ElevenLabs review
Updated September 28, 2026 · BackstageCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
ElevenLabs suits creators who want one voice toolkit instead of several separate subscriptions. Plans start at $6 with a free plan available, and the same subscription covers text-to-speech, voice cloning, dubbing and API access, below the €21.92 median across creator tools.
Key facts
- Best for
- One subscription covering voice, dubbing, sound work and API calls.
- Price from
- $6↗
- Pricing model
- subscription, monthly billing, credits-based plans↗
- Platforms supported
- Web, API, Mobile↗
- Free plan
- Yes↗
- Features
- Text-to-speech, Speech-to-text, Voice cloning, Dubbing, Sound effects, Music, API↗
- Legal entity
- Eleven Labs Inc.↗
- Founded
- 2022↗
- Support channels
- Help-centre↗
- Pricing model
- Revenue share
- Official website
- elevenlabs.io
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 4 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Covers text to speech, speech to text and voice cloning under a single subscription, so narration, dubbing and sound effects stay on one bill.
- A free plan lets you test the tools before spending credits.
- Runs on web, api and mobile, so browser, API and mobile all work from the same account.
- Entry price of $6 compares well with Graphy at $49.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, so you answer your own questions.
- The subscription, monthly billing, credits-based plans setup means heavy use can push a bill past the $6 entry price.
- Credits-based billing is less predictable than donation-based pricing at YoKu.
Who it suits
- Creators who want narration, dubbing and voice cloning in one place.
- People who build their own tools and want an API beside the browser app.
- Readers who want to try AI voice work on a free plan before paying.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who prefers donation-based pricing: YoKu charges per contribution rather than by subscription.
- Buyers with a larger budget who want a higher entry point: Graphy starts at $49.
- Readers weighing a mid-range option: xMode AI starts at $11, above ElevenLabs at $6.
Who runs it
ElevenLabs is operated by Eleven Labs Inc., a company founded in 2022. It builds the software you sign in to rather than running a marketplace, and the same team publishes the terms that govern your use of it. If you need help, the listed route is the help centre, so you read the answer there.
How ElevenLabs compares
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 9.0
9.0 vs 9.3
9.0 vs 9.1
9.0 vs 9.2
9.0 vs 8.5
9.0 vs 9.4
9.0 vs 8.0- 9.0 vs 8.0
Frequently asked questions
How much does ElevenLabs cost to start?+
Plans start at $6 on a monthly subscription, and a free plan is available if you want to try the tools first. ElevenLabs ranks 9 of 58 brands on entry price, so the starting figure sits well inside the field.
Is there a free plan?+
Yes, ElevenLabs has a free plan, so you can try text-to-speech and the other tools without paying first. Paid tiers follow a subscription, monthly billing, credits-based plans structure, which means usage is measured in credits rather than being unlimited.
What does one subscription include?+
The feature list covers text to speech, speech to text and voice cloning. Narration, transcription, voice cloning, dubbing, sound effects and music sit on the same plan, with an API for anyone building a tool that calls the service.
Which platforms can I use it on?+
ElevenLabs supports web, api and mobile. You can work in a browser, call the service from your own software, or use the mobile app away from a desk for quick fixes. Whichever route you pick, the credits come out of the same plan.
How do I get help if something goes wrong?+
The listed support route is the help centre. You look up answers there yourself, so it suits readers who are comfortable searching documentation rather than waiting for a reply from a person.
Is ElevenLabs cheaper than the other options here?+
On entry price, yes. ElevenLabs starts at $6, xMode AI at $11 and Graphy at $49. YoKu sits on a different footing with donation-based pricing, so it is not a like-for-like comparison.
Who is ElevenLabs built for?+
It suits creators who need voice work regularly rather than a one-off clip. The combination of text to speech, speech to text and voice cloning and a free plan means you can test a workflow end to end before you commit to credits.
Can I earn from sending people to ElevenLabs?+
The partner programme listed by ElevenLabs runs on revenue share. That means a share of what comes from the traffic you send, rather than a fixed amount for every new account you create.
Sources
- elevenlabs.io/affiliates checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Pricing model
“you will earn 22% of all payments for the first 12 months”
- elevenlabs.io/pricing checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Features, Free plan, Price from, Pricing model
“Text to Speech - Speech to Text - Voice Changer - Sound Effects - Music - Automatic Dubbing”
- elevenlabs.io/terms-of-use checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Legal entity, Platforms supported
“between you and Eleven Labs Inc.”
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ElevenLabs checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Founded 2022”
- help.elevenlabs.io/hc/en-us checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Support channels
“Advice and answers from our team - dedicated support from ElevenLabs and PartnerStack”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.