What is ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs is an AI audio platform that turns text into natural-sounding speech and lets you clone, design and translate voices. Podcasters, video creators, publishers, marketers and developers use it to produce voiceovers, audiobooks, narrated articles and dubbed content without booking voice talent or recording studios for every piece.
The platform covers text to speech in more than 90 languages, a library of thousands of voices, instant and professional voice cloning, and voice design from a text prompt. Its Studio editor handles long-form projects such as podcasts and audiobooks. Other tools include Dubbing for translating video while keeping the speaker's tone, Scribe speech-to-text, sound effects and music generation. Developers can reach the same models through an API and SDKs, and ElevenLabs also offers conversational voice agents.
ElevenLabs at a glance
How does ElevenLabs work?
- Pick or create a voice
Choose a voice from the library, design one from a prompt, or clone your own from audio samples.
- Add your script
Paste text into text to speech or build a longer project in Studio for podcasts, audiobooks or voiceovers.
- Generate and refine
Generate audio, adjust delivery and pacing, and regenerate lines until they sound right.
- Translate or extend
Use Dubbing to localize content into other languages and add sound effects or music if needed.
- Export or automate
Download the audio for publishing, or call the API to generate speech inside your own app or workflow.
ElevenLabs key features
Text to speech
Expressive speech in more than 90 languages with models tuned for speed, consistency or emotional range.
Voice cloning
Instant Voice Cloning from short samples, and Professional Voice Cloning for higher fidelity on paid plans.
Voice library and design
Thousands of ready-made voices, plus the option to create a new voice from a text description.
Studio
A long-form editor for producing podcasts, audiobooks and voiceovers in one place.
Dubbing
Translates audio and video into other languages while aiming to keep the original speaker's emotion.
Speech to text
The Scribe model transcribes audio with speaker labels and detailed timestamps.
Sound effects and music
Generates custom sound effects and music tracks for productions.
API and voice agents
APIs and SDKs for developers, plus conversational agents for phone, chat and messaging.
Why use ElevenLabs?
- Produce voiceovers and narrated content in minutes instead of booking sessions.
- Clone your own voice to scale podcast, course or video output.
- Reach new markets by dubbing content into dozens of languages.
- A free tier lets you test voice quality before paying.
- The API makes it easy to add voice to apps and automated workflows.
Who is ElevenLabs best for?
A good fit for
- Podcasters and YouTubers needing voiceovers or narration
- Publishers producing audiobooks and audio articles
- Marketing teams localizing video into several languages
- Developers building voice features into products
Less suited to
- Commercial projects on the free plan, which lacks a commercial license
- Teams that need podcast hosting or distribution, which ElevenLabs does not provide
- Very high-volume users on a tight budget, since credits scale with usage
ElevenLabs pricing
| Pricing model | Freemium |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Free trial | Not confirmed |
| Starting price | $6/month (Starter) |
The free plan includes 10,000 credits a month. Starter adds a commercial license, voice cloning and dubbing; Creator ($22/month) adds professional cloning; Pro, Scale and Business ($99 to $990/month) add more credits, seats and API quality. First-month discounts are often shown.
Prices checked October 2026. Vendors change plans often, so confirm on the official ElevenLabs pricing page before you buy.
ElevenLabs pros and cons
Pros
- Highly natural voices across many languages
- Wide toolset from cloning to dubbing and music
- Generous free tier for testing
- Strong developer API
Cons
- Credit costs add up for long-form production
- Professional voice cloning requires higher tiers
- Commercial use needs a paid plan
ElevenLabs integrations and platforms
Available on
ElevenLabs alternatives
See the full shortlist in Best Podcast Software.
ElevenLabs FAQ
Is ElevenLabs free?
Yes. ElevenLabs has a free plan with 10,000 credits per month covering text to speech, speech to text, sound effects, voice design and music, plus a few Studio projects. The free plan does not include a commercial license, so paid plans starting with Starter are needed for commercial work. Paid plans range from Starter for individuals up to Business and Enterprise for larger teams.
What is ElevenLabs used for?
ElevenLabs is used to generate realistic AI voices. Common uses include podcast intros and voiceovers, YouTube narration, audiobooks, e-learning, dubbing videos into other languages, transcription and voice features inside apps. Businesses also use it to build conversational voice agents for customer support. Many teams combine its voices with video and podcast editors to complete their production workflow.
Can I use ElevenLabs for a podcast?
Yes. ElevenLabs Studio lets you build podcasts, audiobooks and voiceovers from scripts using library voices or a clone of your own voice. You then export the audio and upload it to a podcast host. Many creators use it for intros, ad reads or fully narrated episodes. Studio projects are limited on the free plan, so regular podcast production usually needs a paid tier.
ElevenLabs vs Murf AI: what's the difference?
Both create AI voiceovers from text. ElevenLabs is known for highly expressive voices, voice cloning, dubbing, speech to text and a strong developer API. Murf AI focuses on a business-friendly voiceover studio with timeline editing for presentations and training videos. The right choice depends on whether you need realism and API access or simple studio editing.
Does ElevenLabs have an API?
Yes. ElevenLabs offers APIs and SDKs for text to speech, speech to text, voice cloning, dubbing, sound effects and music. Higher plans add higher-quality audio output and lower latency. Developers use it to add voice to apps, games, websites and automated content pipelines.
Sources
This overview is based on ElevenLabs's official website and documentation, checked October 2026.