Google Cloud Text-to-Speech vs Syllavox
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech
cloud.google.comSyllavox
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Google Cloud Text-to-Speech | Syllavox |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4/mo | — |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 14 | 0 |
| Spec score · Text-to-speech tools | 9.2 (#8) | 7.5 (#169) |
| Spec score · Text-to-Speech Software | 9.0 (#13) | 7.5 (#165) |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Commercial use | Yes | Yes |
| Export formats | MP3,LINEAR16,OGG_OPUS,MULAW,ALAW | WAV |
| License | The public Google API protocol definition is licensed under Apache License 2.0; the hosted synthesis service itself is proprietary. | The source code is released under the MIT License. |
| Platforms | web,api | Windows 10/11 x64 is supported; macOS Apple silicon and Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 amd64 are best effort, while other listed targets are experimental. |
| Purpose | The API converts text into natural-sounding speech and can accept text or SSML input to produce audio data. | Syllavox is a local-first desktop read-aloud utility for listening to text across applications using a shortcut. |
| Security | Google Cloud states that data is encrypted in transit and at rest with audited access to encryption keys. | The security policy says the project is a small side project, response times cannot be guaranteed, and security reports will be reviewed as soon as practical. |
Plans
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech
- Standard voices$4 a month
- WaveNet voices$4 a month
- Neural2 voices$16 a month
- Polyglot voices$16 a month
- Chirp 3: HD voices$30 a month
- Studio voices$160 a month
- Instant custom voice$60 a month
- Gemini 2.5 Flash TTS and Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite Preview TTSPrice not published
- Gemini 3.1 Flash TTSPrice not published
- Gemini 2.5 Flash TTS / Gemini 2.5 Flash-Lite Preview TTSPrice not published
In their own words
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech is an API that converts text or SSML into audio data for applications. It offers more than 380 voices across more than 75 languages and variants, with REST or gRPC integration and output formats including MP3, LINEAR16, OGG_OPUS, MULAW, and ALAW. Gemini-TTS supports single- or multispeaker speech guided by natural-language prompts for style, accent, pace, tone, and emotional expression. Chirp 3 instant custom voice can create a personalized voice model from as little as 10 seconds of audio and is available in more than 30 locales. Streaming synthesis supports real-time conversations, while long-audio synthesis accepts up to 1 million bytes of input. Speech controls include pitch, speaking rate, and volume gain. Billing counts input characters, including spaces, newlines, and SSML tags except the mark tag, and billing must be enabled. Standard and WaveNet voices cost US$4 per 1 million characters, with 0 to 4 million characters free. Other voice models have different rates and free-use limits. New customers can receive $300 in Google Cloud credits.