TTS API comparison 2026
Deepgram Flux TTS vs Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS Deepgram vs Google · text-to-speech for voice agents
Deepgram Flux TTS is in the Fast enough speed tier (P95 from 138 ms to 263 ms); Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS is in the no speed tier (not measured by Coval). Below, each measure side by side with its source; a model leads on a measure only beyond the tie rule. No combined score, no overall winner.
Data read October 22, 2026 · Coval, Speko, Artificial Analysis
Side by side
| Measure | Deepgram Flux TTS | Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS |
|---|---|---|
| Speed tierCoval P95, 30 days | Fast enough | not measured |
| Median time to first audioCoval, 30-day window | 200 ms | — |
| P95 time to first audio (slow turns)Coval, 30-day window | 263 ms | — |
| Time to first audio, board chartSpeko, US East | 118 ms | 1,010 ms |
| Naturalness EloSpeko | 1,550 | 1,642 |
| Listener Elo (95% interval)Artificial Analysis | 1,052 ±13 | 1,278 ±14 |
| Numbers and dates (0 to 1)Speko | 0.2 | 0.7 |
| List price per 1M charactersCoval, Speko, Artificial Analysis | $45 | $15 to $16.5 |
In bold: the model ahead on that measure. “tie”: latencies within 10 ms, or Elo scores whose 95% intervals overlap.
Where Deepgram Flux TTS is ahead
- →Time to first audio, board chart: 118 ms vs 1,010 ms (Speko, US East)
Where Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS is ahead
- →Naturalness Elo: 1,642 vs 1,550 (Speko)
- →Listener Elo (95% interval): 1,278 ±14 vs 1,052 ±13 (Artificial Analysis)
- →Numbers and dates (0 to 1): 0.7 vs 0.2 (Speko)
- →List price per 1M characters: $15 to $16.5 vs $45 (Coval, Speko, Artificial Analysis)
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between Deepgram Flux TTS and Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS?
- Deepgram Flux TTS (Deepgram) is in the Fast enough speed tier (P95 from 138 ms to 263 ms); Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS (Google) is in the no speed tier (not measured by Coval). Deepgram Flux TTS leads on time to first audio, board chart; Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS leads on naturalness Elo, listener Elo (95% interval), numbers and dates (0 to 1) and list price per 1M characters. No combined score is computed.
- Which is faster for real-time voice agents, Deepgram Flux TTS or Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS?
- Only Deepgram Flux TTS is measured by Coval (median 200 ms, P95 263 ms); Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS has no speed tier, so the two cannot be compared on the same window.
- Which sounds more natural, Deepgram Flux TTS or Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS?
- Speko naturalness: 1,550 for Deepgram Flux TTS, 1,642 for Google Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS. Artificial Analysis listener Elo: 1,052 ±13 and 1,278 ±14. The two sources use different listeners and can disagree.
- How are these two text-to-speech APIs compared?
- Speed first, on Coval's median and P95 time to first audio; then voice quality (Speko, Artificial Analysis), accuracy on numbers and dates (Speko) and list price. Latencies within 10 ms and Elo scores whose intervals overlap are ties. Scores from different benchmarks are never added into one number.
- Can these numbers be checked?
- Yes. Each model page lists every measurement with its source and the date of the reading, and links to the benchmark page it comes from. The rules are on the methodology page.