At a glance
$0.09 to $0.14 per minute, pay as you go, billed by the second. $5 free credit.
Acquired by Aircall in May 2026; a developer toolkit whose standalone future is uncertain.
Zinng: ready to use at $49 for 300 minutes, call transfers included, free setup help.
The short answer
Vogent was a developer platform for building AI voice agents, and Aircall acquired it on May 6, 2026. The site still lets you sign up, but when a platform is folded into a larger company, its standalone product and pricing can change, so it's a risky foundation for something new.
If you're a developer, Retell AI is the closest build-it-yourself option. If you just want your phone answered, a ready-to-use receptionist like Zinng ($49 for 300 minutes) skips the building entirely.
Vogent pricing and status (checked October 2026)
- Pay as you go, metered by the second: $0.09 a minute with standard voices, $0.14 with premium voices.
- Enterprise: volume discounts at roughly 5,000 to 10,000+ calls a month, plus model fine-tuning.
- Free credit: $5 for every new account.
Vogent offers a no-code flow builder, an API and SDKs, phone numbers by area code or your own via SIP, human handoff and webhooks. It offers HIPAA-compliant voices and workspaces, with a SOC 2 Type II report pending. Founded in 2020 in San Francisco and part of Y Combinator's Summer 2021 batch, it now belongs to Aircall.
Vogent
Acquired (May 2026)
Developer platform for AI voice agents, pay-as-you-go at $0.09 to $0.14 per minute. Acquired by Aircall in May 2026; the self-serve site is still live.
Checked October 2, 2026 on docs.vogent.ai. Prices change; confirm before you buy.
Vogent alternatives compared
Entry plans side by side. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.
| Service | Starts at | Includes | Billing | Setup | Free trial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vogent | $0.09/min | See card | Pay as you go ($0.09 to $0.14/min) | Build it yourself | $5 free credit |
| Zinng | $49/mo | 300 minutes | Per minute + extra-minute buckets ($25 for 150) | Self-serve + free help | 7 days |
| Retell AI | $0.07/min | See card | Pay as you go ($0.07 to $0.31/min) | Build it yourself | $10 free credits |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Phonely | Free | 100 minutes | Per minute | Self-serve | Free plan |
| Smith.ai AI Receptionist | Free | 25 calls | Per call | Self-serve + help | Free plan (25 calls) |
The best Vogent alternatives
1. Zinng: skip the build
Zinng is a ready-to-use AI receptionist, so there's no agent to design or maintain:
- $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.
- Live calendar booking on the $99 Pro plan, two-way texting and a website chat widget.
- 63 languages and dialects, with every call recorded and transcribed.
- Free setup help for every customer. Keep your number by forwarding or porting it.
Zinng plans: $49 (300 minutes), $99 (700), $149 (1,000) and $249 (2,000), all with a 7-day free trial and no contract.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Was Vogent acquired?
Yes. Aircall announced its acquisition of Vogent, an AI voice agent company, on May 6, 2026. As of October 2026 the vogent.ai website and docs are still online and new accounts can still sign up.
How much does Vogent cost?
Vogent is pay-as-you-go, metered by the second: $0.09 per minute with standard voices and $0.14 with premium voices. New accounts get $5 in free credit, and an Enterprise plan offers volume discounts for roughly 5,000 to 10,000+ calls a month.
What is the best Vogent alternative?
Developers who want to keep building their own voice agents can look at Retell AI ($0.07 to $0.31 per minute). Businesses that just want calls answered can use a ready-to-use receptionist like Zinng: $49 a month for 300 minutes, call transfers included, with a 7-day free trial.
Sources: Aircall's acquisition announcement, Vogent billing docs, vogent.ai and Vogent's Y Combinator page, checked October 2, 2026. No affiliate links. Compare more on our AI receptionist alternatives page.
