ElevenLabs vs Vapi
Two of the most-asked-about agents in the voice space. Here's how they actually stack up.
ElevenLabs
AI voice cloning and text-to-speech platform for audiobooks, dubbing, and voice agents
Free + $5/mo
Read full review →Vapi
Developer-focused voice AI platform for building production-grade voice agents via API
Free tier
Read full review →Side-by-side comparison
| ElevenLabs | Vapi | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | AI voice cloning and text-to-speech platform for audiobooks, dubbing, and voice agents | Developer-focused voice AI platform for building production-grade voice agents via API |
| Pricing | Free + $5/mo | Free tier |
| Categories | voice, text-to-speech, conversational-agents | voice-agents, api, conversational-ai |
| Made by | ElevenLabs | Vapi |
| Launched | 2022-08 | 2022 |
| Platforms | Web, API, iOS, Android | API, Web, Phone |
| Status | active | active |
ElevenLabs highlights
- + Voice cloning from a 1-minute audio sample with Professional Voice Cloning on Creator and above
- + Text-to-speech across 32 languages with sub-second latency on the Flash model
- + Conversational AI platform for building real-time voice agents with tool calling and memory
- + Dubbing Studio for translating and lip-syncing video content into 29 languages
- + Sound Effects generator for AI-generated audio from text prompts
Vapi highlights
- + Real-time streaming voice with sub-500ms response latency on most configurations
- + Bring your own LLM: works with OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, Together, and local models
- + Bring your own STT and TTS providers including Deepgram, ElevenLabs, and Play.ht
- + Phone number provisioning and outbound/inbound call management via API
- + Function calling and tool use for external integrations mid-conversation
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, ElevenLabs or Vapi?
Neither is universally better. ElevenLabs (Free + $5/mo) leans into voice, while Vapi (Free tier) is closer to voice-agents. Pick based on which workflow you actually do every day.
What is the price difference between ElevenLabs and Vapi?
ElevenLabs is free + $5/mo. Vapi is free tier. See the pricing row in the comparison table.
Can I use ElevenLabs and Vapi together?
In most cases, yes. They serve overlapping but distinct needs, so running them side by side is common until you decide which fits your workflow.