What Are the Best AI Agent Platforms for Business Right Now?
The agentic AI market hit $7.6 billion in 2025 and is growing at 44–50% CAGR. Gartner predicts 40% of enterprise apps will embed AI agents by end of 2026. But here’s what nobody tells you: 40%+ of agentic AI projects will be canceled by 2027, and most “AI agents” are rebranded workflow automations.
If you run a business that depends on phone calls, lead follow-up, customer service, or sales automation — the platform you choose determines whether AI agents actually save you money or become another failed pilot.
We tested the major platforms, compared real pricing (not the advertised rates), and talked to actual users. Here’s what we found.
The 7 Platforms at a Glance
| Platform | Best For | Starting Price | G2 Rating | Builder Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| n8n | Workflow + AI automation | Free (self-hosted) | 4.8/5 | Hybrid code/no-code |
| Retell AI | Voice AI agents | $0.07+/min | 4.8/5 | Low-code visual |
| Microsoft Copilot Studio | M365 ecosystem | $0.01/credit | 4.3/5 | No-code |
| Salesforce Agentforce | CRM automation | $0.10/action | 4.3/5 | Low-code |
| UiPath | RPA-to-agent transition | $25/user/mo | 4.6/5 | Low-code + pro-code |
| CrewAI | Developer multi-agent | Free (open-source) | 4.5/5 | Python code |
| Lindy AI | Non-technical users | Free (400 credits) | 4.5/5 | No-code |
1. n8n — Best Open-Source AI Automation Platform
Why it’s here: 75% of n8n customers now use AI tools. It’s the only platform that combines visual workflow building, 70+ LangChain nodes, and full self-hosting — at a fraction of Zapier’s cost.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Executions |
|---|---|---|
| Community (Self-Hosted) | Free | Unlimited |
| Starter (Cloud) | €24/mo | 2,500/mo |
| Pro (Cloud) | €60/mo | 10,000/mo |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited |
All plans include unlimited users and unlimited workflows. Billing is per execution, not per task like Zapier — which matters when a single workflow triggers 15 steps.
What makes it different:
- 70+ LangChain nodes built-in — connect any LLM, build RAG pipelines, run multi-agent orchestration
- MCP client/server nodes — direct integration with the Model Context Protocol
- Self-hosting option — full data sovereignty, no vendor lock-in
- 400+ integrations with 4,400+ workflow templates
- Write custom JavaScript or Python when the visual builder isn’t enough
Who’s using it: Volkswagen, KPMG, Vodafone, Delivery Hero, Decathlon, the United Nations.
The numbers: $180M Series C at $2.5 billion valuation (October 2025). 200,000+ active users. The #1 JavaScript Rising Stars project of 2025 with 162K+ GitHub stars.
Limitations: Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge. The jump from €60/mo Pro to €800/mo Business is steep.
Bottom line: If you want AI-powered automation without giving your data to a third party, n8n is the platform to beat. Developer consensus: “For automation projects heavily integrating AI, n8n clearly represents the most powerful option.”
2. Retell AI — Best AI Voice Agent Platform
Why it’s here: 4.8/5 on G2 with 781+ reviews — the highest-rated AI voice assistant platform. If your business needs AI that actually picks up the phone, qualifies leads, and books appointments, this is where the industry is headed.
Pricing: Pay-as-you-go with no platform fees.
| Component | Cost |
|---|---|
| Base AI voice | $0.07+/min |
| Real-world total (voice + LLM + telephony) | $0.13–$0.31/min |
| Example: 1,000 min with ElevenLabs + Claude + Twilio | ~$140/month |
| Enterprise (>$3K/mo spend) | From $0.05+/min |
Includes $10 in free credits to start.
What makes it different:
- Sub-800ms latency (~600ms benchmarked) — conversations feel natural, not robotic
- 31+ languages supported
- Visual drag-and-drop flow builder — design call flows without code
- Voice cloning via ElevenLabs and Cartesia
- HIPAA, SOC 2, GDPR compliance included at every tier — not a $1,000/month add-on
Real user reviews:
“Retell AI stands out as one of the best voice agent platforms… clearly excels in cost-effectiveness, being much cheaper than alternatives like Vapi.” — G2 user
“Voice agents sound natural — not robotic — and adapt tone, pacing, and emotion.” — G2 user
The numbers: $7.2M ARR (April 2025). Powers 10M+ minutes monthly. Regional insurer saving $480K annually. Logistics firms cutting average handle time by 37%.
How it compares to alternatives:
| Metric | Retell AI | Vapi | Bland AI | Synthflow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Effective cost/min | $0.13–$0.31 | $0.13–$0.33 | $0.11–$0.14 | $0.08–$0.13 |
| Latency | ~600ms | 550–800ms | ~800ms | Sub-500ms |
| Languages | 31+ | 100+ | English only | 20–30+ |
| G2 Rating | 4.8/5 | 4.2/5 | ~3.0/5 | 4.4/5 |
| HIPAA | Included | $1K/mo add-on | Enterprise only | Included |
Limitations: Real-world costs are 2–6x the advertised base rate once you stack voice engines, LLMs, and telephony. Budget for $0.13–$0.31/min, not $0.07.
Bottom line: If your business loses revenue from missed calls, Retell AI is the fastest path to 24/7 coverage. The voice quality and latency gap vs. competitors is measurable, and HIPAA being included (not a $12K/year add-on like Vapi) matters for healthcare, legal, and finance.
3. Microsoft Copilot Studio — Best for Microsoft 365 Shops
Why it’s here: 80% of Fortune 500 already use Microsoft’s low-code tools. If your company runs on Teams, SharePoint, and Dynamics 365, building agents anywhere else creates unnecessary friction.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Copilot Chat | Free (all M365 users) |
| M365 Copilot add-on | $30/user/month |
| Copilot Studio standalone | 25,000 credits for $200/month |
| Pay-as-you-go (Azure) | $0.01 per credit |
For M365 Copilot licensed users, many internal interactions are zero-rated — they don’t consume credits at all.
What makes it different:
- Agent Mode — Copilot orchestrates multi-step tasks across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams
- Microsoft Graph integration — agents access your entire M365 data layer
- Power Platform ecosystem — connects to Dynamics 365, Power Automate, Power Apps
- Multi-channel deployment — Teams, web, WhatsApp, SharePoint
- Enterprise-grade DLP, auditing, and privacy controls built-in
The numbers: 230,000+ organizations use Copilot Studio. 3 million agents created in FY2025. 15 million paid M365 Copilot seats (+160% YoY).
Limitations: Only 3.3% of Copilot Chat users pay for the full license — most companies struggle to prove ROI. Credit complexity makes cost prediction difficult. Deep ecosystem lock-in.
Bottom line: If you’re already paying for M365, Copilot Studio is the lowest-friction entry point for AI agents. If you’re not in the Microsoft ecosystem, this isn’t for you.
4. Salesforce Agentforce — Best for CRM-Native AI Agents
Why it’s here: 18,500+ deals closed since launch. Agentforce hit $500M ARR in Q3 FY2026 (+330% YoY) — Salesforce’s fastest-growing product ever.
Pricing:
| Model | Cost |
|---|---|
| Per action (Flex Credits) | $0.10/action (packs of 100K for $500) |
| Per conversation (legacy) | $2/conversation (24-hour session) |
| Per user add-on | $125/user/month (unlimited internal use) |
| All-in-one bundle | From $550/user/month |
1,000-conversation free allowance included. Implementation typically costs $2,000–$6,000 per agent through consulting partners.
What makes it different:
- Agents that don’t just chat — they take action in your CRM (update records, assign leads, trigger workflows)
- 84% resolution rate on Salesforce’s own customer site, only 2% requiring human escalation
- Data Cloud processed 32 trillion records in Q3 FY2026 (+119% YoY)
- Deep Slack integration (1 million companies on Slack)
- AgentExchange marketplace for pre-built agents
Case study: Reddit deployed Agentforce — case deflection increased 33%, average resolution time dropped from 8.9 minutes to 1.4 minutes (84% improvement), saving 760 hours/year.
What real users say:
“Our company wants nothing to do with it. You have to buy Data Cloud to use it. Both things are expensive.” — Reddit user
A SalesforceBen poll (mid-2025) found 50% said Agentforce had NOT moved past its hype cycle.
Limitations: Confusing pricing (can’t mix Flex Credits and Conversations in the same org). Requires significant Salesforce configuration expertise. Heavy ecosystem lock-in. The $2/conversation model was widely criticized as a money grab.
Bottom line: If you’re already deep in Salesforce and spending $100K+/year on the platform, Agentforce is a natural extension. If you’re not, the total cost of ownership is hard to justify.
5. UiPath — Best for RPA-to-Agent Transition
Why it’s here: 35.8% RPA market share and $1.78 billion ARR. If your enterprise already has RPA bots, UiPath’s Maestro orchestration lets you add AI agents alongside existing automations — not replace them.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Community (Free) | Non-commercial use |
| Basic | $25/user/month |
| Pro license | $1,380/user (includes attended + unattended robot) |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Flex pricing with separate Robot Units, AI Units, and Agent Units.
What makes it different:
- UiPath Maestro — orchestrates AI agents, RPA robots, and human workers in a single pipeline
- Agent Builder with visual canvas — low-code, conversational, and pro-code modes
- Runs LangGraph agents natively — no code changes needed
- Bi-directional Microsoft Copilot Studio integration (April 2025)
- Partnerships with OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Snowflake
Case study: Johnson Controls — 500% ROI, projected savings of 18,000 hours annually on document review.
The numbers: 10,860 customers. Named TIME Magazine Best Invention 2025. $1.43B revenue (+9% YoY).
Limitations: Expensive — G2’s top complaint. Steep learning curve. Not suited for SMBs. The licensing model (Robot Units + AI Units + Agent Units) is complex.
Bottom line: UiPath is the bridge for enterprises that spent millions on RPA and need to add AI without ripping out existing infrastructure. If you’re starting from zero, start with n8n instead.
6. CrewAI — Best Open-Source Multi-Agent Framework
Why it’s here: MIT-licensed, backed by Andrew Ng and HubSpot’s founder, and used by 60%+ of Fortune 500. If your dev team wants to build custom multi-agent systems with full control, CrewAI is the leading framework.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price |
|---|---|
| Open Source | Free (MIT license) |
| Pro | $99/month |
| Enterprise | $60,000/year |
What makes it different:
- Role-based agent design — assign each agent a role, goal, and tools (team metaphor)
- Sequential and hierarchical collaboration — agents delegate to each other
- Persistent memory across sessions
- LLM-agnostic — swap models without changing agent logic
- HIPAA/SOC 2 on Enterprise tier
The numbers: 44,000+ GitHub stars. 10M+ agents executed monthly. $18M Series A (October 2024).
CrewAI vs. LangGraph — the developer debate:
| Dimension | CrewAI | LangGraph |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Quick prototyping, MVPs | Production systems, complex branching |
| Ease of use | Beginner-friendly, YAML-driven | Steep learning curve |
| State management | Limited | Built-in persistence, checkpointing |
| Human-in-the-loop | Basic | Checkpoints, breakpoints, state inspection |
The emerging pattern: developers “nest CrewAI within LangGraph” — the outer skeleton is a LangGraph StateMachine, and creative nodes use CrewAI for fluid collaboration.
Limitations: Requires Python expertise. Not for non-technical users. Can struggle in production — experts call it the “Valley of Death” between prototype and production.
Bottom line: CrewAI is the fastest way for a Python developer to prototype multi-agent systems. For production deployment with strict reliability requirements, pair it with LangGraph or invest in the Enterprise tier.
7. Lindy AI — Best No-Code AI Agent Builder
Why it’s here: If you don’t write code and need an AI agent running today — not next quarter — Lindy lets you describe what you want in plain English and builds it.
Pricing:
| Plan | Price | Credits/mo |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 400 |
| Starter | $19.99/mo | 2,000 |
| Pro | $49.99/mo | 5,000 |
| Business | Custom | Unlimited |
Phone capabilities start at $0.19/min. 3,000+ app integrations.
What makes it different:
- Natural language agent creation — describe what you need, Lindy builds it
- Autopilot (v3.0) — agents get their own cloud computers and can use any software (Computer Use)
- Lindy Build — creates full-stack apps from agent specifications
- Multi-model support — Claude, GPT-5, Gemini
- 3,000+ integrations
Limitations: Credit-based pricing becomes unpredictable at scale. Less specialized than vertical tools. Limited customization for complex enterprise workflows.
The numbers: ~$5.1M revenue (2024). $50M total funding from Battery Ventures and Menlo Ventures.
Bottom line: Lindy is the “Canva of AI agents” — it removes the technical barrier completely. Great for solopreneurs and SMB teams that need automation yesterday. Not built for enterprise complexity.
What the Market Data Actually Says
Before you pick a platform, understand where the market is:
- $7.6B market in 2025, projected to reach $50–200B by 2030–2034 (44–50% CAGR)
- 57% of organizations already have AI agents in production (G2, survey of 1,035 decision-makers)
- Average ROI of 171% from AI agent deployments; US enterprises achieving 192% ROI (PwC)
- 74% of executives achieve ROI within the first year (Google Cloud)
- But: 80–90% of AI projects never leave pilot (RAND study)
- 40%+ of agentic AI projects will be canceled by 2027 (Gartner)
- Only ~130 of thousands of agentic AI vendors are actually real — the rest are “agentwashing” (Gartner)
The pattern is clear: AI agents work when you pick the right platform for your specific use case and commit to implementation. They fail when you chase hype.
How to Choose the Right Platform
Start here:
-
What’s your primary use case?
- Phone calls / voice → Retell AI
- Workflow automation + AI → n8n
- CRM automation → Salesforce Agentforce or GoHighLevel
- Internal employee tools → Microsoft Copilot Studio
- Custom multi-agent system → CrewAI / LangGraph
- Quick no-code agent → Lindy AI
-
What’s your technical capacity?
- No developers → Lindy AI, Copilot Studio
- Some technical skill → n8n, Retell AI
- Full dev team → CrewAI, LangGraph, UiPath
-
What’s your data sensitivity?
- Must self-host → n8n (Community) or CrewAI (open-source)
- Need compliance (HIPAA/SOC 2) → Retell AI, UiPath, Copilot Studio
- EU AI Act concerns → Self-hosted options (enforcement August 2026, penalties up to 7% of global revenue)
The Real Cost Nobody Talks About
The biggest pain point from Reddit, Hacker News, and user forums isn’t the platform pricing — it’s the hidden costs:
- Token costs are exponential for agents — each iteration re-reads the entire task history
- One bad prompt can burn $40 with zero business value
- Salesforce Agentforce requires Data Cloud + CRM licenses + API allowances on top of per-action fees
- Custom agent development runs $50,000–$200,000 for enterprise builds
- ML engineers command $169K+ salaries, senior AI roles $200K+
The smart play: start with a platform that has a free tier (n8n Community, CrewAI open-source, Lindy free plan), prove the use case works, then scale.
We use and recommend several of these platforms. Retell AI, n8n, Vapi, and GoHighLevel links in this article are affiliate links — we earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we’ve actually tested.