Soniox vs Deepgram speech-to-text

Higher accuracy, built-in translation, and real-time features that Deepgram can't match.

Developers choose Soniox for accurate, global-ready speech

Deepgram is popular with developers and makes it easy to get started with transcription. But accuracy falls off in real-world audio, streaming lags, and translation isn't included. With Soniox, one API works for 8 billion people across 60+ languages – delivering transcription and translation with higher accuracy and smoother real-time performance. It's built for production apps that need to work worldwide.

Trusted accuracy

Soniox outperforms Deepgram on real-world speech, with fewer errors to fix. Soniox hits 6.5% WER in English vs 9.3% for Deepgram.

Faster streaming

Token-level updates appear in milliseconds, so conversations feel live and apps stay fluid. Captions flow naturally and assistants respond instantly.

Translation built in

One API delivers transcription and two-way translation across 60+ languages. Your app works for 8 billion people worldwide with no extra services required.

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 Deepgram in real time and compare live results, side by side.

This demo isn't pre-recorded. It makes real API calls to Deepgram 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 DEEPGRAM 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 9.3% for Deepgram.

View the full benchmark report

Feature	Sonioxstt-rt-v3	Deepgramnova-3
open_in_newSingle Multilingual Model	check	check
open_in_newLanguage Hints	check	close
open_in_newLanguage Identification	check	close
open_in_newSpeaker Diarization	check	check
open_in_newCustomization	check	check
open_in_newTimestamps	check	check
open_in_newConfidence Scores	check	check
open_in_newTranslation One Way	check	close
open_in_newTranslation Two Way	check	close
open_in_newEndpoint Detection	check	warning
open_in_newManual Finalization	check	check

“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

More than transcription. Accuracy, speed, and translation built in.

Accuracy that holds up everywhere.

With Soniox, you get transcripts you can trust, even in noisy conditions. Soniox reached 6.5% WER vs 9.3% for Deepgram, meaning fewer mistakes and less cleanup.

Deepgram falls apart in noisy or overlapping audio.

Streaming that never lags.

Apps stay smooth and responsive with token-level updates in milliseconds. You still get full control with refinements, finalization, and endpoint detection.

Deepgram only streams by the sentence, so transcripts lag and jump.

Global-ready from the start.

One API covers 60+ languages with automatic language detection and two-way translation, so your app can serve 8 billion people from day one.

Deepgram stops at transcription.

Simple pricing that scales.

Soniox pricing stays flat: ~$0.10–0.12/hr with every feature included. No tiers, upsells, or surprises as you grow.

Deepgram charges more – and still doesn't include translation.

Start building with Soniox arrow_right_alt

Accuracy that holds up everywhere.

With Soniox, you get transcripts you can trust, even in noisy conditions. Soniox reached 6.5% WER vs 9.3% for Deepgram, meaning fewer mistakes and less cleanup.

Deepgram falls apart in noisy or overlapping audio.

Streaming that never lags.

Apps stay smooth and responsive with token-level updates in milliseconds. You still get full control with refinements, finalization, and endpoint detection.

Deepgram only streams by the sentence, so transcripts lag and jump.

Global-ready from the start.

One API covers 60+ languages with automatic language detection and two-way translation, so your app can serve 8 billion people from day one.

Deepgram stops at transcription.

Simple pricing that scales.

Soniox pricing stays flat: ~$0.10–0.12/hr with every feature included. No tiers, upsells, or surprises as you grow.

Deepgram charges more – and still doesn't include translation.

Start building with Soniox arrow_right_alt

Pay 2-3x less than Deepgram

With Soniox, transcription, translation, diarization, timestamps, and confidence are all included in one price. Deepgram charges more per tier and doesn't bundle translation at all.

Effective hourly cost

(typical speech)

Soniox

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

Deepgram

~$0.20–0.40/hour depending on model tier (Nova-2, Nova-3, Enhanced)

100 hours

1,000 hours

10,000 hours

Soniox (async)

~$10

~$100

~$1,000

Soniox (streaming)

~$12

~$120

~$1,200

Deepgram (typical)

~$20-40

~$200-400

~$2,000-4,000

Takeaway

Soniox costs 2–3x less than Deepgram, while delivering higher accuracy, smoother streaming, and built-in translation out of the box.

Soniox bills per token, which works out to the effective hourly rates above for typical conversational speech.
Deepgram pricing varies by tier: lower-cost "Nova" models are less accurate, while higher-cost "Enhanced" adds expense. Translation requires a separate service.
All comparisons use publicly listed rates as of 2025.

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 Deepgram

1.Is Soniox cheaper than Deepgram?arrow_downward

Yes. Soniox costs ~$0.10–0.12/hr, while Deepgram typically costs ~$0.20–0.40/hr depending on model tier. That's 2–3x less expensive.

2.Does Deepgram support translation?arrow_downward

No. Deepgram only provides transcription. Soniox includes two-way, in-stream translation across 60+ languages in the same API call.

3.How does Soniox streaming compare to Deepgram?arrow_downward

Soniox streams token by token in milliseconds, with refinements, manual finalization, and endpoint detection. Deepgram streams by the sentence, creating lag and jumpy transcripts.

4.Does Deepgram 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. Deepgram requires you to pre-select a single language per request.

Soniox surpasses Deepgram in any language

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

Build faster with one API

Start building

Create your account and generate an API key. Includes $200 in free credits.

Get API key

Explore the docs

Find guides, API reference, and code samples to help you build fast.

docs_add_onView docs

Join our Discord

Ask questions, get feedback, and connect with other builders.

Join us