kitio.aiAssemblyAI vs Speechmatics
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. AssemblyAI starts at See pricing page and Speechmatics starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Batch and streaming transcription
- Speaker diarization
- PII redaction
- Sentiment and topic detection
- LLM features over transcripts
- Real-time and batch transcription
- 50+ languages
- Speaker diarization
- Translation
- On-premises deployment
| Feature | AssemblyAI | Speechmatics |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Speech AI API for transcription, diarization and audio understanding | Enterprise speech recognition API with broad language coverage |
| Category | Audio & voice | Audio & voice |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | See pricing page | See pricing page |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | AssemblyAI | Speechmatics |
| Based in | United States | United Kingdom |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Both offer: Speaker diarization.
Pricing compared
AssemblyAI starts at See pricing page and Speechmatics starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
3 plans
Free
Free
- Try the API for free
- No commitment
Pay as you go
$0.21 / hr (Universal-3.5 Pro)
- Universal-2 at $0.15/hr
- Streaming from $0.45/hr
- Add-ons billed per hour
Custom
Custom
- Custom rate limits
- Higher concurrency
- Enterprise-grade flexibility
3 plans
Free
Free
- $100 in credits, no card
- 2 concurrent real-time sessions
Pay as you go
From $0.12 / hour
- Enhanced model $0.38/hr
- Medical model $0.15/hr
- 50 concurrent real-time sessions
- Volume discounts up to 25%
Enterprise
Contact sales
- Dedicated CSM and solutions engineer
- On-prem and on-device deployment
- Unlimited files per second
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
AssemblyAI
- High accuracy on English
- Rich analysis features
- Clear documentation
- Add-on features cost extra
- No end-user app
Speechmatics
- Strong accuracy across accents
- Flexible deployment options
- Wide language support
- Enterprise focus can mean sales calls
- Fewer creator tools
Which one should you choose?
Choose AssemblyAI if you want:
- High accuracy on English
- Rich analysis features
- Clear documentation
Watch out: add-on features cost extra.
Choose Speechmatics if you want:
- Strong accuracy across accents
- Flexible deployment options
- Wide language support
Watch out: enterprise focus can mean sales calls.
AssemblyAI vs Speechmatics FAQ
What is the difference between AssemblyAI and Speechmatics?
AssemblyAI: Speech AI API for transcription, diarization and audio understanding. Speechmatics: Enterprise speech recognition API with broad language coverage. Both are audio & voice tools.
Is AssemblyAI or Speechmatics cheaper?
AssemblyAI starts at See pricing page and Speechmatics starts at See pricing page. Check both pricing pages for current plans.
Do AssemblyAI and Speechmatics have free plans?
AssemblyAI: Yes. Speechmatics: Yes.
Who makes AssemblyAI?
AssemblyAI is made by AssemblyAI, based in United States.
Who makes Speechmatics?
Speechmatics is made by Speechmatics, based in United Kingdom.
Which should I choose, AssemblyAI or Speechmatics?
Choose AssemblyAI if you value high accuracy on english and rich analysis features. Choose Speechmatics if you value strong accuracy across accents and flexible deployment options.