Text-to-speech · Head to head
Amazon Polly vs Speechify: which is better?
Short answer
They are priced differently ($4 / 1M characters vs $29 / mo). Pick Amazon Polly for AWS-based pay-as-you-go speech API; pick Speechify for listening to documents and books.
| Fact | Amazon Polly | Speechify | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | AWS-based pay-as-you-go speech API | Listening to documents and books | — |
| Free plan | Yes, 5M Standard characters/mo | Yes, basic reader, 10 voices | Tie |
| Entry plan | Standard voices: $4 / 1M characters | Premium: $29 / mo | — |
| Mid plan | Neural voices: $16 / 1M characters | Premium: $29 / mo | — |
| Top plan | Long-Form voices: $100 / 1M characters | Premium: $29 / mo | — |
| 1st year | Usage-based | $348 | — |
| Platforms | API | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension | Speechify |
Edge = the better published number or limit; we do not test the tools hands-on.
Which has the better free plan, Amazon Polly or Speechify?
Neither stands out: Amazon Polly: Yes, 5M Standard characters/mo; Speechify: Yes, basic reader, 10 voices.
Should you pick Amazon Polly or Speechify?
Pick Amazon Polly if
- you want AWS-based pay-as-you-go speech API
- the free plan is enough (5M Standard characters/mo)
Pick Speechify if
- you want listening to documents and books
- the free plan is enough (basic reader, 10 voices)
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Polly pricing | aws.amazon.com/polly/pricing/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Speechify pricing | speechify.com/pricing/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare