Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0)
Azure AI Speech is Microsoft's speech service for text to speech, speech to text and speech translation. Its free F0 tier includes 0.5 million neural text-to-speech characters a month.
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0) is an AI and ML perk from Microsoft, offering free F0 (0.5M neural characters/mo), with no funding required.
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Also useful for voice, speech and communications APIs
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Inside Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0)
- The free F0 tier of Azure AI Speech includes 0.5 million characters of neural text to speech each month.
- It also includes 5 audio hours of real-time speech to text and 5 audio hours of speech translation each month.
- Usage beyond the free tier is billed per character or per second.
Who it's for
- Funding / backing
- No funding needed
- Geography
- Global
- Recurring / expiry
- Free F0 amounts each month.
- Other requirements
- The free amounts reset each month, and neural text to speech is billed per character beyond them.
How to apply for Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0)
- 1Create an Azure account and a Speech resource on the F0 tier.
- 2No application is needed.
Other ways to get a deal on Microsoft
Mercury gives its customers a deal on Microsoft. It is separate from Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0), with its own conditions, and partners usually allow one startup deal per company, so compare who qualifies before you apply.
- Mercury PerksMicrosoft for Startups: $5k credits + moreFor Mercury business account holders
- Your Startup has not already received more than a total of $10,000 in free Azure.
- Your headquarters must reside in the countries covered by our Azure global infrastructure.
- Your startup has not gone through a Series D or later funding round.
Read from each platform's own perks page on or after October 28, 2026.
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0): common questions
What do you get with Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0)?
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0) offers free F0 (0.5M neural characters/mo). The free F0 tier of Azure AI Speech includes 0.5 million characters of neural text to speech each month. It also includes 5 audio hours of real-time speech to text and 5 audio hours of speech translation each month. Usage beyond the free tier is billed per character or per second.
Who qualifies for Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0)?
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0) is open to any startup, with no funding required. The free amounts reset each month, and neural text to speech is billed per character beyond them.
Do I need to be VC-backed or in an accelerator to get Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0)?
No. Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0) is open to any startup that meets the stated criteria, no investor or accelerator backing required.
How do I apply for Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0)?
Create an Azure account and a Speech resource on the F0 tier. No application is needed.
How long do I have to use Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0), and does it expire?
Free F0 amounts each month.
Is Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0) available outside the US?
Microsoft Azure AI Speech Free tier (F0) is available globally, subject to the provider's terms.
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