Key takeaways
- ElevenLabs: great for TTS and cloning. Less for real-time conversation.
- Voice agents need conversation platforms: Vapi, Retell, Bland, etc.
- Choose based on use case: content vs. real-time agents.
ElevenLabs is the name everyone knows for AI voice. But there are others—and the right choice depends on your use case: voiceovers, cloning, or real-time conversation.
ElevenLabs
Strong for text-to-speech and voice cloning. Natural voices, good emotion control. Popular for content and ads. Less built for real-time conversation out of the box.
Real-time conversation
For voice agents that talk and listen: Vapi, Retell, Bland, and others. They handle the conversation stack—speech-to-text, LLM, text-to-speech—and latency.
Choosing
- Voiceovers and content: ElevenLabs, Play.ht, others
- Voice agents: Vapi, Retell, or custom with ElevenLabs + conversation layer
- Cloning: ElevenLabs, Play.ht, Descript
The landscape is moving fast. Evaluate for your specific needs—latency, cost, quality, and integration.
FAQs
Yes, as the TTS layer. You need a conversation platform (Vapi, etc.) for the full stack.
Check each tool's terms. Voice cloning often has specific restrictions.