How to use ElevenLabs?
Create an account at elevenlabs.io, open Text to Speech, paste text, choose a voice and click Generate. As of 2026-08-09, Free includes 10,000 monthly credits and Starter is $6/month. Credits are product- and model-specific, so check the displayed cost before generating instead of assuming a fixed number of audio minutes.
Why — the first-principles explanation
ElevenLabs is built around one simple loop: text in, speech out. The whole interface exists to make that loop fast, so the fastest way to learn it is to run the loop once. You paste text, the model reads it on ElevenLabs' servers, and a finished audio file comes back. Everything else, cloning, dubbing and detailed settings, is an optional layer on top.
The two dials worth understanding are voice and credits. The voice is the identity doing the speaking, either a built-in preset or one you clone on an eligible plan. Credits are a shared account meter. On the website, text-to-speech consumes one credit per input character before any shared-voice multiplier. API rates can be discounted by model, while dubbing, transcription and other products use different units. The interface shows the cost before you generate; use that exact value rather than a universal credits-per-minute shortcut.
Beyond plain text-to-speech, ElevenLabs offers Studio for long projects, Dubbing for translated audio and an API for developers. They can draw from the same account balance, so usage in one product leaves fewer credits for another. The allowance resets each billing cycle, with rollover rules depending on plan.
An example that makes it click
Using ElevenLabs is like using a vending machine with several buttons. Paste text, choose a voice and press Generate to receive audio. The displayed credits are the price tag for that exact generation; dubbing or transcription can have a different price tag because they use different meters. Start with a short test, listen, then adjust the voice before spending a larger part of your allowance.
How to do it
- Sign up for a free account at elevenlabs.io.
- Open the Text to Speech tool from the dashboard.
- Paste or type the text you want spoken.
- Pick a voice from the library, and optionally adjust stability and clarity settings.
- Click Generate, then listen and download the audio file.
- To do more, explore Voice Cloning, Studio for long projects, or Dubbing for other languages, upgrade to a paid plan for commercial use.
Key facts
- ElevenLabs runs in a web browser; no install is needed.
- The core workflow is paste text, pick a voice, click Generate, download audio.
- The Free plan includes 10,000 credits per month as of 2026-08-09.
- Website text-to-speech uses 1 credit per input character before any shared-voice multiplier; API and other products can differ.
- Starter is $6/month as of 2026-08-09 and adds a commercial license and Instant Voice Cloning.
Open the official product and verify the active account, workspace and data settings before you begin.
▶ The 60-second explainer (script)
Here's how to use ElevenLabs. Create an account, open Text to Speech, paste a short script and choose a voice. Check the displayed credit cost, then click Generate and download the audio. Website text-to-speech currently consumes one credit per input character before any shared-voice multiplier, but API models, dubbing and transcription use different rates, so do not assume credits equal a fixed runtime. As of August 9, 2026, Free includes ten thousand monthly credits and Starter is six dollars a month with a commercial license and Instant Voice Cloning. Start with a short test, then use Studio or Dubbing only when you need them.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
Do I need to download software to use ElevenLabs?
No. It works in a web browser. Developers can also use its API to generate speech from their own apps.
How do I make my first audio clip?
Open the Text to Speech tool, paste your text, pick a voice, and click Generate. The audio is ready to play and download in seconds.
Is using ElevenLabs free?
You can start with 10,000 Free credits per month. The output depends on product and model; commercial use and Instant Voice Cloning require an eligible paid plan, currently Starter at $6/month.
What are the extra tools beyond text-to-speech?
Voice cloning, video dubbing into other languages, Studio for long-form projects like audiobooks, and a developer API.