A guide to the best free AI text-to-speech services

The availability of free AI text-to-speech (TTS) technology is revolutionising the way we create and interact with content. Driven by cutting-edge natural language processing and deep learning, TTS technology transforms text into lifelike speech, bridging the gap between the written and spoken word.

This transformative tool enhances accessibility and user engagement across multiple platforms – from creating voice-overs for animations to providing audio instruction manuals. And, with the wide choice of free AI text-to-speech products on offer, this remarkable innovation is now within reach of all.

The short answer: What is the best text-to-speech AI?

ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs offers a free online text-to-speech service powered by an advanced AI voice generator. This tool is designed to produce highly natural AI voices in any language. ElevenLabs stands out due to its straightforward interface and impressively lifelike voices, making it a top choice in the market. Its cost-effectiveness, commitment to customer support and focus on ethical practices, including privacy and data protection, further contribute to its attractiveness.

Five key takeaways from this article

1. Free AI text-to-speech (TTS) is transforming content creation and interaction.
2. TTS enhances accessibility and engagement across platforms.
3. The purpose, quality, user preferences, legal factors and multilingual capabilities are key considerations when utilising the technology.
4. Traditional human voice-overs have always been advantageous in multimedia, but it can be costly.
5. Free AI TTS converts text into speech, making videos universally understood without time delays and reshoot costs.

How to evaluate which service is best for you

Using free AI text-to-speech in your business can be a game-changer, but deciding the best solution for your needs can be tricky. Here are five important things to consider when choosing the best free AI text-to-speech for you.

1. Define your purpose and scale – Clarify why you need TTS and how extensively you’ll use it.
2. Uphold content quality – Ensure well-edited text for optimal audio output.
3. Consider user preferences – Look for software that allows customisation of voice and speed.
4. Remember legal and ethical factors – Stay mindful of copyright and bias issues.
5. Utilise multilingual capabilities – Serve a global audience with multilingual TTS.
6. Prioritise user-friendliness – Choose software that’s easy to navigate.
7. Seek natural-sounding voices – opt for AI voices that sound human.
8. Ensure variety in voices – Access diverse voice options for better engagement.
9. Ensure accurate pronunciation – Look for seamless text-to-speech conversion.
10. Consider grammar assistance – Software with grammar support can be beneficial.

Navigating through the sea of AI voice generators can be daunting. Finding the ones with first-rate text-to-speech features and truly realistic voices is no easy feat. To get you started, here, in impartial alphabetical order, are 20 of the best free AI text-to-speech tools available today.

20 free AI text-to-speech generators

1. Amazon Polly
2. Balabolka
3. BotTalk
4. ElevenLabs
5. Listnr
6. Lovo
7. Microsoft Custom Neural Voice
8. Murf.AI
9. NaturalReader
10. Notevibes
11. Panopreter
12. PlayHT
13. Resemble AI
14. Sonantic
15. Speechify
16. Synthesys
17. WellSaid Labs
18. Wideo
19. Word Talk
20. Zabaware

Before we delve into some of these free AI text-to-speech services in more detail, let’s take a quick look at one of the most common applications of the technology: voice-over generation.

AI voice-over generation

Voice-overs are indispensable in multimedia productions. From gaming to branding, eLearning to animated films, and voice assistants to audiobooks, voice-overs add the vital ingredient for effective communication and audience engagement. But hiring professional voice-over artists can soon burn through your budget.

Introducing free AI text-to-speech software – the ultimate solution to convert your text into lifelike speech. Harnessing state-of-the-art AI and voice synthesis technology, mimicking any voice, in any language you need, is available at the click of a mouse. By utilising the software for multilingual voice-overs, you unlock the power to make your videos universally understood without the costs and hassle of time-consuming reshoots.

Read more: Free AI voice-over generators

A detailed look at some of the best free AI voice generators

Let’s take a closer look at the features of a selection of popular free AI text-to-speech generators, each of which excels at creating natural-sounding voices for a variety of applications.

Murf.AI: Natural-sounding, high-quality AI voices

Murf.AI is a versatile text-to-speech voice generator, delivering studio-quality voice-overs for diverse professional applications. Its key selling point is an intelligent AI that ensures voice generation is natural, swift and of superior quality. Users enjoy access to an extensive library of voices, capable of transforming home recordings into professional voice-over work. The integrated grammar assistant and online collaboration feature enhance the user experience, setting Murf.AI apart as a leading choice for studio-quality AI voice generation.

• Extensive voice library – More than 115 unique voices in 15 different languages at your disposal.
• Smart AI – Intelligent enough to produce the right tone, taking into account every punctuation and exclamation mark.
• Grammar assistant – Integrated grammar assistant for producing proofread scripts that enhance your voice-over work.
• Media upload – Upload your own video, audio and images for seamless synchronisation with your generated voice.
• Collaboration feature – An impressive collaboration feature is available with the enterprise plan.
• Instant premium quality voice generation – Experience rapid generation of premium quality voices.

To use Murf.AI, visit www.murf.ai and follow the instructions. The platform is user-friendly and intuitive, making it straightforward for first-time users to generate and customise voice-overs, access the voice library and collaborate online.

Speechify: Versatile and easy-to-use AI text-to-speech

Speechify is a premier AI voice generator, adept at transforming any text into natural-sounding speech. This web-based platform excels in converting diverse text sources, such as PDFs, emails, documents or articles, into audio. What sets Speechify apart is its collection of more than 30 natural-sounding voices, its proficiency in recognising more than 15 different languages, and its ability to adjust the reading speed up to 5-9 times faster than usual.

• Natural-sounding AI voices – Select from more than 30 male and female voices for a bespoke listening experience.
• Versatile text conversion – Convert text from any format, including PDFs, emails, documents or articles, into natural-sounding speech.
• Adjustable speed – Listen to the converted audio at a speed that’s 5-9 times faster than usual, boosting your productivity.
• Multi-language support – The software can recognise and convert text in more than 15 different languages.
• Scan and convert – Effortlessly convert scanned printed text into clear audio.
• Cross-platform accessibility – Includes Chrome and Safari extensions and can save files across multiple devices for easy access.

Getting great results from Speechify is very straightforward, as you can see at www.speechify.com. To convert text-to-speech, simply select your reading goal, choose your preferred voice, and adjust your reading speed. With just a few clicks, any text is converted into pristine, natural-sounding speech. This user-friendly AI-voice generator appeals to both casual users and professionals, making it a versatile tool for all your text-to-speech needs.

Synthesys: Easy, limitless AI text-to-speech generation

Synthesys, a leading AI text-to-speech generator, excels in producing natural-sounding speech from any text input. Perfect for commercial and personal use, it can create everything from voice-overs to friendly greetings. Its standout features include unlimited usage, 24/7 availability, and the ability to generate speech in a multitude of tones, accents and languages.

• Unlimited AI text-to-speech – Designed to handle text-to-speech tasks of any scale.
• Versatile speech generation – A varied range of options, whether you need a voice-over or a friendly greeting.
• Wide variety of voices – Choose from a range of more than 35 female and 30 male voices.
• Customisable speech pace – Adjust the reading speed and pause length to suit personal preferences.
• Cloud-based application – Access Synthesys from any mobile or computer device with internet connectivity.
• Demo voices – Explore sample voices to select the most suitable one for your project.

Synthesys is as simple as it gets. See www.synthesys.io for more info. Paste or type your text, select your preferences for tone, gender and language, and click ‘create’. In just a few minutes, your text is transformed into natural-sounding speech. This user-friendly tool is suitable for beginners and professionals alike.

PlayHT: Cloud-based, customisable AI text-to-voice

PlayHT is a top-tier, cloud-based AI voice generator, renowned for transforming text into high-quality speech. Its user-friendly interface stands out from the crowd, making text-to-speech conversion a cinch.

• 570 unique AI voices – With a vast selection of voices and support for more than 60 languages, PlayHT is versatile for both personal and commercial use.
• Downloadable speech – Save your generated speech in MP3 and WAV formats for easy sharing and storage.
• Voice inflections – Add a natural touch to speech with adjustable voice inflections.
• Customisable pronunciations – Tailor the pronunciation of words to suit personal preferences.
• Preview voice styles – Sample all voice styles before application to ensure the right match for your project.

Simply enter your text, select your preferences, and click ‘create’. In moments, your text is transformed into realistic speech. Leveraging voice synthesis technology from Google, IBM, and Microsoft, PlayHT is a solid choice for your text-to-speech needs. Check out www.play.ht for more information about PlayHT.

NaturalReader: Convert any text into high-quality MP3

NaturalReader is a versatile AI voice generator. It effortlessly transforms text into high-quality MP3 files. This free tool is perfect for broadcasting, IVR and YouTube video narration. With mobile optimisation, it’s suitable for text-to-speech conversion on the move.

• Chrome browser extension – Access NaturalReader with ease via its Chrome extension.
• OCR technology – Capture text from images and scanned PDFs with ease, thanks to integrated OCR features.
• Text-to-MP3 conversion – Turn any text into a crisp, high-quality MP3 file.
• Mobile optimisation – Enjoy a seamless user experience across devices, courtesy of mobile optimisation.
• Customisation features – Tailor NaturalReader to suit your needs with its numerous customisation options.

Upload your text to NaturalReader at www.naturalreaders.com/ and let this user-friendly tool do the rest. Convert text into an MP3 file, capture text from images or scanned PDFs, or customise the tool to your liking. For Chrome users, the NaturalReader extension provides an enhanced text-to-voice experience.

Get your content heard

When you want certainty and precision for a voice-over you can trust, turn to Semantix for multilingual voice-overs. Got a script? We can work with it. Need one? We’ll craft it, ensuring your brand voice shines through. Once you’re happy with the script, we’ll help you select the ideal voice-over actor, down to the specific accent.

On approval of the final cut, we handle the voice-over recordings and deliver your video content in your chosen format. At Semantix, we champion simplicity, using your style guide and terminology to create straightforward voice-overs.

Contact us today – and let’s make your brand voice resonate like never before.