What Cartesia is
Real-time voice AI with sub-90ms latency. The Sonic model is the developer favorite for voice agents in 2026.
The honest take
For real-time voice agents, Cartesia is the right pick. ElevenLabs still wins for studio-grade quality.
Last updated: May 14, 2026Reviewed by Priya Sharma
Cartesia
Real-time voice AI with the lowest latency on the market
FreemiumAI Audio & Music4.6/5
Cartesia builds voice AI with industry-leading latency (sub-90ms). The Sonic model produces natural-sounding speech in real time, used in voice agents, gaming, and customer support.
Best for
- Developers building voice agents
- Gaming and real-time applications
Skip if
- You want a consumer voice tool — try ElevenLabs Studio
Pricing
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 |
|
| Pro | $49 per month |
|
| Scale | $299 per month |
|
Pricing last verified May 1, 2026
Pros
- Fastest voice AI on the market
- Excellent quality
- Strong API
Cons
- Developer-focused — no consumer app
- Pricing scales with characters
Our verdict
Cartesia is the developer's choice for real-time voice. Lowest latency in the industry.
