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GitHub Repo · Phone & AI Receptionists

Pipecat

An open-source framework for building AI voice agents and phone bots.

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What Pipecat does

Pipecat, maintained by Daily, is a Python framework for real-time voice agents that combine speech recognition, a language model and text-to-speech, with support for phone lines and many AI vendors. It requires a developer to build and host.

Best for

  • A custom AI receptionist built by a developer
  • Choosing your own voice and AI vendors
  • Avoiding per-minute platform markups

How small businesses use Pipecat

  • Answer after-hours calls and take messages
  • Book appointments over the phone
  • Run outbound reminder calls

Pipecat: common questions

Who should use Pipecat?

Pipecat suits a custom AI receptionist built by a developer, choosing your own voice and AI vendors and avoiding per-minute platform markups.

When should you choose something else instead of Pipecat?

Pipecat needs a developer to build and host. If that matters for your business, compare other options such as Smith.ai, Rosie and Retell AI.

Is Pipecat free?

Pipecat pricing: Free and open source; pay for AI and phone services used. Pricing changes often, so confirm current plans on the official repository or website before you buy.

Can a small business self-host Pipecat?

Yes. Pipecat is open source on GitHub, and its setup level is advanced. You will need a computer or server to run it and someone to keep it updated and backed up, or you can use a hosted option if one is offered.

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