Amazon Polly vs Listnr: Which Is Better in 2026?
Amazon Polly edges out Listnr on our overall rubric (7.7 vs 7.0), but the picture is more nuanced than the headline suggests. Amazon Polly leads on voice quality (7/10), while Amazon Polly delivers more for the money (9/10 on value).
Head-to-head
| Metric | Amazon Polly | Listnr |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 7.7 | 7.0 |
| Voice quality | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Value | 9.0 | 7.0 |
| UI | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Cheapest paid plan | $4/mo | $19/mo |
| Most popular plan | $16/mo | $39/mo |
| Languages supported | 40 | 142 |
| Voices in catalog | 100 | 1000 |
| Voice cloning | No | Yes |
| API available | Yes | Yes |
| Emotion control | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-speaker | Yes | No |
| Commercial use | Yes | Yes |
| Audio quality | studio-24kHz | studio-44.1kHz |
| Output formats | mp3, wav, ogg, pcm | mp3, wav |
| Founded | 1994 · United States | 2021 · Australia |
| Enterprise plan | Yes | Yes |
Pricing showdown
Amazon Polly's entry plan undercuts Listnr by $15 per month — a meaningful gap for indie producers.
When to choose Amazon Polly
- Budget is the dominant constraint and you need predictable per-minute economics.
When to choose Listnr
- You publish in five or more languages and need a single tool that covers all of them.
- You need consented voice cloning for a specific speaker.
Related comparisons
Frequently asked questions
Is Amazon Polly or Listnr better for podcast voiceover?
Amazon Polly (7.7/10) and Listnr (7.4/10) are effectively tied for podcast voiceover. Decide on language coverage and editor preference.
Which one is cheaper?
Amazon Polly starts at $4/month, cheaper than Listnr's $19/month entry plan.
Which has more languages?
Amazon Polly supports 40 languages; Listnr supports 142. Listnr is the broader choice for multilingual projects.
Do both offer voice cloning?
Listnr supports voice cloning; Amazon Polly does not.
Which is better for ivr phone systems?
For ivr phone systems, Amazon Polly scores 8.8/10 versus Listnr's 7.0/10 — see our use-case page for the full ranked list.