#1 on EVA-BenchEVA-Bench is ServiceNow's independent benchmark for voice agents in enterprise workflows like customer support. It scores each agent on how accurately it completes the task and on the caller's experience.
#1 on Speech Agent ArenaSpeech Agent Arena is Artificial Analysis' independent benchmark for grading speech to speech models on enterprise tasks using human evaluators.
A Bland AI alternative with a higher-ranked voice
Cartesia agents speak with a voice that ranks above Bland TTS in the Artificial Analysis Speech Arena. Connect your own systems and test calls from your Cartesia dashboard.
Listener rating
Artificial Analysis Speech Arena Elo, September 2026
1276
Sonic 3.6
1036
Bland TTS
Agent price per minute
Each vendor's pricing page, checked October 2026
$0.03
$0.14
Start plan, AI model included
Hear the voice listeners rate above Bland's
Weighing Bland AI? Pick a job, talk to a live Cartesia agent in your browser, then clone it to start building.
Voice quality
Listeners rate Sonic 3.6 above Bland Speech v3
- Artificial Analysis plays listeners two clips of the same line without naming the model, and rates every model on the board the same way.
- Sonic 3.6 leads Bland Speech v3 by more than 250 points.
Provider Voice Arena Elo
Higher is better
What each platform includes
Compare how each platform connects to your systems, handles calls, and bills for usage. Check what is included before choosing a plan.
Agent pricing
Cartesia Managed Agents$0.03/min.Bland AIStart $0.14/min with no platform fee. Build $0.12/min plus $299/month. Both include the AI model, speech recognition, and speech generation.Phone charges
Cartesia Managed AgentsCartesia-provided phone numbers add $0.014/min. Other telephony arrangements use their applicable rates.Bland AITelephony is billed separately at carrier or pass-through cost. Transfer charges depend on the plan and telephony arrangement.External actions
Cartesia Managed AgentsConnect your systems to an agent set up in your Cartesia dashboard or through the API, so it can look up records and take actions during a call.Bland AIPathway nodes can call outside services, run inline JavaScript, use saved tools, and chain several actions in a row.
Reschedule calls against your own booking system
You write the instructions, pick the AI model, and connect your systems.
Connect your business systems
The agent looks up records and updates bookings in your systems during the call.
Let Cartesia run the conversation
Cartesia handles listening and speech. Callers can interrupt or change their mind, and the agent follows.
Bring one call flow to Cartesia
There is no Pathway import, so recreate one call flow by hand and test it first.
Follow the agent configuration guideMap the pathway to one agent
Node prompts go into the agent's instructions, and each action node becomes an action the agent can take.
Test the agent, then move your production calls
Call the agent from your browser with your own bookings and score every call before you move the number.
Frequently asked questions
What do the independent voice benchmarks measure?
The Artificial Analysis chart compares Sonic 3.6 and Bland TTS on listener preference. It measures the speech models, not end-to-end agent response time or task completion. The chart shows its benchmark date.
What do I need to build a Cartesia agent?
Set your instructions, select a voice and an AI model, and connect your business systems. Cartesia handles listening, speech, turn-taking, interruptions, and tool calls.
How much does Bland AI cost?
Bland's Start plan is $0.14/min with no platform fee, and Build is $0.12/min plus $299/month. Both rates include the AI model, speech recognition and speech (checked October 2026). Cartesia Managed Agents cost $0.03/min.
Can I import my Bland Pathways?
The workflow described here is a manual setup, not a direct import. Start with one representative call flow and recreate its instructions and actions in your Cartesia dashboard before moving production traffic.
Sources
Bland AI pricing and features checked on .
More comparisons
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