Twilio vs Telnyx for AI calling
US per-minute and number prices, media streams for AI, and a 10,000-minute cost example.
Every AI voice agent needs a phone line underneath it, and in the US that line usually comes from Twilio or Telnyx. Both give you phone numbers, inbound and outbound calling, SIP trunking and real-time audio streams for AI. They differ in price, how their network is built, and how much hand-holding you get.
The quick decision
| If you... | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Want the lowest cost per minute and per number | Telnyx | Lower published US rates |
| Want the widest support across voice AI tools | Twilio | Built-in integrations almost everywhere |
| Run high-volume outbound or inbound | Telnyx | Savings grow with minutes |
| Want the largest ecosystem and docs | Twilio | Huge developer community |
| Need numbers in many countries | Either | Both cover many countries; check each one |
US voice pricing side by side
| Twilio | Telnyx | |
|---|---|---|
| Local number | $1.15 a month | $1.00 a month |
| Toll-free number | $2.15 a month | $1.00 a month |
| Outbound call (local) | $0.0140 a minute | About $0.007 a minute (Voice API plus SIP fee) |
| Inbound call (local) | $0.0085 a minute | About $0.0052 a minute (Voice API plus SIP fee) |
| Inbound call (toll-free) | $0.0220 a minute | $0.002 plus the SIP inbound fee |
| Real-time audio stream for AI | $0.0044 a minute (Media Streams) | $0.0035 a minute (Media Streaming) |
Sources: Twilio US voice pricing and Telnyx voice pricing. Telnyx lists the Voice API rate plus a separate SIP trunking fee; the totals above use the examples on its page. Taxes and carrier fees apply on both.
Twilio
Twilio is the default phone layer for a huge number of apps. Most voice AI platforms connect to it out of the box, and its documentation and community are vast.
- Strengths: the biggest ecosystem, mature tools, and integrations with nearly every voice AI platform.
- Weak spots: higher per-minute and per-number prices, which add up at volume.
Telnyx
Telnyx runs its own private IP network and publishes lower rates. It offers SIP trunking, programmable voice, media streaming and its own AI speech options.
- Strengths: lower costs, its own network, and built-in speech-to-text and text-to-speech options.
- Weak spots: a smaller ecosystem, and a few voice AI tools may need extra setup compared with Twilio.
A worked example: 10,000 minutes a month
Say your AI voice agent handles 10,000 inbound local minutes a month on 5 local numbers, with an audio stream to the AI on every call.
| Calls | Streams | Numbers | Estimated total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twilio | 10,000 x $0.0085 = $85 | 10,000 x $0.0044 = $44 | 5 x $1.15 = $5.75 | About $135 |
| Telnyx | 10,000 x about $0.0052 = $52 | 10,000 x $0.0035 = $35 | 5 x $1.00 = $5 | About $92 |
These are our estimates from published pay-as-you-go rates, before taxes, carrier fees and volume discounts. Note that some voice AI platforms bill telephony themselves, so check whether you pay the carrier directly.
Before you pick a carrier
- Check your voice AI platform. See which carriers it supports natively. Platforms such as Retell, Vapi and Bland work with Twilio and Telnyx, often with built-in options.
- Register for outbound. US business calling and texting come with registration and consent rules. Read our calling compliance guide.
- Test call quality. Run test calls from your target area before moving all your numbers.
- Plan number porting. Moving existing numbers takes days to weeks; do it before a busy period, not during one.
Common mistakes
- Choosing on minute price alone. Integration time and call quality matter more at low volume.
- Skipping caller ID registration. Unregistered outbound numbers get flagged as spam.
- Forgetting the audio stream cost. AI calls pay for the stream as well as the call.
- Moving every number at once. Port a few, test, then move the rest.
FAQ
Is Telnyx cheaper than Twilio?
On published US rates, yes, for numbers, calls and media streams. Savings matter most at high volumes.
Which works better with AI voice agents?
Both work with the major voice AI platforms. Twilio has the widest out-of-the-box support; Telnyx is often cheaper and offers its own speech features.
Can I keep my existing business number?
Yes. Both support porting numbers in from other carriers. It takes some time and paperwork.
Do I need my own carrier account at all?
Not always. Some voice AI platforms include telephony in their per-minute price. A direct carrier account gives you more control and often lower costs at volume.
Final verdict
Pick Twilio for the largest ecosystem and the easiest path with most voice AI tools. Pick Telnyx when cost per minute matters and you are comfortable with a slightly smaller ecosystem. At high volume, Telnyx usually wins on price.
Want an AI phone system set up end to end?
We set up the numbers, carrier, voice agent and CRM connection for AI voice agents. Find where leads slip away with our free revenue leak quiz, then book a free strategy call.
Not sure which one fits your business?
We build automations on all of these every week. Tell us what you want to automate and we will tell you which tool, what it costs, and whether it is worth doing.
Book a free strategy call