audio model comparison

AssemblyAI-TTS-1 vs MAI-Voice-2.1

AssemblyAI-TTS-1 and MAI-Voice-2.1 are both current audio models, from AssemblyAI and Microsoft AI. AssemblyAI-TTS-1 is 32% cheaper per character than MAI-Voice-2.1, $0.000015 vs $0.000022.

Lower price per character: AssemblyAI-TTS-1$0.000015 against $0.000022
Newer release: AssemblyAI-TTS-1Oct 2026 against Oct 2026

Data verified November 3, 2026 · Dataset 2026-11-03

AssemblyAI-TTS-1 and MAI-Voice-2.1, line by line

Prices in effect today, compared at the same tier wherever both list one. The better value in each row is highlighted.

Fact	AssemblyAI-TTS-1	MAI-Voice-2.1
Price
Price per character	$0.000015 (better)	$0.000022
Independent benchmarks
Artificial Analysis Speech Arena	1221 Elo (#6 of 13)	Not measured
Specs
Provider	AssemblyAI	Microsoft AI
Release date	October 28, 2026	October 1, 2026
Access	API only	API only
Context window	Not reported	Not reported
Max output	Not reported	Not reported
Input	text	text
Output	audio	audio

No independent benchmark has scored both models yet. Each rank counts the current models scored on that benchmark.

Scores:Artificial Analysis · 2026-11-03

Charts

Against every current audio model

Where AssemblyAI-TTS-1 and MAI-Voice-2.1 land among the current models of their task, on every independent benchmark, on price and on context.

Where each stands

Only AssemblyAI-TTS-1 has a current Artificial Analysis Speech Arena score: #6 of 13. Each bar is the share of current models it beats.

Independent benchmarks

Artificial Analysis Speech Arena

AssemblyAI-TTS-1:#6of 13

1,221 Elo · ahead of 58%

MAI-Voice-2.1: Not scored

Price and context

Price per character

AssemblyAI-TTS-1:#2of 11

$0.000015 · cheaper than 70%

MAI-Voice-2.1:#5of 11

$0.000022 · cheaper than 60%

Scores fromArtificial Analysis · 2026-11-03

Cost

What each costs

Example workloads at each provider's listed rates, then every other rate either one lists. The cheaper figure in each row is highlighted.

The same work, priced

For 1M characters, MAI-Voice-2.1 costs 1.5 times as much as AssemblyAI-TTS-1, at each provider's listed rates.

1M characters
MAI-Voice-2.1 costs 1.5× as much
AssemblyAI-TTS-1
$15
MAI-Voice-2.1
$22

Workload or rate	AssemblyAI-TTS-1	MAI-Voice-2.1
Example workloads
1M characters	$15 (better)	$22

Your own bill will differ. These figures use list prices and example workloads. The AI Model Cost Audit reviews your real usage, shortlists models that score as well for each task for less, and estimates the savings.

Launch price $100, regular price $150

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Verdict

When to choose each

AssemblyAI-TTS-1

Where it leads

Lower price per character, $0.000015 vs $0.000022

Best for

Voice agents on live phone calls
High-volume speech where the cost per character matters

Watch out for

Six languages at launch; AssemblyAI says more languages and accents will follow
No fine-tuned (Pro) voice cloning, pronunciation dictionaries or emotion tags at launch
The head-to-head figures in the launch post are AssemblyAI tests

Full AssemblyAI-TTS-1 profile

MAI-Voice-2.1

Where it leads

No measured lead over AssemblyAI-TTS-1 in this data.

Best for

Multilingual products that keep one voice across languages
Narration and dialogue with controlled delivery

Watch out for

Microsoft Foundry lists it as a preview, and voice cloning needs Microsoft approval
No independent benchmark score is recorded here yet

Full MAI-Voice-2.1 profile

From benchmark to production

Building on AssemblyAI-TTS-1 or MAI-Voice-2.1?

Public scores rarely hold on your own data. We test both models on your real tasks, then build the agent or pipeline around the one that wins.

AI Model Cost AuditLaunch price $100, regular price $150What the audit includes

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