Choose whatayarn for collecting, reviewing, and downloading listener contributions across a few creator-managed pages. Keep telbee when transcription, voice replies, or team assignment are essential. SpeakPipe is worth comparing when website voicemail widgets matter more than custom submission forms.
First decide whether you need submissions or conversations
A submission ends with a producer reviewing a contribution. A conversation continues through replies, sometimes involving several people. telbee’s voice-messaging overview (opens in a new tab) covers transcription, replies, organisation, and team handling alongside recording.
If you rely on those tools, replacing them adds work. If one person selects clips for an episode, collection pages, form fields, and downloads may cover the job. Write down three specific requirements before comparing prices: “two producers need separate access” is more useful than “works for teams.”
Telbee vs whatayarn: quick comparison
This table uses telbee pricing (opens in a new tab) and whatayarn’s plan documentation. telbee’s higher-tier features are not all included in Starter.
| Feature | telbeeVoice conversations and team workflows | whatayarnCreator-managed listener submissions |
|---|---|---|
| Free usage | 60 voice minutes per monthAlso 60 transcription minutes, one-minute recordings, and one month of history.Monthly allowance | 25 messages totalOne page and one-minute messages. Lifetime allowance, not monthly.Lifetime allowance |
| Paid recording length | Up to 15 minutesConfigure the permitted length within the paid plan's options.Paid plans | Up to 10 minutesCreator supports longer recordings and unlimited messages.USD 19 / month |
| Collection destinations | Two active inbound VoxChannelsStandard plans list two; contact telbee about more.More by request | Up to five pages on CreatorManaged by one creator account, not five team seats.Creator plan |
| Transcription and replies | Built inPlan limits and fair-use conditions apply.Transcripts + replies | Not built inUse a separate process if you need transcripts or audio replies.Not included |
| Existing audio uploads | MP3 upload on Pro and TeamCheck the tier instead of assuming live recording and upload are the same feature.Pro / Team | Record or uploadAvailable on Free and Creator, within the applicable duration limit.Free + Creator |
| Team handling | Pro and Team collaborationUser allowances and assignment capabilities differ.Higher-tier features | Creator-owned accountNo shared team-assignment workflow.No shared queue |
Both support hosted pages and website embeds; their form controls and team workflows differ.
Telbee and whatayarn pricing compared
- Starter: USD 18 monthly or USD 162 annually, equivalent to USD 13.50 per month.
- Pro: USD 30 monthly or USD 270 annually, equivalent to USD 22.50 per month.
- Team: USD 48 monthly or USD 432 annually, equivalent to USD 36 per month.
whatayarn Creator costs USD 19 monthly or USD 180 annually, equivalent to USD 15 per month.
whatayarn is not cheaper than telbee Starter. It costs less than Pro if, for example, you need existing MP3 uploads—but it does not replace every Pro feature. Annual equivalents require annual billing; check currency, taxes, and checkout terms.
Count pages separately from people
telbee includes one user on Starter, two on Pro, and six on Team, with extra-user options and two active inbound VoxChannels on standard plans. whatayarn Creator’s five pages belong to one account, not five collaborators.
A solo producer running several shows needs destinations. Several producers handling one show need separate access. Count the resource you actually need.
“Unlimited” does not remove every limit
telbee’s paid voice and transcription minutes are subject to fair use; its pricing page asks customers expecting more than 1,000 minutes monthly to contact the company. Recording length, history, channels, and seats have separate limits.
whatayarn Creator’s unlimited messages still have a ten-minute ceiling and a five-page allowance.
Check stored history before you switch or downgrade
telbee lists one month of history on Free, options up to six months on Starter, up to one year on Pro, and an unlimited-history option on Team. Confirm your selected setting before changing plans.
Download important recordings with their transcripts, notes, and publication decisions. An MP3 alone does not preserve a conversation. For whatayarn, follow the inbox download workflow and open the saved file to check it. Email attachments depend on delivery and file constraints; a notification is not a guaranteed backup.
When whatayarn is a better fit
Consider whatayarn when the job ends with a selected listener contribution.
One creator, several destinations
Use separate pages for a main show, bonus series, or seasonal request, each with its own prompt. Start with one if that covers the job: extra pages mean more links and settings to maintain.
Context collected with the recording
Built-in fields collect submission details; Creator adds custom form controls. Ask only for context you will use, such as the relevant episode and the name to use on air, rather than a full listener profile.
Listeners who already have an audio file
Recording and uploads are available on Free and Creator, within their one- and ten-minute limits. Check the recording settings and test a likely listener file: upload support does not mean every format or duration is accepted.
Where telbee is still the better choice
telbee’s podcast workflow (opens in a new tab) combines transcripts, message handling, replies, and downloads. Preserve these capabilities if your production process depends on them.
You use transcripts to review a large inbox
Transcripts help you shortlist topics before listening. Without them, budget for reviewing all the audio or transferring recordings to another tool. Always check the original audio before publishing a quotation or clip.
You reply to listeners with voice
Native replies keep the response associated with the incoming message. A separate recorder and email can work, but introduce a different process. Check who needs to reply and what contact details they require.
Several people handle the same messages
Compare Pro and Team’s seats and assignment controls with your staffing. Clear ownership helps avoid duplicate replies or missed messages. Missing collaborator access is not a reason to share account credentials.
You intentionally accept longer recordings
telbee’s paid ceiling reaches 15 minutes; whatayarn Creator’s reaches ten. Choose a limit that fits the stories you invite, rather than the largest number available.
Other Telbee alternatives to consider
SpeakPipe offers website voicemail widgets. Its plans (opens in a new tab) include 90-second recordings and 100 MB of storage on Free, with longer recordings on paid tiers. See our SpeakPipe comparison for reply and form limitations.
Vocaroo can suit a one-off, non-sensitive recording shared by link. Read its FAQ (opens in a new tab) for retention caveats; it does not replace a team queue or transcription.
A local recorder and your existing submission process may cover a small number of contributions. Our recorder comparison covers that option.
How to switch from telbee to whatayarn
Test the workflow before moving your audience.
- Inventory essential features: transcripts, replies, access, retention, channels, uploads, and website triggers.
- Preserve history: download audio and useful conversation context before changing the old plan.
- Create one equivalent page: match the prompt, recording limit, and necessary fields.
- Test as a listener: record and upload, including a message near the duration limit.
- Test as a producer: find, play, download, and open the recording in your editor.
- Update destinations: website embeds, show notes, social links, newsletters, QR codes, and spoken scripts.
- Allow a transition: monitor old destinations, then confirm cancellation and retention consequences.
We have not established an automatic importer for telbee recordings, transcripts, or threads. Plan for a manual archive and a new destination, not a seamless conversation transfer.
Choose the workflow you can maintain
If creator-managed submissions cover the job, create a whatayarn page and run a complete test. If you would have to rebuild essential transcripts, replies, or team handling elsewhere, keep those costs in your comparison.