What is ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs is an AI audio platform. You type or paste text, choose a voice, and it turns the text into speech that sounds close to a real person. Beyond text to speech, it can clone your own voice, dub videos into other languages, change one voice into another, isolate voices from noise, and create sound effects and music from a text description. Everything runs on monthly credits, and longer or more advanced generations use more credits.
Where many voice tools sound flat, ElevenLabs is known for expressive voices that handle emotion and pacing well. Its newer models cover dozens of languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu and more. It also offers a Studio editor for long projects like audiobooks, mobile apps for iPhone and Android, and an API for developers building voice apps and voice agents. It is an audio tool, so you will still need a video editor to put voiceovers on screen.
ElevenLabs key features
Text to speech
Turns written text into lifelike speech using several models. Eleven v3 covers 70+ languages and newer models are listed with even wider coverage.
Large voice library
Choose from many thousands of community and stock voices (the site lists 20,000+), so you can find a voice that fits your brand or story.
Voice cloning
Starter includes Instant Voice Cloning from a short sample; Creator and above add Professional Voice Cloning for a closer, higher-quality copy of your voice.
Dubbing
Translates a video or audio file into another language while keeping the original speakers' voices. Hindi and many other Indian languages are supported.
Studio editor
A project editor for long-form audio such as audiobooks and podcasts, where you can mix voices, music and effects.
Sound effects and music
Generate sound effects or music tracks from a short text prompt, handy for videos and games.
Voice changer and voice isolator
Change a recording into a different voice while keeping your delivery, or strip background noise to leave a clean voice.
Speech to text
Transcribes audio into text, useful for captions and notes.
Mobile apps and API
Create voiceovers on iPhone and Android, or build voice features and voice agents into your own app with the API.
Who uses ElevenLabs, and how
Write a script, generate a natural voiceover in a chosen voice, and drop the audio into a video editor.
Dub an English video into Hindi, Tamil or other Indian languages while keeping a similar voice, to reach new audiences.
Use the Studio editor to turn a book manuscript into an audiobook with consistent narration.
Produce clear narration for course modules and update it by editing text instead of re-recording.
Add text to speech or a voice agent to an app or customer-support line through the ElevenLabs API.
Verified students can claim the Creator plan free for 3 months to try voice projects for coursework.
ElevenLabs plans and prices
| Plan | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | $6/month | |
| Creator | $22/month | |
| Pro | $99/month |
Monthly price in US dollars. Scale ($299) and Business ($990) plans also exist. Checked on 2026-11-02.
Free vs paid: what you really get
Free plan
- 10,000 credits a month, which ElevenLabs lists as roughly 10 minutes of speech
- Access to text to speech, speech to text, sound effects, voice design and music
- Up to 3 projects in Studio
- No commercial licence, and anything you publish must credit elevenlabs.io in the title
Paid plans add
- Commercial licence on every paid plan, starting with Starter
- More monthly credits: about 30 minutes on Starter, 121 on Creator and 600 on Pro
- Instant Voice Cloning (Starter) and Professional Voice Cloning (Creator and above)
- Higher-quality 192 kbps audio from Creator up, and more custom voice slots
- Team seats on Scale (3) and Business (10) plans
Which plan should you pick?
You want to test voices for personal, non-commercial projects and can credit ElevenLabs.
You need a commercial licence for a small amount of voiceover each month and a quick clone of your own voice.
You publish voiceovers regularly and want a professional voice clone and higher-quality audio.
You produce long content such as audiobooks or many videos each month and need far more credits.
You are a small team that needs shared workspace seats and several professional voice clones.
You are a larger team with heavy monthly volume and need 10 seats.
You need custom volume, extra security and terms where ElevenLabs does not train on your data by default.
Ways to save on ElevenLabs
- ElevenLabs often discounts the first month: Starter is listed at $1 and Creator at $11 for the first month.
- Annual plans exist for all tiers. On the iPhone app, Creator Annual is listed at $219 versus $22 a month, about 17% less over a year.
- Verified students can get the Creator plan free for 3 months.
- Non-profits and education organisations can apply for discounts through ElevenLabs' Impact Program, and people with permanent speech loss can apply for a free subscription.
- Start on the Free plan to test voices before paying.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Very natural, expressive voices that suit narration and storytelling
- Wide language coverage, including Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu and other Indian languages
- One platform for voiceovers, cloning, dubbing, sound effects and music
- Low entry price for a commercial licence on Starter
- Well-rated mobile apps (4.8 on App Store, 4.7 on Google Play)
- Clear data-use toggle so you can opt out of model training
Watch out for
- Free plan cannot be used commercially and requires credit in the title of published work
- Credit-based pricing can be confusing, and different features use credits at different rates
- Your data can be used to improve models by default unless you switch it off
- Higher plans get expensive for heavy users
- Trustpilot rating is mixed (2.9 out of 5), with complaints about credits and billing
- It makes audio only, so you still need a separate video editor
How to start with ElevenLabs in 5 steps
- Create a free account at elevenlabs.io or install the iPhone or Android app.
- Open Text to Speech and paste a short part of your script.
- Browse the voice library and pick a voice and model that suit your content and language.
- Generate the audio, adjust the text or settings, and regenerate until it sounds right.
- Download the file and add it to your video, podcast or course, upgrading to a paid plan first if it is for commercial use.
What users say: public ratings
| Where | Score | Based on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| App Store | 4.8 / 5 | 23K ratings | See reviews |
| Google Play | 4.7 / 5 | 253K reviews | See reviews |
| Trustpilot | 2.9 / 5 | 1,220 reviews | See reviews |
Ratings as shown on each site on 5 Nov 2026; they change over time. App store scores rate the mobile app; Trustpilot often collects billing and support complaints.
ElevenLabs compared with alternatives
ElevenLabs vs Murf AI
Murf is built around a voiceover studio with detailed timing controls and add-ons for Canva and PowerPoint. Pick Murf for slide and e-learning narration, and ElevenLabs for the most expressive voices, cloning and dubbing.
ElevenLabs vs Descript
Descript is a video and podcast editor that also has AI voices. Choose Descript to edit real recordings, and ElevenLabs when you need high-quality generated voices or dubbing.
ElevenLabs vs HeyGen
HeyGen creates talking AI avatar videos, not just audio. Pick HeyGen if you want a presenter on screen; pick ElevenLabs if you only need the voice.
ElevenLabs in India
ElevenLabs supports Hindi and many Indian languages, including Tamil, Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi and Urdu, for speech and dubbing. Its official pricing is shown in US dollars, and we found no official INR or UPI pricing.
Pricing explained, pros and cons, what real users say and a 5-step start guide.
Read the guideElevenLabs FAQ
Is ElevenLabs free?
Yes, about 10 minutes of speech a month
How much does ElevenLabs cost?
Paid plans start from $6/month. Monthly price in US dollars. Scale ($299) and Business ($990) plans also exist.
Who makes ElevenLabs?
ElevenLabs is made by ElevenLabs.
Who is ElevenLabs for?
Narration and voiceovers
Can I use ElevenLabs voices on YouTube or for commercial work?
Only on a paid plan. ElevenLabs says the free plan has no commercial licence, and free users who publish content must include elevenlabs.io or 11.ai in the title. Every paid plan from Starter up includes a commercial licence.
Does ElevenLabs support Hindi and other Indian languages?
Yes. Hindi and Tamil work across several models, and the Eleven v3 model adds Bengali, Marathi, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Punjabi, Odia, Assamese, Urdu and more. Dubbing also supports Hindi and many Indian languages.
Does ElevenLabs use my data to train its AI?
By default, ElevenLabs may use some of the data you provide to improve its models. You can opt out under Terms and privacy, then Data use, by switching off 'Improve the models for everyone'. Enterprise customers are not used for training by default.
Is there an ElevenLabs student discount?
Yes. Verified students can get the Creator plan free for 3 months, and students and professors at verified institutions can get a year of ElevenReader Ultra free.
Can I clone my own voice on ElevenLabs?
Yes, on paid plans. Starter includes Instant Voice Cloning, while Creator and higher plans add Professional Voice Cloning for a closer match.
ElevenLabs vs Murf AI: which should I choose?
Choose ElevenLabs if voice realism, cloning and dubbing matter most. Choose Murf if you want a simple voiceover studio with timing controls and plug-ins for Canva, Google Slides and PowerPoint.
Sources
- elevenlabs.io
- elevenlabs.io/pricing
- elevenlabs.io/text-to-speech
- elevenlabs.io/students
- help.elevenlabs.io/hc/en-us/articles/13313564601361-Can-I-publish-the-content-I-generate-o
- help.elevenlabs.io/hc/en-us/articles/22356473098641-Do-you-offer-annual-or-quarterly-plans
- help.elevenlabs.io/hc/en-us/articles/13315218812177-Do-you-offer-discounted-or-free-plans
- elevenlabs.io/docs/help-center/legal/is-my-data-used-to-improve-eleven-labs-ai-models
- elevenlabs.io/docs/help-center/other/what-languages-do-you-support
- elevenlabs.io/docs/help-center/product/dubbing/which-languages-are-supported-in-dubbing
Facts from the official pages listed above, in our own words; ratings from the public review pages linked in the ratings table. Techpings is independent and not affiliated with the companies listed. Some links are affiliate links (disclosure).