Google Cloud Speech-to-Text vs IBM Watson Speech to Text
Google Cloud Speech-to-Text
cloud.google.comIBM Watson Speech to Text
ibm.comSide by side
| Figure | Google Cloud Speech-to-Text | IBM Watson Speech to Text |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.02/mo | $0.02/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 5 |
| Spec score · AI transcription tools | 8.8 (#9) | 9.0 (#6) |
| Spec score · Transcription Software | 8.5 (#18) | 8.7 (#11) |
| Spec score · Speech Recognition Software | 8.5 (#15) | 8.7 (#11) |
| Spec score · Audio Transcription Software | 8.5 (#18) | 8.6 (#17) |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Export formats | VTT,SRT | JSON |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Speaker diarization | The service can predict which speaker produced each utterance in a conversation. | IBM’s product page says the service can recognize who said what in a multi-participant voice exchange. |
| Speaker identification | Yes | Yes |
| Timestamp support | Yes | Yes |
Plans
Google Cloud Speech-to-Text
- Speech-to-Text V2 Standard recognition$0.02 a month
- Speech-to-Text V2 Dynamic Batch RecognitionFree
- Speech-to-Text V1 Standard with data logging$0.02 a month
- Speech-to-Text V1 Standard without data logging$0.02 a month
- Medical Dictation$0.08 a month
- Medical Conversation$0.08 a month
- Speech-to-Text V1 API — Standard with data loggingFree
- Speech-to-Text V1 API — Standard without data loggingFree
- Speech-to-Text V2 API — Standard dynamic batch recognitionFree
- Speech-to-Text V2 API — Standard recognition models$0.02 a month
IBM Watson Speech to Text
- LitePriced on request
- Plus$0.02 a month
- PlusPriced on request
- LiteFree
- PremiumPriced on request
In their own words
Google Cloud Speech-to-Text
Google Cloud Speech-to-Text converts audio into text and provides APIs for adding speech recognition to applications. It offers synchronous, asynchronous, and streaming recognition for post-processing, periodic, or real-time results, and lists support for 85+ languages and variants. Model adaptation lets users provide hints for domain-specific terms, rare words, and phrases. Speaker diarization can predict which speaker produced each utterance; the service also supports multichannel recognition and says it can handle noisy audio without additional noise cancellation. Specialized models are available for voice control, phone calls, and video transcription. API v2 includes data residency, audit logging, and customer-managed encryption keys. Speech-to-Text On-Prem runs in private data centers and is offered through a sales contact. Developer access includes REST and RPC APIs, client libraries, and command-line quickstarts. Listed pricing includes Speech-to-Text V2 API standard recognition models at $0.02 a month, billed at $0.016 / 1 minute for 0–500,000 minutes, with lower rates at higher monthly volumes; V1 standard plans include 60 free minutes per month. Costs depend on duration, channel count, model, batch method, and API version, with each channel billed separately.
IBM Watson Speech to Text
IBM Watson Speech to Text has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.