How Much Does the OpenAI Realtime API Cost?
The Realtime API bills audio tokens — more expensive per token than text. Voice agents on Realtime feel it fast.
How Realtime pricing works
Audio input/output tokens billed at a premium over text tokens.
Model choice drives the rate.
Verify current pricing on OpenAI's site.
The agentic multiplier
Voice agents hold long realtime sessions.
Every turn adds audio tokens; retries compound.
What it really costs
Audio-token rate × session volume. Per-agent ceilings and session caps control it.
Where the money goes
| Cost bucket | How to control it |
|---|---|
| Audio tokens | Model selection |
| Session length | Per-session caps |
| Call volume | Per-agent ceilings |
FAQ
Is Realtime pricier than text?
Audio tokens cost more per token — verify current pricing.
Can sipi.bot govern Realtime spend?
Yes — per-agent caps and category rules.
Related
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