Soniox vs Azure speech-to-text

Higher accuracy, real-time translation, and simpler integration than Microsoft Azure Speech-to-Text.

Developers choose Soniox for accuracy sans complexity

While Microsoft Azure Speech-to-Text supports a number of languages and integrates tightly into the Microsoft ecosystem, developers are often faced with tradeoffs. Azure STT also comes with lower accuracy in real-world audio, higher latency in streaming, and extra complexity stitching together speech, translation, and custom speech services.

Soniox delivers all-in-one transcription and translation with higher accuracy, token-level streaming, and full developer control. One API handles transcription, two-way translation, diarization, timestamps, and confidence. All with simpler pricing and no hidden add-ons.

Higher accuracy in real-world speech

Soniox delivers production-ready accuracy on real-world speech: 6.5% WER vs Azure's ~13–14%.

Streaming that feels live

Apps feel smooth and human with token-level updates, refinements, and full transcript control.

One API for transcription + translation

Build faster with transcription + two-way translation included in one call. Azure requires separate Translator and Custom Speech.

Helping startups and enterprises ship real world voice apps

See the difference for yourself

Don't just take our word for it. Run the same audio through Soniox and Azure in real time and compare live results, side by side.

This demo isn't pre-recorded. It makes real API calls to Azure and Soniox in real time, with each service tuned for its best performance. The framework is open source, so you can inspect or run it yourself.

SONIOX VS AZURE AT A GLANCE

The benchmarks back it up

In a 2025 study across 60 languages and real-world YouTube audio, Soniox reached 6.5% WER in English vs ~13-14% for Azure.

View the full benchmark report

Feature	Sonioxstt-rt-v3	Azureen-US-Conversation
open_in_newSingle Multilingual Model	check	close
open_in_newLanguage Hints	check	close
open_in_newLanguage Identification	check	warning
open_in_newSpeaker Diarization	check	warning
open_in_newCustomization	check	check
open_in_newTimestamps	check	check
open_in_newConfidence Scores	check	check
open_in_newTranslation One Way	check	check
open_in_newTranslation Two Way	check	close
open_in_newEndpoint Detection	check	check
open_in_newManual Finalization	check	close

“It just gets the words right — any language, any accent, any context. That’s what accuracy is supposed to look like.”

Tony Wang,
Cofounder & Chief Revenue Officer at Agora

The fastest and simplest alternative to Azure

Get accuracy you can count on.

Your app only works if the transcript is right. Soniox consistently outperforms Azure on messy, real-world speech, like calls, Youtube clips, and multi-speaker conversations.

English WER 6.5% vs Azure ~13-14%.

Azure accuracy drops outside clean audio.

Deliver real-time experiences that feel natural.

With token-level updates in milliseconds, Soniox keeps captions and assistants responsive. Developers can refine results, finalize early, or detect endpoints, so apps feel smooth and human.

Azure's segment-based streaming lags and lacks developer controls.

Build globally without extra services.

Soniox includes transcription, diarization, timestamps, confidence, and two-way translation in the same stream. One API call works for 60+ languages.

Azure requires stitching Speech-to-Text with Translator and Custom Speech, adding complexity and cost.

Save more as you scale.

At ~$0.10–0.12/hr, Soniox includes all features in one price. That means you save 2-5x vs Azure's $0.24–0.48/hr, with no add-on Translator fees.

Azure costs more and charges separately for translation/customization.

Start building with Soniox arrow_right_alt

Get accuracy you can count on.

Your app only works if the transcript is right. Soniox consistently outperforms Azure on messy, real-world speech, like calls, Youtube clips, and multi-speaker conversations.

English WER 6.5% vs Azure ~13-14%.

Azure accuracy drops outside clean audio.

Deliver real-time experiences that feel natural.

With token-level updates in milliseconds, Soniox keeps captions and assistants responsive. Developers can refine results, finalize early, or detect endpoints, so apps feel smooth and human.

Azure's segment-based streaming lags and lacks developer controls.

Build globally without extra services.

Soniox includes transcription, diarization, timestamps, confidence, and two-way translation in the same stream. One API call works for 60+ languages.

Azure requires stitching Speech-to-Text with Translator and Custom Speech, adding complexity and cost.

Save more as you scale.

At ~$0.10–0.12/hr, Soniox includes all features in one price. That means you save 2-5x vs Azure's $0.24–0.48/hr, with no add-on Translator fees.

Azure costs more and charges separately for translation/customization.

Start building with Soniox arrow_right_alt

Pay 2-5x less than Azure

With Soniox, transcription, translation, diarization, timestamps, and confidence are all included in one price. Azure charges more per hour and requires multiple services (Speech-to-Text + Translator + Custom Speech) for the same functionality.

Effective hourly cost

(typical speech)

Soniox

~$0.10/hour (async)
~$0.12/hour (streaming)

Azure

~$0.24–0.48/hour (depending on region/model)

100 hours

1,000 hours

10,000 hours

Soniox (async)

~$10

~$100

~$1,000

Soniox (streaming)

~$12

~$120

~$1,200

Azure

~$24-48

~$240-480

~$2,400-4,800

Takeaway

Soniox costs 2–5x less than Azure, with all features included in one API. At scale, that means saving thousands while reducing integration overhead.

Soniox bills per token, which works out to the effective hourly rates above for typical speech.
Azure pricing varies by region, model, and usage tier. Translation via Azure Translator is billed separately, and Custom Speech may add further costs.
Comparisons use publicly listed rates as of 2025. Benchmarks and pricing are based on real-world audio workloads, with each service configured for best available performance.

Fluent at any speed

Watch Soniox keep up with fast speech in any language

Chinese to English in real time with SONIOX

Very fast speaking Spanish translated in real time in English with SONIOX!

Real time translation from Japanese to English

Real-Time Translation Demo | From German to English with SONIOX

French speech to Text | Leslie Talks About Monster eating a Cake

Russian to English with SONIOX

Speaking Super Fast in Italian – Soniox still translated every word into English

Korean to English in real time with SONIOX

Real-Time from Slovenian to English with SONIOX

Valeria Juri Reads Ukrainian Poem “Мовчати” | Live English Translation by Soniox

Frequently asked questions about Soniox vs Azure

1.Is Soniox cheaper than Azure?arrow_downward

Yes. Soniox costs ~$0.10–0.12/hr. Azure costs ~$0.24–0.48/hr depending on region and model, plus extra for translation/customization.

2.Does Azure support more languages than Soniox?arrow_downward

Azure lists 100+, but accuracy is inconsistent. Soniox supports 60+ with production-ready accuracy and built-in two-way translation.

3.Do I need multiple APIs with Azure?arrow_downward

Yes. Azure typically requires combining Speech-to-Text, Translator, and Custom Speech. Soniox includes everything in one call.

4.Does Azure support diarization and timestamps?arrow_downward

Yes, but Soniox provides them faster and in real time.

5.Can Soniox handle multiple languages in one stream?arrow_downward

Yes. Soniox auto-detects and supports mid-conversation shifts. Azure requires pre-selecting one language per request.

6.Does Azure support two-way translation?arrow_downward

No. Azure requires Translator as a separate service and typically supports one-way flows. Soniox delivers two-way, in-stream translation in the same API call.

Soniox surpasses Azure in any language

Get the most accurate, real-time speech-to-text transcription and translation in 60+ languages

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