Side by side
LiveKit Agents vs Pipecat
Both stand on conversational ai platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5
LiveKit Agents offers a framework for realtime agents with flexible deployment, telephony, and observability tools. The free Build tier has defined session and concurrency limits, and Agent Builder is scoped to simple prototypes.
Visit LiveKit Agents
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5
Choose Pipecat if you need an open-source framework for real-time voice or multimodal agents, with self-managed or cloud deployment options. Consider the usage-based cloud charges and separate provider billing when planning to use connected services.
Visit PipecatThe facts
| LiveKit Agents | Pipecat | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Runs on | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Android, API, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Ship: $50 a month | See the plans |
| Plans published | 4 | 7 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | livekit.com | pipecat.ai |
| On conversational ai platforms | #1 of 41 | #2 of 41 |
LiveKit Agents: what it does well
- Supports Python and Node.js realtime participants.
- Agents can process voice, video, and text.
- Supports LLM tools and multi-agent handoffs.
- Native SIP connects agents to phone systems.
- Cloud provides session replay and transcripts.
What to know first
- Build includes only 1,000 agent session minutes.
- Agent Builder is intended for simple voice prototypes.
- PCI DSS and ISO 27001 are in progress.
Pipecat: what it does well
- Open-source ecosystem with a free plan.
- Coordinates voice, video, text, and images.
- Integrates with more than 200 providers and services.
- Offers self-managed and cloud deployment options.
- Supports inbound calls, outbound calls, and human handoff.
What to know first
- Pipecat Cloud hosting is usage-based.
- Third-party services connected with customer keys are billed by their providers.
Alternatives to LiveKit Agents Alternatives to Pipecat The whole list