By Henry · Updated 18 October 2026 · Research review · hands-on test coming soonAffiliate disclosure: If you sign up through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects what we recommend. How we research
Quick verdict: ElevenLabs is widely rated as one of the most natural-sounding AI voice tools available. It’s worth trying if you make videos, podcasts, audiobooks or customer-service bots. Start on the free plan, which gives about 10 minutes of audio a month, and only upgrade once you need a commercial licence or voice cloning.
How this review was made: it’s based on ElevenLabs’ own documentation and pricing pages and on independent reviews. We’re testing the free plan now, and we’ll add our hands-on results here, with screenshots.
What ElevenLabs does
ElevenLabs turns text into speech that sounds human, clones voices, dubs video into other languages, transcribes audio, creates sound effects and music, and powers AI voice agents that answer calls.
6 ways to use it
1. Voiceovers for YouTube, TikTok and Reels
Paste your script, pick a voice and download an MP3. This is popular for “faceless” channels and explainers, and for anyone who doesn’t like recording their own voice. You need a paid plan (Starter or above) for the commercial licence that monetised channels require.
2. Turn blog posts or books into audio
Use the Studio tool to turn long text into chapters for audiobooks, podcast episodes, or a “listen to this article” player on your website.
3. Dub your videos into other languages
The Dubbing Studio translates a video and re-voices it in 30+ languages, keeping a similar voice, so one video can reach Spanish, German or Hindi audiences.
4. Clone your own voice
Instant Voice Cloning (Starter and above) learns your voice from a short sample. Professional Voice Cloning (Creator and above) is the higher-quality version. This lets you fix a line without re-recording, or narrate without a studio. Only clone voices you have permission to use.
5. AI phone and chat agents for small businesses
ElevenLabs Agents can answer calls, take bookings and handle FAQs in a natural voice. This is useful for salons, trades and clinics that miss calls. The pricing for agents is separate.
6. Sound effects and music for creators
Type “rain on a tin roof” or “upbeat lo-fi intro” and get usable audio for videos and games.
Plans and pricing
| Plan | Price per month | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Trying it out (about 10 min of speech, no commercial use) |
| Starter | $6 | Commercial use, instant voice cloning, dubbing |
| Creator | $22 | Regular creators (about 2 hours of speech) |
| Pro | $99 | Heavy users (about 10 hours), higher-quality audio |
| Scale | $299 | Small teams (about 30 hours) |
| Business | $990 | Larger businesses (about 100 hours) |
Prices are monthly list prices in US dollars before VAT, as published in October 2026. Paying yearly works out cheaper, and prices change often.
See current prices on ElevenLabs →
Pros and cons
Pros
- Voices that reviewers consistently rate among the most natural
- A free plan you can try with no card
- One tool for voiceover, dubbing, cloning, sound effects and agents
Cons
- Credits run out quickly on long projects
- Prices are in US dollars, with VAT added for UK buyers
- Voice cloning needs care: only clone voices you have rights to
Alternatives
- Murf AI: simpler, aimed at business presentations
- Synthesia: better if you need an on-screen AI presenter, not just a voice
- Speechify: built for listening to text rather than producing it
FAQ
Is ElevenLabs free? Yes, there’s a free plan of about 10 minutes a month, but it isn’t licensed for commercial use.
Can I use ElevenLabs voices on monetised YouTube videos? Yes, on a paid plan, which includes a commercial licence.
Is it legal to clone a voice? Clone only your own voice or one you have written permission to use.
Henry is the founder and editor of SmarterKit. He covers smart home tech, home-office equipment and AI tools, focusing on products that save time and genuinely earn their price. He researches every guide against expert tests and owner feedback, and tests products hands-on wherever he can.