Text-to-speech · Head to head
Amazon Polly vs WellSaid Labs: which is better?
Short answer
They are priced differently ($4 / 1M characters vs $10 / mo). Pick Amazon Polly for AWS-based pay-as-you-go speech API; pick WellSaid Labs for studio-quality English voiceover for teams.
| Fact | Amazon Polly | WellSaid Labs | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | AWS-based pay-as-you-go speech API | Studio-quality English voiceover for teams | — |
| Free plan | Yes, 5M Standard characters/mo | Yes, 3 download minutes per month | Tie |
| Entry plan | Standard voices: $4 / 1M characters | Starter: $10 / mo | — |
| Mid plan | Neural voices: $16 / 1M characters | Pro: $33 / mo | — |
| Top plan | Long-Form voices: $100 / 1M characters | Business: $160 / mo | — |
| 1st year | Usage-based | $120 | — |
| Platforms | API | Web, API | WellSaid Labs |
Edge = the better published number or limit; we do not test the tools hands-on.
Which has the better free plan, Amazon Polly or WellSaid Labs?
Neither stands out: Amazon Polly: Yes, 5M Standard characters/mo; WellSaid Labs: Yes, 3 download minutes per month.
Should you pick Amazon Polly or WellSaid Labs?
Pick Amazon Polly if
- you want AWS-based pay-as-you-go speech API
- the free plan is enough (5M Standard characters/mo)
Pick WellSaid Labs if
- you want studio-quality English voiceover for teams
- the free plan is enough (3 download minutes per month)
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon Polly pricing | aws.amazon.com/polly/pricing/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
| WellSaid Labs pricing | wellsaidlabs.com/pricing/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare