ElevenLabs Eleven Realtime: a 2-line switch from OpenAI Realtime, and what a call really costs
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ElevenLabs launched Eleven Realtime on Oct 20: two speech-to-speech models behind an API that speaks OpenAI's Realtime protocol. I went through the docs and pricing page so you don't have to. Here's the short version (full guide with the server code: TokenLean).
The two-line switch
If your app already uses @openai/agents-realtime over WebSocket, you change the URL and the model:
const transport = new OpenAIRealtimeWebSocket({
url: "wss://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/convai/realtime", // was OpenAI's endpoint
});
const session = new RealtimeSession(agent, {
transport,
model: "eleven_realtime_v1_mini", // or eleven_realtime_v1_max
});
Your backend mints a short-lived client secret so the API key never reaches the browser.
Mini or Max?
| v1 Mini | v1 Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Time to first audio | 0.62 s | 0.57 s |
| Spoken reasoning (Big Bench Audio) | 75.9% | 98.8% |
| Turn-taking (Full-Duplex-Bench) | 95.8% | 94.1% |
| Tool tasks | 60.3% | 87.1% |
| Tokens in / out per 1M | $0.20 / $6.00 | $1.80 / $9.00 |
| Connected audio | $0.08/min | $0.08/min |
Rule of thumb: chatty assistant → Mini. Anything that calls tools → Max.
What a 5-minute call costs
Audio is a flat 5 × $0.08 = $0.40. With my assumptions (30 turns, ~3k tokens of context per turn, short replies), Mini lands near $0.43 and Max near $0.58. On Mini the minutes are the bill; on Max, trimming the system prompt is the lever.
The catches
- WebSocket only, so WebRTC apps must switch transport first.
- Over WebSocket you capture and play 24 kHz PCM16 audio yourself.
- Server-side SDK docs aren't published yet; the guide covers the browser flow.
- Above your plan's concurrency limit, minutes bill at $0.16.
The free tier includes roughly 14 minutes of Realtime v1 Mini, enough to point your existing client at it and listen. Try ElevenLabs →
Affiliate disclosure: TokenLean participates in affiliate programs, including ElevenLabs'. Some links here are affiliate links; I may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Facts come from ElevenLabs' public docs and pricing page (checked Nov 3, 2026); check the official pages before you commit.