#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 ElevenLabs Agents
Listeners prefer Cartesia's voice over Eleven v3 92% of the time in blind tests. You bring the instructions and systems. Cartesia handles listening and turn-taking.
Blind listening preference
336 US-English comparisons against Eleven v3, August 2026
92%
Sonic 3.6
3.6%
Eleven v3; 4.4% had no clear winner
Agent price per minute
Each vendor's pricing page, checked October 2026
$0.03
$0.08
Beyond plan minutes, plus AI model
Hear why callers prefer Cartesia to ElevenLabs Agents
Weighing ElevenLabs Agents? Pick a job, talk to a live Cartesia agent in your browser, then clone it to start building.
Hear why listeners preferCartesia over ElevenLabs
Cartesia's Sonic 3.6 is chosen 92% of the time over ElevenLabs V3, in blind US English tests.
“I understand things are difficult right now. We can start with a smaller amount, around $35 a month, and adjust it later. There's no pressure to commit to more than you can manage.”
Eleven v3
Cartesia
Caller preference
Callers prefer Cartesia Managed Agents to every ElevenLabs 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, 115 points above Eleven Realtime v1 Max, ElevenLabs' highest-rated agent.
Speech Agent Arena: preference Elo
Higher is better.
Task success
Cartesia Managed Agents completes more tasks than any ElevenLabs 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. ElevenLabs Agents, ElevenLabs' default setup, completes 90.5%.
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 agentsElevenLabs Agents1001 EloEleven Realtime v1 Max, ElevenLabs' highest ratedOctober 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%ElevenLabs Agents90.5%ElevenLabs Agents, ElevenLabs' highestOctober 2026
Agent pricing
Cartesia Managed Agents$0.03/min.ElevenLabs AgentsPlans include minutes; additional minutes are $0.08/min. AI model usage billed separately. No added telephony fee.Phone charges
Cartesia Managed Agents$0.014/min on Cartesia numbers. Other phone connections use their applicable rates.ElevenLabs AgentsNo ElevenLabs telephony fee. Your phone provider, such as Twilio, bills its own carrier charges.Agent configuration
Cartesia Managed AgentsYour Cartesia dashboard and API. Choose your voice, AI model, instructions, and connected systems.ElevenLabs AgentsVisual workflow builder with supported AI models or a custom model.Testing and evaluation
Cartesia Managed AgentsBuilt-in and custom call metrics, test calls from your browser, and call logs.ElevenLabs AgentsSimulation, response, and tool-call tests. Dashboard, CLI, and API.External actions
Cartesia Managed AgentsConnect outside systems so the agent can look up records and take actions, and run functions in your own app.ElevenLabs AgentsClient, webhook, MCP, and system tools. Hosted code tools require Enterprise.
Order status calls answered from your order system
Pick a voice and an AI model, write instructions, and connect your systems.
Connect your existing systems
The agent reads your records during the call.
Let Cartesia handle the voice
Cartesia handles listening and speech. Callers can interrupt, and the agent follows.
Bring one workflow to Cartesia
There is no automatic import, so recreate one agent by hand and test it first.
Follow the agent configuration guideRecreate the agent's settings
Its system prompt and first message carry over as text, and each tool becomes an action in the Cartesia agent.
Test the agent, then move your production calls
Call the agent from your browser with your own orders and score every call before you move the number.
Frequently asked questions
What does the 92% listener preference result measure?
In the August 2026 blind listening study, US-English listeners prefer Sonic 3.6 over Eleven v3 92% of the time. The result compares speech models, not complete agent calls. Read the voice comparison for the study context.
What does Cartesia manage for me?
Cartesia handles listening, speech, turn-taking, interruptions, and tool calls. You write the instructions, choose an AI model, and connect your business systems.
Can my agent use my existing business systems?
Yes. Connect your systems so the agent can look up records and take actions. Recreate the actions and permissions your workflow needs, then test them with your own records.
How do I estimate my total call cost?
Include your subscription, call minutes, selected AI model, and phone connection. Account for included minutes and any overages. Cartesia's agent rate is $0.03 per minute. For the agent and phone line together, Cartesia is $0.044/min on a Cartesia number, against ElevenLabs at $0.08/min beyond plan minutes with no ElevenLabs telephony fee, both before LLM usage and any carrier charges. ElevenLabs burst minutes above the subscription concurrency limit cost $0.16/min. See the linked pricing pages for current plan terms.
Can I import my ElevenLabs agent?
The workflow described here is a manual setup, not an automatic import. Recreate one agent's instructions, greeting, and actions in your Cartesia dashboard, then check its actions and handoffs before moving production calls.
Sources
ElevenLabs Agents pricing and features checked on .
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