At a glance
$0.07 to $0.31 per minute, pay as you go, plus $2/mo per number. $10 in free credits.
It's a toolkit: you build the agent, connect your calendar and CRM, and maintain it yourself.
Zinng: ready to use at $49 for 300 minutes, call transfers included, free setup help.
The short answer
Retell AI is a toolkit for building voice agents, not a receptionist you switch on. It's well reviewed and flexible, but you pick the AI model and voice, write the instructions, connect your calendar and CRM, and keep it all working.
If you'd rather have your phone answered this week, a ready-to-use AI receptionist like Zinng ($49 for 300 minutes, free setup help) is the simpler route. The options below are all ready to use.
Retell AI pricing (checked October 2026)
Retell has no monthly plans. You pay per minute, and the rate depends on what you plug in:
- Voice infrastructure: $0.055 per minute.
- Voice: $0.015 per minute for most voices, $0.04 for premium ones.
- AI model: from under $0.01 to $0.64 per minute, depending on the model you choose.
- Telephony: $0.015 per minute, plus $2 a month per phone number.
All in, Retell quotes $0.07 to $0.31 per minute. Calls are billed to the second, the first 20 simultaneous calls are free, and new accounts get $10 in credits. Extras like knowledge bases beyond the first 10, SMS ($20/month plus $0.01 a message) and branded caller ID cost more.
Retell AI
Best for developers building their own voice agent
Developer platform for building AI voice agents, billed per minute from $0.07 to $0.31 depending on the AI model and voice you choose. You build and run the agent yourself.
"This software is so good i have been using it for my latest project and couldn't recommend them any more. So easy to use and the product comes out so good i am so pleased with it"
"I have an issue with retell Ai batch calling not making outbound calls but no one here to help."
Checked October 2, 2026 on retellai.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Build your own or use a ready-made receptionist?
At 300 minutes a month, Retell's usage alone runs about $21 to $93 plus a $2 number. The bigger cost is time:
- You design the agent. Prompts, call flows, what to say after hours, when to transfer.
- You wire up the business tools. Calendar booking, texting callers, CRM updates and notifications are all yours to connect.
- You maintain it. When a call goes wrong or a model update changes behavior, you troubleshoot it.
That trade is worth it for developers, agencies and companies building their own voice product. For a business that just needs calls answered, a ready-to-use receptionist does the same job without the project.
Retell AI vs ready-to-use receptionists
Entry plans side by side. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Service | Starts at | Includes | Billing | Setup | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retell AI | $0.07/min | See card | Pay as you go ($0.07 to $0.31/min) | Build it yourself | $10 free credits |
| Zinng | $49/mo | 300 minutes | Per minute + extra-minute buckets ($25 for 150) | Self-serve + free help | 7 days |
| Rosie | $49/mo | 250 minutes | Minute plans (auto-upgrade) | Self-serve | 7 days |
| Goodcall | $79/mo | 100 unique callers | Per unique caller | Self-serve | Not published |
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Free | 25 calls | Per call | Self-serve + help | Free plan (25 calls) |
| Upfirst | $24.95/mo | 30 calls | Per call | Self-serve + help | 14 days, no card |
| Dialzara | $29/mo | 60 minutes | Per minute | Self-serve | 7 days |
| NextPhone | $199/mo | Unlimited calls | Flat rate, unlimited calls | Self-serve + help | 7 days (Pro) |
| Phonely | Free | 100 minutes | Per minute | Self-serve | Free plan |
The best ready-to-use Retell AI alternatives
1. Zinng: an AI receptionist you don't have to build
Zinng gives you a working AI receptionist without writing prompts or connecting APIs:
- $49 for 300 minutes, or $99 for 700, with call transfers on every plan.
- Extra minutes in buckets: 150 for $25, 300 for $50, 600 for $100 or 1,200 for $200.
- Free setup help for every customer, plus a dashboard to change what your agent says.
- Live calendar booking on the $99 Pro plan (Google Calendar, Outlook, Cal.com, Calendly).
- Two-way texting, a website chat widget and 63 languages, with every call recorded and transcribed.
Keep your number by forwarding or porting it, or get a new one. Plans: $49 (300 minutes), $99 (700), $149 (1,000) and $249 (2,000), all with a 7-day free trial and no contract.
Rosie
Best for quick self-serve setup
Self-serve AI receptionist trained from your Google Business Profile and website. Live booking and transfers start on the $149 Scale plan.
"Rosie is the best AI answering service I've tried... I called the trial number and was surprised how well it answered queries about my business (Transistor), even questions it wasn't trained on."
Checked October 2, 2026 on heyrosie.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Goodcall
Best for customizable call flows
Self-serve AI phone agent with a call-flow builder, billed per unique caller with unlimited minutes. US only.
"Their on time Customer Services Their numerios Features best part it is easy to use"
"Service started out at $59 then no notice moved in $99 a month and then this last month they now they are charging me $130 a month with no notice."
Checked October 2, 2026 on goodcall.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Smith.ai AI Receptionist
Best for AI with live human backup
Per-call AI receptionist with a free tier; calls can be escalated to Smith.ai's live agents for $3 extra. Native Clio integration.
"I do appreciate that our calls get answered 24/7. Occasional missed calls generally go to a voicemail."
"They required a upfront payment at $2500 for a six month contract... we requested to cancel our contract... because the account is on a long-term plan, our policy does not allow..."
Checked October 2, 2026 on smith.ai. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Upfirst
Best for every feature on every plan
Per-call AI receptionist with transfers, live booking, texting and 35+ languages on every plan, plus a free onboarding call.
"What I like best about Upfirst is their customer support and their willingness to keep improving the platform."
"It's not as personal as having a live receptionist, but it does what we need for now"
Checked October 2, 2026 on upfirst.ai. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Dialzara
Best for the lowest entry price
Per-minute AI receptionist from $29/month for 60 minutes; warm transfers, calendar sync and Spanish start on the $99 plan.
"Working with Adam and his AI phone system has honestly been one of the most impressive experiences we've had integrating technology into our real estate business."
"Customer service is terrible. Trying to even get a response is really hard."
Checked October 2, 2026 on dialzara.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
NextPhone
Best for unlimited calls with no overage
AI receptionist with unlimited calls and no per-minute or overage fees from $199/month; done-for-you setup from $299.
Checked October 2, 2026 on getnextphone.com. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Phonely
Best free plan to try
Per-minute AI phone agent with a free plan (100 minutes), unlimited simultaneous calls and 50+ languages; Y Combinator-backed.
Checked October 2, 2026 on phonely.ai. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Retell AI cost?
Retell AI is pay-as-you-go at $0.07 to $0.31 per minute for voice agents, depending on the AI model and voice you choose. That is $0.055 for voice infrastructure plus the voice, the AI model and telephony ($0.015/min). Phone numbers are $2 a month, the first 20 simultaneous calls are free, and new accounts get $10 in free credits. There are no contracts or minimums.
Is Retell AI an AI receptionist?
Not out of the box. Retell AI is a platform for building voice agents: you choose the AI model and voice, write the instructions, and connect phone numbers, calendars and CRMs yourself. It has a no-code builder, but you are still designing and maintaining the agent. A ready-to-use AI receptionist comes set up for answering a business's calls.
Is Retell AI good?
For builders, yes. Retell AI is rated 4.9 on Trustpilot (810 reviews) and 4.8 on G2 (2,638 reviews), is backed by Y Combinator and Alt Capital, and says it is HIPAA and SOC 2 Type II compliant.
What is the best Retell AI alternative for a small business?
If you want your phone answered without building an agent, Zinng costs $49 a month for 300 minutes with call transfers included, free setup help and a 7-day free trial. Rosie, Goodcall, Upfirst and Smith.ai are other ready-to-use options compared on this page.
Sources: retellai.com/pricing, Retell's homepage and about page, Trustpilot and G2, checked October 2, 2026. No affiliate links. Compare more on our AI receptionist alternatives page.
