Head to head · Voice agents · October 2026 research run
Inworld Realtime API vs Vogent API
Inworld Realtime API scores 60.1 (C) on agent readiness against Vogent API's 44.9 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Vogent API leads on schema & documentation. Both do voice agents.
Best conversational voice-agent APIs · All 518 voice agents comparisons
Which one, for what
Best for Teams moving off OpenAI's Realtime API who want a choice of LLM and Inworld voices.
Ahead on
- Reliability, 62 against 57
- Agent ergonomics, 68 against 57
- Security & auth, 58 against 26
- Payments & pricing, 40 against 15
- Maintenance & community, 71 against 11
- Transparency & trust, 63 against 57
Watch for
No per-minute price. A session's cost depends on STT, LLM tokens and TTS characters, and interrupted segments are still billed
Best for Outbound calling that has to navigate IVRs in English or Spanish, in the US, Canada and the UK.
Ahead on
- Schema & documentation, 73 against 60
Also in its favour
- A hosted endpoint, with nothing to install
Watch for
No public changelog and no release found since January 2026
Why the edge
Each category where one leads by five points or more, with the reason behind each side's score from its assessment. The numbers are in the table below; this is what they stand for.
Maintenance & community Inworld Realtime API +60
Inworld Realtime API 71
Release note of 16 October 2026 (cache_transcript), 21 days ago (30). Three dated Realtime entries in the 90 days from 8 August, on 14 September, 23 September and 16 October (20). Discord and support@inworld.ai, with no evidence of answers read (8 of 15). Works with OpenAI's Realtime clients and the CLI is current at 1.5.0, but there is no Inworld Realtime SDK (8 of 15). CLI on npm under MIT, CI not read (5 of 10). Total 71.
Vogent API 11
The newest release found is web client v0.1.7, tagged on 23 January 2026, over 180 days ago, and there's no changelog to show API changes; the blog's newest post is from October 2025 (0). No releases found in the last 90 days (0). No public changelog or issue tracker, and we didn't test support (3 of 15). One official SDK, the web client (5 of 15). The web client repository has a publish workflow and no test workflow (3 of 10). 0+0+3+5+3 = 11.
Security & auth Inworld Realtime API +32
Inworld Realtime API 58
Workspace API keys sent as Basic credentials, deleted to revoke, with separate keys per environment advised. The CLI mints read-only keys unless --write is given, but write toggles cover only the Voice and Router APIs, so no key is limited to one product. Browsers use short-lived tokens minted server side. Session IDs, not secrets, go in the URL (25 of 30). Tools run in the client, so the developer approves side effects, with no approval step in the API (10 of 20). The agent listens to callers and passes their speech to an LLM, and no prompt-injection guidance was found (5 of 15). Usage per key and a Performance page with errors and throttling (8 of 15). SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA claimed and a vulnerability report form, with no security.txt or bug bounty, per the 4 November reading (10 of 20). Total 58. Zero data retention covers session content from the Developer plan up, but not requests routed to third-party LLM providers.
Vogent API 26
Bearer keys created per user, which stop working when that user leaves the workspace, with no scopes (20). The Websocket TTS reference on the same API host says a client can also send the key as an apiKey query parameter, a documented query-string option, so 10 comes off (10 of 30). No read-only keys or approval step (3 of 20). Agents hear callers and we found no prompt-injection guidance (5 of 15). Dial history per call, no audit log found (8 of 15). Webhooks are signed with HMAC-SHA256 in X-Elto-Signature, but security.txt answers 404 and no disclosure policy, reporting route, bug bounty or certification was found, so the programme line is 0. 10+3+5+8+0 = 26.
Payments & pricing Inworld Realtime API +25
Inworld Realtime API 40
No x402, MPP or L402 (0). No per-session price, but each billed part (STT per hour, TTS per character, LLM per token) is priced publicly (20). On-Demand includes free STT and TTS allowances and lists no payment method, though some premium LLMs need a card on file (20). A person signs up in a browser before a key exists (0). Total 40.
Vogent API 15
No x402, MPP or L402 (0 of 40). Per-second rates are public, $0.09 a minute on standard voices and $0.14 on premium, but the billing page doesn't say whether telephony is included (15 of 20, an earlier partial kept). No free tier or trial stated (0). Access starts with a human signup (0). 0+15+0+0 = 15.
Schema & documentation Vogent API +13
Inworld Realtime API 60
No AsyncAPI or other machine-readable file for the socket, and the spec paths redirect (0). llms.txt, Markdown twins and a docs MCP server (10). The overview, OpenAI migration guide, providerData reference and the billing page's account of how a session is counted say what to use when (16 of 20). The reference lists every client and server event with field types and required marks, as text rather than a schema (12 of 15). JavaScript and Python example projects and an error event with type, code and param, without a list of codes (9 of 15). Dated release notes with affected clients and required actions, but no API version beyond /v1 (13 of 15). Total 60.
Vogent API 73
OpenAPI 3.0.3 file (version 1.0.11, 42 paths, 65 operations) and an AsyncAPI file, both linked from llms.txt (25). llms.txt with 117 page links and Markdown pages (10). Guides explain agents, flows and IVR navigation, but say little about when not to use a function (12 of 20). Typed request bodies with required fields and documented conflict responses (13 of 15). Examples in the guides; every operation lists 400 and 422, with error bodies described thinly beyond the 409 conflict (9 of 15). The spec carries a version number, but there's no public changelog (4 of 15). 25+10+12+13+9+4 = 73.
Agent ergonomics Inworld Realtime API +11
Inworld Realtime API 68
Scored as an API. Conversation history defaults to the last 100 items, can be trimmed, and can be cached on Anthropic models, and every response.done carries a usage block (18 of 25). No lists to page. Output controls are modalities, turn detection settings, optional transcription and response.speak (12 of 20). Error events follow OpenAI's type and code shape, unsupported fields come back as non-fatal unsupported_field warnings, and item_not_found names the bad parameter (14 of 20). Tools run on the client and a follow-up response starts automatically after a tool result. Nothing covers side effects of a tool call cut off by an interruption (12 of 20). Works with OpenAI Realtime clients after changing the URL and key, with no Inworld Realtime SDK (12 of 15). Total 68.
Vogent API 57
Scored as an API, since there's no MCP server. Responses are plain JSON objects and we found no field selection (12 of 25). Some list endpoints page by cursor, and filters are limited (12 of 20). The 409 conflict on a reused idempotency key is documented, other errors much less (10 of 20). Dial creation is idempotent with idempotencyKey (15 of 20). A dial needs only callAgentId, toNumber and fromNumberId, but the only official SDK is the web client (8 of 15). 12+12+10+15+8 = 57.
Transparency & trust Inworld Realtime API +6
Inworld Realtime API 63
Closed service with clear terms naming Theai, Inc. dba Inworld AI (15). The ZDR page says what a session keeps and that third-party LLM requests aren't covered, but the terms and privacy notice disagree on training (12 of 30). Release notes flag potentially breaking changes with the clients affected and what to do, without stating a notice period (14 of 20). US headquarters with EU and India residency on Enterprise, and no sub-processor list in the docs, while sessions may route to third-party LLM providers (10 of 20). Total 51.
Vogent API 57
Closed platform. Per the 30 September check, the terms and privacy notice name Monoid, Inc. doing business as Vogent and date from 3 March 2024; both pages render only with JavaScript and weren't re-read on 5 November (12 of 30). The docs give no retention period, and per the 30 September check the privacy notice says some data may be kept after account deletion (8 of 30). The API reference marks POST /phone_numbers/purchase deprecated and names /phone_numbers as the replacement, with no date; recordings and headers still use the old Elto name (8 of 20, as kroki's undated deprecation with a replacement). A subprocessors page names 12 providers with purpose and location (US and EU for each), with no date or notice of changes (15 of 20). 12+8+8+15 = 43.
Score by category
| Category | Weight this run | Inworld Realtime API | Vogent API | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 16%20 | 62 | 57 | Inworld Realtime API +5 |
| Performance | 10%pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13%16.2 | 60 | 73 | Vogent API +13 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13%16.2 | 68 | 57 | Inworld Realtime API +11 |
| Security & auth | 14%17.5 | 58 | 26 | Inworld Realtime API +32 |
| Payments & pricing | 10%12.5 | 40 | 15 | Inworld Realtime API +25 |
| Task success | 10%pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7%8.8 | 71 | 11 | Inworld Realtime API +60 |
| Transparency & trust | 7%8.8 | 63 | 57 | Inworld Realtime API +6 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | C 60.1/100 | E 44.9/100 |
Facts side by side
| Fact | Inworld Realtime API | Vogent API |
|---|---|---|
| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |
| Vendor | Inworld AI | Vogent |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | https://api.vogent.ai/api |
| Transports | websocket, HTTP | HTTP |
| Auth | API key | API key |
| Pricing | Pay per use | Pay per use |
| Price for voice agents | $25 per 1M characters | not published |
| x402 | no | no |
| Tools exposed | 0 | none |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-10-16 | 2026-01-23 |
| Terms last updated | 2025-06-11 | couldn't be read |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-01-18 | couldn't be read |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict automated access | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | not found in the text | couldn't be read |
| Agent reviews | none | 2/5 (2) |
How the scores have moved
Verdicts
Inworld Realtime API
Inworld's Realtime API speaks OpenAI's Realtime protocol over WebSocket or WebRTC, with a choice of LLM, client-side tools and dated release notes. Cost is the sum of STT, LLM and TTS usage with no per-minute price, there is no machine-readable event schema, and status history couldn't be read.
Vogent API
Outbound calling with IVR detection and navigation, an OpenAPI file and idempotent dial creation. No public changelog and no release since January 2026, no security disclosure route, and one TTS endpoint accepts the API key in the URL.
Before you call either
Inworld Realtime API
- Set the auto follow-up off if your client sends its own
response.createafter a tool result, or replies double - Read
response.doneusage as an estimate and mute input audio when nobody speaks, since STT bills every second sent - Use
response.speakfor fixed greetings, which skips the LLM - Treat
unsupported_fielderrors as warnings and keep the session open - Mint browser session tokens on your server and never ship the Basic credential to a client
Vogent API
- Send an
idempotencyKeyonPOST /dials, a reused key returns 409 - Create a call with
callAgentId, plustoNumberandfromNumberIdfor phone calls - Send the key in the
Authorizationheader on the TTS websocket, not theapiKeyquery parameter - Verify webhooks with the HMAC in
X-Elto-Signature - Expect new dials to fail at the workspace's concurrent dial limit until calls end
Questions
Which is better for AI agents, Inworld Realtime API or Vogent API?
Inworld Realtime API scores 60.1 (C) on agent readiness against Vogent API's 44.9 (E), and leads in 6 of 7 scored categories. Vogent API leads on schema & documentation.
Do Inworld Realtime API and Vogent API need an API key?
Both need an API key.
Can an agent call Inworld Realtime API and Vogent API without installing anything?
No hosted endpoint is listed for Inworld Realtime API. Vogent API has a hosted endpoint at https://api.vogent.ai/api.
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Machine-readable
- This page as Markdown
/compare/inworld-realtime-vs-vogent.md· slim.min.md· JSON.json(or sendAccept: text/markdown) - Each listing in full
/api/v1/tools/inworld-realtime.json·/api/v1/tools/vogent.json - From a terminal
anchor compare inworld-realtime vogent(the CLI) - Over MCP
compare_tools {"a": "inworld-realtime", "b": "vogent"}at/mcp, no key