All comparisons
/// Compare
OpenAI Realtime vs ElevenLabs for voice agents.
A senior-engineering POV on OpenAI Realtime vs ElevenLabs — what changes in 2026, where each wins, and which we'd default to for greenfield builds.
| Dimension | OpenAI Realtime | ElevenLabs |
|---|---|---|
| Category leader | OpenAI Realtime | ElevenLabs |
| Adoption in 2026 | Widespread | Strong niche |
| Hiring market | Broad | Focused |
| Learning curve | Moderate | Moderate |
/// Origami's take
OpenAI Realtime for fully-integrated STT+LLM+TTS. ElevenLabs for the best voice quality and multi-provider architectures.