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Install the Retell AI app in ChatGPT to build, edit, deploy, test, and monitor voice agents from a conversation. Interactive widgets open in chat for workspace selection, agent creation, voice preview, testing, deployment, and analytics. For Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and other MCP clients that use an API key, see the Retell MCP server.

When to use it

Use the ChatGPT app when you want to:
  • Build or edit agents in natural language without opening the Retell dashboard for every change
  • Preview voices, run playground chats, and place test calls from the same conversation
  • Deploy an agent to a phone number and check call analytics without leaving ChatGPT
Prefer the MCP server when your client is Cursor, Claude Code, or Codex and you already manage Retell with an API key. Prefer the dashboard when you need full editor controls, conversation-flow graphs, or settings the ChatGPT widgets do not expose.

Example

A cafe owner asks ChatGPT to create a friendly receptionist that answers menu and hours questions, transfers frustrated callers to a manager, then deploys the agent to their Retell number — all from one chat after connecting Retell AI once.

Before you start

  • A ChatGPT account on a plan that supports plugins and apps. Availability depends on your plan, region, and workspace settings; the app may not be available on the free tier.
  • Permission to install plugins or apps. On ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, or Edu, an admin may need to enable Retell AI first.
  • A Retell account at retellai.com with at least one workspace
  • For live test calls and deployment: a Retell phone number, and a destination number in E.164 format such as +15551234567
Use your own Retell account, workspaces, agents, and phone numbers. The screenshots use sample or masked values.

Install Retell AI from ChatGPT

Retell AI is listed in the ChatGPT plugin directory (some accounts still show Apps). The steps are the same either way, and existing connections keep working.
1

Open the ChatGPT directory

In ChatGPT, open Settings → Plugins or Settings → Apps, or go to chatgpt.com/apps. Search for Retell AI.
ChatGPT plugin or app directory showing the Retell AI listing

Search the ChatGPT directory for Retell AI.

2

Install and connect

Open the Retell AI listing and review its capabilities, terms, and privacy policy. Select Install plugin if it appears, then select Connect.If Connect is greyed out or says Disabled by admin, ask a workspace admin to enable Retell AI in Workspace settings → Plugins or Workspace settings → Apps.
3

Sign in to Retell

Complete the Retell sign-in screen. Use the Retell account that owns the workspaces and agents you want to manage from ChatGPT.
4

Approve access

Review the requested access and approve it. This lets ChatGPT manage agents, phone number assignments, and call data in your Retell account on your behalf.

Add Retell AI to a conversation

Installing the app is not enough. Enable it in the chat where you want to use it.
1

Start a new chat

Return to ChatGPT and start a new conversation on a supported surface, such as ChatGPT on the web or the desktop app.
2

Enable Retell AI in the chat

Select the + button next to the message box, then More, then Retell AI. You can also type @ and select Retell AI.If Retell AI does not appear in the list, the app is not installed for this account. Repeat the install and connect steps above.
ChatGPT composer plus menu showing Retell AI under More

Enable Retell AI from the composer plus menu.

Select a Retell workspace

Your workspace determines which agents, phone numbers, and call history ChatGPT can see.
  • If your account has one workspace, Retell selects it automatically.
  • If your account has multiple workspaces, a workspace selector appears the first time a tool needs one.
1

Ask ChatGPT to load your workspaces

In a chat with Retell AI enabled, enter:
2

Choose the workspace

In the Select a workspace to continue widget, open the dropdown, choose the workspace that holds your agents, and confirm. Later actions use this workspace until you change it.
Retell workspace selector widget in ChatGPT with a workspace chosen

Select the Retell workspace for this conversation.

To change workspaces later, ask ChatGPT to switch the selected Retell workspace and the same selector reopens.

Review existing agents

1

Open the agent list

Ask ChatGPT to list your agents. The Your Agents widget shows each agent’s name, ID, voice, and language. You can search by name or ID, copy an agent ID, or open the agent in the Retell dashboard.
Retell Your Agents widget listing agents in the selected workspace

Browse agents in the selected workspace.

If the list is empty, confirm you selected the intended workspace, then create an agent in the next section.

Build a voice agent

The build wizard collects the agent summary, voice, optional functions, end-call behavior, and a generated prompt, then creates the agent in Retell.
1

Start the builder

Describe the agent you want. For example:
ChatGPT opens the agent creation widget on the summary step.
Retell agent creation widget summary step inside ChatGPT

Agent creation starts on the summary step.

2

Review the agent summary

Confirm the Agent Name, description, use cases, target audience, tone, style, and language. Edit any field before you continue.The ChatGPT builder offers English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. For the full set of languages Retell agents support across providers, see language support.
3

Choose a voice

Pick a voice from the recommended set or the full catalog, and play the audio preview before confirming.
Retell voice selection step showing voice cards with audio previews

Preview and select a voice for the agent.

4

Enable optional functions

Turn on the functions this agent needs. Core options include Transfer Call and Book Calendar Events (Cal.com). Advanced options can include press digit for IVR navigation, custom API tools, extract variables, agent swap, and send SMS.Each function you enable gets its own configuration step later in the wizard.
Retell additional functions step with Transfer Call and Cal.com toggles

Turn on Transfer Call, Cal.com, and other optional functions.

5

Set when the call should end

In End Call Setup, describe when the agent should hang up — for example, once the caller’s request is handled or the caller says goodbye.
6

Review the prompt and create the agent

Review the generated system prompt, adjust it if needed, and create the agent.On success the widget shows the agent name, ID, voice, and creation time, with a link to open the agent in the Retell dashboard.
Retell agent created confirmation card with agent ID and next step

Confirm the new agent and open it in the dashboard if needed.

Retell agent created confirmation card with agent ID and next step

Confirm the new agent and open it in the dashboard if needed.

The success card suggests the next prompt:
You can also ask ChatGPT to change the voice, language, instructions, or call handling before deploying.

Test the agent

Test the conversation flow in chat first, then place a live phone call.
1

Open the test widget

Ask ChatGPT to test the agent. For example:
The Test Agent widget opens with a live chat against the agent playground.
2

Chat with the agent

Type a caller message and send it, then continue for several turns. If the simulated call ends, select Restart Conversation to start over.
3

Place a real test call

Under Real Call Test, select a From Phone Number from your Retell numbers, enter a To Phone Number in E.164 format such as +15551234567, then select Call. Answer the destination phone and speak with the agent.
A live test call requires at least one Retell phone number. If no numbers appear, purchase a number in the Retell dashboard first.
Retell Test Agent widget showing a playground chat with the agent

Chat with the agent in the playground widget.

After testing, a common follow-up prompt is Help me improve my agent's responses.

Deploy the agent to a phone number

Deployment assigns the agent to inbound and outbound numbers in the selected workspace.
1

Open the deployment widget

Ask ChatGPT to deploy the agent:
Retell deploy agent widget listing available inbound and outbound phone numbers

Choose inbound and outbound numbers for the agent.

2

Assign inbound and outbound numbers

Select an inbound number, an outbound number, or both, then confirm. Numbers already assigned to another agent are labeled In Use. You can use the same number for both directions, or leave one direction unassigned.
3

Buy a number if none are available

If the widget shows No Phone Numbers Available, open the phone numbers page in the dashboard, add a payment method, and purchase a number. Enter your email and select Send Link if you want the dashboard link emailed to you. After buying, select Refresh and deploy again.
To confirm later, ask ChatGPT whether the agent is deployed — it reports the inbound and outbound assignments.

Review call analytics

Once the agent has call history, open analytics from the conversation.
1

Open the analytics dashboard

Ask ChatGPT for performance data. For example:
The dashboard shows total calls, success rate, average duration, sentiment distribution, and recent calls. You can filter by time range, call type, status, direction, and sentiment.
2

Open a call transcript and recording

Select a call in the recent calls table, or ask ChatGPT for the details of the most recent call. The detail view includes the transcript, summary, sentiment, duration, and recording playback when a recording exists.

Edit an existing agent

Ask ChatGPT to change one part of the agent at a time. A confirmation widget shows the change so you can verify it.
You can also update end-call behavior, Cal.com booking, custom API functions, extract variables, agent swap, SMS, IVR press-digit navigation, and dynamic variables such as business hours or address. For multilingual setup in the dashboard, see Configure a multilingual agent.
Retell validates transfer destinations and rejects reserved example exchanges such as 555 numbers, so use a real E.164 number. Editing transfer settings does not place a call on its own.
Deleting an agent from ChatGPT is permanent for that agent in Retell. Confirm the agent name and ID in the approval prompt before you approve the delete.

What you can do in ChatGPT

Verify setup

  • Retell AI is installed from the ChatGPT directory and connected to the correct Retell account.
  • Retell AI is enabled in the current conversation through + → More → Retell AI or an @ mention.
  • The intended workspace is selected.
  • An agent can be listed, opened in the builder or editor, and tested in the chat widget.
  • If you deployed, the agent is assigned to the intended inbound and outbound numbers.
  • If the agent has call history, analytics and transcripts load for it.

Troubleshooting

FAQ

Related, but different setup. The ChatGPT app is a packaged integration with OAuth and inline widgets. The MCP server connects clients like Cursor and Claude Desktop with your Retell API key and the https://mcp.retellai.com endpoint.
No. ChatGPT connects through OAuth. API keys and webhooks are used by other integrations such as Slack and Notion, and by the MCP server.
Install connects your account; each conversation still needs Retell AI enabled via + → More → Retell AI or an @ mention. Start a new chat if an older thread does not pick up the app.
Disconnect Retell AI from the ChatGPT directory or Apps/Plugins settings, then connect again and sign in with the Retell account that owns the workspace you need.
Use ChatGPT on the web or desktop for the install flow and interactive widgets. Mobile support depends on OpenAI’s app surface and may not render every widget.