The Smallest AI Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Smallest AI in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Smallest AI
The Insider’s Guide
Voice AI models and agents: text to speech, speech to text, calls
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among AI voice generators, read from Smallest AI’s own pages.
Made by Smallest AI · checked Nov 12, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Smallest AI’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Smallest AI’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 12, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 5 of the 72 other AI voice generators we grade
Smallest AI is a voice platform with models for text to speech (Lightning), speech to text (Pulse) and speech to speech (Hydra, in beta), plus a builder for voice agents that take phone calls. Everything is billed by use on a pay-as-you-go account that starts with $10 in free credits, with a custom enterprise plan for large deployments.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Smallest AI, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is a developer platform you call through an API.
- 1
Best for usage-billed voice models and agents
Smallest AI sells text to speech, speech to text and voice agents on pay as you go, with $10 of free credit at sign-up.
- 2
You can try it first
$10 in free credits with full access when you sign up for pay as you go.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Lightning text to speech
The Lightning v3.1 model lists sub-100 ms time to first audio, automatic switching between 14+ languages and 44.1 kHz output.
- 5
Voice cloning
The model page says a voice can be cloned from 5 seconds of audio; the pay-as-you-go comparison table lists voice cloning as not included and custom on Enterprise.
- 6
Pulse speech to text
Batch and real-time transcription with speaker identification, timestamps and sensitive-data protection, listed at a 5.42% word error rate.
- 7
A 1.8 GPA, above 5 of 72
That is against the other AI voice generators we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
To replace Smallest AI you would be making a voice model, which you can rent by the minute but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Smallest AI at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- $10 in free credits with full access when you sign up for pay as you go.
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Smallest AI
- Category
- AI Voices & Text to Speech
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for usage-billed voice models and agents
Smallest AI sells text to speech, speech to text and voice agents on pay as you go, with $10 of free credit at sign-up. There is no monthly plan, so cost depends on use, and agents run $0.09 to $0.21 a minute plus hosting. HIPAA zero data retention is a $1,000 a month add-on.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | No monthly fee. Lightning v3.1 is about $0.175 per 10,000 characters and Pulse $0.003 a minute, so the bill follows usage and there is no sticker price to rank. |
| Free plan and trial | C | $10 in free credits with full access, once. After that it is pay as you go, and whether a card is needed isn't stated. |
| Features | C | Speech, speech to text and hosted agents, with enterprise on-premise. The limits include 15 concurrent TTS streams and a 450M-character monthly cap. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. It is a developer platform you call through an API. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Web and an API, with OpenAI listed. No apps. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Smallest AI is for
- Fits if you prototype voice agents and want to pay by use
- Makes sense if you want speech and speech to text from one vendor
Who it is not for
- Not for you if you want a flat monthly price, since there is none
- Tight if you test past the $10 credit, which is one-time
- Watch out: agents cost roughly $0.09 to $0.21 a minute plus a $0.01 a minute hosting fee
- Watch out: HIPAA zero data retention is a $1,000 a month add-on, and SSO and SOC 2 support are Enterprise only
Good to know
Good for
- Developers prototyping voice agents with usage-based billing
- Teams that need both TTS and STT from one vendor
- Enterprises that want on-premise deployment
Worth knowing
- Pay as you go has no monthly fee: about $0.175 per 10,000 characters for Lightning v3.1 ($0.195 for Pro) and $0.003 a minute for Pulse.
- Voice agents cost roughly $0.09 to $0.21 a minute depending on the models chosen, plus a $0.01 a minute hosting fee.
- Pay-as-you-go limits include 15 concurrent TTS streams, 100 TTS requests per minute and a 450M characters monthly cap.
- HIPAA zero data retention is a $1,000 a month add-on, and SOC 2 compliance support and SSO are Enterprise only.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
1
plan
Smallest AI is a paid product with a free trial.
After that it is pay as you go, and whether a card is needed isn't stated.
Enterprise
Custom
Dedicated infrastructure, a 99.99% uptime SLA, forward deployed engineers, SSO, SOC 2 support, on-premise deployment and custom concurrency. Sold through sales.
Trying it first
$10 in free credits with full access when you sign up for pay as you go.
Read from smallest.ai on Nov 12, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Voice AI models and agents: text to speech, speech to text, calls. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: public API, transcription, AI agents, text to speech, voice cloning.
Speech, speech to text and hosted agents, with enterprise on-premise.
- Lightning text to speech
- The Lightning v3.1 model lists sub-100 ms time to first audio, automatic switching between 14+ languages and 44.1 kHz output.
- Voice cloning
- The model page says a voice can be cloned from 5 seconds of audio; the pay-as-you-go comparison table lists voice cloning as not included and custom on Enterprise.
- Pulse speech to text
- Batch and real-time transcription with speaker identification, timestamps and sensitive-data protection, listed at a 5.42% word error rate.
- Hydra speech to speech
- A full-duplex speech-to-speech model that is in beta and available on request.
- Voice agents
- Build agents that run calls and campaigns, with a web widget, phone numbers at $10 a month and post-call analytics.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- OpenAI
Smallest AI is made by Smallest AI.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
5/72
Other AI voice generators it is graded above
Smallest AI's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 5 of the 72 other AI voice generators we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on free plan and trial (C, above 22 of 72) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 73 AI voice generators we grade, cut by the letter each got. Smallest AI’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 5 of 72
- CFree plan and trialAbove 22 of 72
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 72
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 72
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 72
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Smallest AI you would be making a voice model, which you can rent by the minute but not make. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 58 of the 72 other AI voice generators grade higher.
What you could not
- A voice model, which you can rent by the minute but not make.
- A voice model trained on your recordings.
- An AI agent, with the models and the safeguards behind it.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- It plugs into other products, OpenAI among them, and has an API.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
What this rests on. Smallest AI’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Rime, Cartesia, ElevenLabs and Inworld AI
The 4 tools Smallest AI is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Rime
Free plan · from $100/mo
Voice models for phone agents: text to speech and speech to speech.
- Rime has a free plan. Smallest AI does not, though it has a free trial.
- 2.4GPA
Cartesia
Free plan · from $5/mo
Low-latency speech models and voice agents for developers.
- Cartesia has a free plan. Smallest AI does not, though it has a free trial.
- Smallest AI also covers AI agents.
- 3.0GPA
ElevenLabs
Free plan · from $5/mo
AI voice platform for speech, voice cloning, dubbing and voice agents.
- ElevenLabs has a free plan. Smallest AI does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only ElevenLabs lists iOS and Android apps.
- Smallest AI also covers AI agents.
- 2.0GPA
Inworld AI
Free plan · from $25/mo
Text-to-speech, speech-to-text and LLM API with monthly credit plans.
- Inworld AI has a free plan. Smallest AI does not, though it has a free trial.
- Smallest AI also covers AI agents.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Smallest AI free?
No, Smallest AI is a paid product, but you can try it first. $10 in free credits with full access when you sign up for pay as you go.
How much does Smallest AI cost?
Smallest AI lists one plan. Enterprise: custom pricing.
What platforms does Smallest AI work on?
Smallest AI is available on Web.
Does Smallest AI have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Smallest AI is listed for Web.
Does Smallest AI have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 12, 2026. Smallest AI is listed for Web.
Is Smallest AI open source?
Smallest AI is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Nov 12, 2026.
Does Smallest AI have an API?
Yes. Smallest AI offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Smallest AI integrate with?
Smallest AI's listing names OpenAI. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Smallest AI?
Smallest AI is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Smallest AI?
The closest alternatives to Smallest AI in our directory are Rime, Cartesia, ElevenLabs and Inworld AI.
How does Smallest AI compare with other AI voice generators?
Smallest AI's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 5 of the 72 other AI voice generators we grade, and level with 9.
Could I make my own version of Smallest AI?
To replace Smallest AI you would be making a voice model, which you can rent by the minute but not make.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Smallest AI’s own pages on Nov 12, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 12, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Smallest AI's own pages on 12 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Smallest AI. Prices change, so check smallest.ai before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Smallest AI, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/smallest-ai
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Smallest AI: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 12, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/smallest-ai
Know someone choosing between AI voice generators?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/smallest-ai/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded AI voice generators after Smallest AI, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- AI Voices & Text to Speech Insider's GuideEvery one of the 73 AI voice generators we grade, compared
- ElevenLabs Insider's GuideAI voice platform for speech, voice cloning, dubbing and voice agents3.0 GPA
- Read Aloud Insider's GuideOpen-source browser extension that reads web pages aloud3.0 GPA
- ElevenReader Insider's GuideReader app that reads your files and audiobooks aloud in AI voices2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Smallest AI’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Smallest AI is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Smallest AI. Prices and plans change: check smallest.ai before you buy.