Bland AI API + MCP vs ElevenLabs Agents API + MCP

Bland AI API + MCP

One per-minute rate covering STT, LLM, TTS and telephony, $0.14 on Start and $0.12 on Build. No OpenAPI document.

ElevenLabs Agents API + MCP

API keys scoped to endpoint groups, with per-key credit limits and service accounts. $0.08 a minute excludes LLM tokens and carrier minutes.

Bland AI API + MCP

1. Call wait_for_call (it waits up to 45 seconds) instead of polling get_call_log
2. Send destructive MCP tools a second time with the confirmation argument
3. Space calls to the same number at least 10 seconds apart or expect a 429
4. Budget $0.015 for every outbound attempt, including ones that never connect
5. Run validate_pathway before saving a pathway graph

ElevenLabs Agents API + MCP

1. Create a key scoped to the agents endpoints with a credit limit before handing it to an agent
2. Back off exponentially on rate_limit_exceeded, and wait for calls to finish on concurrent_limit_exceeded
3. Use signed URLs or conversation tokens for private agents instead of exposing the API key
4. Set platform_settings.privacy.retention_days where you don't need 2 years of history
5. Pick a low-latency LLM, the pipeline waits on it every turn