The solution precursor plasma spray (SPPS) process involves injecting atomized droplets of a precursor solution into the plasma plume. In this study, two different solution precursors were used in the SPPS process including zirconium oxynitrate and zirconium acetate to make thermal barrier coatings (TBC). The effect of these solutions on microstructure and high-temperature properties of thermal barrier coating made by SPPS has been studied. The results showed that the use of zirconium acetate as a precursor compared to zirconium oxynitrate led to the formation of more vertical cracks with an average spacing of 150-200 μm in the microstructure of coatings. This was due to the presence of more un-pyrolysis or semi-pyrolysis materials in the coating structure and their shrinkage stresses during the deposition that was dependent on the solution chemistry in the plasma plume. The oxidation test at 1000 °C for various times of 12, 50, 120, and 250 h showed similar behavior for both coatings. In addition, the coating obtained from zirconium acetate precursor exhibited an average life of 648 cycles in a 1-h 1000 °C thermal cycling test, which was more than about 1.5 times that of SPPS-TBC coating made of zirconium oxynitrate precursor (431 cycles) due to the presence of much more vertical cracks in its structure.