ElevenLabs text to speech review: Features, pricing, and alternatives

What is ElevenLabs text-to-speech?

ElevenLabs text-to-speech is an AI voice generation tool that turns written text into spoken audio. The basic workflow involves entering a script, choosing or creating a voice, adjusting available controls, generating speech, reviewing the result, and exporting the audio. The tool can suit content creators, video makers, podcasters, marketers, educators, developers, and businesses producing voice-based content. Its focus is on generating natural-sounding speech while giving users options to select voices and adjust delivery for different types of narration and voiceover projects.

How does ElevenLabs AI text-to-speech work?

The ElevenLabs AI text-to-speech workflow begins with a text script. You add the text, choose the voice you want to use, tweak the available settings, and generate the audio. After the speech has been generated, you can listen to the output and make changes before exporting it for another project. This is useful if you already have a script and you need spoken audio without manually recording the narration.

Who is ElevenLabs text-to-speech for?

ElevenLabs can fit different workflows where written content needs to become spoken audio. Potential users include:

• Content creators produce narration and social content
• Video creators create voiceovers
• Podcasters working with spoken content
• Marketers producing promotional videos and campaigns
• Developers building voice-based applications
• Educators create lessons or narrated resources
• Businesses producing voice content at scale

For video creators, generated narration can also be paired with tools such as an AI video generator when the project requires both spoken audio and visual content.

ElevenLabs text-to-speech features: What can you do with it?

ElevenLabs focuses primarily on AI voice generation and text-to-speech production. Its main capabilities can be summarized as follows:

• AI voice text-to-speech: ElevenLabs AI voice text-to-speech converts written scripts into spoken audio, providing a way to create narration without recording every line manually.
• Voice selection and customization: Users can choose a voice that matches the intended tone and purpose of the content and adjust available voice controls.
• Multilingual voice generation: Supported languages allow creators to produce spoken content for audiences in different markets and use cases.
• Voice control and expressive speech: Available controls can help shape elements such as delivery, tone, pacing, and expression, depending on the current interface and selected voice.
• Audio generation and export: Generated speech can be reviewed before being exported for videos, podcasts, narration, social media, and other projects.

Creators working on visual content can also connect the resulting voiceover with an AI text-to-video generator or an image-to-video generator to build a larger content workflow.

How to use ElevenLabs text-to-speech: A step-by-step tutorial

The basic how to use ElevenLabs text-to-speech process is straightforward if you already have a script prepared.

step 1
1. Open ElevenLabs text-to-speech

Access the ElevenLabs text-to-speech workflow and start a new voice generation project. The exact interface and available options can vary as the platform updates its tools and plans.

step 2
1. Add your text and choose a voice

Enter the script you want to convert into speech, then select a voice that suits the content. For example, a product video could begin with: "Welcome to our guide to creating engaging product videos with AI." Keep the script clear and format it according to the type of narration you want to produce.

step 3
1. Adjust voice settings and generate

See the list of voice controls and set them up as you want the voice to deliver. Depending on the voice you have selected and the current tool options, you may be able to change some parts of speech before generating the final audio.

step 4
1. Review and export the audio

Listen to the generated voiceover and check the pronunciation, pace, tone and overall delivery. If it does not sound correct, modify the script or settings that are available and regenerate it. When you find a result you like, export the audio to use in your video, podcast, narration or other content.

If the next step is video creation, a script-to-video creator can help turn written ideas into visual content alongside the narration.

ElevenLabs text-to-speech review: Pros, limitations, and pricing

What works well with ElevenLabs text-to-speech

The tool is designed around voice generation, so its workflow can be useful when spoken audio is the main requirement. Key strengths outlined for the platform include:

• AI-powered voice generation: Turn written scripts into spoken audio using AI-generated voices. This can simplify narration and voiceover creation when you do not want to record audio manually.
• Natural-sounding speech: The platform focuses on producing natural-sounding speech for different types of voice content. The output can work for narration, videos, podcasts, and other spoken formats.
• Multiple voice options: Choose from available voices based on the tone and purpose of your project. This gives creators flexibility when producing different types of narration or voiceovers.
• Voice customization: Available controls can help adjust the generated delivery to better suit the content. The specific customization options depend on the voice and current tool interface.
• Support for different content formats: Generated voice content can be used across videos, podcasts, social content, narration, and other projects that require spoken audio.
• Narration and voiceover workflow: The tool suits creators who already have a written script and need to turn it into usable spoken audio for their content.

This makes ElevenLabs AI voice text-to-speech particularly relevant for creators who start with a written script and need an AI-generated voice as the next production step.

What to consider before using ElevenLabs text-to-speech

The available experience depends on the plan and the specific capabilities offered at the time of use. Keep these considerations in mind:

• Features may vary between plans: Different plans can provide different features and usage allowances. Check the current plan details before choosing an option for ongoing production.
• Usage limits can affect larger projects: If you generate a high volume of audio, plan-specific limits may affect how much content you can produce within your available allowance.
• Some advanced capabilities may require a paid subscription: Certain features may not be included with free access. Review the current plan information if you need more advanced voice generation capabilities.
• Some projects may need additional refinement: Generated speech may require changes to the script, voice selection, or available settings to achieve the delivery you want for a specific creative project.

For this reason, users searching for ElevenLabs free text to speech or ElevenLabs text-to-speech free should check the current ElevenLabs plan details before starting a larger project. A free option may be suitable for testing the workflow, while heavier production can require a paid plan depending on usage and available features.

ElevenLabs text-to-speech pricing

ElevenLabs offers four plans for text-to-speech users, starting with a free plan at $0 per month and moving to Starter at $6, Creator at $11, and Pro at $99 per month. Each paid tier adds capabilities to the previous plan, including a commercial license on Starter, professional voice cloning on Creator, and 44.1kHz PCM output on Pro. Since the plans differ in features and intended use, choose based on the voice capabilities and output requirements of your project.

ElevenLabs text-to-speech alternative: Meet Dreamina

Dreamina takes a broader approach to AI-assisted creative production. Alongside voice and text-to-speech capabilities, the platform can support AI image generation, AI video generation, creative editing, reference-based creation, and multimodal workflows. This makes it relevant for users who want to move from a script or idea into different types of creative assets instead of working only with generated audio. Its creative toolkit covers AI voice generation, text-to-speech capabilities, AI image generation, AI video generation, creative editing, reference-based creation, and multimodal workflows. For example, creators can use an AI music video generator when a project requires music-focused visuals, or explore a cinematic video generator for projects that need a more cinematic visual direction.

Create AI voiceovers with Dreamina

Dreamina can be used to create voice content as part of a wider AI creative workflow.

step 1
1. Open Dreamina and start a project

Open Dreamina and access the relevant creative workflow for your project. Choose the option that matches the type of voice content you want to create.

step 2
1. Add your script and configure the voice

Enter the text you want to turn into spoken content. Select the available voice and adjust the relevant settings to match your project's requirements.

step 3
1. Generate and refine the voiceover

Generate the voice content and review the result for clarity and delivery. Make any necessary adjustments, then continue developing the project with other creative assets.

For broader visual production, Dreamina also provides tools such as Veo 3.1, allowing creators to explore AI-generated video as part of the same creative environment.

Why use Dreamina for AI creative workflows?

Dreamina can be relevant when voice generation is only one part of a larger content project. Its workflow can support:

• Combining voice with image and video creation: Create voice content alongside visuals for videos, social posts, and other multimedia projects without separating the creative workflow.
• Working from text prompts and reference materials: Use written prompts and reference assets to guide the creative process and maintain a clearer direction across different generated assets.
• Developing multiple creative assets in one workflow: Create different types of content, including voice, images, and videos, as part of the same broader creative project.
• Refining generated content: Review generated outputs and make adjustments to better match the intended style, message, or creative direction before using them.
• Supporting broader AI-assisted content production: Move from an initial idea or script to multiple creative assets while using AI tools throughout the content creation process.

ElevenLabs vs Dreamina: Which AI voice workflow fits your needs?

The two platforms can serve different creative workflows. ElevenLabs is centered on AI voice generation and text-to-speech production, while Dreamina supports voice alongside a wider set of image, video, editing, and reference-based creative workflows.

Consider ElevenLabs if:

ElevenLabs can suit users whose main requirement is AI-generated speech, narration, or voiceover production. It is particularly relevant when the workflow starts with written text and ends with spoken audio.

Consider Dreamina if:

Dreamina can fit workflows where voice is part of a larger creative project. It may be relevant if you want to combine AI voice with image and video creation, need a broader AI creative workflow, want to develop different types of creative assets, work with prompts and reference materials, or want to continue editing and refining generated content.

Conclusion

ElevenLabs text-to-speech offers you a simple workflow to turn your written scripts into AI-generated speech. You can use its voice selection, customization, multilingual capabilities and audio generation features to support narration, podcasts, videos and other voice-based content. Before working on bigger projects, check the pricing and usage limits with current plans. Dreamina provides a more complete solution for creators who want to combine AI voice generation with image, video, reference-based creation, and creative editing throughout a more extensive production workflow.

FAQs about ElevenLabs text-to-speech

What is ElevenLabs text to speech?

ElevenLabs text-to-speech is an AI tool that converts written scripts into spoken audio using AI-generated voices. It can be used for narration, voiceovers, podcasts, videos, and other voice-based content.

Is ElevenLabs text-to-speech free?

ElevenLabs offers free and paid access, with features and usage limits varying by plan. If you are creating larger projects, check the current plan details to understand the available usage and capabilities.

How to use ElevenLabs text-to-speech?

Add your script to the text-to-speech tool and choose a voice that fits your content. Adjust the available settings, generate the speech, review the result, and export the audio when it meets your requirements.

How does ElevenLabs AI text-to-speech work?

ElevenLabs AI text-to-speech processes written content and generates spoken audio using a selected or configured AI voice. You can adjust available voice settings before generating and reviewing the final output.

How much does ElevenLabs text to speech cost?

ElevenLabs text-to-speech pricing depends on the plan you choose and the usage included with it. Free and paid access can have different limits, so check the latest pricing details before starting a larger project.

Can ElevenLabs convert text into an AI voice?

Yes, ElevenLabs can convert written text into spoken audio using AI-generated voices. This can be useful for creating narration, voiceovers, social videos, podcasts, and other types of voice content.

Is Dreamina an alternative to ElevenLabs text-to-speech?

Dreamina can be an alternative for creators who want AI voice generation as part of a broader creative workflow. It also supports AI image and video creation, editing, reference-based creation, and other multimodal workflows.

Can I use Dreamina for AI voiceovers?

Dreamina can support AI voiceovers as part of a wider creative workflow. This can be useful when you want to create voice content alongside other visual assets instead of handling the voice and visuals separately.

How does Dreamina compare with ElevenLabs for creative projects?

ElevenLabs focuses on AI voice generation and text-to-speech workflows, while Dreamina supports voice alongside image, video, editing, and reference-based creation. The better fit depends on whether your project is primarily audio-focused or requires multiple types of creative assets.

For more articles about AI creative tools, check out the following:

DupDub AI Text to Speech: Features, How It Works + Top Alternative

How to Create a Text Reader: Mastering the Text-to-Speech Art

Convert Text to Video with AI: Make Your Own Cinema from Words