OpenAI · Audio
Open-source speech recognition model from OpenAI supporting 99 languages with state-of-the-art accuracy.
Pricing
Free (open source) / $0.006/min API
Trust 92
Audio
Play.ht
AI text-to-speech platform with ultra-realistic voices for podcasts, audiobooks, and content creation.
Discontinued · confirmed 2026-09-30
The domain play.ht still exists but no longer points to any server (no A, AAAA or CNAME record from two resolvers, checked twice on 2026-09-30). This tool is left out of every ranking on this site. See what changed in September 2026.
What’s good
- Natural sounding
- Good voice cloning
- Easy API
Where it falls down
- Pricing can scale
- Some voices less natural
- Processing time
Features
Text-to-speech
Voice cloning
Podcast creation
API access
Alternatives
Others doing the same job
Visit
ElevenLabs · Audio
Leading AI voice synthesis platform offering ultra-realistic text-to-speech, voice cloning, and dubbing.
Pricing
Free - $99/month
Trust 91
Speechmatics · Audio
An enterprise speech recognition engine known for accent inclusivity, supporting 50+ languages with real-time and batch transcription APIs.
Pricing
Free tier + usage-based
Trust 91
Sonix · Audio
An automated transcription, translation and subtitling platform with a polished editor, multi-language support and shareable media players.
Pricing
$22/month
Trust 90
Cost against price
Play.ht costs $29. What does it cost to run?
We do not know which model Play.ht runs on, so here is the range. One seat doing the light workload, on the cheapest, middlemost and dearest models in the index.
| If it runs on | Model | Model cost | Left of $29 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheapest priced model | Qwen 3.7 Flash | $0.13 | $29 (100%) |
| Middle of the range | Gemini 3.1 Pro | $11 | $18 (64%) |
| Dearest priced model | Claude Fable 5 | $48 | $-19.00 (-66%) |
A model, not an audit. This is what the intelligence would cost at that shape of work, not what Play.ht pays: we do not know its model, its real usage or what it has negotiated, and the figures exclude caching, batching and volume discounts. What the gap is worth is the product, and that is the thing to judge.
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