Calculate the cost of AI text-to-speech across major providers. Enter your word count or audio duration to compare costs from ElevenLabs, OpenAI TTS, Google Cloud, Azure, Amazon Polly, and Cartesia.
Total Cost
$1.50
Audio Duration
33.3 min
Cost per Minute
$0.045
Cost per Hour
$2.70
Lowest tier at each provider
| Provider | Voice Cloning | Cost/hr (lowest) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Cloud TTS | — | $0.18 |
| Amazon Polly | — | $0.18 |
| OpenAI TTS | — | $0.67 |
| Azure TTS | ✓ | $0.72 |
| Cartesia | ✓ | $1.67 |
| ElevenLabs | ✓ | $2.70 |
AI text-to-speech pricing is based on the number of characters processed. Different quality tiers offer varying levels of naturalness, from basic robotic voices to studio-quality synthesis that's nearly indistinguishable from human speech. Voice cloning adds the ability to create custom voices, which is essential for consistent branding.
Pricing data is approximate and may not reflect the latest changes. Always verify current rates on provider pricing pages before making purchasing decisions.
Most providers charge per character or per 1 million characters of text input. The cost per character varies widely — from $4/million characters for basic voices to $160/million for studio-quality synthesis. Audio output length depends on speaking rate, typically around 750 characters per minute.
Voice cloning lets you create a custom voice model from audio samples, so the AI speaks in a specific person's voice. ElevenLabs, Azure, and Cartesia currently support voice cloning. This is useful for consistent brand voices, audiobook narration, or personalized content.
Standard voices sound robotic and monotone, while neural/HD voices have natural intonation, pacing, and emotion. For professional content like podcasts or videos, HD voices are worth the 2-4x price premium. Standard voices work fine for internal tools or accessibility features.
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