Allows developers to create natural-sounding, synthetic human speech as playable audio.
Voice Quality
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Samples
Mean Opinion Score
Fiction
3.69
Non-Fiction
3.13
Conversation
3.18
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech Samples
Mean Opinion Score
Fiction
3.93
Non-Fiction
3.82
Conversation
3.42
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 derived from comprehensive, professionally-conducted evaluations, and are anonymized to ensure unbiased results.
Voice Quality - Conclusion
Based on the Mean Opinion Scores provided, Google Cloud Text-to-Speech generally offers higher voice quality across fiction, non-fiction, and conversation categories compared to Microsoft Azure AI Speech.
Google's service achieves particularly notable superiority in fiction and non-fiction voice synthesis.
This suggests that for applications where voice quality is a critical factor, Google Cloud Text-to-Speech might be the preferable choice.
Features
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Features
Voice Cloning
Multi-lingual
Per-word Timestamps
Pitch Control
Speed Control
Phone Formats (e.g. pcm_mulaw)
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech Features
Voice Cloning
Multi-lingual
Per-word Timestamps
Pitch Control
Speed Control
Phone Formats (e.g. pcm_mulaw)
Features - Conclusion
Both Microsoft Azure AI Speech and Google Cloud Text-to-Speech offer a robust set of features for text-to-speech conversion, including voice cloning, multi-lingual support, pitch and speed control, and support for phone formats.
However, Microsoft Azure AI Speech distinguishes itself with the provision of per-word timestamps, a feature not available in Google Cloud Text-to-Speech.
This could be a critical differentiator for applications requiring precise synchronization between text and speech, such as subtitle generation or detailed speech analysis.
Pricing & Plans
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Pricing
Free
$0/mo
5 hours of audio (~225K chars)
Pay As You Go
$15per
1M characters
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech Pricing
Free
$0/mo
1M characters
Pay As You Go
$16per
1M characters
Pricing & Plans - Conclusion
In a direct comparison of pricing for text-to-speech services, Microsoft Azure AI Speech offers a more cost-effective solution at $15 per million characters, slightly undercutting Google Cloud Text-to-Speech which is priced at $16 per million characters.
This makes Microsoft Azure AI Speech the more economical choice for users prioritizing budget, with a savings of $1 per million characters processed.
This pricing advantage positions Microsoft Azure AI Speech as a slightly better value for those looking solely at cost.
Customer Reviews
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Reviews
4.2 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.
Ease of use
Integration
Accessibility
Audio quality
Multilingual support
Naturalness of voice
Cost
Customization
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech Reviews
4.6 out of 5
Average of 163 ratings from leading review sites.
Customers appreciate Google Cloud Text-to-Speech for its multilingual support, high-quality voices, and ease of integration. It is praised for its ability to handle various languages and accents, making it versatile for different applications. However, users are dissatisfied with its dependency on internet connectivity and find the pricing structure confusing and potentially costly. The lack of offline functionality is a significant drawback for many. Despite these issues, the service is valued for its accessibility features and seamless integration with other Google services.
In comparing Microsoft Azure AI Speech and Google Cloud Text-to-Speech, Google's service leads in voice quality, offering superior synthesized speech across various categories, making it the better option for applications where voice realism is paramount.
However, Microsoft Azure AI Speech provides a slightly more cost-effective solution and includes unique features like per-word timestamps, making it appealing for budget-conscious users or projects requiring detailed speech-text synchronization.
Ultimately, the choice between the two services hinges on the specific needs of the user, balancing between voice quality, pricing, and feature requirements.
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