#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.
Callers prefer Cartesia Managed Agents to the Deepgram Voice Agent API
Cartesia hosts the agent and runs every call, including its phone number, transfers, and hang-ups, so your server doesn't have to.
Caller preference
Artificial Analysis Speech Agent Arena Elo, October 2026
1116
Managed Agents
906
Deepgram Voice Agent
Task success
Artificial Analysis Speech Agent Arena, October 2026
91.7%
Managed Agents
73.7%
Deepgram Voice Agent
Agent price per minute
Each vendor's pricing page, checked October 2026
$0.03
Plus the LLM
$0.065
Bring your own LLM, pay as you go
Hear why callers prefer Cartesia to Deepgram
Weighing the Deepgram Voice Agent API? Pick a job, talk to a live Cartesia agent in your browser, then clone it to start building.
Caller preference
Callers prefer Cartesia Managed Agents to Deepgram Voice Agent
- Artificial Analysis puts people in blind, live voice conversations with two agents on tasks like booking an appointment, then records which one they prefer. Elo turns those choices into one rating: the higher it is, the more often people preferred that agent.
- Cartesia Managed Agents ranks first of 30 agents, 210 points above Deepgram Voice Agent.
Speech Agent Arena: preference Elo
Higher is better.
Task success
Cartesia Managed Agents completes more tasks than Deepgram Voice Agent
- In the same conversations, Artificial Analysis checks whether the agent made the tool call that finishes the caller's request, such as booking the slot or placing the order. Task success rate is the share of conversations where it did.
- Cartesia Managed Agents completes 91.7% of tasks, against 73.7% for Deepgram Voice Agent.
Task success rate
Share of conversations that end with the task done. 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.
Caller preference
People hold blind, live conversations with two agents and pick the one they would rather keep talking to.
Cartesia Managed Agents1116 Elo#1 of 30 agentsDeepgram Voice Agent API906 EloDeepgram Voice Agent, default setupOctober 2026
Task success
Whether the agent finishes what the caller asked for, such as booking the slot or placing the order.
Cartesia Managed Agents91.7%Deepgram Voice Agent API73.7%Deepgram Voice Agent, default setupOctober 2026
Price
Cartesia Managed Agents$0.03/min plus the LLM.Deepgram Voice Agent API$0.065/min when you bring your own LLM, or $0.075/min on the Standard tier with a Deepgram-managed model. Pay-as-you-go rates.Phone calls
Cartesia Managed AgentsCartesia-provided phone numbers at $0.014/min.Deepgram Voice Agent APINo Deepgram phone numbers. Calls connect through a provider such as Twilio or Plivo.Call actions
Cartesia Managed AgentsBuilt-in end call, transfer, keypad tones, and voicemail detection, plus webhook and client tools.Deepgram Voice Agent APIFunction calling. You define each action, including any transfer or hang-up.Call testing
Cartesia Managed AgentsScore test and production calls with built-in and custom metrics.Deepgram Voice Agent APIPer-turn latency reports and session logs.
Prescription refill calls answered from your pharmacy system
Pick a voice and an AI model, write instructions, and connect your pharmacy system.
Connect your pharmacy system
The agent checks the prescription and queues the refill during the call.
Let Cartesia handle the voice
Cartesia handles listening, turn-taking, and speech. Callers can interrupt, and the agent follows.
Move one Deepgram Voice Agent workflow to Cartesia
Recreate one agent by hand, test it with your own calls, then move the number.
Follow the agent configuration guideRecreate the agent's settings
The agent's prompt and greeting carry over as text, and each function becomes a tool Cartesia calls during the call.
Test the agent, then move your production calls
Call the agent from your browser with real refill requests and score every call before you move the number.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Speech Agent Arena measure?
Artificial Analysis's Speech Agent Arena puts people in blind, live conversations with two voice agents on tasks like booking appointments and ordering takeout, and records which agent they prefer. It also scores whether each conversation ends with the tool call that completes the task. The results on this page are from the October 2026 release, with GPT-5.5 as Managed Agents' LLM.
How is Managed Agents different from the Deepgram Voice Agent API?
The Deepgram Voice Agent API connects your server to Deepgram's speech-to-text, a language model, and text-to-speech over a WebSocket. Your code connects the phone line and defines each action, including transfers and hang-ups. Managed Agents is a hosted agent: you configure it in the Cartesia playground or through the API, and Cartesia runs the call, its phone number, and built-in actions such as transfers, keypad tones, and voicemail detection.
How do the prices compare?
Managed Agents costs $0.03 per minute plus the LLM, and a Cartesia-provided phone number adds $0.014 per minute. Deepgram lists its Voice Agent API at $0.065 per minute when you bring your own LLM, and $0.075 per minute on its Standard tier with a Deepgram-managed model, on pay-as-you-go pricing.
Can Managed Agents use my preferred LLM?
Managed Agents' model catalog includes OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google Gemini models. Cartesia manages the integration, so you don't need a provider account or API key. Cartesia's Ink 2 listens and Sonic 3.6 speaks, whichever model you choose.
Can I import my Deepgram agent?
There is no automatic import. Recreate one agent's prompt, greeting, and functions in your Cartesia dashboard, test it with your own calls, then move the number.
Sources
Deepgram Voice Agent API pricing and features checked on .
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