Microsoft Azure AI Speech vs Play.ht

The best way to compare Microsoft Azure AI Speech vs Play.ht: audio samples, latency, features, plans, pricing, and more.

Get Started for free
right-arrow

Microsoft Azure AI Speech

Enables your applications, tools, or devices to convert text into human-like synthesized speech.
vs

Play.ht

Transform written content into high-quality, lifelike voiceovers with AI-powered text-to-speech technology.

Voice Quality

Microsoft Azure AI Speech Samples

Mean Opinion Score
Fiction
3.69
Non-Fiction
3.13
Conversation
3.18

Play.ht Samples

Mean Opinion Score
Fiction
4.17
https://od.lk/s/NjBfMTI3MzMyNzI0Xw/clyde_site_sample.mp3
Non-Fiction
4.17
https://od.lk/s/NjBfMTI3MzMyNzU5Xw/arnold_rpg_dailouge.mp3
Conversation
3.48
https://od.lk/s/NjBfMTI3MzMyNzI0Xw/clyde_site_sample.mp3

Mean Opinion Score (MOS) is a numerical measure that represents the perceived quality of audio samples, commonly used in evaluating text-to-speech systems. The score ranges from 1 to 5, with 1 indicating poor quality and 5 signifying excellent quality. These scores are derivedfrom comprehensive, professionally-conducted evaluations, and are anonymized to ensure unbiased results.

Features

Microsoft Azure AI Speech Features

Voice Cloning
Multi-lingual
Per-word Timestamps
Pitch Control
Speed Control
Phone Formats (e.g. pcm_mulaw)

Play.ht Features

Voice Cloning
Multi-lingual
Per-word Timestamps
Pitch Control
Speed Control
Phone Formats (e.g. pcm_mulaw)

Features - Conclusion

  • Comprehensive Features: Shared Capabilities: Both Microsoft Azure AI Speech and Play.ht offer a comprehensive set of features for text-to-speech conversion, including voice cloning, multi-lingual support, per-word timestamps, and support for phone formats.
  • Unique Differentiator: Pitch Control in Microsoft Azure AI Speech: However, Microsoft Azure AI Speech distinguishes itself with additional pitch control, which is not available in Play.ht. Conversely, both platforms support speed control, showcasing their versatility in adjusting the playback of synthesized speech to meet user preferences.

Pricing & Plans

Microsoft Azure AI Speech Pricing

Free

$0/mo

  • 5 hours of audio (~225K chars)

Pay As You Go

$15/mo

  • 1M characters

Play.ht Pricing

Free

$0 / mo

  • 10,000 characters

Starter

$5 /mo

  • 10,000 characters
  • 30,000 characters

Creator

$22 /mo

  • 100,000 characters

Pricing & Plans - Conclusion

  • Cost-Effective Solution: Microsoft Azure AI Speech: In a comparison of text-to-speech services based solely on pricing, Microsoft Azure AI Speech emerges as the more cost-effective option across all usage levels, from low to high. It offers a larger free tier and maintains a lower cost for both moderate and high usage scenarios.
  • Competitive but Pricier: Play.ht: Play.ht, while competitive, especially with its Unlimited plan for high volume users, still does not match the affordability of Microsoft Azure AI Speech.

Customer Reviews

Microsoft Azure AI Speech Reviews

4.6 out of 5
Average of 88 ratings from leading review sites.

Customers appreciate Azure Text to Speech API for its ease of use, high-quality audio output, and seamless integration with other services. They find it particularly beneficial for accessibility and enhancing user experience across various applications. However, concerns about the cost and limited customization options are frequently mentioned. The API's multilingual support and continuous updates are praised, but some users desire improvements in voice naturalness and additional language options.

No items found.

Play.ht Reviews

4.0 out of 5
Average of 68 ratings from leading review sites.

Customers appreciate Amazon Polly for its natural-sounding voices, ease of use, and integration with AWS services. They find it beneficial for various applications like IVR systems, content creation, and multilingual support. However, concerns about cost, limited customization options, and occasional unnatural inflections in the voices are common. The service's scalability and fast response times are highlighted as significant advantages, helping businesses efficiently manage large-scale projects.

At Voluptatem Nihil Nulla
Aut

Compare Alternatives

Summary

  • Superior Voice Quality: Play.ht's Strength: In comparing Microsoft Azure AI Speech and Play.ht for text-to-speech services, Play.ht stands out for its superior voice quality across various content types, making it a preferable choice for users seeking more natural-sounding voiceovers.
  • Cost-Effective and Feature-Rich: Microsoft Azure AI Speech: However, Microsoft Azure AI Speech offers a more cost-effective solution with a broader range of features, including pitch control, which Play.ht lacks.
  • Overall Recommendation: Ultimately, the choice between the two services hinges on the user's priorities: voice quality and specific features versus overall cost and a wider array of functionalities.

TTS Property

Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.

Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.

TTS Property

-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy low latency websocket support and mult-speaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.


Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at onespeaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoyspeaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoyspeaker voice generation at pricing that helps you scale.Our next-gen TTS model surpasses competitors on performance at one-tenth the cost. Enjoy

Signal Noise Ratio

Signal Noise Ratio

Signal Noise Ratio

The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is a crucial metric that measures  the amount of useful information vs. false or irrelevant background noise, frequently measured in decibels (dB). Engineers aim to maximize SNR to enhance system performance by minimizing noise interference.

Do you offer any free credits for TTS & ASR?

drop-down

We offer a generous free plan for developers with one month of free:

  • 160 hours of text-to-speech generation
  • 1.2 million characters of speech-to-text transcription

What is the monthly subscription?

drop-down

Our monthly plan is $20 per month for

  • 160 hours of text-to-speech generation
  • 1.2 million characters of Speech-to-Text transcription

Once you exceed those limits, you can add $5 top-ups to your plan for

  • additional 30hrs of Text-to-Speech
  • additional 300,000 characters of Speech-to-Text

Do you offer voices & transcription other in languages?

drop-down

We currently only have English voice generation & transcription. But we're working on multilingual voice support, expected to roll out in 2-3 months.

Can I create custom voices (voice cloning)?

drop-down

Please contact us at founders@snr.audio with your custom voice (voice cloning) usecase. Once approved by our compliance team, you will get access to your custom voice in under 48-72 hours.

Can I use the generated audio & transcription commercially?

drop-down

Yes, audio & transcription generated with Signal Noise Labs can be used commercially. You own the license to the generated content to perpetuity.

How do I cancel my subscription?

drop-down

You can cancel your subscription at any time. Go to the Subscription panel in the dashboard and click the "Cancel Subscription" button.

app.snr.audio

SNR.Audio

SNR.Audio - Text to Speech and Speech to Text