a simulation and testing suite (fact 9384d0aa) that Ultravox lacks (fact 8b5232f6), reducing risk for SMB deployments. Retell AI bundles 20 concurrent calls on the base plan versus Ultravox's 5 (facts 11a9ed04, f004cce1), which matters during after-hours call spikes. Retell AI also provides broader native integrations, including HubSpot and Go High Level (fact 87853682), both common SMB booking tools. Ultravox has an edge on price, but the operational feature gaps are decisive.

## Retell AI vs Ultravox: common questions

### Which is cheaper per minute, Retell AI or Ultravox?

Ultravox has a lower base price at $0.05/min compared to Retell AI at $0.07/min. However, real production costs tell a different story: Retell AI ranges from $0.085 to $0.415/min, while Ultravox is estimated at a flat $0.055/min. Both charge $0.01/min for telephony and have no monthly platform fee.

### Can I try Retell AI or Ultravox for free before paying?

Both platforms offer a free starting point. Retell AI provides $10 in free credits on signup, while Ultravox gives 30 free minutes and then charges $0.05 per minute afterward. Neither requires an annual contract to access best pricing, and both support self-serve signup.

### Does Retell AI or Ultravox support HIPAA compliance?

Retell AI offers a HIPAA BAA, though only on its enterprise plan. No equivalent HIPAA information is available for Ultravox in the current data. Retell AI is also SOC 2 Type II certified and includes GDPR tooling along with consent and recording compliance tooling.

### Which platform supports bring-your-own LLM?

Retell AI supports bring-your-own LLM, while Ultravox does not. Both platforms do allow bring-your-own TTS voices, so voice customization is available on either tool regardless of that LLM difference.

### How many concurrent calls are included in the base plan for each tool?

Retell AI's base plan includes 20 concurrent calls, compared to just 5 on Ultravox. If more lines are needed on Retell AI, additional concurrency costs $8 per line per month. Pricing for extra concurrency on Ultravox is not specified in the available data.

### Does Retell AI or Ultravox have a no-code agent builder for non-developers?

Retell AI offers a no-code agent builder, making it accessible to non-technical users. Ultravox lacks a no-code builder and is better suited for developer teams through its API-first approach. Both platforms support full lifecycle management via API.

### Which tool is better for testing and simulating voice AI agents before going live?

Retell AI includes a built-in simulation and testing suite for agents, while Ultravox does not offer this feature. Retell AI also provides a no-code agent builder, which can further simplify pre-launch validation for teams without deep engineering resources.

### Can Ultravox handle barge-in or interruptions during a call?

Ultravox does not support interruption handling (barge-in), meaning callers cannot interrupt the AI mid-response. Barge-in data for Retell AI is unavailable in the current facts, so buyers who rely on natural interruption behavior should confirm this capability directly with each vendor.

Source: https://www.versusref.com/voice-ai/retell-vs-ultravox/