Vapi vs Retell: Who's the ultimate winner?

Vapi - a quick overview

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Vapi is a cutting-edge Voice AI platform founded in 2023 by Jordan Dearsley and Nikhil Gupta, based in San Francisco, CA. It empowers developers to build, test, and deploy voice AI agents efficiently, revolutionizing how businesses interact with customers. Vapi's innovative approach allows companies to scale their voice operations without the need for human intervention, making it a game-changer in the AI voice agent market.

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Vapi's platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with existing telephony systems, enabling businesses to handle millions of calls with human-like voice agents. This technology is particularly appealing to consumer-facing companies looking to enhance customer service and scale revenue. With a growing user base and significant funding from investors like Bessemer Venture Partners, Vapi is poised to make a significant impact in the AI industry.

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In the following section, we'll delve into Vapi's features, pros and cons, pricing, and user reviews, comparing them with other leading AI solutions like Retell and Ringly.io. This comparison will help you understand where Vapi stands and whether it's the right fit for your business needs.

Vapi's Features

• Turbo Latency Optimizations
  Vapi ensures ultra-fast response times using optimized GPU inference and low-latency audio streaming. This makes interactions seamless, enhancing user experience during high-demand scenarios. While Retell lacks specific latency optimization features, Ringly.io’s AI phone agents also deliver quick responses but focus more on customer-specific knowledge integration.
• Interruptions and Proprietary Endpointing Model
  Vapi recognizes pauses and interruptions in conversations, creating a natural flow. Its proprietary endpointing model prevents accidental cut-offs during pauses. Retell does not emphasize this feature, while Ringly.io excels in handling dynamic customer queries with real-time updates from integrated knowledge bases.
• Scalability to 1M+ Concurrent Calls
  Built on Kubernetes clusters, Vapi supports over a million concurrent calls for large-scale operations. Retell is less focused on scalability at this level, while Ringly.io balances scalability with personalized customer interactions like abandoned cart recovery.
• Function Calling for Automation Tasks
  Vapi enables voicebots to perform tasks such as booking appointments or filling forms automatically. This boosts productivity but requires developer setup. In contrast, Ringly.io simplifies automation through pre-built templates for actions like order status checks or custom workflows without coding expertise.
• WebRTC Streaming for Real-Time Communication
  Using the same protocol as Google Meet, Vapi delivers high-quality real-time audio streaming with fault tolerance. While Retell does not highlight similar capabilities explicitly, Ringly.io focuses more on creating human-like connections via AI-driven phone calls rather than technical streaming optimizations.
• On-Premises Deployment Options
  For businesses needing control over infrastructure and reduced latency spikes, Vapi offers an on-premises deployment option—a feature neither Retell nor Ringly.io currently provides directly as part of their offerings.
• Multilingual Support Across 100+ Languages
  With support for over 100 languages including English and Spanish, Vapi caters to global audiences effectively. While multilingual capabilities are common across platforms like Retell and even partially in Ringly.io’s SMS features (e.g., personalized messages), they do not match the breadth of language options offered by Vapi.
• Private Internet Backbone
  By avoiding public network congestion through its private internet backbone setup, Vapi ensures reliable connectivity worldwide—an advantage absent in both competitors’ feature sets but less critical when focusing solely on localized markets or smaller-scale operations like those often targeted by Ringly.io users.

While these features make Vapi robust for developers seeking deep customization at scale (ideal for enterprises), its complexity may deter smaller businesses that benefit from simpler yet equally effective solutions like those provided by Ringly.io’s intuitive automation tools tailored specifically to enhance sales conversions and streamline support processes effortlessly.

Pros

• High Voice Recognition Accuracy
  Users consistently praised Vapi AI for its advanced voice recognition capabilities, which make interactions smooth and natural.
• Ease of Integration
  Many reviewers highlighted how easy it is to integrate Vapi AI into existing systems, making it a developer-friendly tool.
• Customizable Settings
  The platform offers various customization options that allow businesses to tailor the AI’s behavior to their specific needs.
• Cost-Effective Solution
  Several users found the pricing reasonable compared to competitors while still delivering robust features.
• Comprehensive Documentation
  Users appreciated the detailed documentation provided by Vapi AI, which simplifies setup and troubleshooting processes.

Cons

• Complex Initial Setup Process
  Some users reported that setting up the platform can be time-consuming and challenging without technical expertise.
• Limited Customization Options in Certain Areas
  While customization is a strength overall, some reviewers felt there were limitations in specific aspects of tailoring the tool for unique use cases.
• Occasional Performance Issues
  A few users experienced intermittent performance problems that impacted reliability during critical tasks.
• Voice Quality Could Be Improved
  Although functional, several reviewers noted that the voice quality lacks a natural tone compared to other solutions on the market.
• Steep Learning Curve for Non-Tech Users
  For those without technical backgrounds or smaller teams with limited resources, adapting to all features can feel overwhelming initially.

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Retell - a quick overview

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Retell AI is a cutting-edge technology company founded in 2023 by Todd Li, Evie Wang, Bing Wu, Weijia Yu, and Zexia Zhang. Based in Saratoga, California, Retell AI specializes in providing a conversational speech API that enables developers to create human-like voice interactions. Their platform is particularly useful for real-time communication and customer service applications, allowing businesses to build AI-powered voice agents for tasks like scheduling appointments.

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Retell AI's solutions cater to contact center operators and small to medium-sized businesses dealing with high call volumes. The company's innovative approach combines large language models with speech models to deliver seamless customer service experiences. In the following section, we'll explore Retell AI's features, pros and cons, pricing, and user reviews, comparing them with other similar platforms like Vapi and Ringly.io.

Retell's Features

• AI-Powered Call Handling
  Retell offers AI agents capable of managing inbound and outbound calls, providing a seamless customer experience. These agents can answer questions, route calls to the right department, and even handle basic troubleshooting. While this is comparable to Vapi’s intelligent call routing and Ringly.io’s AI phone agent capabilities, Retell lacks the advanced customization options for voice personality offered by both competitors.
• Call Transcriptions with Analytics
  Retell provides detailed transcriptions of all customer interactions along with analytics dashboards that track call performance metrics like resolution rates and customer satisfaction. This feature aligns closely with Vapi’s transcription capabilities but falls short compared to Ringly.io's deeper insights into caller mood analysis and actionable suggestions for improvement.
• CRM Integration
  Seamlessly integrating with popular CRM platforms, Retell ensures all call data is synced automatically for better lead tracking and follow-ups. While this matches Vapi’s CRM integration functionality, it does not offer the extensive tool compatibility (7,000+ integrations) provided by Ringly.io.
• No-Code Workflow Builder
  With a drag-and-drop interface similar to Vapi's Flow Studio, users can design custom conversation pathways without needing technical expertise. However, unlike Ringly.io's automation workflows that integrate directly into e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce for abandoned cart recovery or order status updates in real-time, Retell lacks such specialized e-commerce features.
• 24/7 Availability
  Like its competitors Vapi and Ringly.io, Retell operates round-the-clock to ensure no missed opportunities during off-hours. However, it does not include features like emotion detection (Vapi) or personalized appointment booking (Ringly.io), which enhance user engagement further.

While Retell delivers solid foundational features in AI-powered communication tools similar to its competitors' offerings, it misses out on some advanced functionalities that make solutions like Ringly.io stand out as more comprehensive business tools tailored specifically for e-commerce needs.

Pros

• High Voice Recognition Accuracy Users consistently praised Vapi AI for its advanced voice recognition capabilities, which make interactions smooth and natural.
• Ease of Integration Many reviewers highlighted how easy it is to integrate Vapi AI into existing systems, making it a developer-friendly tool.
• Customizable Settings The platform offers various customization options that allow businesses to tailor the AI’s behavior to their specific needs.
• Cost-Effective Solution Several users found the pricing reasonable compared to competitors while still delivering robust features.
• Comprehensive Documentation Users appreciated the detailed documentation provided by Vapi AI, which simplifies setup and troubleshooting processes.

Cons

• Complex Initial Setup Process Some users reported that setting up the platform can be time-consuming and challenging without technical expertise.
• Limited Customization Options in Certain Areas While customization is a strength overall, some reviewers felt there were limitations in specific aspects of tailoring the tool for unique use cases.
• Occasional Performance Issues A few users experienced intermittent performance problems that impacted reliability during critical tasks.
• Voice Quality Could Be Improved Although functional, several reviewers noted that the voice quality lacks a natural tone compared to other solutions on the market.
• Steep Learning Curve for Non-Tech Users For those without technical backgrounds or smaller teams with limited resources, adapting to all features can feel overwhelming initially.

Pricing - Vapi vs Retell

Note: The pricing information below is accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, please visit each company's pricing page.

Vapi pricing

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Retell pricing

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Ringly.io pricing

Ringly.io delivers the perfect balance of affordability and features. Unlike competitors who force you into expensive tiers, Ringly.io includes all core features even in its free plan. The simple, transparent pricing scales based on your actual usage, with no surprise fees.

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Online customer reviews: Vapi vs Retell

Vapi Overview

Vapi is a conversational AI tool designed for developers, offering great API's for building voice AI applications. It has received 19 reviews across Product Hunt and Trustpilot with an average rating of 4.4 stars, indicating generally positive feedback.

What users are saying about Vapi:

"Amazing tool as well as support" - John Doe, E-commerce Manager. This tool has been a game-changer for our business. The setup was quick and easy even for non-technical users...

"Needs better integrations" - Jane Smith, Operations Lead. While the core functionality is great, it lacks seamless integration with some of our existing tools...

Retell Overview

Retell specializes in voice-based conversational AI agents tailored to automate customer interactions. It has garnered 8 reviews on Product Hunt, achieving an average rating of 4.5 stars, reflecting strong user satisfaction.

What users are saying about Retell:

"Super intuitive platform!" - Alex Johnson, Customer Success Manager. The interface is incredibly user-friendly and the voice quality feels natural...

"Limited scalability options" - Emily Carter, Tech Consultant. It works well for small-scale operations but struggles when handling high call volumes or complex workflows...

What users are saying about Ringly.io:

Ringly.io is known for its simplicity, and a focus on e-commerce, with features like abandoned cart recovery and order status lookups. It has a 4.8 star rating from 12 reviews on Product Hunt and other platforms.

"it stands out significantly ahead" - Bertrand, Director. We are at the initial stage of testing and have made only a few calls so far. Consequently, I have rated the product with four stars for now. However, I must express that the product has shown significant promise. When compared to competitors, it stands out significantly ahead.

"This is such a great product" - Jim Miranda, Founder. This is such a great product. I have been with you for less than a week and already closed 3 deals with it."

"It really sounds like a human" - Laix, Founder. Tried Ringly.io today and the quality of the phone calls surprises me! It really sounds like a human, and it reacts really fast. Will need to deploy it in action to see the full capabilities.

"How to automate customer service? -> Ringly.io" - Sidra Husnain, Founder.

Vapi vs Retell: Which is best for you?

Who Vapi is best for…

• Tech-savvy businesses or developer teams that want to create highly customized voice agents with deep integrations and advanced automation.
• Large enterprises needing to handle millions of concurrent calls with speed and reliability.
• Global companies looking to support customers in over 100 languages and deploy voice bots across multiple regions.
• Companies with in-house dev teams who aren't afraid of a more complex setup in exchange for powerful customization options.

Who Retell is best for…

• Small to midsize businesses needing a reliable voice agent that can handle basic tasks and customer questions.
• Teams looking for easy call transcripts and performance tracking to improve customer service without diving too deep into AI customization.
• Contact centers that want to automate routine calls but don’t need advanced ecommerce features or integrations.
• Businesses wanting a pay-as-you-go option to experiment with AI calling without upfront commitment.

Who Ringly.io is best for…

• Ecommerce stores and online businesses that want instant impact with features like cart recovery, product recommendations, and order status updates.
• Busy founders and small teams who need an AI phone agent that just works—without any code, set up in minutes.
• Any size business looking for an all-in-one voice automation platform with human-like quality, flexible pricing, and no hidden fees.
• Teams that want to grow fast with real-time support automation and sales follow-ups—automated right out of the box.

While Vapi and Retell are both strong tools—especially for developers and structured call centers—Ringly.io stands out as the best overall choice for most modern businesses. It’s powerful enough for large teams, simple enough for startups, and thoughtfully designed for ecommerce and growth-focused brands. With flexible pricing, all-included features even at the free tier, and a platform that feels human, Ringly.io offers serious impact with zero fuss.

Why Ringly.io is a Better Choice

Highly Rated: 4.8/5

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Founded in 2024 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by Maurizio Isendoorn and Ruben Boonzaaijer, Ringly.io is revolutionizing e-commerce customer service with AI phone agents.Designed for online businesses, Ringly handles customer calls on autopilot—solving support issues, recovering abandoned carts, and even boosting sales—at just 20% of the cost of human agents.‍

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With 1,300+ customers, Ringly.io is the go-to solution for e-commerce stores looking to scale without scaling their support team. With award-winning technology (BubbleCon 2024's "Most Innovative App"), Ringly.io transforms your phone system into a revenue-driving powerhouse—without the headaches of traditional call centers.‍

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Features that make Ringly.io the #1 alternative to Vapi and Retell:

No-code setup, instant results – Ringly.io is ready to go in minutes. Just add your website, docs, or text—no engineering required—and your AI phone agent instantly understands your business. It even updates automatically as your website changes.‍‍‍

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AI-powered sales & support – Ringly.io does both inbound and outbound calls. Recover 35%+ of abandoned carts with automated follow-up calls, provide real-time order tracking from Shopify, and convert more customers with personalized AI-driven conversations—not just reactive support.‍‍

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Advanced analytics for smarter decisions – Ringly.io gives you real-time call data, customer intent tracking, and performance reports—helping you optimize support and sales strategies.‍‍‍

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Scalable pricing without enterprise contracts – Ringly.io offers transparent, scalable pricing—pay for what you use, no locked-in contracts.‍

Final Thoughts

All three platforms—Vapi, Retell, and Ringly.io—bring powerful voice AI capabilities to the table. But depending on your goals, technical know-how, and business type, the right solution can vary pretty significantly.

Here’s a quick recap to help you make the right call:

• Vapi is best for technical teams and large enterprises looking to go deep on customization, scale to millions of concurrent calls, and control every aspect of voice AI infrastructure.
• Retell shines for smaller businesses and contact centers that need a dependable voice agent with core features like transcription, basic automation, and easy CRM integrations—without overwhelming complexity.
• Ringly.io is the ideal choice for fast-moving businesses that want AI voice agents to drive support, sales, and conversions—no coding required. It combines human-like phone experiences with instant results, purpose-built for online businesses.

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While all platforms have their strengths, Ringly.io quietly delivers the best of both worlds: the power and scalability of platforms like Vapi, paired with the ease of use and business focus that Retell aims for. It’s the only solution that truly understands the needs of modern, growing brands—and meets them without added friction.

So whether you're a scrappy startup recovering abandoned carts or a scaling DTC brand optimizing support, Ringly.io gives you everything you need out of the box—no dev team, no delays, no overheard tech talk. Just results.

Ready to see what AI voice agents can really do?

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Want to compare other players in the market? Check out our other comparisons:

• Vapi vs Bland
• Vapi alternatives
• Retell vs Synthflow
• Retell vs Bland
• Retell vs Goodcall
• Retell vs Poly AI
• Retell AI alternatives