What is ElevenLabs? (And should I use it?)

Tool Breakdowns
Written By Archie

Introduction

This guide gives a clear, simple overview of ElevenLabs — what it does, who it suits, and whether it’s genuinely worth using as a creator. If you’ve seen people online using AI-generated voices in their videos, you’ve probably heard about this tool.

My aim is to explain how ElevenLabs works, what it’s good at, and what limitations you should expect. No hype, no pressure — just an honest breakdown that helps you decide whether it fits your workflow.

What Is ElevenLabs?

ElevenLabs is an AI voice-generation platform that turns written text into natural-sounding speech. It can create narrations, clone voices, and generate audio for videos, podcasts, courses, and content of all kinds.

It’s commonly used by YouTubers, TikTok creators, podcasters, educators, audiobook narrators, and marketers who want professional-sounding voiceovers without the cost or time commitment of recording manually. For beginners, it removes a lot of the stress around microphones, retakes, and inconsistent audio.

How It Works

ElevenLabs works through a simple generation process:

  1. Choose a pre-made voice or clone one of your own.

  2. Paste your script into the text-to-speech editor.

  3. Adjust settings like tone, pacing, clarity, and stability.

  4. Generate a preview, review it, and make adjustments.

  5. Export the final audio.

  6. Use the API or Zapier integration if you want full automation.

Most creators can generate a clean, ready-to-use voiceover in under a minute.

Key Features / Key Components

Text-to-Speech Generation

Creates natural, realistic voiceovers from text.
Why it matters: Saves huge amounts of time for content creators.
Who benefits: TikTokers, YouTubers, educators, brands.

Voice Cloning

Uploads samples to create your own custom voice clone.
Why it matters: Offers consistency if you prefer not to record regularly.
Who benefits: Personal brands, influencers, business owners.

Voice Library

A large selection of pre-made voices in different styles and languages.
Why it matters: Gives you flexibility for different content types.
Who benefits: Multi-niche creators or teams producing varied content.

Projects & Studio Editor

A timeline editor for long-form content like audiobooks and courses.
Why it matters: Allows multi-voice and multi-section projects.
Who benefits: Course creators, educators, podcasters.

API Access

Automates audio generation from external tools and workflows.
Why it matters: Ideal for creators producing daily scripts at scale.
Who benefits: Agencies, developers, automation-focused creators.

Pros

  • Highly realistic, human-like voices

  • Easy to use, even for beginners

  • Fast generation speeds

  • Strong voice cloning quality

  • Great for consistent audio branding

  • Large voice library

  • Supports automation and scaling

  • Suitable for both short-form and long-form content

Cons

  • Free plan is quite limited

  • Paid tiers can get expensive for daily users

  • Cloning requires clean audio samples

  • Occasional mispronunciations

  • Ethical concerns if misused

  • Not everyone enjoys hearing their own cloned voice

  • Long-form exports need careful structuring

Pricing

Free Plan Includes

  • Limited characters per month

  • Basic voices

  • No advanced cloning

  • Suitable only for testing

Paid Plans Typically Offer

  • Higher character limits

  • Premium voices

  • Multiple voice cloning slots

  • API access

  • Commercial usage rights

  • Higher-quality outputs

Approximate UK Pricing

  • Starter: £5–£15/month

  • Creator: £20–£25/month

  • Pro: £30–£50/month

  • Enterprise: Custom

Is It Good Value?

If you create content regularly — yes.
If you're an occasional user — the free plan may be enough for testing.

Who It Suits

ElevenLabs is a good fit for:

  • YouTubers and TikTok creators needing quick narration

  • Creators who dislike recording their own voice

  • Educators building courses or lessons

  • Podcasters or audiobook makers

  • Brands wanting consistent voice identity

  • Creators using automated workflows

  • Anyone producing daily social content at scale

Who It Doesn’t Suit

It may not be right if you:

  • Prefer recording manually

  • Want deep emotional delivery

  • Are uncomfortable with voice cloning

  • Are on a very tight budget

  • Expect completely perfect pronunciation every time

  • Want a one-click final result without minor adjustments

Getting Started / Setup Guide

  1. Create an account on ElevenLabs.

  2. Choose a voice or create a cloned one.

  3. Paste your script into the editor.

  4. Adjust pacing, tone, and clarity settings.

  5. Generate a preview.

  6. Fix any mispronunciations or pacing issues.

  7. Export your audio file.

  8. (Optional) Connect Zapier or Notion for automation.

The process is extremely quick once you’ve done it a few times.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using long paragraphs instead of short lines

  • Forgetting to adjust emotion and pacing

  • Cloning a voice with low-quality recordings

  • Expecting perfect delivery on the first pass

  • Not proofreading scripts before generating

  • Choosing overly dramatic voice styles

  • Ignoring pronunciation tools

Best Use Cases

ElevenLabs works especially well for:

  • TikTok and Reels narration

  • YouTube explainers and tutorials

  • Podcasts and audio stories

  • Online courses and training videos

  • Automated daily content

  • Audiobook chapters

  • Social ads and branded voiceovers

Realistic Outcomes

Here’s the grounded, honest version:

  • You’ll speed up content production significantly

  • Your voiceovers will remain consistent across all videos

  • You might still need small edits and fixes

  • Voice cloning is strong, but not identical to studio recording

  • Emotional range is improving, but not perfect

  • Not a magic button — you still need good scripts and ideas

Alternatives

Descript Overdub

What it is: An audio/video editing tool with voice cloning.
Why it’s worth considering: Strong editing capabilities built in.
When it’s better: If you want recording and editing in one place.

Play.ht

What it is: A premium AI voice platform with strong long-form capabilities.
Why it’s worth considering: Very high-quality audiobook voices.
When it’s better: For long content or narration-heavy work.

Murf.ai

What it is: A commercial AI voiceover tool.
Why it’s worth considering: Good business features and team tools.
When it’s better: For agencies or brands.

Honest Verdict

ElevenLabs is one of the most realistic and accessible AI voice generators available today. It’s ideal for creators who want professional-sounding narration without the time, equipment, or confidence required to record everything manually.

It isn’t perfect and it isn’t the cheapest tool on the market, but for creators producing regular content — especially TikTok, YouTube, and short-form videos — the value is hard to beat. Try the free plan first, test a few voices, and see if it suits your workflow. No pressure either way.

Links

If you’d like to explore ElevenLabs further, you can follow the link below — completely optional.
Or, if you'd prefer comparisons, the full breakdowns for related tools are available on the site.
Take your time and choose whatever feels right for your content.

Archie
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