Leading AI voice platform for text-to-speech, voice cloning, dubbing, music and voice agents.
Async vs Speechify
Features, pricing, strengths and trade-offs — and which one fits your situation.
The verdict
Summary
Async is best for recording, cleaning up and publishing podcasts and talking-head content in one browser editor, while Speechify is best for listening to documents, PDFs and web pages read aloud on any device. Only Async offers music generation. Both Async and Speechify offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which should you choose?
Choose Async if…
- You need recording, cleaning up and publishing podcasts and talking-head content in one browser editor
- Music generation matters to you
- You're one of: podcasters, solo video creators, small marketing teams
- Recording, editing and AI voice tools in one workspace
Choose Speechify if…
- You need listening to documents, PDFs and web pages read aloud on any device
- You're one of: students, professionals with heavy reading loads, people with dyslexia or low vision
- Apps on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web and Chrome/Edge extensions
At a glance
| Async | Speechify | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Recording, cleaning up and publishing podcasts and talking-head content in one browser editor | Listening to documents, PDFs and web pages read aloud on any device |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | From $19.99/mo | From $29/mo |
| Learning curve | Low | Low |
| Platforms | Web, API | Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, API |
| Ideal for | Podcasters, Solo video creators, Small marketing teams | Students, Professionals with heavy reading loads, People with dyslexia or low vision, Audio learners |
Feature comparison
| Async | Speechify | |
|---|---|---|
| Text-to-speech | Yes | Yes |
| Voice cloning | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | 30+ (dubbing) | 60+ |
| Dubbing / translation | Yes | Yes |
| Voice changer / speech-to-speech | — | Yes |
| Music generation | Yes | No |
| Recording / editing studio | Yes | Limited |
| Noise removal | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
IncludedLimited / higher plansNot available— Not confirmed
Security & enterprise
| Async | Speechify | |
|---|---|---|
| Business / enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
| SSO (SAML / OIDC) | — | Enterprise plan |
| SCIM user provisioning | — | — |
| SOC 2 | — | Type II |
| ISO 27001 | — | — |
| HIPAA (BAA available) | — | — |
| GDPR DPA | — | Enterprise plan |
| Data residency options | — | — |
| No training on your data | — | — |
| Audit logs | — | — |
| Admin controls | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
From each vendor's security documentation. "—" = not confirmed. What to ask vendors · Compare all tools
What each tool does
Async
Async is the new name (since January 2026) for Podcastle, a browser-based studio for recording, editing and enhancing audio and video. It combines remote recording and transcript-based editing with AI voices, voice cloning, dubbing, music and sound-effect generation, plus a voice API for developers. It is mainly used by podcasters and small content teams.
Key features- Remote recording studio in the browser
- Magic Dust one-click audio cleanup
- Text-to-speech and voice cloning
- AI dubbing and lip-sync
- Music and sound-effect generators
- Developer voice API
Speechify
Speechify is best known as a text-to-speech reader app that reads PDFs, documents, web pages and scanned text aloud at adjustable speeds, with 1,000+ voices in 60+ languages. It has grown to include voice typing, an AI assistant, AI podcast generation and Speechify Studio, which offers voiceovers, voice cloning and dubbing. Students, professionals and people with dyslexia or visual impairments are its core users.
Key features- Reader app for PDFs, docs, web pages and ebooks
- OCR to read printed text from photos
- 1,000+ voices across 60+ languages
- Voice typing and dictation
- Speechify Studio for voiceovers, cloning and dubbing
- Text-to-speech API with streaming and SSML
Pricing
Async
Free plan; Essentials ~$19.99/mo monthly or ~$11.99/mo annual
Speechify
Free plan (basic voices); Premium $29/mo (annual discount available)
Prices last checked September 2026. Plans change often — confirm on each vendor's site.
Pros and cons
Async
Strengths- Recording, editing and AI voice tools in one workspace
- Magic Dust cleans noisy recordings with one click
- Existing Podcastle accounts and projects carried over after the rebrand
- Has a free plan
- Rebrand and expansion into video make the product scope broad and the interface busy
- Voice library and TTS quality trail specialist TTS tools
- Web-only editor; no desktop app
- Fewer third-party integrations than larger audio platforms
Not ideal for: Teams that only need high-end text-to-speech or API voices at scale are better served by a dedicated TTS platform.
Speechify
Strengths- Apps on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, web and Chrome/Edge extensions
- Syncs reading position across devices
- Helpful accessibility tool for dyslexia and low vision
- Has a free plan with basic voices
- Premium natural voices require a subscription
- Reader app and Studio are billed and managed separately
- Voice cloning quality trails specialist voice platforms
- Cloned voices must be re-uploaded into the dubbing tool to translate them
Not ideal for: Studios producing professional narration or localized video at scale will get more control from a dedicated voiceover platform.
Integrations
Async
Speechify
FAQ
What is the main difference between Async and Speechify?
Async is built for recording, cleaning up and publishing podcasts and talking-head content in one browser editor; Speechify is built for listening to documents, PDFs and web pages read aloud on any device. Key differences: Async offers music generation.
Is Async or Speechify cheaper?
Async starts from $19.99/mo and Speechify starts from $29/mo (as of September 2026). On entry price, Async is cheaper — but compare what each plan includes, since limits differ. Always confirm current pricing on each vendor's site.
Do Async and Speechify have free plans?
Both Async and Speechify offer a free plan, so you can try each before paying.
Which is easier to use, Async or Speechify?
Both have a low learning curve.
What are good alternatives to Async and Speechify?
Other voice & audio tools worth comparing include ElevenLabs, Murf AI and Riverside.
