Comparison

Macsen vs CerePlay

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Macsen

A Welsh language voice assistant that performs tasks and provides information. It can play music, access media, control smart devices, and translate speech. It's an open-source project focused on developing Welsh AI technology.

Highlights
  • Welsh language voice commands
  • Play Welsh music on Spotify
  • Access S4C Clic programs
  • Control smart home devices
  • Get news and weather updates
  • Translate English speech to Welsh text
  • Transcribe Welsh speech to text
Features
Read full description

Scroll down for English Mae Macsen yn feddalwedd cynorthwyydd personol Cymraeg cod agored tebyg i Alexa neu’r Google Assistant. Ystyr cod agored yw y gall unrhyw un weld, addasu a dosbarthu’r cod fel yr hoffen nhw. Mae’n gweithio fel ap ar ffôn neu dabled yn ogystal â fersiwn ar-lein. Mae’n bosib siarad gyda Macsen mewn Cymraeg naturiol er mwyn gofyn iddo gwblhau tasgau neu ofyn am wybodaeth, Erbyn hyn, mae gan ap Macsen nifer o sgiliau, gan gynnwys y gallu i chwarae cerddoriaeth Cymraeg ar Spotify, rhaglenni ar S4C Clic, rhoi’r golau ymlaen neu i ffwrdd, adrodd y newyddion diweddaraf, darparu rhagolygon y tywydd, defnyddio ChatGPT, cyfieithu lleferydd Saesneg i destun Cymraeg a thrawsgrifio lleferydd Cymraeg i destun. Felly mae modd teipio yn ogystal â defnyddio’r llais i ofyn cwestiynau a rhoi gorchmynion i Macsen. Rydyn ni’n defnyddio’r project hwn i ddangos beth allwn ni greu wrth ddatblygu technoleg lleferydd a deallusrwydd artiffisial Cymraeg. Rydyn ni’n cyhoeddi’r cydrannau a’r adnoddau perthnasol yma yn agored ar y Porth Technolegau Iaith, er mwyn i ddatblygwyr eraill hefyd fedru’u defnyddio. Rydyn ni wrthi yn gwneud ymchwil pellach i’w wella, a’i alluogi mewn sefyllfaoedd eraill. Macsen is an open source Welsh language voice assistant similar to Alexa or the Google Assistant. Open source means that anyone can see, adapt and distribute its code as they wish. It works as an app for phones and tablets. An online version is also available. You can speak in Welsh to Macsen to ask it to do various tasks or provide information. Its growing set of skills include the ability to play Welsh Language music through Spotify, programmes through S4C Clic, turn the light on or off, get the news and weather, use ChatGPT, translate spoken English to Welsh text and transcribe Welsh speech to text. We are using this project to show what we can create when developing Welsh language speech technology and artificial intelligence. We publish relevant components and resources with open licences on the Welsh National Language Technology Portal, so that other developers can also use them. We are also undertaking further research to improve it, and to enable it in other environments.

About

CerePlay

Explore a wide range of text-to-speech voices in various languages and accents. Preview and purchase high-quality, human-like voices to enhance your device's linguistic capabilities for productivity or enjoyment.

Highlights
  • Browse text-to-speech voices
  • Multiple languages and accents
  • Preview voices before purchase
  • Human-like voice quality
  • Supports iPhone and iPad
Features
Read full description

Step into a world of voice diversity with CereProc's innovative app for iPhone & iPad. Whether you're enhancing productivity or simply indulging in the joy of listening, our app offers a seamless browsing experience of text-to-speech voices in a multitude of languages and accents. Preview voices before purchase to ensure they match your expectations and needs perfectly. Embrace the future of voice technology with the introduction of CereProc Version 7 voices, presenting CereWave alternatives that deliver remarkably human-like outputs. Transform your device into a powerhouse of linguistic versatility with CereProc.

Screenshots

Macsen4 screens
CerePlay4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Macsen at 5.0 against CerePlay's 3.8. Macsen also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 34) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.2). CerePlay's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 18 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. CerePlay sells 34 one-off in-app purchases. Macsen asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Macsen holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Macsen ships an update every 18 months, CerePlay every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Macsen versus CerePlay: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMacsenCerePlay
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better3.8 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews—57.1% of reviews
Number of ratings24 — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.1 — better17.2
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBangor UniversityCereProc Ltd

Customer experience

Macsen

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

CerePlay

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative42.9%

In-app purchases

None

Macsen

No in-app purchases

34 purchases

CerePlay

One-time34
  • Caitlin TTS$0.99
  • Carolyn TTS$0.99
  • Giles TTS$0.99
Show 31 more
  • Jess TTS$0.99
  • Hannah TTS$0.99
  • Katherine TTS$0.99
  • Isabella TTS$0.99
  • Kirsty TTS$0.99
  • Lauren TTS$0.99
  • Megan TTS$0.99
  • Sarah TTS$0.99
  • William TTS$0.99
  • Stuart TTS$0.99
  • Robot TTS$0.99
  • Sue TTS$0.99
  • Ylva TTS$0.99
  • Yuki TTS$0.99
  • Suzanne TTS$0.99
  • Adam TTS$0.99
  • Ben TTS$0.99
  • Daria TTS$0.99
  • Jack TTS$0.99
  • Mairi TTS$0.99
  • Ghost TTS$0.99
  • Demon TTS$0.99
  • Nicole TTS$0.99
  • Amy TTS$0.99
  • Ana TTS$0.99
  • Andy TTS$0.99
  • Ceitidh TTS$0.99
  • Lily TTS$0.99
  • Jordan TTS$0.99
  • Sam TTS$0.99
  • Nathan TTS$0.99

Questions

Is Macsen free?
Macsen is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CerePlay free?
CerePlay is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Macsen or CerePlay?
Macsen is rated higher. Macsen averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while CerePlay averages 3.8 from 4 ratings.
Do Macsen or CerePlay have ads?
Neither Macsen nor CerePlay shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Macsen or CerePlay?
Macsen ships an update every 18 months, and CerePlay every 3 weeks. Most recently, Macsen was updated on September 30, 2026 and CerePlay on September 17, 2026.

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