Text to speech
ElevenLabs: review, pricing, data and alternatives
ElevenLabs turns text into speech, transcribes recordings and produces sound effects. It serves people who want to create audio content, make synthetic voice copies or dub content into another language. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $1 per month. Access and transparency score: 90/100, #1 of 10 in its category.
| Access | 30/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 20/30 | |
| Trust | 40/40 |
What is ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs turns text into speech, transcribes recordings and produces sound effects. It serves people who want to create audio content, make synthetic voice copies or dub content into another language.
According to its documentation, ElevenLabs lets you:
- turn text into speech
- create a synthetic copy of a voice
- transcribe a recording
- dub content into another language
- produce sound effects
We file it under Text to speech, the category of tools to turn text into natural speech, and it also overlaps with voice cloning and changing and speech to text. The category lists 10 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Eleven Labs Inc., based in United States. The service launched in 2023, which gives it some track record.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: video creators, podcasters, and developers. The need it covers is simple to state: turn text into natural speech.
ElevenLabs is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
Before deciding, run a trial on a real task and measure the time saved: it is the only criterion that really counts.
How much does ElevenLabs cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $1 per month (Starter: promotional first month at USD 1, then USD 6/month; promotion displayed until November 1), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is cheaper than the category median ($9 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed in several regions depending on the plan.
Exporting your content: yes (details on the official site). Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
ElevenLabs runs on: web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android, and API.
The interface is available in 11 languages.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 90/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 30/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 20/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 40/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
ElevenLabs against other tools in the text to speech category:
| Tool | Free | Entry price | API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ElevenLabs | Yes | $1 per month | Yes | 90 |
| Murf AI | Yes | $19 per month | Yes | 81 |
| Speechify | Yes | $29 per month | Yes | 75 |
| LOVO AI | Yes | not published | Yes | 68 |
| WellSaid | Yes | $120 per year | Yes | 68 |
| Speech Studio | Yes | not published | Yes | 61 |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS | Yes | $0.25 pay as you go | Yes | 58 |
| iSpeech | Yes | $2.95 per month | Yes | 58 |
Verdict
ElevenLabs is among the most accessible and transparent tools in its category.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Cheaper than its category median
- Public API
- Established since 2023
- Available on many platforms
Alternatives
- Murf AIfree tier
- Speechifyfree tier
- LOVO AIfree tier
- WellSaidfree tier
- Speech Studiofree tier
- Gemini 3.8 Flash TTSfree tier
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is ElevenLabs free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $1 per month.
Where is ElevenLabs data stored?
According to the publisher, in several regions depending on the plan.
Does ElevenLabs have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to ElevenLabs?
In the same category: Murf AI, Speechify, LOVO AI, and WellSaid.
ElevenLabs or Murf AI: which one to choose?
ElevenLabs starts at $1 per month, Murf AI at $19 per month and our score is 90/100 for ElevenLabs and 81/100 for Murf AI. Try both on the same task before paying.
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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score