AssemblyAI icon

AssemblyAI

Speech AI API for transcription, understanding, and audio intelligence

vs
ElevenLabs icon

ElevenLabs

The most realistic AI voice platform for creators and enterprises

AssemblyAI
52%Moderate
13/25
ElevenLabs
76%Strong
19/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionAssemblyAIElevenLabs
Data Residency
Where is your data stored and processed?
AssemblyAI: Audio data is processed on US infrastructure; no EU data region is available as a standard offering.
ElevenLabs: Offers US, EU, and India data residency options; EU residency is available exclusively to Enterprise customers.
2/5
4/5
Legal Jurisdiction
Which laws govern the company and your data?
AssemblyAI: US-incorporated under Delaware law and subject to CLOUD Act with limited EU-specific legal protections.
ElevenLabs: US-incorporated under Delaware law; subject to US legal processes including CLOUD Act, though EU residency mitigates some risk for European customers.
2/5
3/5
Data Retention & Training
Is your data used for model training?
AssemblyAI: Does not train on customer audio by default; PII redaction available and data deletion controls provided.
ElevenLabs: Zero Retention Mode available ensures no content or data is retained on ElevenLabs servers; strong opt-out options.
4/5
5/5
Certifications
ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.
AssemblyAI: SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliance are in place; ISO 27001 certification is not currently listed.
ElevenLabs: Holds SOC 2 Type II certification and is GDPR compliant with documented data processing agreements.
3/5
4/5
Regulatory Fit
Suitability for regulated industries and professional services
AssemblyAI: Requires substantial due diligence for EU regulated audio use cases; DPA available but US jurisdiction remains a concern.
ElevenLabs: Suitable for most regulated environments with Enterprise plan; EU data residency and Zero Retention Mode address many compliance concerns.
2/5
3/5
Total Score
13/25
19/25

Best For

AssemblyAI iconAssemblyAI

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget.

ElevenLabs iconElevenLabs

Best for privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget; enterprises requiring SSO integration.

Detailed Comparison

AssemblyAI vs ElevenLabs: Trust & Compliance Comparison

AssemblyAI (AssemblyAI, US) scores 13/25 overall with a Bronze (Moderate) trust badge. Speech AI API for transcription, understanding, and audio intelligence. ElevenLabs (ElevenLabs, US) scores 19/25 with a Silver (Strong) trust badge. The most realistic AI voice platform for creators and enterprises.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

ElevenLabs leads with 4/5 vs 2/5.

AssemblyAI (2/5): Audio data is processed on US infrastructure; no EU data region is available as a standard offering.
ElevenLabs (4/5): Offers US, EU, and India data residency options; EU residency is available exclusively to Enterprise customers.

#### Legal Jurisdiction

ElevenLabs leads with 3/5 vs 2/5.

AssemblyAI (2/5): US-incorporated under Delaware law and subject to CLOUD Act with limited EU-specific legal protections.
ElevenLabs (3/5): US-incorporated under Delaware law; subject to US legal processes including CLOUD Act, though EU residency mitigates some risk for European customers.

#### Data Retention & Training

ElevenLabs leads with 5/5 vs 4/5.

AssemblyAI (4/5): Does not train on customer audio by default; PII redaction available and data deletion controls provided.
ElevenLabs (5/5): Zero Retention Mode available ensures no content or data is retained on ElevenLabs servers; strong opt-out options.

#### Certifications

ElevenLabs leads with 4/5 vs 3/5.

AssemblyAI (3/5): SOC 2 Type II and HIPAA compliance are in place; ISO 27001 certification is not currently listed.
ElevenLabs (4/5): Holds SOC 2 Type II certification and is GDPR compliant with documented data processing agreements.

#### Regulatory Fit

ElevenLabs leads with 3/5 vs 2/5.

AssemblyAI (2/5): Requires substantial due diligence for EU regulated audio use cases; DPA available but US jurisdiction remains a concern.
ElevenLabs (3/5): Suitable for most regulated environments with Enterprise plan; EU data residency and Zero Retention Mode address many compliance concerns.

Certifications at a Glance

CertificationAssemblyAIElevenLabs
GDPRNoYes
HIPAAYesNo
SOC 2 Type IIYesYes

Overall Verdict

ElevenLabs has a clear trust advantage, scoring 19/25 compared to AssemblyAI's 13/25. ElevenLabs particularly excels in data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention & training, certifications, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, AssemblyAI or ElevenLabs?

AssemblyAI has a TrustKit score of 13/25 while ElevenLabs scores 19/25. ElevenLabs currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do AssemblyAI and ElevenLabs compare on data residency?

AssemblyAI scores 2/5 for data residency (Audio data is processed on US infrastructure; no EU data region is available as a standard offering.), while ElevenLabs scores 4/5 (Offers US, EU, and India data residency options; EU residency is available exclusively to Enterprise customers.).

Are AssemblyAI and ElevenLabs GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. AssemblyAI has a regulatory fit score of 2/5 and ElevenLabs scores 3/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

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