Retell AI is a developer-focused platform that lets you create AI-powered voicebots that can make and receive phone calls. If you’re exploring Retell AI for the first time, you might be asking: “Does it cost money to test a bot?”
The short answer is: Yes, testing does involve costs, but Retell AI gives you free credits to get started so you can test without paying anything upfront.
Are There Free Testing Credits on Retell AI?
When you sign up for Retell AI, you receive $10 in free usage credits. This typically gives you about 60 minutes of test time. These minutes are enough to evaluate how the platform works, test conversation flows, and see how the voice and language models perform.
You don’t need a credit card to start. That makes it easy for developers and small teams to try it out risk-free.
When Does Retell AI Start Charging?
Once your $10 in credits runs out, any further usage will be billed based on the services your bot uses. Testing a bot — even if it’s not in production — still consumes platform resources like voice generation, AI processing, and telephony. So, testing = usage after the free credits are gone.
You’ll be charged according to Retell AI’s pay-as-you-go pricing model, which breaks costs down into separate components.
Retell AI’s Pay-As-You-Go Pricing Explained
Retell AI doesn’t charge a subscription fee or lock you into a bundle. You only pay for the features you use.
Voice Engine (Speech Synthesis)
Your bot needs a voice to speak during calls. Retell AI supports several voice providers like ElevenLabs and OpenAI.
- Prices range from $0.07 to $0.08 per minute, depending on the voice you choose
LLM (Large Language Model) Agent
This is the brain behind your bot. You can choose from different AI models like GPT or Claude, each with its own cost.
- Simple models: ~$0.006 per minute
- Advanced, real-time models: ~$0.06 or more per minute
Telephony (Phone Call Minutes)
If you’re connecting your bot to real phone calls using Twilio, there’s an additional cost for the call itself.
- Around $0.01 to $0.015 per minute, depending on the carrier
- You can use your own Twilio setup or Retell’s built-in option
Other Possible Costs to Know About
Depending on your use case, a few other charges may apply:
- Knowledge Base Usage: Some access may be free (e.g., 10 documents), but usage beyond that can be billed
- Phone Number Rental: If you rent a phone number from Retell, a small monthly fee may apply
- Concurrency: If your bot handles multiple calls at once, additional costs could apply
- Branded Caller ID: Optional add-on for business phone identification
These features are all usage-based. You only pay if you use them.
How to Track Usage and Avoid Surprise Costs
The Retell AI dashboard gives you a clear view of your usage and remaining credits. You can:
- See how many minutes your bot has used
- Check which services are driving costs
- Get alerts when your free credit is running low
- Control your bot’s concurrency or disable features to reduce usage
Monitoring usage closely ensures you stay within budget while testing.
Developer-Friendly Setup
Retell AI is designed with developers in mind. It supports:
- A no-code interface for simple testing
- Full API access for deeper control
- A software development kit (SDK) for advanced integrations
- Webhooks and real-time monitoring
You can build and test bots quickly, then scale them as needed.
Summary
Yes, testing a bot on Retell AI does cost money — but not at first.
You get $10 in free credits, which is enough for around 60 minutes of voicebot testing. After that, pricing is pay-as-you-go and based on real usage. You pay only for the AI voices, LLM processing, phone call minutes, and any extra features your bot uses.
This flexible pricing model makes Retell AI a strong option for developers who want to prototype and deploy real voicebots without paying monthly fees.
Want to make the most of your test credits? Start with basic voices and models, track your usage, and scale when you’re ready.