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Comparison LabCompare 27 voice AI platforms and components across seven buying contexts, with sourced capabilities, current price captures and visible unknowns.Voice AI Price Index: prices, evidence and historyUnderstand the complete voice-agent cost stack: models, voice, transcription, telephony, subscriptions, capacity and add-ons.Know the cost before the first callEstimate monthly voice-agent costs, AI minutes, setup expenses and volume scenarios using your own transparent assumptions.AI voice agents for dentalAppointments, rescheduling and after-hours calls—with a person ready for clinical questions. Explore call flows, safe automation, integrations, tests and cost considerations.

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AssemblyAI vs Telnyx

AssemblyAI is positioned as transcription APIs for live and recorded audio, with model-specific language and analysis options. Telnyx is positioned as voice-agent infrastructure combining a carrier network with hosted speech and m

The decision in context

AssemblyAI is positioned as transcription APIs for live and recorded audio, with model-specific language and analysis options. Telnyx is positioned as voice-agent infrastructure combining a carrier network with hosted speech and model services. Start by deciding who owns the missing layers, then inspect the documented differences below.

STT and Full Platforms are different product categories. An underlying engine or framework is not a complete substitute for a deployed agent workflow.

16 jointly documented catalog fields. This measures evidence coverage, not equivalent quality or an overall winner.

Compare for the job

Test opening hours, booking conflicts and an unanswered transfer.

2 of 4 slots
AssemblyAITelnyx
Decision signals / differences first

Start where the records differ.

6 of 8 priority fields differ

Values and evidence states are compared together. Shared facts follow the differences; Unknown never means No.

Selected platforms: buyer-critical differences before detailed dimensions
Decision pointAssemblyAITelnyx
Billing unitDifferent records
Async audio hours; streaming connection hours; agent session minutes; gateway tokensVerified Yes · 2026-09-28
minuteVerified Yes · 2026-09-28Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Bring your telephonyDifferent records
YesVerified Yes · 2026-09-28
UnknownUnknown after research · 2026-09-28Documented product/configuration only; see research notes
Bring your modelDifferent records
YesVerified Yes · 2026-09-28
UnknownUnknown after research · 2026-09-28Documented product/configuration only; see research notes
Warm transferDifferent records
UnknownUnknown after research · 2026-09-28
YesConditional · 2026-09-28ai_assistant_start; single caller; configured warm message
HIPAA pathDifferent records
YesConditional · 2026-09-28Contract-covered AssemblyAI services · Sales-confirmed agreement
YesVendor claim · 2026-09-28Eligible services and Telnyx-hosted AI path · BAA-covered account
WebhooksDifferent records
YesConditional · 2026-09-28Unknown
YesVerified Yes · 2026-09-28API / webhookDocumented product/configuration only; see research notes
Your requirements & next steps
Carried from your shortlist

Your requirements

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Ready-made / AI receptionist · Strict evidence mode

No personal requirements yet. Add criteria in Advanced Filter to prioritize this comparison.

Unknown ≠ No
Evidence, side by sideNo benchmark scores
TelnyxFull Platforms
Pricing model
AssemblyAI
component-stackVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

STT hours/session duration, agent minutes, gateway tokens and add-ons remain distinct.

Telnyx
component-stackVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Headline / base price
AssemblyAI
Universal-2 async / Universal-Streaming $0.15/hour; U3.5 Pro async $0.21/hour; U3 realtime $0.45/hour; Voice Agent $0.075/minVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Model rates are scoped; add-ons stack; reference states updated May 29, 2026 and conflicts are retained.

Telnyx
$0.05/min Voice AI engineVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Billing unit
AssemblyAI
Async audio hours; streaming connection hours; agent session minutes; gateway tokensVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Idle streaming connection duration is billable. No fabricated all-in phone cost per minute.

Telnyx
minuteVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Platform fee
AssemblyAI
No base monthly subscription on PAYG; SSO add-on is separately monthlyVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

SSO costs $199 per connection per month; do not mistake no base fee for no fixed optional charges.

Telnyx
PAYG $0 monthly fee; Committed $500 monthly minimum; Enterprise $5,000 minimumVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Included usage
AssemblyAI
New-account $50 credits for listed speech APIs; LLM Gateway excludedVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Not a fixed monthly audio allowance; credits do not expire.

Telnyx
Engine includes standard STT/TTS; not LLM and carrierVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Overage
AssemblyAI
PAYG rates after credits; access pauses at exhausted balance without fundingVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

No invented bundle overage.

Telnyx
Engine rounds each call to 60 seconds; recording $0.002/min; US local number $1/monthVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Pass-through costs
AssemblyAI
Twilio carrier; optional custom/Gateway LLM; standalone STT add-ons and per-channel billingVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Component choices and call mix must be specified.

Telnyx
LLM token usage, carrier from $0.0032/min, recording/storage and number chargesVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Free offer
AssemblyAI
UnknownNot researched

Not yet researched against this buyer-critical field standard.

Telnyx
UnknownUnknown after research · 2026-09-28

60-second call rounding, token usage and carrier destinations require more than aggregate minutes.

PAYG
Complete cost ceiling
AssemblyAI
UnknownUnknown after research · 2026-09-28

No complete phone bill ceiling from minutes alone; carrier, model and addon scope vary.

Telnyx
UnknownUnknown after research · 2026-09-28

60-second call rounding, token usage and carrier destinations require more than aggregate minutes.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
What remains unresolved
AssemblyAI
UnknownUnknown after research · 2026-09-28

No complete phone bill ceiling from minutes alone; carrier, model and addon scope vary.

Telnyx
60-second call rounding, token usage and carrier destinations require more than aggregate minutes.Verified Yes · 2026-09-28

Research conclusion about cost completeness, not a vendor capability.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG

Anyone with this link can view the encoded decision criteria.

Vendor documentation establishes a claim. Public model benchmarks are separate context, not measurements of these platforms.

Open saved comparison ↗

What to verify together.

AssemblyAI

A transcription hour is not a complete agent hour.

Universal-2 async / Universal-Streaming $0.15/hour; U3.5 Pro async $0.21/hour; U3 realtime $0.45/hour; Voice Agent $0.075/min · V3.3 evidence review · Voice Agent API reference; standalone STT is hourly; transport/add-ons separate

Excluded / confirm: Complete cost cannot be established from this reference. No complete phone bill ceiling from minutes alone; carrier, model and addon scope vary. · Twilio carrier; optional custom/Gateway LLM; standalone STT add-ons and per-channel billing

component-stackVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

STT hours/session duration, agent minutes, gateway tokens and add-ons remain distinct.

Read the complete profile →

Telnyx

The $0.05 voice engine is not a complete phone-call price.

$0.05/min Voice AI engine · V3.3 evidence review · Voice AI engine component; token, carrier, recording and number costs separate

Excluded / confirm: Complete cost cannot be established from this reference. 60-second call rounding, token usage and carrier destinations require more than aggregate minutes. · LLM token usage, carrier from $0.0032/min, recording/storage and number charges

component-stackVerified Yes · 2026-09-28

Reviewed current public offer; retain original billing scope and units.

Documented product/configuration only; see research notes · PAYG
Read the complete profile →

The evidence overlap.

Both records have documented values for Product type, Call direction, Technical setup, Pricing model, Published numeric pricing, Call recording, Realtime / streaming audio, AssemblyAI STT, OpenAI models, Anthropic models, Function / tool calling, Interruption controls and additional fields shown in Compare. Matching availability does not measure behavior under your call conditions.

Run the same booking, tool failure and unsuccessful human-transfer cases. Record both outcomes and billable units before signing a deployment agreement.

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Editorial index gate: noindex-cross-category. Different product layers. This pair is useful for architecture inspection, not a like-for-like purchase ranking.