Soniox vs Deepgram
for Malayalam speech-to-text
Higher accuracy in real-world Malayalam, real-time features, and in-stream translation that Deepgram can’t match.
Developers choose Soniox for accuracy in Malayalam speech
Malayalam is spoken by 38 million people worldwide — primarily in India, with speakers around the world. Soniox delivers production-ready transcription and translation for Malayalam, handling regional accents, code-switching, and real-world audio conditions. Deepgram lists Malayalam as supported, but benchmark results show far higher error rates compared to Soniox.
Developers often like Deepgram for getting started quickly but often have to sacrifice accuracy, streaming speed, and key features. In real-world Malayalam audio, which can include accents, rapid speech, and overlapping speakers, errors increase, streaming lags, and translation isn’t included. Soniox offers one API that transcribes and translates Malayalam (and 60+ others) with higher accuracy and smoother real-time performance, so your app instantly works worldwide.
Trusted accuracy
Soniox provides reliable Malayalam transcripts, making it easier to work with your audio data.
Faster streaming in Malayalam
Apps feel smooth and human with token-level updates, refinements, and full transcript control in Malayalam.
Malayalam translation built in
One API delivers transcription and two-way translation across 60+ languages, including Malayalam. 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 Malayalam 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
More than transcription. Accuracy, speed, and translation built in.
Accuracy that holds up in Malayalam.
Soniox consistently delivers top results for Malayalam transcripts. That means cleaner transcripts, less post-editing, and apps you can actually trust in production.
Real-time Malayalam streaming.
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 transcription and two-way translation for Malayalam and 60+ others.
Deepgram requires separate services and can’t handle translation.
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.
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)
| Soniox (async) | Soniox (streaming) | Deepgram (typical) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 hours | ~$10 | ~$12 | ~$20-40 |
| 1,000 hours | ~$100 | ~$120 | ~$200-400 |
| 1,000 hours | ~$1,000 | ~$1,200 | ~$2,000-4,000 |
Takeaway: For Malayalam, you’ll typically pay 2–3x less than Deepgram, while getting higher accuracy, smoother streaming, and built-in translation out of the box.
Notes:
- 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.
Frequently asked questions about Soniox vs Deepgram
Is Soniox cheaper than Deepgram?
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.
Does Deepgram support Malayalam translation?
No. Deepgram only provides transcription. Soniox includes two-way, in-stream translation across 60+ languages in the same API call.
How does Soniox streaming compare to Deepgram?
Soniox streams token by token in milliseconds, with refinements, manual finalization, and endpoint detection. Deepgram streams by the sentence, creating lag and jumpy transcripts.
Does Deepgram support diarization and timestamps?
Yes, but Soniox provides them faster and in real time.
Can Soniox handle multiple languages in one stream?
Yes. Soniox detects language shifts mid-conversation. Deepgram requires 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 Soniox for Malayalam
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