Speechmatics vs Deepgram: Which Speech-to-Text API Delivers?

See why developers are switching to Speechmatics for superior speech-to-text accuracy, industry-leading language support, and advanced speaker diarization.

[alt: Speechmatics v Deepgram page header]

See how Speechmatics compares vs Deepgram on your audio

Choose from live radio, your own voice, or sample audio to see side-by-side comparisons of Speechmatics vs Deepgram.

Why teams evaluate Speechmatics after trying Deepgram

Accuracy

Limited language and accent coverage

Built for the real world, Speechmatics delivers unmatched accuracy in noisy environments, across diverse dialects & accents. The most inclusive STT engine.

Languages

Cloud-first architecture limits deployment

Deepgram offer fewer deployment options - global companies cannot use them. Speechmatics cover more, with accuracy in noisy environments.

Reliability

Data privacy trade-offs in standard pricing

No data logging by default. No surprise price hikes. With superior customer success, transparent terms, and production-grade reliability that scales.

Speechmatics vs Deepgram: A detailed comparison

A comprehensive comparison of features, accuracy, and capabilities.

Feature

Speechmatics ⭐

Deepgram

Supported Languages

55+ languages

36+ (expanding)

Flagship Model

Ursa 2 (1M+ hours training data)

Nova-3

WER (English-only)

1.07% WER

1.62% WER

Real-Time Transcription

Batch Transcription

Cloud Deployment

On-Premises Deployment

Limited

On-Device Deployment

Air Gapped

ISO 27001 Certified

SOC2 Type II

(Type I and II)

HIPAA Compliant

GDPR Compliant

(EU endpoint available)

Accent Coverage

Industry-leading across 55+ languages

Strong for English only; expanding globally

Pricing

From $0.24hr (standard)

From $0.46hr (Nova-3)

Advanced Features

Feature

Speechmatics ⭐

Deepgram

Speaker Diarization

No extra charge

Extra charge

Multi-speaker Accuracy

Market-leading

Standard

Custom Dictionary

No extra charge

Extra charge

Custom Dictionary Word Count

1000 words

100 words only

Public Reviews

Feature

Speechmatics ⭐

Deepgram

G2 Rating

4.8 out of 5

4.6 out of 5

Capterra

4.5 out of 5

Not applicable

Tech Radar

4.8 out of 5

Not applicable

Where Speechmatics outperforms Deepgram

Real-Time ASR | Enterprise Differentiation | Competitive Positioning

Waitlist-icon

Superior real-time accuracy

Consistently outperforms Deepgram in low-latency transcription, especially for non-English languages and challenging accents.

careers-icon

Broader language support

55+ languages vs. Deepgram’s 34; single model for all languages accents and dialects - covering over half the world's population.

service-status-icon

Enterprise-grade security

ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA-compliant, SaaS, on-prem, private cloud options (vs. Deepgram’s cloud-first approach).

summaries-icon

Custom Dictionary

Instant terminology tuning without retraining, unlike Deepgram’s domain-specific models which is complex and requires huge amounts of data.

sentiment-icon

Flexible pricing

Negotiable enterprise pricing and volume discounts; Deepgram appears cheaper but has hidden costs for premium features.

api-reference-icon

More than just speech-to-text

Use Speechmatic’s Voice AI stack to build powerful, fast, open-source AI Voice Agents with incredible low latency and seamless interactions.

Switch200-coupon

Start building with Speechmatics today

1) 👤 Log in or signup to the Speechmatics Portal

2) 💳 Add a valid payment card (no charge until credit is used)

3) 🔑 Enter your code: SWITCH200

4) 🚀 Start building with $200 free credit

Frequently Asked Questions: Speechmatics vs Deepgram

Is Speechmatics more accurate than Deepgram?

Yes. Speechmatics achieves a 1.07% Word Error Rate (WER) for English, compared to Deepgram's 1.62%. It also outperforms Deepgram in real-time transcription, particularly for non-English languages and challenging accents.

Here are recent benchmarks from Daily (Pipecat), where Speechmatics were recognized as a top-tier provider for real-time voice agents, sitting firmly on the "Pareto frontier".

How many languages does Speechmatics support vs Deepgram?

Speechmatics supports 55+ languages with a single model covering all languages, accents, and dialects. Deepgram supports 36+ languages, with strong coverage primarily for English.

Can Speechmatics be deployed on-premises?

Yes — Speechmatics supports cloud, on-premises, on-device, and air-gapped deployments. Deepgram is primarily cloud-first with limited on-premises options.

Which is cheaper — Speechmatics or Deepgram?

Speechmatics starts from $0.24/hr versus Deepgram's $0.46/hr for Nova-3. Deepgram may appear cheaper upfront but charges extra for premium features like speaker diarisation and custom vocabulary, which Speechmatics includes at no extra cost.

How does custom vocabulary work in Speechmatics vs Deepgram?

Speechmatics allows instant terminology tuning via a custom dictionary of up to 1,000 words at no extra charge. Deepgram limits custom dictionaries to 100 words and charges additionally, with domain-specific models that are complex to set up and require large amounts of training data.

Is Speechmatics HIPAA compliant?

Yes, Speechmatics is HIPAA compliant, and also boasts ISO 27001 certification, SOC2 Type I and II, and GDPR compliance (with an EU endpoint available).

Can I switch from Deepgram to Speechmatics easily?

You are entitled to $200 in free credits with the code SWITCH200 for anyone looking to try Speechmatics, as well as benefitting from superior customer success support.

Ready to switch to superior speech-to-text?

Join thousands of developers building the future of voice with Speechmatics. Get $200 in free credits when you sign up today.