October 2, 2026 · 4 min · api · product · comparison
.mdRealtime Avatar: A Tavus Alternative for Live AI Characters
Looking for a Tavus alternative after Griffin's October 1 launch? Discover Realtime Avatar for custom AI characters and live conversations, then try it free.
Tavus introduced Griffin on October 1, 2026, putting live AI video conversations back in the spotlight. If that announcement has you looking for a Tavus alternative, meet Realtime Avatar (RTA): a way to create AI characters and talk with them live, or bring those conversations into your own product.
A great character gives people a reason to return: a companion to talk to, a tutor to practice with, or a roleplay partner who makes the next conversation interesting. We build RTA for teams creating those experiences. Here is what to consider, and how to try it for yourself.
What Tavus launched with Griffin
Tavus calls Griffin a Human Interaction Model, designed to see, hear and respond during a live conversation. The company reports that 48% of participants in a one-minute video-call study believed Griffin-Lite was a real person, with a sample of 54. That is Tavus's reported research result; it does not establish a comparison with RTA.
Griffin-Lite launches as a research preview for selected trusted testers. Tavus says it is not available for customer use at this time. Its existing Conversational Video Interface remains a separate offering that teams can evaluate today. For anyone planning a product launch, availability matters alongside an impressive demonstration.
Why consider Realtime Avatar as a Tavus alternative?
Make the character yours
Start with a portrait and give your character a voice and personality. A language tutor, a fictional companion and a game character should feel different. RTA lets you build a cast around the experience you want people to have, while ready-made examples let you try a conversation first.
Build around conversations people enjoy
Try voice and video conversations in the Studio, then explore the experience that fits your audience. That might be speaking practice, a rehearsal for a difficult conversation, an interactive host or a companion. RTA also supports bringing live characters into your own app, so the character can become part of the product your customers already use.
Budget for conversations people can afford to keep having
At the promotional prices listed on October 1, RTA's Developer plan is $24 per month, with credits equivalent to up to 600 live minutes. That works out to $0.04 per included minute if you use the full allowance for calls. Developer overage is $0.085 per minute.
Creating characters also uses credits, so the time available for calls depends on how you use your allowance. The free Sandbox includes credits equivalent to up to 17 live minutes before character-creation costs, with no card required. Start there to see whether the experience fits before choosing a paid plan. Check the pricing page for current offers.
Choose with a real conversation
Tavus and RTA both belong in a discussion about live AI conversations. RTA is worth trying when you want custom characters, experiences built around your audience and a clear starting budget. The best choice is the one your users enjoy returning to.
Try the same conversation on each candidate: ask a follow-up question, change your mind and see how natural the exchange feels. Judge it against the experience you want to offer. We have not run a controlled comparison of RTA and Tavus, so we make no claim here that one is faster or more lifelike.
Choose one experience for your first trial. For language practice, order a drink and ask a follow-up question. For interview rehearsal, ask the character to challenge an answer. For a companion, talk about your day and change the subject halfway through. These are conversation scenarios to test, rather than promises about learning outcomes. A focused trial helps you judge whether the character's tone and responses suit the people you want to reach.
Ask a few people from your intended audience to try the same scenario. Did they know what to say? Did the character stay interesting after the introduction? Would they choose another conversation? Pair those reactions with the cost of the session. That gives you a more useful starting point than comparing two polished demonstrations, and a concrete reason to keep, adjust or change the experience.
Quickstart: try Realtime Avatar free
- Create your free Realtime Avatar workspace. No card is required for the Sandbox.
- Open the Studio and choose a ready-made character, such as Rin, for your first conversation.
- Start a call. Ask a question, follow up and try the kind of conversation your audience would have.
- When you are ready, create your own character with a portrait, voice and personality. If you are building an app, follow the linked developer quickstart to bring the conversation into it.
Griffin is a new arrival to watch as access expands. Your own character experience can start today: try an RTA call, then make it yours.