---
title: "LiveKit vs Retell AI: Which is Better in 2026? | App Stack Builder"
description: "LiveKit vs Retell AI compared for 2026 — pricing, free tiers, features, pros & cons. See which ai voice agents tool is the better fit for your startup."
source: https://appstackbuilder.com/compare/livekit-vs-retell-ai
retrieved: 2026-10-14
---

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=livekit.io&sz=128)

vs

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=retellai.com&sz=128)

# LiveKit vs Retell AI: Which is Better in 2026?

AI Voice Agents

Choosing between [LiveKit](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/livekit) and [Retell AI](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/retell-ai)? Both are popular ai voice agents tools. Below we compare them on pricing, free tiers, features, and pros & cons so you can pick the right fit for your stack.

Quick verdict

LiveKit is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Retell AI does not. Choose Retell AI when its specific features justify the cost.

## LiveKit vs Retell AI — Side by Side

|                | LiveKit                            | Retell AI                                |
| -------------- | ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| Category       | AI Voice Agents                    | AI Voice Agents                          |
| Pricing        | Free · paid from $50/mo            | Usage-based                              |
| Starting price | Free tier available                | Pay-as-you-go                            |
| Free tier      | ✓                                  | —                                        |
| Rating         | 4.6                                | 4.5                                      |
| Best for       | AI Voice Agents — voice-ai, webrtc | AI Voice Agents — voice-ai, phone-agents |

## Pros & Cons

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=livekit.io&sz=128)

[LiveKit](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/livekit)

* ✓Open source and self-hostable
* ✓Full control over the media pipeline
* ✓Free cloud tier with 1,000 minutes
* ✗You write the agent in code
* ✗Model providers billed separately
* ✗Self-hosting real-time media is real ops work

![](https://www.google.com/s2/favicons?domain=retellai.com&sz=128)

[Retell AI](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/retell-ai)

* ✓Transparent per-component billing
* ✓No platform fee
* ✓$10 free credit and no contract
* ✗Add-ons stack up per minute
* ✗Premium voices cost almost 3x standard
* ✗Less low-level control than LiveKit

## Key Features Compared

### LiveKit

* ✓5,000 agent minutes
* ✓20 concurrent sessions

### Retell AI

* ✓$10 free credits to start
* ✓Visual agent builder
* ✓Phone and web calls

### Choose LiveKit if…

* ✓You want to start free — LiveKit has a free tier and Retell AI does not.
* ✓Open source and self-hostable
* ✓Full control over the media pipeline
* ✓Free cloud tier with 1,000 minutes

[LiveKit review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/livekit)

### Choose Retell AI if…

* ✓Transparent per-component billing
* ✓No platform fee
* ✓$10 free credit and no contract

[Retell AI review & pricing ](https://appstackbuilder.com/tools/retell-ai)

## Frequently Asked Questions

Is LiveKit better than Retell AI?⌄

LiveKit is the safer pick if budget matters — it has a free tier, while Retell AI does not. Choose Retell AI when its specific features justify the cost.

What is the difference between LiveKit and Retell AI?⌄

LiveKit — Open-source real-time media server and Agents framework for building voice AI. Self-host free, or use LiveKit Cloud. Retell AI — Voice agent platform with no platform fee: each component (voice infra, TTS, LLM, telephony) is billed separately per minute. Both are ai voice agents tools; the comparison table above breaks down pricing, free tiers, and what each is best for.

LiveKit vs Retell AI: which is cheaper?⌄

LiveKit pricing: Free · paid from $50/mo. Retell AI pricing: Usage-based. Confirm current pricing on each tool's official site, as plans change.

Which is rated higher, LiveKit or Retell AI?⌄

In our catalog, LiveKit rates 4.6 out of 5 and Retell AI rates 4.5 out of 5, so LiveKit has a slight edge on reviews.

See more options in our guide to the [best ai voice agents tools for startups](https://appstackbuilder.com/categories/voice-agents).

[In-depth guideBest AI Voice Agent Platforms 2026: Vapi vs Retell vs LiveKit vs ElevenLabs vs BlandEvery voice platform advertises a per-minute price that isn't what you actually pay. True all-in cost, real-world latency, self-hosting, and compliance compared across the five that matter.](https://appstackbuilder.com/blog/best-ai-voice-agent-platforms-2026)

## Still not sure which to pick?

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[Build my stack free ](https://appstackbuilder.com/build-stack)