Alice Martin has five years experience as a writer before joining Techopedia in 2024. After completing an interdisciplinary degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences at…
We uphold a strict editorial policy that focuses on factual accuracy, relevance, and impartiality. Our content, created by leading industry experts, is reviewed by a team of seasoned editors to ensure compliance with the highest standards in reporting and publishing.
Disclosure
When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn how our funding model works. By using this website you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy.
Our Verdict
ElevenLabs is a leading generative AI tool that generates high-quality AI voiceovers
ElevenLabs is a front-running generative AI voice platform that offers speech synthesis, voice dubbing, and voice cloning.
It offers a variety of pricing plans to cater to the needs of creators, businesses, and hobbyists. Some of these plans include business licensing, allowing users to monetize their output by using it in paid social media content, advertisements, and YouTube videos.
We found that the human-like quality of the AI voices from ElevenLabs is second to none and beats the competition on the market right now. This makes it a great solution for those who want to create reliably accurate AI voice content.
However, the dubbing is not yet on par with its speech synthesis just yet. Additionally, users cannot edit the vocals they create to the same extent as some other tools. Despite this, we were thoroughly impressed with the overall performance of ElevenLabs.
ElevenLabs9.7
Pros
User-friendly
Accessible price points
Very realistic AI voices
Cons
Fewer editing features than competitors
No templates
Not all features available for testing in free plan
In this ElevenLabs review, we’ll unpack this hugely popular AI voice generation tool. ElevenLabs was recently awarded unicorn status, but does this reflect its proficiency in generating human-sounding voice overs?
We put it to the test alongside other top AI voice tools, and we’ll highlight our findings, including pricing, features, pros and cons.
ElevenLabs is a useful artificial intelligence (AI) voice generation tool for personal use, studying, translation, and accessibility needs. Creators and businesses also use it to create audiobooks, social media voice overs, advertising materials, and dubbing with generative AI technology.
ElevenLabs Pricing
ElevenLabs offers a free plan, four paid plans, and a custom Enterprise plan. Below we’ll unpack what each plan offers.
Starting Price (billed annually)
Characters/m
Free Version
Templates
Plagiarism Checker
Art Generator
Voice Cloning
Brand Voices
Languages
AI Models
Integrations
Free
Free
10,000
✅
❌
❌
❌
❌
3
23 languages, 12 accents
4
API
Starter
$4.16/month
30,000
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅
10
23 languages, 12 accents
4
API
Creator
$18.3/month
100,000
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅, professional voice cloning
30
23 languages, 12 accents
4
API
Pro
$82.5/month
500,000
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅, professional voice cloning
160
23 languages, 12 accents
4
API
Scale
$275/month
2 million
❌
❌
❌
❌
✅, professional voice cloning
660
23 languages, 12 accents
4
API
Free
ElevenLabs has a free plan that includes text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, and dubbing to a maximum of 10,000 characters, which is really only enough to try the tool or make a few voice overs. You can’t use the Projects or voice cloning features on this plan.
Starter - $4.16 per month, billed annually
The Starter plan provides you with up to 30,000 characters per month to experiment with. You have access to all the same tools on the free plan and it unlocks the voice cloning tool. You’ll also receive a commercial license, allowing you to monetize your audio without having to cite ElevenLabs.
Creator - $18.30 per month, billed annually
The Creator plan is suitable for content creators who want to make voice overs for their online audiences. This plan gives you 100,000 characters, everything on the Starter, and a professional version of its voice cloning technology. This plan gives you access to the Projects feature, so you can create audiobooks.
Pro - $82.5 per month, billed annually
Pro is suitable for teams or creators who have higher output needs. You have access to the same features on the Creator plan but have an increased capacity of 500,000 characters per month. Plus, you’ll gain access to a usage dashboard to stay on top of your plan.
Scale - $275 per month, billed annually
Scale is the plan intended for companies with a higher output of up to 2 million characters per month. It includes all of the same features as Pro, except you’ll get priority customer support.
Enterprise - Tailored pricing
If you outgrow the Scale plan, ElevenLabs also offers custom plans and pricing for enterprise-level clients. These plans offer a higher level of security, unlimited API access, volume-based discounts, and additional voices.
ElevenLabs offers robust features to support the creation of AI voice content. Here are some of the most exciting features on offer:
Text to SpeechSpeech to SpeechVoiceLabAudiobooksAI Dubbing
The core feature of ElevenLabs is its text-to-speech (TTS) tool. It offers two modes: simple and advanced, which you can switch between easily. It’s renowned as one of the best tools on the market right now, along with competitors, Murf AI and Lovo AI.
Simple will transform your text into speech but does not allow you to choose or alter the voice. The advanced mode offers a range of different voices to choose from, plus sliders to alter the style of speaking.
While you cannot choose the tone, the AI tool will infer the mood from the context of your text and generate the output accordingly.
Within the same editor as the TTS generator, there is also an option to use audio files rather than text.
You can upload existing voice recordings or record live audio, which will then be transcribed. Utilizing the same editing tools as the TTS feature, you can choose a voice and alter it.
This feature directly copies the intonation of the audio file uploaded, simply switching the voice. You can always move back to TTS to see the transcription of your speech before generating an ai voice, removing your own intonation.
Unlike Murf’s Voice Changer feature, ElevenLabs does not allow you to edit the transcription of your audio before generating the new voice – so you cannot edit out any unwanted pauses or polish up your delivery.
If you don’t like the sound of any of the pre-set options, ElevenLabs lets you create a voice using its generative voice creator, similar to Kits AI voice blender.
You can select a gender, age group, accent, and pitch (or Accent Strength, which is a bit misleading). I did find the American and British accents work well, but the rest lean towards American and felt hit-and-miss.
From the Creator plan and up, you can use this feature to experiment with voice cloning, which means the tool will generate an AI voice based on your own.
ElevenLabs also offers a Projects feature, which is specifically intended for generating audio for audiobooks. This tool offers a wider range of customization options to suit more complex projects than its TTS Generator.
You can use different AI voices for different characters, as well as improve the multiple voices to nail the intonation, tone, and expressiveness of your characters.
ElevenLabs has an easy-to-use AI dubbing feature. This can be used for existing content, or with videos from YouTube, X, or Vimeo. While the process does feel like it takes a bit of time, it’s relatively quick when compared to the process of professionally dubbing with a real vocal artist.
This tool works best when the audio is clear with no background noise or a backing track – if it does, the translation can be a little off, and the output can lack clarity.
When testing, I noticed the end product would sometimes play both the original audio and translated audio on top of each other, which made it difficult to understand.
When it works well, the dubbed audio does sound natural, which I was impressed with. It’s just a shame the results aren’t consistent.
What impressed me when testing the platform for this ElevenLabs review was how easy it is to produce natural-sounding voice overs with little effort.
The process is automated, so you will have less control over the voice settings than you do with competitor Murf, but the output arguably sounds better.
While you don’t have the option to apply moods or tones to the voice, the voice automatically alters to suit the context of your text.
I generated a range of texts, some with a sad context and others using excitement as an undertone. I found that the AI model changed to suit the context, but I’d still have liked to tweak it myself to fine-tune the result.
It’s a really impressive voiceover tool and perhaps one of the best AI tools on the market.
ElevenLabs Integrations
ElevenLabs does not offer third-party integrations, but it does offer API access so you can integrate the audio content you create into your own apps, chatbots, websites, and more.
If you’re still new to API, there’s a Discord community, detailed help documentation, and prompt customer service available.
Comparatively, Murf AI offers a range of third-party integrations with Canva, Google Slides, and various web builders.
ElevenLabs Customer Reviews
ElevenLabs reviews are generally positive, with an average rating of 4.8/5 on G2 and 3.8/5 on Trustpilot. It scored slightly higher than other established voice generation solutions like Murf (4.7) and Lovo (4.4).
Many ElevenLabs reviewers praised the remarkable human quality and its ease of use. Users noted that ElevenLabs completely transformed their way of working, making the process of recording voices for videos quicker, easier, and cheaper.
“What stands out most prominently about ElevenLabs is the exceptional quality of the voice synthesis. The range of available voices is impressive, catering to diverse needs and preferences. The voices not only sound natural, but the intonation is also remarkably lifelike, which greatly enhances the user experience. Additionally, the ease of API integration with other platforms is a significant advantage, streamlining the development process for creators and developers alike. Moreover, the recent advancements in utilizing nuanced intonations have taken the synthetic voice technology to a new level of sophistication, allowing for more dynamic and engaging interactions.”
User review collected from G2
Reviewers also praised the multiple languages in the ElevenLabs voice library, but some said that certain words were mispronounced and were frustrated that credits were still charged in these cases.
One negative we did notice during our ElevenLabs review was that the dubbing left a little to be desired. For an AI platform, it’s an impressive feature and shows potential, but users wrote that the results are often simply unusable.
ElevenLabs vs Top Competitors
Let’s now see how ElevenLabs compares against some of the best audio AI tools on the market.
Descript is a multimedia platform that offers video editing, multi-track audio editing for podcasting, screen recording, transcription, and voice cloning. ElevenLabs, on the other hand, is limited to AI voice features such as cloning, speech synthesis, and dubbing.
The fact that Descript is offers users a comprehensive is one of the defining factors. However, there are differences in the quality of the voice output when compared with ElevenLabs as Descript’s AI voices have a robotic quality.
This makes ElevenLabs a better choice for natural-sounding voice overs. We felt the same towards the quality of Descript’s voice cloning vs. that of ElevenLabs.
ElevenLabs is pricier than Descript, with its Creator plan starting at $22, after the initial 50% off the first month, compared to Descript’s Creator plan at $12 per month. Similarly, ElevenLab’s Pro plan is $99, compared to Descript’s Pro plan at $24 per month.
Overall, Descript is a budget-friendly tool and is a great option if you need a comprehensive tool that combines voice generation with video editing. If you’re only in need of natural-sounding speech, then we’d recommend investing in ElevenLabs because of its superior quality.
ElevenLabs vs Murf
Murf offers many of the same AI voice synthesis features as ElevenLabs, including text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, dubbing, and voice cloning.
ElevenLabs’ pricing is more accessible than Murf’s, especially with its monthly pricing deal that begins at $1 per month. Even on its basic plan, users can experiment with instant voice cloning. With Murf, users have to contact the sales team to try voice cloning.
We found that ElevenLabs’ voice output was extremely accurate, and it was quick to create usable results with little input. The voices are remarkably human-like and don’t need to be edited.
However, if you do want to edit the voices, there aren’t many opportunities to do so with ElevenLabs. Comparatively, Murf offers in-depth editing tools, such as a method to tweak the emphasis on individual words.
Therefore, we’d recommend Murf for those who want to really polish their results, but overall, we found ElevenLabs to be a better tool.
Jasper AI and Elevenlabs are both prominent AI tools, but they serve distinct purposes and cater to different needs.
Our in-depth Jasper AI review highlights it as a comprehensive writing assistant capable of generating human-like content across a wide range of verticals, from blog posts to product descriptions. ElevenLabs specializes in voice synthesis, allowing users to create high-quality, natural-sounding synthetic voices.
Deciding between Jasper AI and ElevenLabs hinges on the specific needs of the user. Jasper stands out as a versatile AI writing tool capable of handling a wide array of content creation tasks.
In fact, Jasper is also easily one of the best AI art generators. Conversely, ElevenLabs caters to users who require top-tier, customizable synthetic voices to be used in audiobook production, voice overs, and the development of virtual assistants.
In this walkthrough, we'll demonstrate how you can use ElevenLabs speech synthesis feature.
Sign Up
First, sign up with ElevenLabs. You can sign up with your Google account or with your email.
Describe Your Use Case
ElevenLabs will ask you a few questions, but it’s not immediately clear whether this is for its own research or whether it customizes your experience.
Enter Text
You’ll be directed to the Speech Synthesis tool, giving you the choice to switch from ‘simple’ or ‘advanced.’ The ‘simple’ setting does not allow you to edit the voices or move the sliders shown on the right-hand side, but you can do this in ‘advanced’ mode. Then, just start typing or paste your pre-written script in the text box.
Record Speech
Alternatively, you can record your own voice or upload an audio file for ElevenLabs to transcribe, then switch to AI-generated vocals. Once you’ve got your text, whether written or spoken, hit “Generate.”
Choose a Voice
The Voice Library offers a range of voice options, giving you the freedom to find the style of voice you need, such as genre, language, accent, age, and gender. Listen to the voice samples rather than testing the voice on your own text because this will use up your limited characters.
With an abundance of options available, selecting the most suitable AI tool can be tough. The following are some of the factors to keep in mind:
SuitabilityAccuracy and PerformanceCustomizationEasy to useSecurityPrice and ScalabilityFeatures
Assess whether the tool aligns with your particular needs and goals. Do you want to produce a voiceover for advertisements, instructional content, or YouTube videos? Check the capabilities on offer against your intended application.
Not all AI tools generate high-quality material as some are untrustworthy. Get a free trial or sample, or read reviews to see how other people rate its performance.
Look for customization as well as integration possibilities because products that interact with your current software could potentially save you time. If you have experience with coding, you should look into API access so that you can employ the results in your own applications or websites.
If an AI tool isn’t user-friendly, it will prove difficult to fulfill its potential. Use a free trial or plan before you sign a contract.
When handling sensitive data, security features are essential in AI technologies. Look for strong security measures such as data encryption, access control, and compliance with regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA.
Does the tool offer good value for money, or does it have a free plan? It’s also essential to assess how effectively it can scale with your needs over time without becoming too expensive.
Before making your final decision, evaluate the exact features supplied by each platform pricing tier to make sure that it offers the tools you need to reach those goals.
FAQs
What is ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs is an AI-powered speech synthesis platform that can create voiceovers, voice clones, dubbing, and other audio content.
Is ElevenLabs safe?
There have been questions raised about the safety of AI voice tools, particularly when it comes to voice cloning, as they can be misused. Last year, ElevenLabs announced the release of an AI Speech Classifier to help users identify AI-generated speech from real human voices because it’s becoming more difficult to distinguish one from the other. To understand how ElevenLabs deals with data security and privacy, consult its privacy policy.
Can ElevenLabs clone my voice?
Yes, ElevenLabs has voice cloning features. You can make a basic voice clone on the Starter plan, but the Creator plan and up offer Professional Voice Cloning, which creates more accurate results.
Can I make money with ElevenLabs?
As long as your chosen plan has a business license, the audio content created within ElevenLabs can be used within monetized content. This includes audiobooks, paid social content, and ads. So yes, you can, in theory, make money with ElevenLabs.
Is ElevenLabs accurate?
ElevenLabs offers a high level of output when creating natural-sounding text-to-speech. It’s adept at following scripts to create high-quality audio for you to use in your own content. However, it could improve on its speech-to-speech and dubbing features as we found that the output could be hit-and-miss when it comes to working with languages other than English.
Techopedia’s editorial policy is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
Alice Martin has five years experience as a writer before joining Techopedia in 2024. After completing an interdisciplinary degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences at the Universiteit van Amsterdam, she began writing in the arts and music industries. Driven by a love of research and analysis, Alice turned her attention towards all things software and technology. She now offers expert advice in these fields to help readers make informed decisions.
We uphold a strict editorial policy that focuses on factual accuracy, relevance, and impartiality. Our content, created by leading industry experts, is reviewed by a team of seasoned editors to ensure compliance with the highest standards in reporting and publishing.
Disclosure
When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn how our funding model works. By using this website you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy.
When you buy through affiliate links in our content, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Learn 
