Retell AI vs Five9: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Retell AI and Five9 comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Retell AI
Automate customer interactions with human-sounding AI voice agents
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • You need AI voice features specifically
- • Automates phone calls, chat, and SMS with human-like AI voice agents.
- • Features low-latency, natural conversations powered by LLMs and proprietary turn-taking models.
Five9
Intelligent cloud contact center
Best for you if:
- • You need customer support features specifically
- • Five9 offers an AI-powered contact center solution, Five9 Genius AI, for enhanced customer experiences.
- • The platform provides flexible solution packages with omnichannel support and integrations for CRM and UC systems.
| At a Glance |  Retell AI |  Five9 |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | $119/moDigital |
Best For | AI Voice | Customer Support |
Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.1/5 |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Choose Retell AI or Five9?
Choose Retell AI if
Automate customer interactions with human-sounding AI voice agents
- Delivers highly natural and human-like AI conversations with low latency.
- Offers extensive configurability and control over AI agent behavior.
- Supports complex, multi-turn conversations and handles edge cases effectively.
- You want a free tier before you commit
- Your work is AI voice-shaped, not customer support-shaped
Choose Five9 if
Intelligent cloud contact center
- Leverages AI (Five9 Genius AI) for agentic CX, enabling seamless, personalized, and effortless customer experiences.
- Offers a highly flexible and scalable platform with five distinct solution packages (Digital, Core, Plus, Pro, Enterprise) to cater to diverse business needs and growth.
- Provides comprehensive omnichannel support including voice, chat, email, SMS/MMS, and social messaging.
- Your work is customer support-shaped, not AI voice-shaped
| Feature | Retell AI | Five9 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| User Rating | ★4.8/5 1,472 reviews | ★4.1/5 1,043 reviews |
| Categories | AI VoiceAI Agents | Customer SupportAI Agents |
In-Depth Analysis
Retell AI
Automate customer interactions with human-sounding AI voice agents
Strengths
- +Delivers highly natural and human-like AI conversations with low latency.
- +Offers extensive configurability and control over AI agent behavior.
- +Supports complex, multi-turn conversations and handles edge cases effectively.
- +Provides robust testing, QA, and analytics tools for continuous optimization.
- +Integrates with existing telephony and offers multi-channel communication capabilities.
Weaknesses
- -Pricing model is usage-based and can become complex with multiple add-ons and LLM choices.
- -Requires some technical understanding for full customization and API integration.
- -Reliance on external LLMs means performance can be influenced by third-party models.
Key features
Five9
Intelligent cloud contact center
Five9's pricing, starting at $119/month for Digital and $159/month for Core, is on the higher end for cloud contact center solutions, especially considering the Digital tier lacks voice.
Watch out
Potential for high custom pricing on advanced tiers
Strengths
- +Leverages AI (Five9 Genius AI) for agentic CX, enabling seamless, personalized, and effortless customer experiences.
- +Offers a highly flexible and scalable platform with five distinct solution packages (Digital, Core, Plus, Pro, Enterprise) to cater to diverse business needs and growth.
- +Provides comprehensive omnichannel support including voice, chat, email, SMS/MMS, and social messaging.
- +Integrates with popular CRM (Salesforce, ServiceNow, Dynamics, Zendesk, Oracle) and UC (Microsoft Teams, Zoom, RingCentral, ATT Office@hand) platforms.
- +Includes robust Workforce Engagement Management (WEM) solutions with options for Five9's own WEM or integration with partners like Verint (VCS) or Calabrio.
Weaknesses
- -Pricing for 'Plus', 'Pro', and 'Enterprise' packages requires direct sales contact, lacking transparent upfront costs for advanced features.
- -Some features, such as WhatsApp integration and additional usage-based pricing for certain functionalities, are noted as coming soon or may incur extra costs.
- -A minimum of 50 seats is required for concurrent user pricing, which might be a barrier for very small businesses.
Key features
Pricing: Retell AI vs Five9
| Plan | Retell AI | Five9 |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | N/A | $119 Digital |
| Tier 2 | N/A | $159 Core |
| Tier 3 | N/A | Custom Plus |
| Tier 4 | N/A | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Retell AI pricing and Five9 pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Retell AI has a free tier. Five9 is paid only.
Go with: Retell AI
Want the highest-rated option?
Retell AI: 4.8/5 (1,472 reviews). Five9: 4.1/5 (1,043 reviews).
Go with: Retell AI
Value user reviews?
Retell AI: 1,472 reviews (4.8/5). Five9: 1,043 reviews (4.1/5).
Go with: Retell AI
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Retell AI is freemium. Five9 is paid. Retell AI lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Retell AI is a AI voice tool. Five9 is in customer support. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Retell AI is rated higher: 4.8/5 vs 4.1/5.
Key Takeaways
Five9
- Our pick for this comparison
Retell AI
- Has a free tier
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.1/5
- Larger review base (1,472 reviews)
- Better fit for AI voice
The Bottom Line
Five9 is our pick. Retell AI has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Retell AI or Five9 better?
Five9 is rated in our evaluation. Retell AI is freemium and Five9 is paid.
What are Retell AI and Five9 used for?
Retell AI: Automate customer interactions with human-sounding AI voice agents. Five9: Intelligent cloud contact center.
What does Retell AI cost vs Five9?
Retell AI is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Five9 is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.