Cartesia vs Loudly: Which Is Better in 2026?
Cartesia edges out Loudly on our overall rubric (8.2 vs 7.2), but the picture is more nuanced than the headline suggests. Cartesia leads on voice quality (9/10), while Cartesia delivers more for the money (8/10 on value).
Head-to-head
| Metric | Cartesia | Loudly |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 8.2 | 7.2 |
| Voice quality | 9.0 | 7.0 |
| Value | 8.0 | 8.0 |
| UI | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $4/mo | $7/mo |
| Most popular plan | $39/mo | $23/mo |
| Languages supported | 40 | 1 |
| Voices in catalog | 50 | — |
| Voice cloning | Yes | No |
| API available | Yes | Yes |
| Emotion control | Yes | No |
| Multi-speaker | Yes | No |
| Commercial use | Yes | Yes |
| Audio quality | studio-44.1kHz | studio-44.1kHz |
| Output formats | mp3, wav, pcm, ulaw | mp3, wav |
| Founded | 2023 · United States | 2014 · Germany |
| Enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
Pricing showdown
At entry pricing, Cartesia starts at $4/mo versus Loudly at $7/mo.
When to choose Cartesia
- You're auditioning against human voice talent and need to sound studio-grade.
- Multilingual reach is the deciding factor — Cartesia carries 40 languages vs 1.
- You need consented voice cloning for a specific speaker.
When to choose Loudly
- You prefer Loudly's editorial direction or have an existing workflow built around it.
Related comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Is Cartesia or Loudly better for podcast voiceover?
For podcast voiceover, Cartesia edges out Loudly on our rubric (8.0 vs 7.2). The deciding factor is long-form consistency and natural pacing.
Which one is cheaper?
Cartesia starts at $4/month, cheaper than Loudly's $7/month entry plan.
Which has more languages?
Cartesia supports 40 languages; Loudly supports 1. Cartesia is the broader choice for multilingual projects.
Do both offer voice cloning?
Cartesia supports voice cloning; Loudly does not.
Which is better for ivr phone systems?
For ivr phone systems, Cartesia scores 9.4/10 versus Loudly's 7.2/10 — see our use-case page for the full ranked list.