Text-to-speech · Head to head
Cartesia vs Speechify: which is better?
Short answer
Cartesia costs less in the first year ($60 vs $348). Pick Cartesia for low-latency voice AI for developers; pick Speechify for listening to documents and books.
| Fact | Cartesia | Speechify | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Low-latency voice AI for developers | Listening to documents and books | — |
| Free plan | Yes, 20K credits per month | Yes, basic reader, 10 voices | Tie |
| Entry plan | Pro: $5 / mo | Premium: $29 / mo | Cartesia |
| Mid plan | Startup: $49 / mo | Premium: $29 / mo | Speechify |
| Top plan | Scale: $299 / mo | Premium: $29 / mo | Speechify |
| 1st year | $60 | $348 | Cartesia |
| Platforms | API, Web | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension | Speechify |
Edge = the better published number or limit; we do not test the tools hands-on.
Which is cheaper, Cartesia or Speechify?
Cartesia costs less in the first year ($60 vs $348).
| 1st year | Cartesia | Speechify |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | $60 | $348 |
| Mid | $588 | $348 |
| Top | $3,588 | $348 |
Which has the better free plan, Cartesia or Speechify?
Neither stands out: Cartesia: Yes, 20K credits per month; Speechify: Yes, basic reader, 10 voices.
Should you pick Cartesia or Speechify?
Pick Cartesia if
- you want low-latency voice AI for developers
- the free plan is enough (20K credits per month)
Pick Speechify if
- you want listening to documents and books
- the free plan is enough (basic reader, 10 voices)
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Cartesia pricing | cartesia.ai/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