Best AI Voice
Recording a voice-over can be a tedious and time-consuming task. You often end up doing multiple takes, struggling to achieve the perfect tone, and battling background noise if you don’t have a professional studio setup. But before you consider hiring a voice actor, AI voice generators offer a powerful alternative, delivering high-quality, realistic speech without the hassle of setting up recording equipment.
AI voice generators have come a long way in terms of quality, control, and realism. With these tools, you can generate natural-sounding voice-overs from text, saving both time and effort. After weeks of testing various platforms, here are the six best AI voice generators in 2024.
The Best AI Voice Generators
- ElevenLabs: Best for hundreds of realistic voices
- Speechify: Best for human-like cadence
- WellSaid: Best for word-by-word control
- Respeecher: Best for engaging speech variations
- Altered: Best for narration style variety
- Murf: Best for emphasis control
What Makes the Best AI Voice Generator?
A top-tier AI voice generator should create speech that sounds natural and realistic, almost as if it were spoken by a real person. Beyond this, the best tools offer a range of customization options such as pitch, volume, pace, and pronunciation to tailor the voice to your needs. Many platforms also support Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) for even finer control over how each word is spoken.
Here’s what I prioritized while testing these platforms:
- Realism: Natural variations in tone, pitch, and pauses.
- Controls: Ability to tweak pitch, pace, pronunciation, and volume.
- Audio Quality: High-quality export options suitable for professional projects.
- Voice Library: A diverse selection of voices to suit different styles and languages.
- Extras: Additional tools like audio-to-audio generation or custom voice training.
1. ElevenLabs – Best for Hundreds of Realistic Voices
ElevenLabs is a leading AI voice generator, featuring a library of over 300 voices, including AI-powered versions of real-life personalities like Christy Carlson Romano (Kim Possible). The platform offers powerful filtering tools to help you find the right voice, categorized by style and purpose. Advanced settings like stability, similarity, and speaker boost allow you to fine-tune each output.
- Pricing: Free for 10 minutes of audio/month; paid plans start at $5/month for 30 minutes of audio.
2. Speechify – Best for Human-Like Cadence
Speechify is known for generating smooth, well-paced speech that sounds as if it’s read by an experienced voice actor. While its primary focus is productivity, Speechify Studio offers high-quality voices for professional projects with full control over speed, pitch, and volume. You can also upload your voice to generate custom outputs.
- Pricing: Free version available (no downloads); paid plans start at $24/user/month.
3. WellSaid – Best for Word-by-Word Control
WellSaid Labs allows for granular control over your voice-over, down to the individual word. You can adjust loudness, pace, and even punctuation pauses within the editor, giving you precise control over how the script is performed.
- Pricing: From $44/month (billed annually).
4. Respeecher – Best for Engaging Speech Variations
Respeecher introduces a creative element to AI voice generation, offering engaging speech variations that make the output more dynamic and interesting. The platform is ideal for cartoon-like or quirky projects, although it also works for more professional applications. It supports live recording through a microphone, where your voice can be altered in real-time.
- Pricing: From $4/month.
5. Altered – Best for Narration Style Variety
Altered stands out with its extensive narration style options, offering real-time voice morphing and audio-to-audio generation. The platform also supports custom voice cloning and includes a full-featured audio editor with transcription, noise removal, and more.
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $6/month.
6. Murf – Best for Emphasis Control
Murf allows you to emphasize specific words in a sentence, altering the meaning and tone. This feature, along with speed, pitch, and pronunciation controls, makes it perfect for creating nuanced voice-overs. Murf also supports video and music editing, making it a comprehensive tool for multimedia projects.
- Pricing: Free for 10 minutes of generation; paid plans start at $23/month.
Does OpenAI Have an AI Voice Generation Model?
Yes, OpenAI offers a text-to-speech API, though it requires technical knowledge to set up. OpenAI also has a powerful voice cloning model that remains restricted due to concerns over its potential misuse.
Are AI-Generated Voices Legal?
AI-generated voices are legal as long as they adhere to the licensing terms of the platform. However, AI voice cloning poses legal and ethical risks, particularly if used without the consent of the person whose voice is being replicated.
