Pipecat
Voice Agents · Free
Open-source Python framework for real-time voice and multimodal agents
At a glance
- Made by
- Daily, Inc.
- Korean
- None (English and a few others only)
- Available on
- CLI, Web, iOS, Android
- Open source
- BSD-2
- GitHub
- 16,446 stars · BSD-2-Clause
What is Pipecat?
Pipecat is an open-source Python framework for building real-time voice and multimodal conversational agents. It handles voice, video, text, and images in a single pipeline, and lets you swap speech, language, and vision services from more than 200 providers. Interruption handling, turn detection, and context management make conversations feel natural, and it supports handoff and parallel processing across multiple agents. The framework is free under the BSD-2 license, and you can self-host it or deploy to managed Pipecat Cloud or Enterprise.
- Frame-level control of voice, video, text, and images in one pipeline
- Integrates 200+ providers and services, usually swapped with one line of code
- Real-time streaming processing (starts responding while the user is still speaking)
- Interruption handling, turn detection, and context management
- Multi-agent (handoff, parallel, sidecar) and Pipecat Flows
- WebRTC, SIP, and PSTN transport, client SDKs (JS, React, React Native, iOS, Android, C++)
- Create projects with the pipecat init CLI, coding agent integration (MCP)
Who uses Pipecat and for what
- Voice assistant
- Task agents such as customer intake and support bots
- AI companions such as coaches and meeting assistants
Pricing
What you get for free — Yes (framework is free under BSD-2, pay only for the services you use)
Checked on the official pages on 2026-10-14. Prices and features can change, so check the official site again before paying. · Official pricing page
AI tools similar to Pipecat (alternatives)
Pipecat vs. alternatives at a glance
| AI | Pricing | Combos on the map | Connected tools | Free | Cheapest monthly | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pipecat | Free | 0 | 6 | Yes | — | No |
| Bland AI | Free + paid | 0 | 6 | Yes | $299/mo | No |
| ElevenLabs Agents | Free + paid | 0 | 6 | Yes | $6/mo | No |
| LiveKit Agents | Free | 0 | 6 | Yes | $50/mo | No |
| Retell AI | Free + paid | 0 | 5 | Yes | — | No |
5 of these 5 tools have a free plan. Cheapest paid plan: ElevenLabs Agents ($6/mo).
Combo and connection counts are based on the relationships recorded on AI Galaxy Map (2026-10-26); they are not a quality ranking.
Pipecat on AI Galaxy Map
- One of 7 AI tools in the Voice Agents field.
- Connected to 6 other tools — #1 in its field.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use Pipecat for free?
Yes (framework is free under BSD-2, pay only for the services you use). Prices can change, so check the official site before paying.
What AI can I use instead of Pipecat?
Tools that do the same job, such as Bland AI, ElevenLabs Agents, LiveKit Agents, Retell AI, are connected to it on the map.
Can I use Pipecat in Korean?
None (English and a few others only)
Sources (official pages)
- https://www.pipecat.ai/
- https://github.com/pipecat-ai/pipecat
- https://docs.pipecat.ai/overview/introduction
Checked on the official pages on 2026-10-14. Prices and features can change, so check the official site again before paying.