Descript vs Hume AI: Best Text-to-Speech Generator in 2025

by | Last updated May 11, 2025

Winner
Descript
9.5
  • Text-Based Editing
  • Overdub (AI Voice Cloning)
  • Studio Sound
  • Filler Word Removal
  • Multitrack Editing
  • Free plan available
  • Paid Plans from $12/month
Runner Up
Hume AI Best
7.5
  • Octave TTS
  • Empathetic Voice Interface
  • Expression Measurement API
  • Conversational Voice
  • TTS Creator Studio
  • Free Trial available
  • Paid Plans from $3/month
Descript vs Hume AI

Ever feel like turning your text into speech is a hassle?

Maybe you’re creating videos, podcasts, or want to listen to articles on the go. 

It can be tough finding the right tool that sounds natural and fits your needs, right?

Which one should you choose from Descript vs Hume AI, for the best text-to-speech?

Overview

We’ve put both Descript and Hume AI through their paces.

Testing their text-to-speech capabilities with various accents, speaking styles, and complex sentences.

This hands-on comparison will give you a clear picture of their strengths and weaknesses.

Descript AI

Descript takes podcast editing to another level with its AI capabilities. Need great editing features? unlock a new level.

9.5out of 10

Pricing: It has a free plan. The premium plan starts at $12/month.

Key Features:

  • Text-based editing
  • AI voice cloning
  • Multitrack recording
Hume AI Logo

Join over 5,000 early adopters exploring the potential of Hume AI! Sign up for exclusive updates and more!

7.5out of 10

Pricing: Free Trial Available. Paid Plans from $3/month

Key Features:

  • Real-time Streaming
  • Voice Control
  • Multiple Formats

What is Descript?

So, Descript, huh? It’s more than just a text-to-speech tool.

Think of it as a powerful audio and video editor. The cool part?

You edit by tweaking the text. Pretty neat, right?

Also, explore our favorite Descript alternatives

Descript
Descript
9.5

Want to create studio-quality content 10x faster? Descript’s AI magic makes it possible. Try it now and unleash your creativity!

Key Benefits

  • Faster editing: Edit audio/video like a doc.
  • Easy transcription: Automatically transcribe your files.
  • Simplified collaboration: Share projects and edits easily.
  • Powerful AI tools, Including Overdub (voice cloning).

Pricing

  • Free: Start your journey with text-based editing, 1 transcription, Export 720p, with watermarks.
  • Hobbyist: $12/month – 10 transcription hours/month, Export 1080p, watermark-free, 30 minutes/month of AI speech.
  • Creator: $24/month – 30 transcription hours/month, Export 4k, watermark-free, unlimited access to royalty-free stock library.
descript pricing

Pros

  • Game-changer for editing.
  • Overdub is incredibly realistic.
  • Makes me sound more professional.
  • Excellent collaboration tools.
  • Professional results

Cons

  • Transcription can be imperfect.
  • The interface can feel overwhelming.
  • AI voice options are limited.

What is Hume AI?

Now, let’s talk about Hume AI. This one’s a bit different.

It really focuses on how AI understands and expresses emotion in voices.

Think about AI that can sound genuinely happy or concerned.

That’s their main thing.

Also, explore our favorite Hume AI alternatives…

Hume AI Logo
Hume AI
7.5

Join over 5,000 early adopters exploring the potential of Hume AI! Sign up now for exclusive updates and a chance to be among the first 100 to access the beta in Q3.

Key Benefits

Hume AI is really strong with emotions.

Their tech can analyze and generate nuanced emotional tones.

Think about having AI that sounds genuinely happy or concerned!

They also offer real-time conversational abilities. Plus, they’re exploring how voice interacts with other senses.

Pricing

  • Free: $o/month
  • Starter: $3/month
  • Creator: $10/month
  • Pro: $50/month
  • Scale: $150/month
  • Business: $900/month
  • Enterprise: Custom
Hume AI pricing

Pros

  • More Human-Sounding AI
  • Potential for Empathetic Interactions
  • Customizable Voice Styles
  • High Audio Quality
  • Wide Range of Applications

Cons

  • Still in Development
  • Pricing Can Vary
  • Learning Curve
  • Emotional Understanding is Complex
  • Limited Real-World Testing

Feature Comparison

Both Descript and Hume AI bring unique strengths to the world of AI voice generator technology.

Descript focuses on streamlining audio and video workflow for creators.

While Hume AI aims to deliver more emotionally expressive and human-like voice output.

1. AI-Powered Voice Generation

  • Descript: Descript’s AI voice generation is integrated into its audio and video editing platform. It allows users to create voiceovers, correct audio by typing, and even clone their voice. 
  • Hume AI: Hume AI’s primary focus is on generating voices that convey a wide range of emotions. Their technology uses LLMs to produce speech with natural-sounding intonation and expressiveness. Hume AI wants to deliver more empathetic and expressive AI voices.
Descript

2. Text-to-Speech (TTS) Quality

  • Descript: Descript provides high-quality TTS, especially with its Overdub feature, which allows users to create very realistic voice clones. The emphasis is on clarity and accuracy for editing and content creation.
  • Hume AI: Hume AI focuses on the emotional quality of its TTS output. The goal is to create voices that not only sound natural but also convey the intended emotion, which is crucial for applications like chatbots and virtual assistants.

3. Voice Customization and Control

  • Descript: Descript allows for voice customization through its Overdub feature. Users can create a digital copy of their voice and then control the voice output by editing the text.
  • Hume AI: Hume AI provides extensive control over voice parameters, including pitch, speed, and emotional tone. This allows developers to create highly customized voices for different applications.

4. Audio and Video Editing

  • Descript: Descript is a powerful audio and video editing tool that uses transcription as the basis for editing. This text-based workflow makes it easy to edit audio and video content. Descript’s editing capabilities are a core part of its platform.
  • Hume AI: Hume AI does not offer full-fledged audio and video editing features. Its strength lies in its api for generating expressive voices, which can then be used in other applications.

5. Integration and Compatibility

  • Descript: Descript integrates with various tools and platforms, including those used for podcasting and video editing, to streamline content creation workflow.
  • Hume AI: Hume AI provides APIs and SDKs for developers to integrate its voice technology into their own applications.
Hume AI TTS Creator Studio

6. Real-time Capabilities

  • Descript: Descript is optimized for efficient editing and production, but its primary focus is not on real-time voice generation.
  • Hume AI: Hume AI is designed for applications that require real-time interaction, such as chatbots and virtual assistants, where the AI needs to respond with an appropriate emotional tone.

7. Use Cases and Applications

  • Descript: Descript is best for content creators, podcasters, and video editors who need an efficient way to edit audio and video. It is also useful for creating voiceovers and narration. Some consider it a good Murf AI alternative and a Love AI alternative.
  • Hume AI: Hume AI is ideal for applications that require emotionally expressive voices, such as chatbots, virtual assistants, and character voices in games. It also has applications in marketing and customer service, where conveying the right emotion is crucial.

What to Look For When Choosing a Text-to-Speech Generator?

Here’s a quick rundown of other important things to consider:

  • Language Support: Does it offer the languages you need?
  • Voice Variety: Are there enough voice options and styles?
  • Pronunciation Control: Can you adjust how words are said?
  • Output Format: What file types can you export?
  • Ease of Use: Is the interface intuitive and user-friendly?
  • Customer Support: What kind of help is available if you need it?
  • Scalability: Can it handle your growing needs?
  • Trial Availability: Can you test it before committing?

Final Verdict 

Alright, so Descript and Hume AI are different.

Descript is great if you want to edit audio and video easily and make AI voices.

It offers AI voices and cool features like text editing for your real-world stuff.

Hume AI tries to make AI voices sound emotional.

But for most folks wanting to stream or make content, Descript is more versatile.

We think it’s the better choice overall.

We’ve used them, so take our word for it! But Descript gives you more tools.

More of Descript

  • Descript vs Murf AI: Murf AI excels with its diverse library of natural-sounding voices for professional voiceovers.
  • Descript vs Speechify: Speechify focuses on converting text to natural audio, emphasizing accessibility and speed.
  • Descript vs Play HT: Play HT provides a wide range of realistic AI voices for various content formats.
  • Descript vs Lovo AI: Lovo AI offers a large selection of voices with emotional expressiveness and multi-language support.
  • Descript vs ElevenLabs: ElevenLabs is known for its highly realistic and expressive voice generation, with advanced voice cloning.
  • Descript vs Listnr: Listnr delivers natural AI voiceovers with integrated podcast hosting features.
  • Descript vs Podcastle: Podcastle offers AI-powered audio recording and editing tools, focusing on podcast creation.
  • Descript vs Dupdub: DupDub provides a vast library of human-like voices and strong support for avatar animation.
  • Descript vs WellSaid Labs: WellSaid Labs specializes in high-quality, natural-sounding AI voices for professional use.
  • Descript vs Revoicer: Revoicer quickly generates high-quality voiceovers with a focus on speed and efficiency.
  • Descript vs ReadSpeaker: ReadSpeaker focuses on enterprise solutions for delivering accessible, natural-sounding voice.
  • Descript vs NaturalReader: NaturalReader is a text-to-speech tool with a user-friendly interface, supporting various document formats.
  • Descript vs Notevibes: Notevibes offers a range of customizable AI voices, allowing users to fine-tune speech parameters.
  • Descript vs Altered: Altered focuses on AI voice-changing technology, allowing users to modify their voice recordings.
  • Descript vs Speechelo: Speechelo quickly creates voiceovers from text, with a focus on simplicity and ease of use.
  • Descript vs TTSOpenAI: TTSOpenAI delivers high human-like voice clarity with customizable pronunciation.

More of Hume AI

  • Hume AI vs Murf AI: Murf AI offers diverse voice customization, while Hume AI focuses on analyzing emotion in voice.
  • Hume AI vs Speechify: Speechify excels in speed listening and accessibility, unlike Hume AI’s focus on emotional understanding.
  • Hume AI vs Play HT: Play HT generates realistic AI voices for various content formats, differing from Hume AI’s emotion detection.
  • Hume AI vs Lovo AI: Lovo AI provides a wide range of expressive voices, whereas Hume AI emphasizes the analysis of emotional nuances.
  • Hume AI vs ElevenLabs: ElevenLabs creates highly natural AI voices, contrasting with Hume AI’s emphasis on interpreting voice emotion.
  • Hume AI vs Listnr: Listnr delivers natural AI voiceovers with podcast hosting, unlike Hume AI’s focus on emotional understanding in speech.
  • Hume AI vs Podcastle: Podcastle offers AI tools for audio recording and editing, while Hume AI centers on emotional voice analysis.
  • Hume AI vs DupDub: DupDub animates avatars with personalized voices, unlike Hume AI’s emphasis on emotionally intelligent voice interfaces.
  • Hume AI vs WellSaid Labs: WellSaid Labs provides professional, natural-sounding AI voices, differing from Hume AI’s emotion-focused approach.
  • Hume AI vs Revoicer: Revoicer quickly generates voiceovers, while Hume AI analyzes and generates voices with a focus on emotional expression.
  • Hume AI vs ReadSpeaker: ReadSpeaker delivers accessible, natural-sounding voice for enterprises, unlike Hume AI’s emphasis on emotional AI.
  • Hume AI vs NaturalReader: NaturalReader is a user-friendly text-to-speech tool, while Hume AI focuses on the emotional aspects of voice.
  • Hume AI vs Notevibes: Notevibes offers customizable AI voices, differing from Hume AI’s emphasis on understanding and conveying emotions.
  • Hume AI vs Altered: Altered specializes in AI voice changing, unlike Hume AI’s focus on creating and analyzing emotionally expressive voices.
  • Hume AI vs Speechelo: Speechelo quickly generates voiceovers with a focus on simplicity, contrasting with Hume AI’s emphasis on emotional intelligence.
  • Hume AI vs TTSOpenAI: TTSOpenAI delivers high human-like voice clarity, while Hume AI focuses on the generation and analysis of emotional tone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Descript better than Lovo AI for voice cloning?

Descript’s Overdub feature is a standout for creating realistic voice clones. In terms of naturalness, it is often considered superior to Lovo AI.

Can Hume AI analyze emotions as well as create them?

Yes, Hume AI is designed to both generate emotionally expressive voices and analyze vocal expressions for emotional cues.

Does Speechify offer the same editing capabilities as Descript?

While Speechify excels at converting text to speech, it lacks the comprehensive audio and video editing features that Descript provides.

Do Descript or Hume AI use OpenAI’s models?

While both companies utilize advanced AI, it’s not explicitly stated if they directly use OpenAI’s models. Their technologies are proprietary.

Which platform is more affordable for basic text-to-speech needs?

Hume AI’s starting plan is generally more budget-friendly for users primarily focused on basic text-to-speech generation.