Artificial intelligence is reshaping the way we transform text into lifelike audio.
Leading the transformation is ElevenLabs, an AI audio tool dedicated to AI-generated voiceovers tailored for content creators, e-learning experts, and businesses. I recently tested more than 10 different AI audio tools to figure out which were the best.
Going into 2025, these are the alternatives that I believe are the best:
- Speechify
- Play.ht
- Descript
- Lovo
- Murf
- Synthesia
Despite its strong standing, various rivals present comparable features with their own unique approaches. As someone who has spent over 12 years working with SaaS companies and experimenting with a wide range of Martech software companies – I’ve learned a ton about the best tools in the space and have spent the last 8 months experimenting with many.
I’ve combed through feedback from customers in Reddit, studied comments on YouTube, analyzed scores on Capterra, G2 and I’ve taken a spin on many of these tools myself. This piece is my exploration into ElevenLabs and 11+ (see what I did there) other software providing AI-driven voice generation.
Let’s dive into it…
Facts & Stats about Eleven Labs
ElevenLabs, founded in 2022, quickly made a mark by leveraging advanced text-to-speech (TTS) technology that produces lifelike audio across multiple languages to eventually raise over $80M in funding. Their deep learning approach and emotive voice synthesis capabilities have set a new standard in the industry. With features like voice cloning and support for various languages and accents, ElevenLabs aims to give content creators a versatile tool to engage their audiences.
The ElevenLabs Journey
ElevenLabs emerged from the vision of Piotr Dabkowski, a former Google machine learning engineer, and Mati Staniszewski, a former deployment strategist at Palantir. Their successful fundraising efforts—a pre-seed round of $2 million in January 2023 and a Series A funding round of $19 million by June 2023—propelled them to a valuation of $100 million within a year of inception. Operating with a small team, ElevenLabs has achieved remarkable milestones, demonstrating the power of innovation and strategic planning.
Key Features That Define ElevenLabs & Audio AI Software
ElevenLabs has several unique features that set it apart in the AI voice generation industry:
- AI Voice Overs: Generate realistic voice overs for various types of content, including podcasts, e-learning, and video games.
- Voice Cloning: This feature allows users to clone their voices, creating synthetic copies that maintain consistency across different projects.
- Text-to-Speech API: A real-time voice generation tool that can be integrated into other applications.
- Voice Customization: Users can fine-tune stability, clarity, and other audio elements to match their specific needs.
- Dubbing: Soon to be released, this feature will allow users to easily localize content for different regions and languages.
Use Cases for ElevenLabs
ElevenLabs has a broad range of applications, making it a versatile tool for various industries:
- E-Learning: The platform’s AI voice overs can deliver engaging instructional content.
- Audiobooks: Elevate storytelling through dynamic narration that brings stories to life.
- Podcasts: Ensure consistent audio quality and versatility for engaging episodes.
- Video Games: Enhance player immersion with realistic character voices.
- Social Media: Create dynamic voice overs to increase audience engagement.
Text-to-Speech Tools:
- Speechify: Renowned for its intuitive interface and natural speech synthesis.
- NaturalReader: Provides a variety of lifelike voices and supports multiple languages, including English.
- Play.ht: Offers comprehensive functionality along with natural-sounding audio choices.
- LOVO: Stands out for its diverse voice selection and personalized voice options.
Voice Cloning and Real-Time Applications:
- Descript: Features voice cloning and editing tools tailored for podcasters and video producers.
- Wellsaid: Specializes in crafting realistic voices and is favored in corporate and educational settings.
- Murf.ai: An integrated platform that encompasses voiceovers, text-to-speech conversion, and video editing capabilities.
ElevenLabs Pricing Overview
ElevenLabs offers a range of pricing options to suit different users, from individual creators to larger businesses:
- Free Plan: Includes 10,000 characters per month and allows up to three custom voices but lacks a commercial license for speech synthesis.
- Starter Plan: At $5 per month, it provides 30,000 characters, up to 10 custom voices, a commercial license, and access to Instant Voice Cloning.
- Creator Plan: Priced at $22 per month, it offers 100,000 characters and up to 30 custom voices.
- Independent Publisher Plan: At $99 per month, it allows for 500,000 characters and up to 160 custom voices.
- Growing Business Plan: This plan, costing $330 per month, provides 2,000,000 characters and up to 660 custom voices.
- Enterprise Plan: Custom pricing with tailored quotas and additional voice cloning options.
Weighing the Pros and Cons of ElevenLabs
In order to make a well-informed decision, it is crucial for all of us to thoroughly comprehend and evaluate not only the strengths but also the limitations of ElevenLabs. This comprehensive understanding will empower us to assess the spectrum of capabilities and potential challenges associated with engaging in any interactions or collaborations with ElevenLabs. Here’s a run down on some of the pros and cons of using ElevenLabs and why some people might be looking for alternative solutions:
Pros:
- Pay-as-You-Go: A flexible billing option where you only pay for extra usage if you exceed your plan’s limits.
- User-Friendly: Designed with ease of use in mind, even for AI voice-over beginners.
- Cloud-Based: Facilitates access from any device without local storage concerns.
- Fast Processing: Delivers voice overs quickly, allowing for rapid content creation.
Cons:
- Accent Authenticity: Some accents, like the German one, might lack authenticity.
- Struggles with Long-Form Content: Less effective for extensive narratives.
- Pronunciation Issues: Sometimes mispronounces words despite phonetic guidance.
- Inconsistency: Voice output can vary across different sessions.
- Abuse Policy Concerns: The platform’s “Abuse Buster” might trigger incorrectly, causing disruptions.
Exploring Alternatives to ElevenLabs
Given the dynamic nature of AI voice generation, several alternatives to ElevenLabs offer unique features and benefits. Here are 11 alternatives worth considering:
- Google Cloud Text-to-Speech: Offers advanced AI voice synthesis with a vast range of languages and accents.
- Amazon Polly: Known for its flexibility and cost-effective pay-as-you-go model, ideal for businesses with fluctuating demands.
- Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services: Provides a suite of AI tools, including high-quality text-to-speech capabilities.
- IBM Watson Text-to-Speech: Recognized for its integration with other AI services, offering seamless connectivity and customization.
- Resemble AI: Specializes in voice cloning and personalization, providing a unique twist to traditional text-to-speech.
- Play.ht: Focuses on ease of use and simplicity, catering to content creators and podcasters.
- ResponsiveVoice: Known for its compatibility with various platforms and browsers, ideal for web-based applications.
- ReadSpeaker: Offers a diverse range of languages and voices, with a strong focus on accessibility.
- iSpeech: Provides robust text-to-speech solutions with customizable voices.
- Acapela Group: Known for its multilingual capabilities and wide range of voices.
- Capti Voice: Emphasizes accessibility and education, designed for e-learning and audiobooks.
Each alternative has its strengths and specialties, making it crucial to evaluate your specific needs and goals when choosing the right AI voice generation platform.
Speechify Voice Over Studio: An In-Depth Analysis and Its Competitors
Within the AI-powered voice generation, Speechify shines with its robust capabilities for crafting lifelike voice overs.
Priced at $288 annually, the studio boasts a range of features, including multi-lingual support, voice cloning, and advanced editing tools. Users can refine different audio elements like pronunciation, tone, and pitch to achieve their desired outcome.
Speechify Voice Over Studio: A Closer Look
Accelerate your listening experience up to 9 times with Speechify’s cutting-edge text-to-speech software, enabling you to read faster than the average speed without compromising on the finest AI voices. With Speechify’s user-friendly AI voices, bid farewell to robotic and unclear speech. Our precise human-like AI voices deliver high-definition quality, supporting over 30 languages and 100 accents.
Its voice AI tool can generate a digital replica of a human voice from just minutes of sample audio, offering significant convenience and flexibility for a reading / listening experience.
Top Features:
– 200+ voices
– Support for multiple languages
– Celebrity collaborations for AI voices
– Advanced granular editing
– Voice cloning capabilities
Play.ht: The Multilingual Maestro
Play.ht utilizes advanced machine learning and Amazon Polly technology to provide access to an extensive voice library of over 800 voices across 142 languages. It is particularly suited for diverse projects such as explainer videos, educational content, and video games. With its intuitive interface and user-friendly controls, Play.ht is an ElevenLabs alternative that supports an expansive range of languages and accents, making it a valuable asset for businesses operating in global markets.
One of the standout features of Play.ht is its impressive voice cloning capabilities.This powerful tool can generate a digital replica of a human voice from just minutes of sample audio. This feature offers significant convenience for content creators who may not have access to professional voice actors or simply want more control over the voices used in their projects. The cloned voices sound incredibly lifelike and can save time and resources while maintaining high-quality standards.
You can learn all about Play.HT here.
Top Features:
– 800 voices
– 142 languages
– Customizable phonetics
– Voice cloning
– Text to voice editor
Amazon Polly:
Built on Amazon’s powerful cloud technology, Polly is a text-to-speech service that offers lifelike voices in over 60 languages. Its advanced deep learning algorithms allow for natural sounding speech with accurate pronunciation and intonation. With easy integration into various platforms, including WordPress and Adobe Captivate, Polly is a popular choice for businesses and content creators alike.
Amazon Polly is an ElevenLabs alternative that uses deep learning technologies to synthesize natural-sounding human speech, so you can convert articles to speech. With dozens of lifelike voices across a broad set of languages, use Amazon Polly to build speech-activated applications.
Amazon Polly uses deep learning technologies to synthesize natural-sounding human speech, so you can convert articles to speech. With dozens of lifelike voices across a broad set of languages, use Amazon Polly to build speech-activated applications.
Descript: The Podcast Producer’s Toolkit
Descript is an ElevenLabs alternative that offers a comprehensive suite of tools for podcast production, priced at $144 annually. One of its flagship features, Overdub, allows the creation of highly authentic voice clones and AI-generated voice overs. Overdub uses Deep Voice 3 architecture and Tacotron 2, two of the most advanced text-to-speech engines in the market. This makes it a powerful tool for podcasters who want to create professional-sounding voice overs without having to spend hours recording and editing their own voices.
In addition to its text-to-speech capabilities, Descript also offers other useful features such as automatic transcription, collaboration tools, and audio editing capabilities. With automatic transcription, users can easily convert their audio recordings into written transcripts with high accuracy. This feature not only saves time but also ensures that all your podcast episodes have searchable written content for improved SEO.
Top Features:
– 9 voices
– 22 languages
– Text-based editing
– Broadcast-quality audio
– Efficient removal of filler words
Here’s a video walkthrough of me recently exploring both ElevenLabs and Descript:
Lovo.ai: Emotional and Expressive Voices
Lovo’s AI voice generator, Genny, distinguishes itself by generating emotional voice tones, such as hesitation or shouting. It supports over 100 languages and allows users to fine-tune pronunciations, enhancing the final audio output. Lovo is an ElevenLabs alternative that offers a wide range of voice styles, from natural to character voices, making it a versatile tool for any type of podcast.
Top Features:
– Over 500 voices
– 100 languages
– Emotion options
– Pronunciation editing
– Sound effects capabilities
Listnr: Versatile Voice Changer
Listnr offers a vast selection of over 900 voices across 142 languages, making it a top choice for enhancing YouTube videos and podcast recordings. It is available for $9 per month, making it one of the more affordable options.
Top Features:
– 900+ voices
– 142+ languages
– Voice changer
– Voice cloning
– Podcast recording, editing, and hosting
Murf.ai: Tailored and Realistic Audio
Murf AI excels in transforming text into realistic AI voices, featuring over 120 voices in more than 20 languages. It is designed to cater to nuanced voice requirements by allowing users to edit breaths, pauses, and pronunciation. Murf provides a range of 100% natural-sounding AI voices in over 20 languages, ideal for creating professional voice-overs for your videos and presentations.
Top Features:
– 120+ voices
– 20+ languages
– Editing for breaths and pauses
– Auto-removal of filler words
– Voice cloning
NaturalReader: Simplified Speech Synthesis
NaturalReader offers a straightforward approach to text to speech conversion, focusing on accessibility and ease of use. It provides essential editing tools for pronunciation, emphasis, and pitch. NaturalReader is proud to support 99+ Languages. Our AI text-to-speech applications can naturally read aloud text in English, Afrikaans, Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Catalan, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Danish and more… You can learn about it here.
Top Features:
– 200+ voices
– 27 languages
– Basic voice modulation tools
– Commercial use licensing
– Emotional tone settings
Synthesys.io: Deep Learning-Driven Authenticity
Synthesys leverages deep learning to produce voice overs that closely mimic human speech, ensuring authenticity and emotional depth. Priced at $23 per month, it offers a cloud-based platform with an extensive voice library.
Top Features:
– 370+ voices
– 140 languages
– Unlimited downloads
– Extensive voice library
WellSaid Labs: Real-Time Editing and Versatility
WellSaid Labs focuses on flexibility in content creation, offering real-time editing and various voice styles. This platform is ideal for creators who need to make frequent adjustments without workflow interruptions.
Top Features:
– 50 voices
– Various accents and styles
– Real-time editing capabilities
– Ability to add pauses
Respeecher: Precise Voice Cloning
Respeecher specializes in cloning actual human voices, allowing for script modifications without the need for re-recording. This service is priced at either $0.09 per second or $1999 annually, depending on usage.
Top Features:
– 100+ voices
– Any language supported
– Detailed voice cloning
– Dubbing capabilities
Synthesia AI: Combining Voice and Visuals
Synthesia AI merges voice technology with customizable avatars, providing a complete solution for creating immersive content. It supports over 120 languages and offers a voice cloning add-on. Synthesia is an ElevenLabs alternative that is quite popular and arguably one of the more well known tools for Audio AI as it was a leader in the space early on. In fact, I used Synthesia personally for probaly 2-3 years before switching to Eleven Labs.
Top Features:
– 200 voices
– 120 languages
– AI avatars
– Text to video capabilities
Each of these platforms provides distinctive features tailored to different needs, whether for professional broadcast quality, multilingual support, or emotional expressiveness. The choice of a platform should be guided by specific requirements and budget considerations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the alternative to ElevenLabs voice AI?
Options other than ElevenLabs’ voice AI are Play.ht, Murf.ai, LOVO, and Speechify. These platforms provide various text-to-speech and voice cloning services, supporting content creators, e-learning, and podcast production by delivering top-notch, lifelike voices.
What is the difference between Murf AI and ElevenLabs?
Murf AI offers a user-friendly platform for top-notch voiceovers, featuring a range of authentic voices and text-to-speech capabilities. In contrast, ElevenLabs excels in voice cloning and real-time speech synthesis, harnessing advanced AI voice and deep learning technologies.
Can you search for voices on ElevenLabs?
Indeed, ElevenLabs empowers users to browse and choose from a diverse array of voices and inflections. This flexibility enables tailored audio content creation for a multitude of applications like audiobooks, podcasts, and social media.