In a world where AI startups and tech are constantly pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, one groundbreaking platform is changing the game in speech synthesis: ElevenLabs AI. If you’ve ever yearned for an AI voice generator that exceeds your expectations, you’re in for a treat.
But one question remains: is it the most realistic AI voice generator? That’s what we will be exploring in this comprehensive ElevenLabs Review.
In this article, we will look at the pros and cons of this innovative software, then explain its origins, what it is, and who it’s best for. From there, we’ll explore the ElevenLab features, and I’ll show you how I generated an AI version of Santa’s voice using the ElevenLabs text-to-speech feature.
Finally, I’ll compare ElevenLabs with three of the most popular AI voice generators I’ve tested to see how the quality of the voices and features compare. By the end, you’ll clearly understand whether ElevenLabs is the most realistic AI voice generator on the market and whether or not it’s right for you.
Let’s dive in and discover what makes ElevenLabs unique!
Verdict
Among the most popular AI Voice Generators I have tried, ElevenLabs features a clean interface and the most realistic AI voices available. Its affordability, dedicated support, and ethical considerations enhance its appeal.
However, some text-to-speech features are lacking, and the selection of voices and languages is comparatively limited. The absence of a video editor and AI writer is an area for potential improvement.
Regardless, the realistic AI voices are worth checking out, particularly for video game developers and ASMR content creators.
Pros
- The most humanlike AI voice generator on the market.
- Getting started is straightforward; no credit card is required.
- Clean and user-friendly interface.
- A completely free plan with affordable plans for individuals and teams.
- Dedicated and responsive support with plenty of helpful resources.
- Ethical priorities include user privacy and user data protection for peace of mind.
Cons
- Some useful text-to-speech features are missing, such as controlling the timing of pauses between words, pitch control, etc.
- The number of voices and languages is limited compared to other alternatives.
- A video editor and AI writer would be beneficial.
What is ElevenLabs?
Piotr Dabkowski and Mati Staniszewski, who grew up in Poland, were motivated by the subpar dubbing of Hollywood movies they experienced during childhood. In 2022, they established AI startup ElevenLabs in New York City to eliminate language barriers in content. Its beta platform was released in January 2023.
Today, ElevenLabs is the best free AI voice generator that leverages generative AI and voice cloning to deliver exceptional speech synthesis capabilities. Trust me, the voices are some of the most authentic and expressive AI voices I’ve heard, so much so that they’re difficult to distinguish from authentic human voices. It’s the perfect platform for saving time and money recording voiceovers for audiobooks, videos, podcasts, and more!
ElevenLabs AI specializes in text-to-speech, speech-to-speech, AI dubbing and translating, and voice cloning. It also has a quick and easy-to-use API for app development and a growing voice library for the perfect voice for any project.
Who is ElevenLabs Best For?
ElevenLabs is an excellent tool for anyone interested in creating high-quality audio content. However, there are a few use cases it caters best to:
- Video Creators & YouTubers: Video creators can leverage ElevenLabs AI to instantly generate lifelike voices for narration, enhancing the overall quality of their video content. You can create custom AI voices using your voice for more personalization or even choose ASMR-specific voices!
- Game Developers: Besides developers making applications, game developers can use ElevenLabs’ library of AI voices specific to gaming. The voices offered are some of the most unique and realistic AI voices I’ve encountered, bringing characters to life! This enhances the immersive experience for players and adds a new level of depth to storytelling in games.
- Developers: For developers in general, ElevenLabs AI provides a robust API that can be integrated seamlessly into various applications. Whether you’re building chatbots, virtual assistants, or language translation applications, the text-to-speech capabilities of ElevenLabs elevate the functionality and user experience of your creations with humanlike voices.
- Businesses & Marketers: Companies can save time and money while engaging their audience with ElevenLabs’ voice cloning and dubbing features. Enhance your advertisements, presentations, and training materials with captivating voiceovers in multiple languages.
- Podcasters & Audiobook Producers: Captivating your audience is vital for podcasters and audiobook producers. That’s why ElevenLabs provides a wide range of AI voices that can deliver diverse tones and emotions. Whether you need a soothing voice for bedtime stories or a dynamic voice for podcasts, ElevenLabs AI is the perfect solution.
- Educators: Educators can take advantage of ElevenLabs by using AI dubbing and video translation to make learning materials easily accessible for individuals who are not native speakers. Furthermore, the realistic and diverse AI voices enable educators to bring boring lectures to life, making lessons more memorable and impactful.
- Bloggers: Bloggers can enhance their content with lifelike voices. As a result, they can create engaging podcast-style articles that captivate readers. By turning written words into spoken narratives, bloggers can make their content more accessible to listeners.
ElevenLabs Key Features
Here are the main features that come with ElevenLabs AI:
- Text-to-Speech
- Speech-to-Speech
- Projects for Generating Audiobooks
- Free AI Dubbing & Video Translator
- AI Voice & Text Speech API
- Voice Cloning
- Voice Library
1. Text-to-Speech
At the core of ElevenLabs’ functionality is its text-to-speech (TTS) feature. ElevenLabs will convert written text from 29 languages in over 70 different voices into human-like speech using artificial intelligence! Once generated, your voices can be downloaded as MP3 files to be used anywhere.
ElevenLabs AI voices are incredibly accurate, with a high-quality output of 128 kbps. It can also generate a considerable amount of content depending on your plan (up to 2,000,000 characters per month or pay for additional characters), making this the perfect tool for audiobooks or podcasts.
The voices are also very dynamic, with many emotions and accents that sound incredibly lifelike. Not only that, but you can use the voice tuner found in “Voice Settings” to adjust the voice’s stability, clarity, and style.
Whether you need a lifelike voice for an audiobook, ASMR, film voiceover, video games, or more, ElevenLabs is the perfect solution.
2. Speech-to-Speech
ElevenLabs goes beyond traditional text-to-speech technology by offering a speech-to-speech converter. This allows you to transform your voice into another character and customize its emotion and delivery.
All you have to do is upload an audio file to ElevenLabs AI (you can record your audio directly on the platform or drag and drop an MP3 file). From there, select your voice and use the voice settings to fine-tune the stability, clarity, and style. You can now download it as an MP3 file!
ElevenLab’s AI speech-to-speech converter does an excellent job of maintaining emotional integrity and quality while preserving minor nuances. Whether you’re generating custom voices for games, videos, or podcasts, ElevenLabs is the ideal tool to bring your characters to life!
3. Projects for Generating Audiobooks
ElevenLabs allows for the precise generation, editing, and customization of long-form spoken audio in a streamlined workflow. Rather than spending hours recording your book in a studio, you can create an audiobook in minutes!
Here’s how you can record an audiobook with ElevenLabs AI to save time and money:
- Go to “Projects.”
- Select “Create new project.”
- Choose a project type (empty, from a URL, or a document such as .epub, .txt, or .pdf files).
- Divide your project into chapters and sections.
- Choose from over 90 AI voices that speak 29 languages (or your own) and assign different speakers to various headings, paragraphs, and sections.
- Correct audio sections by instantly regenerating the audio or manually adjusting pauses.
- Export your entire audiobook with the click of a button! You can save and return to this project to make tweaks anytime.
4. Free AI Dubbing & Video Translator
With ElevenLabs’ free AI dubbing and video translator, you can translate content into 29 different languages in seconds. This gives you the power to translate the original audio into a new language while preserving the characteristics of the original voice.
Here’s how to translate audio using ElevenLabs AI in minutes:
- Select the source and choose from 29 target languages.
- Upload the MP3, MP4, or other file format onto the platform. You can also upload your own audio or video file up to 25MB or insert any URL from YouTube, TikTok, X (Twitter), or Vimeo.
- Wait a few seconds for the audio to get dubbed.
- View and download it to share with the world!
The best part is the AI voices sound far from robotic. They sound lifelike, maintaining the tone and style of the original voice to keep the listener engaged.
Whatever you’re translating, whether educational videos, films, TV shows, or promotional and training videos, ElevenLabs can effortlessly translate your content in a matter of seconds.
5. AI Voice & Text Speech API
For developers wanting to implement AI voices in 29 languages for chatbots, websites, apps, etc., ElevenLabs has a reliable and easy-to-use API. The audio is 128kbps for high-quality audio. Plus, there’s a developer Discord community if you ever need help!
ElevenLabs’ API offers the most natural-sounding and lifelike AI voices for your projects that adjust tonality based on context and emotion. There are thousands of voices to choose from, or you can create a custom voice by cloning your own.
The Eleven v2 Turbo model has a low latency of ~400ms for super-fast, best-in-class audio. This creates a seamless experience for users, ensuring they receive instant and high-quality translations. In addition, different modes for optimal response times and API documentation for implementing text-to-speech and voice cloning exist.
The ElevenLabs API also has high-security levels for state-of-the-art data protection. It uses SOC2 and GDPR, full privacy mode, and end-to-end encryption to ensure your information remains secure during translation.
You can also apply for ElevenLabs grants, giving you three free months to build, test, and launch your project. You’ll get 11 million monthly characters (200 hours of audio) or more at the Enterprise level.
Here are some helpful resources to get you developing your first application in minutes:
6. Voice Cloning
The ElevenLabs voice cloning tool lets you create your own AI voice by uploading a short recording of your voice or a voice you have permission rights to. The voice recording sample must include one speaker with no background noise and be over one minute long. You can instantly use your voice to generate speech in 29 languages and over 50 accents!
Cloning your voice with ElevenLabs AI is simple:
- Choose between Instant or Professional voice cloning. You can also design new randomly generated voices or add a voice from the Voice Library.
- Upload voice samples (one minute for Instant, at least 30 minutes for Professional).
- ElevenLabs will verify your voice your’s and meets quality standards.
- Generate audio instantly with Instant voice cloning and get results after around four weeks with Professional voice cloning.
The voice clones are impressively accurate and sound indistinguishable from the original voice.
If you’re uploading multiple voices, ensure the recording conditions are the same. For example, have the microphone at the same distance from the speaker without background noise. Also, keep the delivery the same by matching it with context. For example, if you want to use your voice for an audiobook, then record your voice in an audiobook style.
Whether creating a voice clone for videos, audiobooks, podcasts, video games, or chatbots, you can create your own AI voice quickly and efficiently.
7. Voice Library
The ElevenLabs Voice Library is an expanding collection of high-quality AI voices that spans a wide range of diversity. You’ll never feel like there’s a lack of options for finding the perfect voice for your project.
ElevenLabs AI makes finding the best voice as easy as possible. Use the filters to organize voices based on gender, age, and accent for your video, audiobook, video game, or blog. You can also add your own voices to the Voice Library using ElevenLab’s Voice Design tool to get text character rewards!
Whether you’re looking for a soothing narrator for your audiobook or a quirky character for your video game, the Voice Library has endless creative possibilities.
How to Use ElevenLabs Text-to-Speech
Here’s how to generate realistic AI voices using ElevenLabs Text-to-Speech:
- Create an Account
- Select Text to Speech
- Choose an AI Voice
- Select Your Model
- Insert Your Text & Generate
- Refine Voice Settings
- Download!
1. Create an Account
To start using ElevenLabs, I went to the ElevenLabs homepage and selected “Get Started Free.” From there, I signed up using my email.
This immediately took me to the ElevenLabs Speech Synthesis tool, where I could create lifelike speech in various languages using AI. They didn’t waste any time; I didn’t have to put in a credit card, and the process was straightforward and hassle-free.
I was also impressed with how simple and user-friendly the interface was. There was no need for a tutorial; everything was self-explanatory.
2. Select Text to Speech
Within the Speech Synthesis tab, I could access Text to Speech or Speech to Speech. I chose Text-to-speech.
3. Choose an AI Voice
Next, I was asked to choose my AI voice. Since I’m writing this near the holidays, it felt suitable to go with the Santa Claus voice, but there are dozens to choose from. You can also create your own AI voice through ElevenLab’s VoiceLab by selecting “Add voice.”
ElevenLabs offers a wide range of AI voices in different accents and tones. The color-coded tags make it easy to find the perfect voice for any project, whether it’s a professional presentation or a fun video.
4. Select Your Model
I skipped the voice settings to see how my AI voice would sound without altering it. I moved on to selecting the model I wanted to use and kept it on default (Eleven Multilingual v2) for the best quality. If you are considering using your AI voice in a project such as an app, opt for the Eleven Turbo v2 for the lowest latency.
5. Insert Your Text & Generate
Next, I inserted a short blurb from ChatGPT of what I would imagine Santa would say, but you can insert text up to 5,000 characters!
For generating audio for longer texts like audiobooks, use Projects instead. By breaking the text into shorter segments, Projects produces high-quality audio while offering advanced features such as multiple speakers.
I hit “Generate.” Within a few seconds, I created an audio sample of my text that I could hit play to preview.
The way Santa pronounced, “Ho, ho, ho!” sounded inconsistent. However, this was easily solved by making simple changes in the text punctuation.
6. Refine Voice Settings
I also adjusted some voice settings by increasing the stability to make the voice slightly monotonous. I could also enhance the clarity and style, but I kept those the same.
7. Download!
Once I was happy with it, I instantly downloaded an MP3 version of the voiceover by hitting the little download button on the bottom right.
Despite some minor changes I implemented to my AI voiceover, ElevenLabs did an excellent job producing an authentic, high-quality voice. The default model, Eleven Multilingual v2, delivered exceptional results regarding clarity and natural-sounding speech.
Compared to other AI Voiceover generators I’ve used, ElevenLabs is among the best and most lifelike at an affordable price.
3 Tips for the Perfect Voiceover
There are three main things to keep in mind for the best output:
- Be intentional about where you place punctuation. Periods, commas, and other punctuation forms significantly impact the output’s delivery.
- Take your time finding the voice that best matches the context of your content. ElevenLabs will tell you the best context for each voice.
- Don’t overlook the voice settings; refine the stability, clarity, and style for the best output.
Top 3 ElevenLabs Alternatives
When evaluating the best text-to-speech tool for your needs, it is important to consider alternatives to ElevenLabs. Let’s explore a few popular options and their features to determine which tool might best fit you.
Based on the AI voice generators I have tried, here are my top ElevenLabs alternatives.
Lovo.ai
Lovo.ai is a hyper-realistic AI voice generator capable of text-to-speech and voice cloning. It offers over 500 voices in 100 languages, significantly more than ElevenLabs, which only has over 70 different voices in 29 languages. However, they do have a continuously growing Voice Library.
Additionally, Lovo.ai has some features worth mentioning that ElevenLabs lacks. Lovo.ai has a video editor where you can access thousands of royalty-free assets. Plus, it has an AI Writer that can generate script ideas and help streamline your content creation process.
For more voice and language options, plus a video editor and AI writer, choose Lovo.ai. If you have decision paralysis and/or are a game developer looking for the perfect voices for your characters, ElevenLabs is the better choice at a more affordable price.
Read our Lovo Review or visit Lovo.
Speechify
With over 25 million listeners, Speechify is a platform that reads aloud to you, cutting your reading time in half. This tool is invaluable for students cramming for exams, employees catching up on work emails, individuals with dyslexia or ADHD who struggle with reading, or anyone who wants to consume content hands-free.
Speechify has other valuable features like text-to-speech, an AI voice studio, and AI avatars. Plus, it’s compatible with many platforms, such as an iPhone, iPad, Mac app, Android app, Chrome extension, Edge add-on, and PDF Reader.
Speechify and ElevenLabs both offer incredibly natural-sounding text-to-speech capabilities. However, if you want to read content quicker, generate videos with AI avatars, and prioritize accessibility, choose Speechify. For natural AI voices perfect for video games, narrating videos, audiobooks, and AI chatbots in 29 different languages, choose ElevenLabs.
Read our Speechify Review or visit Speechify.
Murf
Murf AI is a versatile AI voice generator that instantly turns text into speech. Whether you’re an educator, marketer, author, podcaster, etc., it’s perfect for any content.
Murf has many similar features to ElevenLabs (text-to-speech, API, AI dubbing and translation, and voice cloning). However, Murf AI has additional features that could be game-changers, like voice-over video and add-ons for Google Slides and Canva.
It’s also worth noting that while Murf offers more voices than ElevenLabs, ElevenLabs has more language options.
If you want to compliment your voiceovers with videos, have more voices to choose from, or want to add voiceovers to your Google Slides and Canva projects, go for Murf AI. For the most realistic AI voices and slightly more language options, choose ElevenLabs.
Read our Murf Review or visit Murf.
ElevenLabs Review: Is It the Most Realistic Text-to-Speech Tool?
Compared to the most popular AI voice generator contenders on the market that I’ve tried, ElevenLabs has the most realistic AI voices that I’ve come across. The AI model can accurately reproduce human intonation and inflections, adapting its delivery according to the context, which no other model can match.
While ElevenLabs has some limitations, such as fewer voice and language options than other alternatives, this is overshadowed by the quality of its voice output. The attention to detail in capturing the nuances of human speech sets ElevenLabs apart from its competitors.
ElevenLabs is an affordable and reliable choice for realistic AI voices in various applications like video games, narration videos, audiobooks, and AI chatbots in 29 languages. It has a free plan, so why not experience it yourself by creating an account and exploring its features?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ElevenLabs any good?
ElevenLabs stands out with its remarkable voice synthesis quality. The voices sound natural, and the intonation is lifelike.
Is ElevenLabs free?
Yes, ElevenLabs has a free plan where you can generate 10,000 characters per month in 29 languages. It’s the most affordable AI voice generator on the market.
How to use ElevenLabs AI for free?
To use ElevenLabs AI for free forever, select “Get Started Free” on their website and sign up using your email. Your account will be created immediately, and you can start immediately; no credit card is required.
Who owns ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs was founded in 2022 by childhood friends Mati Staniszewski (CTO) and Piotr Dabkowski (CEO), ex-Google and Palantir staffers.
What does ElevenLabs do?
ElevenLabs is a powerful text-to-speech tool that uses artificial intelligence and natural language processing to convert written text into lifelike audio. You can also turn your voice into an AI voice, instantly translate voice recordings, and more. It’s the perfect tool for creating audiobooks, podcasts, and educational content.
Is ElevenLabs safe?
ElevenLabs is a safe text-to-speech tool. It prioritizes user privacy by not collecting or storing personal information and uses secure encryption to protect user data. It also implemented a deepfake detection tool (AI Speech Classifier) ever since it has been used for hateful comments in the voices of celebrities like Emma Watson.