Best text to speech software in 2024

Here's our pick of the top text to speech (TTS) software this year, taking into account the lifelikeness of the AI tools’ speech output, multilingual capabilities, and user-friendly interfaces.

Summary

The text-to-speech sector is bustling with numerous companies vying for a significant market share. Following a comprehensive analysis, There were three clear winners in the text to speech category, from YouTube content creators to Fortune 500 corporations, ElevenLabs' Text to Speech Tool stands out as an excellent choice for enhancing chatbots, videos, or audiobooks.

Below, you'll find examples of voices from each source. Pay close attention to their pronunciation, the spectrum of emotions conveyed, and the clarity of the audio.

1. ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs emerges as a front-runner in text-to-speech services, blending advanced artificial intelligence (AI) with an ability to inject emotional nuances. It shines in generating long-form content and fine-tuning voice outputs to harmonise clarity, stability, expressiveness, and utility. Put simply, it delivers speech that's incredibly lifelike.

Features

• High-Definition Audio: ElevenLabs delivers audio at an impressive 96 kbps bitrate for a superior listening experience.
• Contextual Understanding: Its technology grasps text nuances to provide accurate intonation and a rich auditory texture.
• Diverse Language Options: Catering to a global audience, it offers 29 languages, each with unique voice traits.
• Customizable Emotion: Adjust the emotional undertone to create compelling narratives, perfect for audiobooks, podcasts, or YouTube scripts.
• Voice Replication: As a leading solution for AI-based voice replication, ElevenLabs is distinctive in text-to-speech conversion.

Pros

• Produces pristine audio quality in almost real-time.
• A broad spectrum of voices, use cases, and functionalities.
• User-friendly interface with easy voice customisation.
• Various pricing levels cater to a range of users, from individuals to enterprises, including a complimentary version.

Cons

• Might be excessively comprehensive for basic text-to-speech tasks.

Pricing Plans

• Free Plan: $0/forever
• Starter Plan: $1/mo
• Creator Plan: $11/mo
• Independent Publisher Plan: $99/mo
• Growing Business Plan: $330/mo
• Enterprise Plan: Contact for tailored pricing solutions

2. PlayHT

PlayHT is a great option for those who prioritize both quality and versatility in text-to-speech services. It boasts a suite of voices so realistic they nearly mirror human intonation and can transform written text into spoken words swiftly. The platform also provides a diverse array of voice styles, ensuring your project strikes the right note.

Features

• Authentic-Sounding Voices: Voices that rival the natural sound of a human speaker.
• Fast Conversion: Instantaneous text-to-speech processing.
• Diverse Voice Styles: A range of styles, such as Newscaster, Conversational, and Customer Support, to infuse your audio with personality.

Pros

• Encompasses a vast selection of over 140 languages.
• Speedy conversion for efficient workflow.
• Variety in voice styles provides nuanced audio suited to your content.

Cons

• Some languages have limited voice style options.

Pricing Plans

• Free Plan: $0 monthly
• Creator: $31.20 monthly
• Unlimited: $79.20 monthly
• Enterprise: Contact for a tailored quote

3. Murf AI

Murf AI features fantastic text-to-speech technology with its extensive customization features and realistic voice synthesis. This tool is ideal for those seeking to elevate their audio content, offering precise controls over narrative elements like pauses and pitch to deliver your message with unmistakable clarity.

Features

• Authentic Voice Reproduction: Handpicked voices ensure a smooth, organic listening experience, devoid of synthetic tones.
• Deep Customization: Tailor voice delivery with adjustable pitch, pauses, and pronunciation to meet your specific requirements.
• Broad Linguistic Reach: A selection of voices across 20 languages is available.

Pros

• Voices emulate human speech for an authentic effect.
• Deep customization for pitch and pauses offers a unique audio experience.
• Suitable for various uses, from professional presentations to entertainment.

Cons

• The depth of customization options may present a learning curve for some users.

Pricing Plans

• Free: $0/month
• Basic: $19 per user/month
• Pro: $26 per user/month
• Enterprise: $75 per user/month

4. Speechify

Speechify takes the text-to-speech experience to new heights by integrating unique features like celebrity voice access and impressive reading speeds. Its advanced voice-cloning feature allows creators to tailor-make voices that exude an incredibly authentic and human touch.

Features

• Iconic Voice Library: Features voices from celebrities such as Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow.
• Adjustable Reading Pace: Capable of reading at speeds up to nine times the norm.
• Effortless Content Sync: Enables seamless library syncing across desktop and mobile devices.
• True-to-Life Voice Quality: High-quality voices that sound genuinely human.
• Diverse Language Offerings: Supports more than 30 languages, enhancing its global appeal.

Pros

• Customizable reading speed to fit individual preferences.
• Unique celebrity voices for a novel listening experience.
• Simplifies content organization with its cross-device syncing capability.

Cons

• Does not offer an option for offline listening.

Pricing Plans

• Free: $0 monthly per user
• Basic: $99 monthly per user
• Professional: $129 monthly per user
• Enterprise: Engage with the Speechify team for tailored pricing

5. NaturalReader

NaturalReader converts texts, PDFs, and a multitude of different text formats into audible speech. With a single account, gain access to its mobile application, web platform, and Chrome extension.

Features

• Intelligent Navigation: Skips over non-critical text and menus.
• Textual Highlighting: Enhances comprehension by highlighting spoken words and sentences.
• Compatibility: Works well with several website platforms including WordPress and Squarespace.
• Realistic AI-Generated Voices: Boasts cutting-edge AI voiceovers for natural sound quality.
• Language Versatility: Offers 61 different voices in 18 languages.

Pros

• A versatile tool that translates various text and formats into audio.
• Seamless cross-platform access using one account.
• Convenient for listening while on the move or multi-tasking.
• Provides a wide selection of lifelike voices and supports numerous languages.

Cons

• The free version has limited unique pageviews, which may be constraining.
• Paid plans also come with a daily cap on unique pageviews, potentially limiting for high-traffic sites.
• The AI Text To Speech feature is restricted to private listening and is not for public use or redistribution.

Pricing Plans

For individuals:

• Free: $0 per month
• Premium: $9.99 per month
• Plus: $19.00 per month

For multiple users:

• 1 - 5 users: $199/ year
• 6 - 10 users: $299/ year
• 11 - 20 users: $399/ year
• 21 - 30 users: $499/ year
• 31 - 40 users: $555/ year
• 41 - 50 users: $599/ year
• 50+ users: $12/user/year

6. Lovo

Video content creators particularly value Lovo for its impressive ability to reduce production time and costs. With its extensive range of voices and language support, it stands accessible to a worldwide audience.

Features

• Quick Voiceover Creation: Effortless steps to generate voiceovers.
• Extensive Language Availability: Provides support for over 100 languages and accents.
• Abundant Voice Options: Access to a library of over 500 voices.
• Enhanced Productivity: Streamlines the process of producing voiceovers.

Pros

• The interface is intuitive and simple to navigate.
• Offers a comprehensive selection of voices and languages.
• Contributes to time-saving and cost-reduction in production.

Cons

• Information on file export options is not comprehensive.

Pricing Plans

• Free: $0 monthly
• Basic: $19 monthly
• Pro: $24 monthly
• Pro+: $75 monthly
• Enterprise: Engage with sales for a customised quote

7. Amazon Polly

Amazon Polly is a powerful text-to-speech (TTS) service that excels in creating natural-sounding speech. Utilizing advanced deep learning technology, Amazon Polly transforms the text into lifelike spoken audio, making it an invaluable asset for developers and creators looking to voice-enable their applications or enrich multimedia content with high-quality narration.

Features

• High-fidelity, natural-sounding voices: In numerous languages.
• Customization: Nuanced control of speech outputs using lexicons and SSML tags.
• Range of format: Supports convenient storage and redistribution of spoken audio in popular formats such as MP3 and OGG.
• Rapid response times: Ensuring a smooth conversational experience.

Pros

• Quick response times enable conversational user experiences.
• Seamless integration with simple API calls.
• Speech synchronization with visual animations enhances user engagement.
• Diverse streaming options cater to different bandwidth and quality needs.
• Supports a broad set of platforms and programming languages through AWS SDKs.
• Unique features like Newscaster speaking style and time-driven prosody for localization.

Cons

• While affordable, costs can accumulate with extensive use beyond the free tier.
• Custom lexicons may require additional setup and understanding of phonetics.
• Some advanced features like Neural TTS voices cost more.
• The Newscaster speaking style is limited to only a few voices and languages.

Pricing Plans

Pay-As-You-Go Model: Monthly billing based on the number of characters processed.

• Standard voices: $4.00 per 1 million characters for speech or Speech Marks requests.
• Neural voices: $16.00 per 1 million characters for speech or Speech Marks requests.

Free Tier:

• For Standard voices: 5 million characters per month for speech or Speech Marks requests for the first 12 months.
• For Neural voices: 1 million characters per month for speech or Speech Marks requests for the first 12 months.

Pricing Examples:

• 1,000 requests with 1,000 characters each: $4.00 for Standard TTS; $16.00 for Neural TTS.
• Shareholder letter (1.3k characters): Approximately $0.005 for Standard TTS; $0.021 for Neural TTS.
• Average email (3.1k characters): Around $0.01 for Standard TTS; $0.05 for Neural TTS.
• "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens (165k characters): $0.66 for Standard TTS; $2.64 for Neural TTS.
  
  

8. Listnr.ai

Listnr.ai offers a robust solution for creating voice and video content swiftly and efficiently. Catering to a global audience with over 900 voices in 142 languages, it simplifies the production of professional marketing, educational, and audio content. Its platform also facilitates the distribution of audio through embeddable widgets, making it a versatile tool for content creators and marketers.

Features

• Realistic text to speech creation: Turn text into engaging voice and video content with a selection of over 900 voices in 142 languages.
• Text to video generator: Convert text to captivating video content with over a thousand voice options.
• Video sales letters: Streamline the creation of video sales letters for impactful marketing.
• API: Seamlessly integrate realistic AI voices into applications with Listnr's API.
• Audio articles: Transform blog posts into audio articles for distribution on platforms like Spotify.

Pros

• Extensive selection of voices and languages catering to a global audience.
• Multiple export formats available, including MP3 and WAV.
• Facilitates creation of various video content types with ease.
• Provides API for integration into different applications.

Cons

• Some users have reported unsatisfactory experiences, particularly with Spanish voiceovers in 2023.
• Customer support may not always meet user expectations, causing frustration.
• Specific language outputs, like voiceovers, may have quality issues.

Pricing Plans

• Free Plan: $0/mo
• Student Plan: $9/mo
• Individual Plan: $19/mo
• Solo Plan: $39/mo
• Agency Plan: $99/mo
  
  

9. FreeTTS

FreeTTS is a user-friendly online text-to-speech service that offers entirely free of charge services. It is simple to use, requiring no registrations or setups. Users can instantly convert texts into natural-sounding audio files. 

FreeTTS is underpinned by Google's powerful AI and machine learning technologies, ensuring fast processing and high-quality voice output. Furthermore, it caters to commercial users, allowing the use of audio for a variety of purposes without any cost. The service includes support for Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) to enhance audio with custom pronunciations and controls.

Features

• 100% free and safe: No hidden charges and prioritises user privacy with auto-deletion of audio files.
• Easy and fast: Users can convert text to MP3 files effortlessly with a simple copy-paste action.
• Best partner for videos: A cost-effective solution for adding voice-overs to videos.
• Powerful AI engine: Backed by Google's AI for efficient and quality voice synthesis.
• Free for commercial use: Commercial usage is permitted without any fees, with extensive language and voice options.
• SSML support: Enhances audio with custom pronunciations and controls through SSML.

Pros

• Completely free for all types of use, including commercial projects.
• No registration or personal information is required.
• Quick text to speech conversion process.
• Quality voices due to Google's TTS technology.
• Advanced audio customisation with SSML support.

Cons

• Limit of 500 characters per conversion for non-subscribed users.
• User restrictions due to server and maintenance costs.

Pricing Plans

• Free Plan: $0
• Monthly Plan: $19
• Yearly Plan: $99

10. CereProc

CereProc offers rich and natural sounding voices that add personality to spoken text. CereProc caters to a variety of clients, from businesses that wish to humanise brand interactions to developers integrating sophisticated speech technology into their applications, and individuals customising their digital voice experience. 

Features

• Characterful voices: CereProc's text-to-speech voices possess unique personalities, making digital interactions more engaging and personal.
• Voice cloning: Users can clone their voices using an efficient online tool, facilitating custom voice creation.
• Multilingual support: The technology covers a vast range of accents and languages, making it versatile on a global scale.
• High-resolution audio: Voices are available in 48kHz, ensuring high clarity and a natural sound.
• SAPI 5 compatibility: Full compatibility with Microsoft SAPI 5 across various Windows platforms.
• CereWave AI: Features cutting-edge, clear, and natural voice synthesis at 24kHz using advanced AI.
• Developer-friendly: Robust development tools allow for seamless integration into applications.

Pros

• Engaging and characterful voice options to enhance brand and user experience.
• Superior audio quality at both 48kHz and 24kHz for exceptional clarity.
• Innovative voice cloning for a personalised digital voice.
• Broad compatibility with numerous Windows operating systems.
• One-time purchase rather than a subscription, potentially reducing long-term costs.

Cons

• Initial purchase cost could be high for personal users.
• Voice cloning process may be complex and time-consuming.
• Limited to compatibility with Microsoft SAPI 5, excluding non-Windows and newer platforms.
• Absence of a subscription model, possibly affecting continuous updates and support.

Pricing Plans

• Personal Use: $25.99
• Commercial Use: $299.99
  
  

Understanding Text to Speech

Text to speech technology converts written content into audible speech. Modern advancements in AI have enhanced this technology, making the generated speech sound almost human-like. The progression from robotic voices to more natural and expressive tones has been significant, revolutionizing how we interact with computers.

The Potential of AI Voices

The increasingly naturalistic AI voices have enhanced human-computer interaction, making it easier and more intuitive. They also carry significant benefits for accessibility. For individuals with visual impairments or reading difficulties, text to speech technology allows information to be consumed audibly, improving their digital experience.

Multilingual Text to Speech: A Gateway to Accessibility

Multilingual text to speech provides an additional level of accessibility. By translating and converting written text into a range of languages, users across the globe can understand and interact with content in their native language, enhancing their experience and understanding.

Applications of Speech AI

Applications of speech AI extend far beyond computer interaction. It boosts efficiency by automating voice responses in call centers, provides dynamic dialogue in video games, assists in language learning, enables voice assistants, and even automates public announcement systems.

Conclusion

The future of text to speech is here, and it's increasingly lifelike and accessible. At ElevenLabs, we're proud to contribute to this evolution with our advanced voice cloning and design technology, making us the top choice for text to speech software in 2022.

FAQ

About ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs stands at the forefront of AI voice generation technology. We offer a selection of 120 unique voices in 29 languages. What’s more, our tool's intuitive interface lets you fine-tune your audio, whether you're producing an audiobook or adding flair to video game narration. Trusted by digital creators worldwide, Eleven Labs sets the standard for lifelike, versatile, and secure AI-generated speech.