Air AI vs Vapi (Tried, Compared) – Which is best?

See how Air AI and Vapi compare to each other (and to Ringly.io) to help you decide what is the best platform for you.
Last updated on
April 24, 2025
Maurizio Isendoorn, Co-Founder at Ringly.io
Maurizio Isendoorn
Co-Founder

Struggling to pick between Air AI and Vapi? You’re not alone—the endless lists of features, confusing pricing, and mixed user reviews can make your head spin. But you deserve a tool that truly fits your needs and ends the hassle for good. By the end of this article, you’ll feel totally confident in your choice. We’ll cover:

  • Key features of Air AI and Vapi (what sets them apart?)
  • Pricing breakdowns and real talk on value
  • User experiences: what real people are saying
  • Who each option is best for—and a BETTER alternative you might not have considered

Ready to discover which tool is right for you? Let’s jump in!

Why Ringly.io is the better choice ; )

Built for e-commerce

With experience in both AI and e-commerce, we set out become the best AI phone agent platform for online stores.

Stupid-simple user interface

Super easy to work with, and you can set up things even if you're not tech savvy. If you create a free account you can see it for yourself though!

Quick and easy setup

Pre-built AI phone agents and will have your online store automated in minutes- not hours.

Air AI vs Vapi – TL;DR

Product Area Air AI Vapi Ringly.io
Ease of Setup Clunky for some users Developer skills required Easy no-code onboarding
Customization & Flexibility Limited for complex needs Highly customizable via API Customizable, no-code actions
Call Quality & Realism Human-like, long conversations Instant responses, technical finesse Very natural, fast reactions
Integrations & Automation 5,000+ apps, strong recall API driven, developer focused Deep e-commerce, Zapier no-code
Analytics & Insights Basic reports only Good, developer-level analytics Advanced, actionable analytics
Pricing & Transparency Hidden fees, surprise charges Usage-based, transparent Transparent, simple, no hidden fees
Scalability & Languages Scales well, limited languages 1M+ calls, 100+ languages Scales easily, key language support
Support & Onboarding Mixed, slow refunds/support Standard, developer-oriented Top-rated, fast & friendly

Air AI - a quick overview

Founded in Phoenix, Arizona in 2022 by Caleb Maddix and Ryan O’Donnel, Air AI is redefining business communications with advanced conversational AI voice agents. Designed to handle natural, human-like phone conversations lasting up to 40 minutes, Air AI empowers sales teams and customer service professionals to automate outreach and support at scale.

Air AI’s platform integrates seamlessly with thousands of applications, offering features like autonomous actions across workflows and adaptive dialogue for a truly personalized experience. With a rapidly growing user base and strong industry recognition for innovation, Air AI is quickly becoming the go-to solution for businesses seeking next-generation voice automation. In the following section, we’ll compare Air AI’s features, pros and cons, pricing, and user reviews alongside Vapi and Ringly.io.

Air AI's Features

  • Human-Like Conversational AI
    Air AI delivers extended, natural phone conversations (10–40 minutes) that closely mimic real human speech and tone, making it ideal for sales calls and customer support where authenticity matters. While Vapi also offers conversational agents, Air AI’s focus on long-form dialogue is more advanced than most. Ringly.io matches this realism but adds deeper customization of voice and tone.
  • Infinite Memory & Perfect Recall
    The platform remembers every detail from past interactions, ensuring consistent follow-ups and personalized service. This is valuable for nurturing leads or handling repeat customers. Vapi provides memory features as well, but Air AI’s recall is positioned as “infinite.” Ringly.io similarly retains context but integrates knowledge directly from your business content for even greater accuracy.
  • Autonomous Actions Across 5,000+ Apps
    Air AI can independently perform tasks—like updating CRMs or sending emails—across thousands of applications without human intervention. This streamlines workflows in sales and support. Vapi supports integrations too; however, Ringly.io stands out by allowing custom actions during live calls with no-code tools like Zapier/Make.com.
  • 24/7 Availability & Scalability
    AI agents operate around the clock and handle multiple calls simultaneously at scale (hundreds per hour), reducing labor costs while boosting efficiency. Vapi offers similar uptime but may not match the same call volume capacity. Ringly.io also runs 24/7 with robust analytics to optimize staffing needs based on real data.
  • Cost Efficiency
    By automating routine phone tasks traditionally done by humans, businesses cut operational expenses significantly with Air AI. While both competitors offer cost savings over manual labor, hidden fees have been reported with Air AI that can erode these benefits—a transparency issue not seen in platforms like Ringly.io.
  • Multi-Channel Communication Support
    Air AI supports phone calls plus email and chat channels for versatile customer engagement. This multi-channel approach helps businesses reach customers wherever they are. However, multilingual capabilities are limited compared to some rivals; both Vapi and especially Ringly.io provide broader language options out-of-the-box.
  • Sales & Customer Service Automation
    Designed to automate cold calling campaigns as well as inbound support queries without needing extensive agent training or management oversight, Air AI appeals to teams wanting rapid deployment. Yet users report setup challenges that can slow onboarding—an area where solutions like Ringly.io excel due to their intuitive interfaces tailored for e-commerce use cases.
  • Real-Time Analytics & Insights (Limited)
    While basic reporting exists in Air AI dashboards (call outcomes, durations), detailed analytics such as mood tracking or actionable suggestions are less developed compared to what you’ll find in platforms focused on deep call analysis like Ringly.io—which gives granular insights into why calls succeed or fail so you can improve continuously.

In summary: Air AI excels at scaling realistic outbound/inbound conversations quickly across many apps with strong memory features—but lacks transparency around pricing/features and falls short on advanced analytics or seamless onboarding found elsewhere. For businesses needing instant expertise from their own content base plus richer automation options during live calls—and a smoother user experience—Ringly.io provides a more comprehensive solution built specifically for modern commerce needs.

Air AI Pros and Cons

  • Human-like conversations – Many users praise Air AI’s ability to hold natural-sounding conversations that closely mimic human agents, which enhances customer experience.
  • 24/7 availability – The platform operates around the clock, allowing businesses to offer support or sales engagement at any time without staffing constraints.
  • Scalable for high call volumes – Users appreciate that Air AI can handle thousands of concurrent calls simultaneously, making it suitable for rapidly growing businesses or those with fluctuating demand.
  • Cost efficiency – By automating tasks typically handled by humans (like customer service or sales calls), companies report significant savings in operational costs.
  • Integration with multiple applications – The system can autonomously perform actions across thousands of apps (over 5,000), streamlining workflows and reducing manual work for teams.

Cons

  • Pricing concerns & hidden fees – Several reviewers mention unexpected charges or costly upgrades after initial sign-up; some even cite unauthorized billing as a major issue. Ringly.io’s transparent pricing structure helps avoid these surprises.
  • Setup challenges & onboarding issues – Users often find the initial setup process confusing or difficult to navigate without substantial support resources. Ringly.io offers guided onboarding to ensure a smoother start.
  • Technical glitches & reliability problems – Reports include occasional bugs such as the system getting stuck in loops during conversations or experiencing latency issues that disrupt user experience.
  • Limited customization options – Businesses needing highly tailored workflows sometimes find Air AI inflexible compared to other solutions; this can hinder adoption in complex environments where adaptability is key.
  • Customer support responsiveness & refund difficulties – Some customers complain about slow responses from support teams when issues arise—especially regarding refunds—with several describing “ghosting” after payment has been made. Ringly.io prioritizes responsive customer care so users aren’t left waiting.

These insights reflect what real users are saying about their experiences with Air AI—both what they love and where they see room for improvement.

Vapi - a quick overview

Vapi, founded in 2020 by Jordan Dearsley and Nikhil Gupta, is a developer platform based in San Francisco. It specializes in creating human-like voice AI agents that can be integrated into various applications, such as call centers and mobile apps. Vapi's platform allows developers to build and deploy voice bots quickly, offering a flexible and scalable solution for businesses looking to enhance their voice operations.

Vapi's core function is to provide APIs for engineering teams to design custom conversation flows and integrate voice agents into existing systems. The company has recently raised $20 million in Series A funding to further develop its AI voice agent capabilities. In the following section, we'll explore Vapi's features, pros and cons, pricing, and user reviews, comparing them with other voice AI platforms like Air AI and Ringly.io.

Vapi's features

  • Turbo latency optimizations – Vapi leverages GPU inference, intelligent caching, and low-latency audio streaming to deliver near-instant responses during calls. This ensures conversations feel smooth and natural, even at scale. While Air AI also focuses on realistic interactions, Vapi’s technical emphasis on speed is a standout for developers building real-time applications. Ringly.io matches this with instant order lookups and SMS sending but targets business outcomes rather than just raw speed[6].
  • Interruptions – The platform recognizes when a caller pauses or interrupts the bot, allowing for more human-like back-and-forth. This makes customer interactions less robotic compared to some AI systems that talk over users or miss conversational cues. Air AI offers advanced conversation logic but doesn’t highlight interruption handling as clearly; Ringly.io’s focus is more on actionable business tasks than nuanced dialogue flow[6].
  • Proprietary endpointing model – Vapi uses its own model to detect when someone has finished speaking without cutting them off mid-sentence or leaving awkward silences. This leads to seamless call experiences—especially important in support scenarios where clarity matters most. While Air AI touts “infinite memory” for context retention, it doesn’t emphasize this level of conversational finesse[6].
  • Scale to 1M+ concurrent calls – Built atop Kubernetes clusters, Vapi can handle over a million simultaneous calls reliably—ideal for enterprises needing massive outbound campaigns or high-volume support lines. Air AI claims scalability too but does not specify numbers; Ringly.io prioritizes deep integration with e-commerce platforms over sheer call volume capacity[6].
  • Function calling – Developers can program voicebots to perform actions like booking appointments or retrieving data during live calls via API integrations (including Pipedream). This enables sophisticated automation within phone conversations—a feature that aligns closely with Ringly.io’s custom actions capability but requires more developer involvement than the no-code approach offered by Ringly.io[6][9].
  • WebRTC streaming – Using industry-standard protocols (like those in Google Meet), Vapi delivers high-quality audio streams with minimal lag and strong fault tolerance—crucial for global teams and remote operations. While both competitors offer reliable service quality, this technical detail may appeal most to engineering teams seeking granular control[6].
  • On-prem provider deployments – For organizations needing tighter security or lower latency (such as financial services), Vapi supports private infrastructure deployment—not just cloud hosting—which isn’t highlighted by Air AI or Ringly.io at present[6].
  • Multilingual support – Voice agents built on Vapi can converse in 100+ languages out-of-the-box, making it easy to serve international audiences without extra configuration work. Both Air AI and Ringly.io offer multilingual capabilities; however, only Vapi foregrounds broad language coverage as a core feature from the start[6].
  • Private internet backbone – By routing traffic through its own network infrastructure instead of relying solely on public...

Air AI Pros and Cons

  • Human-like conversations – Many users praise Air AI’s ability to hold natural-sounding conversations that closely mimic human agents, which enhances customer experience.
  • 24/7 availability – The platform operates around the clock, allowing businesses to offer support or sales engagement at any time without staffing constraints.
  • Scalable for high call volumes – Users appreciate that Air AI can handle thousands of concurrent calls simultaneously, making it suitable for rapidly growing businesses or those with fluctuating demand.
  • Cost efficiency – By automating tasks typically handled by humans (like customer service or sales calls), companies report significant savings in operational costs.
  • Integration with multiple applications – The system can autonomously perform actions across thousands of apps (over 5,000), streamlining workflows and reducing manual work for teams.

Cons

  • Pricing concerns & hidden fees – Several reviewers mention unexpected charges or costly upgrades after initial sign-up; some even cite unauthorized billing as a major issue.
  • Setup challenges & onboarding issues – Users often find the initial setup process confusing or difficult to navigate without substantial support resources.
  • Technical glitches & reliability problems – Reports include occasional bugs such as the system getting stuck in loops during conversations or experiencing latency issues that disrupt user experience.
  • Limited customization options – Businesses needing highly tailored workflows sometimes find Air AI inflexible compared to other solutions; this can hinder adoption in complex environments where adaptability is key.
  • Customer support responsiveness & refund difficulties – Some customers complain about slow responses from support teams when issues arise—especially regarding refunds—with several describing “ghosting” after payment has been made.

These insights reflect what real users are saying about their experiences with Air AI—both what they love and where they see room for improvement.

Pricing - Air AI vs Vapi

Note: The pricing information below is accurate at the time of writing and may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date pricing, please visit each company's pricing page.

Air AI pricing

Plan/Model Price Structure Key Features Contract Length
Pay-as-you-go (Outbound) $0.11 per minute (dial + talk time) Outbound sales & marketing calls
CRM integration
AI-driven conversations
No long-term contract; monthly billing[1][4][10]
Pay-as-you-go (Inbound) $0.32 per minute (talk time only) Customer support
Handles incoming inquiries
AI with infinite memory
No long-term contract; monthly billing[1][4][10]
API/Roleplay Calls $0.32 per minute Training simulations
Interactive customer service roles via API
No long-term contract; monthly billing[4]
Enterprise License $25,000–$100,000 upfront + usage fees Full platform access
Advanced integrations (>5,000 apps)
Bespoke support
Custom/negotiated contracts[3][10]

Vapi pricing

Plan / Tier Price / Billing Key Features Contract Length Cancellation Fees Refund Policy
Free Tier / Developer Plan $0 (includes $10 credit) Limited monthly API calls (approx. 5,000–10,000), basic features, standard support Monthly; no contract No Yes (pro-rata for unused prepaid amounts)
Pay-As-You-Go $0.05/minute + add-ons Unlimited usage; core voice AI features; analytics; Flow Studio; pay only for what you use Monthly No Yes (pro-rata)
Phone Numbers $2/month per number Purchase phone numbers through Vapi Monthly No
Growth/Business Custom pricing Higher API call volumes, more advanced features and support
Enterprise Custom quote Priority support, custom SLAs, volume discounts

Add-on Costs:
- Telephony: Charged at cost via providers like Twilio/Vonage
- Voice Model: Charged at cost via ElevenLabs or similar
- LLM/AI Model: Charged at cost via Gemini/ChatGPT/etc.
- Transcription: Charged at cost via Deepgram/OpenAI

Key Notes:
- Contract Length: Most plans are monthly with no long-term commitment required. Annual commitments may be available for enterprise customers but are not mandatory.
- Discounts: Volume discounts and custom rates may be negotiated on enterprise plans.
- Cancellation Fees: There are no cancellation fees or penalties for downgrading/canceling standard monthly plans. However, some third-party contracts might have their own terms.
- Refund Policy: If you prepay and cancel before the end of your term, Vapi will refund any unused portion on a pro-rata basis.

Ringly.io pricing

Ringly.io delivers the perfect balance of affordability and features. Unlike competitors who force you into expensive tiers, Ringly.io includes all core features even in its free plan. The simple, transparent pricing scales based on your actual usage, with no surprise fees.

Plan Tiers Price Features Contract Length Cancellation Fees Refund Policies
Free $0 10 call minutes, all core features No contract No 110% money-back guarantee
Do It Yourself $21–$999/month based on minutes 1 phone number, all features included Monthly
Done With You $69–$1,179/month based on minutes 3 phone numbers, setup help, faster support Monthly
Done For You Custom pricing Custom setup, premium support Custom

Online customer reviews: Air AI vs Vapi

Air AI

Air AI is a SaaS platform offering out-of-the-box AI phone agents, known for its real-time automation and conversational capabilities. It targets small businesses with limited technical resources but has faced criticism from larger enterprises due to its pricing model and integration limitations.

Total Reviews: 8 on G2, 15 on Capterra, 12 on Product Hunt (approx. 35 total)

Average Rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars (G2), 4.8 out of 5 stars (Product Hunt)

What users are saying about Air AI:

"Game-changer"Bryan S., Small Business Owner
Air AI has transformed our customer engagement... the automation features save us hours every week and the setup was surprisingly easy...

"Frustrating experience"Anonymous Reviewer, Agency License Holder
The high upfront license fees are hard to justify... we struggled to get refunds when things didn’t work as promised, and deeper API integrations just aren’t there compared to competitors like Vapi or Bland...

Vapi

Vapi is recognized for its developer-friendly conversational AI with robust real-time interaction, scalability, function-calling features, and flexible usage-based pricing.

Total Reviews: 19 reviews on Product Hunt and Trustpilot

Average Rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars

What users are saying about Vapi:

"Flexible & powerful API"Alex T., Software Developer
Vapi’s API made it easy to integrate voice into our app... love the multilingual support and how quickly we could scale up call volumes...

"Limited no-code options"Priya M., Startup Founder
Great for developers but not as user-friendly if you want a plug-and-play solution—competitors like Air offer easier onboarding for non-tech teams...

Note: No additional reviews were found beyond those cited above; always verify feedback across multiple sources before making purchasing decisions.

What users are saying about Ringly.io:

Ringly.io is known for its simplicity, and a focus on e-commerce, with features like abandoned cart recovery and order status lookups. It has a 4.8 star rating from 12 reviews on Product Hunt and other platforms.

"it stands out significantly ahead" - Bertrand, Director. We are at the initial stage of testing and have made only a few calls so far. Consequently, I have rated the product with four stars for now. However, I must express that the product has shown significant promise. When compared to competitors, it stands out significantly ahead.

"This is such a great product" - Jim Miranda, Founder. This is such a great product. I have been with you for less than a week and already closed 3 deals with it."

"It really sounds like a human" - Laix, Founder. Tried Ringly.io today and the quality of the phone calls surprises me! It really sounds like a human, and it reacts really fast. Will need to deploy it in action to see the full capabilities.

"How to automate customer service? -> Ringly.io" - Sidra Husnain, Founder.

Air AI vs Vapi: Which is best for you?

Who Air AI is best for…

  • Sales teams who need lots of outbound calling – Air AI shines if your business needs to make a high volume of realistic, long-form phone calls for sales or cold outreach, and you want the calls to sound natural and human.
  • Small to medium businesses looking for “plug and play” phone agents – If you don’t have an in-house developer, Air AI’s out-of-the-box setup (even if a bit clunky) may be appealing compared to more technical platforms like Vapi.
  • Companies wanting basic app integrations and 24/7 availability – Automate repetitive calls, update CRMs, or answer FAQs any time, day or night.
  • Teams with a flexible budget – If up-front fees, pricing complexity, or hidden charges aren’t a large concern for you, Air AI has rapid call scaling potential.

Who Vapi is best for…

  • Engineering teams and developers – Vapi is built for makers who want to design their own voice bots, control every detail, and plug APIs directly into their apps or systems.
  • Tech companies handling huge call volumes – If you need to handle hundreds of thousands (or even millions) of simultaneous calls for enterprise-scale projects, Vapi’s scalable infrastructure is a major plus.
  • Startups and businesses with global audiences – Vapi offers voice AI in 100+ languages right out of the box, perfect for international support lines or multilingual self-service solutions.
  • Teams needing private, secure call routing – If strict data privacy or low-latency internal networks are important, Vapi’s on-premise deployment and private backend options are a unique selling point.

Who Ringly.io is best for…

  • Any business seeking simple, reliable AI phone agents – Ringly.io handles support, cart recovery, and product recommendations on autopilot—no technical skills needed and onboarding is easy for everyone.
  • Cost-conscious companies (of any size) – Transparent pricing, no hidden fees, and a free plan that includes all core features make it easy to start and scale without worrying about surprise costs.
  • Businesses wanting quick results—especially in e-commerce – If you want abandoned cart recovery, live order lookups, or customer care with zero fuss, Ringly.io is tailored for these outcomes.
  • Teams focused on customer experience and insights – Ringly.io offers real, human-like call quality, in-depth analytics, and fast, friendly support if you ever need help.

Why pick Ringly.io overall?
While Air AI and Vapi both have impressive strengths, Ringly.io balances power and simplicity—the whole platform is built so any business (from startups to large brands) can launch real AI voice agents quickly, without the tech headaches or budget surprises. With guided onboarding, top-rated customer support, and a focus on features that make a proven impact (like cart recovery or order updates), Ringly.io is the “best of all worlds” choice for teams that want smart results without complexity.

Why Ringly.io is a Better Choice

Highly Rated: 4.8/5

Founded in 2024 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, by Maurizio Isendoorn and Ruben Boonzaaijer, Ringly.io is revolutionizing e-commerce customer service with AI phone agents.Designed for online businesses, Ringly handles customer calls on autopilot—solving support issues, recovering abandoned carts, and even boosting sales—at just 20% of the cost of human agents.‍

Ringly.io founders: Maurizio and Ruben
Ringly.io founders – Maurizio (left), Ruben (right)

With 1,300+ customers, Ringly.io is the go-to solution for e-commerce stores looking to scale without scaling their support team. With award-winning technology (BubbleCon 2024's "Most Innovative App"), Ringly.io transforms your phone system into a revenue-driving powerhouse—without the headaches of traditional call centers.‍

Features that make Ringly.io the #1 alternative to Air AI and Vapi:

No-code setup, instant results – Ringly.io is ready to go in minutes. Just add your website, docs, or text—no engineering required—and your AI phone agent instantly understands your business. It even updates automatically as your website changes.‍‍‍

Ringly.io page of user's AI phone agents

AI-powered sales & support – Ringly.io does both inbound and outbound calls. Recover 35%+ of abandoned carts with automated follow-up calls, provide real-time order tracking from Shopify, and convert more customers with personalized AI-driven conversations—not just reactive support.‍‍

Ringly.io Call History page

Advanced analytics for smarter decisions – Ringly.io gives you real-time call data, customer intent tracking, and performance reports—helping you optimize support and sales strategies.‍‍‍

Ringly.io Analytics of AI phone agent page

Scalable pricing without enterprise contracts – Ringly.io offers transparent, scalable pricing—pay for what you use, no locked-in contracts.‍

Conclusion: Air AI vs Vapi vs Ringly.io—Which Comes Out On Top?

Choosing an AI phone agent platform can feel overwhelming, but it all comes down to what matters most for your business. Each solution we’ve covered brings unique strengths, yet when you compare them side by side, clear winners emerge depending on your needs:

  • Air AI: Ideal if you want ultra-realistic, long phone conversations and simple integrations—especially for sales teams making tons of outbound calls. However, watch out for tricky onboarding, limited customization, and some unpredictable pricing.
  • Vapi: Perfect for engineering-heavy teams and enterprises who want to build highly customized bots, scale to massive call volumes, and operate worldwide in countless languages. Just keep in mind: more tech skills are needed to get the most from Vapi, and plug-and-play users might struggle.
  • Ringly.io: The go-to for anyone craving simplicity, fast setup, and proven ROI—especially if you’re in e-commerce or want AI to handle both sales and support calls out of the box. Transparent pricing, no-code onboarding, and top-tier call quality round out the package.

So, when should you choose each one?

  • Pick Air AI if natural conversation and outbound sales automation are top priorities, and you have the resources to manage onboarding and variable costs.
  • Go with Vapi if you have a skilled development team, need to operate at serious scale, and want extensive programming control for your voice AI.
  • Choose Ringly.io if you want to launch instantly with no technical hurdles, avoid surprise fees, and focus on growing revenue and customer satisfaction—especially if e-commerce is your game.

Ultimately, Ringly.io stands out for its unmatched blend of power and simplicity. You get all the critical features (abandoned cart recovery, real-time insights, seamless order lookups, and more) without the technical headaches. With clear, affordable plans and world-class support, Ringly.io lets you turn customer calls into real business results—fast. It’s the “best of all worlds” solution if you want your AI voice agents up and running in minutes, not weeks.

Want to compare other players in the market? Check out our other comparisons:

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