Launched May 14, 2024
Retell AI

Retell AI

API For Building Human-like Conversational Voice AI

FreeVoice6,057 impressions#12 of its week

Retell AI (YC W24) is an API for creating human-like conversational voice AI. Developers can plug in their LLM, and make it a conversational voice AI in just a day — with an ~800ms response time and the ability to handle interruptions.

Retell AI provides an API to build human-like conversational voice agents for phone, chat and SMS with low latency.

for
Developers building voice-based customer service, sales or support automation.
pricing
freemium · free trial
works withknowledge bases

Key features

6 features of Retell AI
  • Drag-and-drop flow builder — Design complex call workflows visually with functions, integrations and DTMF handling.
  • Real-time testing & simulation — Manually test, simulate thousands of scenarios and run regression tests before deployment.
  • Ultra-low latency — Proprietary orchestration delivers ~600 ms response time for smooth conversations.
  • Multi-channel support — Deploy agents over voice calls, web/chat widgets and SMS via a unified API.
  • Enterprise security — HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, GDPR, ISO 27001 compliance with SSO, role-based access and data redaction.
  • Pay-as-you-go pricing — No contracts; $0.07-$0.31 per minute for voice agents and $0.002 per chat message.

Use cases

  • Receptionist answering and routing inbound calls
  • Appointment scheduling via phone or SMS
  • Lead qualification and outbound dialing campaigns
  • Customer service with AI-human handoff
  • Debt collection and automated surveys

Retell AI vs alternatives

Retell AIVoice Calling SDK by DyteLayercode CLIVoAgentsFoni
Best forLow-latency AI voice agents for phone callsVoice calling SDKCLI-based voice AIAI voice assistantsBusiness AI caller
PricingFreemiumSubscriptionSubscriptionSubscriptionSubscription
DevHunt upvotes4441310
LaunchedMay 2024May 2024Oct 2025Sep 2026Jan 2024
  • Retell AI vs Voice Calling SDK by Dyte: Dyte provides a low-level voice SDK for raw call handling, not a full AI agent platform.
  • Retell AI vs Layercode CLI: Layercode CLI focuses on building voice AI agents from the terminal, lacking visual flow builder and enterprise compliance.
  • Retell AI vs VoAgents: VoAgents offers AI voice assistants but does not emphasize low-latency phone call orchestration or extensive compliance features.
  • Retell AI vs Foni: Foni is a ready-made AI caller for businesses, whereas Retell gives developers full API control and custom workflow design.

Retell AI FAQ

How does Retell AI handle interruptions?+

Its proprietary turn-taking model detects mid-sentence interruptions and switches to listening without waiting for a pause.

What is the latency of the voice agents?+

Independent benchmarks show an average latency of about 600 ms, keeping conversations fluent.

Is there a free tier?+

Yes – new users receive $10 in free credits and 20 concurrent calls with full platform access.

How is usage billed?+

Calls are billed per second to the nearest second; only connected call time is charged, including silence while the engine listens.

Can I connect my own phone number?+

Yes – Retell supports any telephony system via SIP trunking, allowing you to use existing numbers.

What compliance certifications does Retell have?+

Retell is HIPAA, SOC 2 Type II, GDPR and ISO 27001 certified and offers SSO, PII redaction and custom data-retention options.

Summarized by DevHunt from retellai.com · Sep 28, 2026. Details may change; check the official site.