16 Best Text to Speech API On The Market (Free & Paid, 2024)

Need a reliable text to speech API for your projects? Explore our list of options, including both free and paid services to find the best for you.

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In this blog, you will discover the power of text to speech technology for a variety of applications - from enhancing accessibility and customer engagement on websites to improving the user experience on mobile apps. Harnessing the potential of text to speech API, developers can create more interactive, engaging, and personalized content on their platforms. Text to speech technology offers a range of functionalities that can enhance the overall user experience and drive user interaction on digital platforms. By the end of this blog, you will have a clearer understanding of how to leverage text to speech API to create more engaging user experiences.

Table of Contents

What is a Text To Speech API?

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A Text-to-Speech (TTS) API is a cloud-based tool that leverages artificial intelligence and deep learning to transform written text into lifelike speech. This process produces high-quality audio files, such as MP3 or WAV, which can mimic human speech. A TTS API can be customized to replicate specific speaking styles and offer natural-sounding voices in various languages.

This technology finds application across multiple fields, including personal assistants, navigation systems, e-learning platforms, and accessibility tools for the visually impaired or those with reading difficulties.

Importance of TTS Technology in Modern Digital Experiences

Text to Speech (TTS) technology plays a crucial role in enhancing modern applications and digital experiences.

  • By converting text into speech, TTS APIs make content more accessible to users with visual impairments or reading difficulties.
  • TTS technology improves user engagement, accessibility, and inclusivity for a diverse user base.
  • TTS technology offers assistance for users requiring hands-free interaction, such as when driving or multitasking.
  • For businesses, TTS technology provides a more interactive and engaging user experience, ultimately boosting customer satisfaction and retention.

Accessible Text-to-Speech Solutions

If you are looking for cheap, scalable, realistic TTS to incorporate into your products, try our text-to-speech API for free today. Convert text into natural-sounding speech at an affordable and scalable price.

Text To Speech API Uses Cases

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Entertainment: Enhancing Digital Experiences with Text-to-Speech API

One of the most exciting use cases of Text-to-Speech (TTS) API is in the entertainment industry. TTS API can provide voice-overs for video games or movies, allowing characters to speak in different languages or accents. This can create a more immersive experience for players and viewers, enhancing the overall entertainment value of the product and catering to a wider audience.

Another essential use case of TTS API is in navigation systems. TTS API can provide turn-by-turn directions to drivers, cyclists, or pedestrians in GPS systems or navigation apps. This functionality allows users to get around more easily and safely, reducing the risk of distractions associated with traditional map navigation, especially in a situation where hands-free navigation is essential.

Accessibility: Making Digital Platforms More Inclusive with Text-to-Speech API

Text-to-Speech API plays a crucial role in improving the accessibility of websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms for people with disabilities. By providing audible content, TTS API allows visually impaired users to access and interact with digital content more effectively, promoting inclusivity and equal access to information and services.

Customer Service: Enhancing Customer Interactions with Text-to-Speech API

TTS API is also invaluable in customer service applications, providing automated customer service over the phone or in chatbots. Companies can efficiently handle a large volume of customer inquiries quickly and efficiently, improving customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. This enhanced automation helps businesses save time, reduce costs, and provide a seamless customer experience.

Healthcare: Supporting Patients with Text-to-Speech API

TTS API can also support healthcare professionals by providing audible instructions or medication reminders for patients with visual or cognitive impairments. This use case ensures that patients can access critical healthcare information autonomously, leading to better medication adherence and overall patient care.

Language Learning: Improving Language Skills with Text-to-Speech API

In the realm of education, Text-to-Speech (TTS) API helps students improve their pronunciation and listening comprehension. By providing audio content in different languages, TTS API supports language learning initiatives, helping students develop their language skills more effectively.

Personal Assistants: Enabling Conversational AI with Text-to-Speech API

Text-to-Speech (TTS) API is an essential component of personal assistant tools like Siri and Alexa, providing spoken responses to user requests. This functionality enables users to interact with AI assistants more naturally and efficiently, enhancing the overall user experience and utility of personal assistant applications.

Education: Overcoming Learning Barriers with Text-to-Speech API

In educational settings, TTS API can help students with reading difficulties, dyslexia, or visual impairments access educational materials more easily on e-learning platforms. By providing audio content, TTS API supports inclusive education practices and accommodates diverse learning needs, ensuring that all students can access educational resources effectively.

Audio Books: Engaging with Text-to-Speech API

One of the most common uses of Text-to-Speech (TTS) API is creating audiobooks. Audiobooks allow people to listen to books while on the go or while engaging in other activities. TTS API enables authors and publishers to produce audiobooks cost-effectively and reach a wider audience, catering to the needs and preferences of modern readers.

Unreal Speech: Low-cost, Scalable Text-to-Speech API

Unreal Speech offers a low-cost, highly scalable text-to-speech API with natural-sounding AI voices which is the cheapest and most high-quality solution in the market. We cut your text-to-speech costs by up to 90%. Get human-like AI voices with our super-fast/low latency API, with the option for per-word timestamps. With our simple easy-to-use API, you can give your LLM a voice with ease and offer this functionality at scale.

If you are looking for cheap, scalable, realistic TTS to incorporate into your products, try our text-to-speech API for free today. Convert text into natural-sounding speech at an affordable and scalable price.

16 Best Text to Speech API On The Market

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1. Unreal Speech

Unreal Speech offers a low cost, highly scalable text-to-speech API with natural sounding AI voices which is the cheapest and most high quality solution in the market. We cut your text-to-speech costs by up to 90%. Get human-like AI voices with our super fast / low latency API, with the option for per-word timestamps. With our simple easy-to-use API, you can give your LLM a voice with ease and offer this functionality at scale.

2. Amazon Polly

Amazon Polly’s cloud-based TTS API uses speech synthesis markup language (SSML) to generate realistic speech from text. It enables users to seamlessly integrate speech synthesis into an application to enhance accessibility and engagement.

3. Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure’s text to speech API follows a RESTful architecture for its text to speech interface. The cloud-based service allows flexible deployment, allowing users to run TTS at data sources.

4. Murf

Murf is popular for its high-quality voiceovers and its ability to customize speech to a remarkable extent. It offers a unique voice model that delivers a lifelike user experience.

5. Speechify

Speechify is a powerful text-to-speech app written in Python using artificial intelligence, that can help you convert any written text into natural-sounding speech.

6. IBM Watson Text to Speech

Known for its high-quality, natural-sounding voices, IBM Watson provides a unique API that can be used in several programming languages, including Python.

7. Google Cloud Text to Speech

This service utilizes Google’s powerful AI and machine learning capabilities to provide highly realistic voices. It supports numerous languages and dialects, making it suitable for global enterprises.

8. Voice Dream Reader

Known for its readability, Voice Dream Reader offers adjustable reading speed and text highlighting. It’s favoured by those with reading disabilities and language learners.

9. Resemble AI

Resemble AI provides a cutting-edge API that enables users to create human-like voice-overs in just a matter of seconds. Their extensive library of AI voices set them appart from other APIs on the market, with over 200,000 unique voices.

10. Play.ht

Play.ht offers an online Text-to-Speech API that converts text into natural-sounding speech with support for 142 languages and accents worldwide. With this technology, users can easily download files in MP3 or WAV format.

11. Balabolka

Balabolka is a versatile TTS API that supports multiple file formats and speech parameters. Its offline working capability and compatibility with a wide range of text types make it stand out.

12. Lovo AI

Lovo offers a high-quality AI voice generator called Genny. One of its most impressive features is Emotional Voices, which can express up to 25 emotions, adding depth and realism to any content, which in turn makes it more engaging and memorable.

13. ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs offers a state-of-the-art Text-to-Speech API that leverages advanced neural network models to convert text into natural-sounding speech. The API provides high-quality voice synthesis with customizable parameters, allowing developers to tailor the speech output to specific applications and use cases.

14. Descript's TTS API (Overdub)

Descript's TTS API provides ultra-realistic voices by utilizing the Lyrebird AI, which achieves a state-of-the-art level in voice synthesis. Overdub stands out for its ability to mimic the nuances and intonations of human speech, allowing it to blend in seamlessly with natural audio recordings while matching the tonal characteristics on both sides.

15. Colossyan API

Colossyan's API provides a Text-to-Speech converter that allows users to create natural-sounding voice-overs in more than 70 languages and accents. With Colossyan, users can choose from a variety of voice-over actors or even clone their own voice for an added personal touch.

16. ReadSpeaker

ReadSpeaker is known as a leading provider in TTS. With over 20 years of experience in voice technology, ReadSpeaker offers a wide selection of languages and voices to generate speech in various accents.

Affordable and Scalable Text-to-Speech Solutions

If you are looking for cheap, scalable, realistic TTS to incorporate into your products, try our text-to-speech API for free today. Convert text into natural-sounding speech at an affordable and scalable price.

Performance Variations Of Text To Speech API

person testing new Text To Speech API

In the Text to Speech API market, users often have concerns about performance. The Text to Speech (TTS) market is quite dense, with various providers offering their services. Each provider has its strengths and sometimes weaknesses, which can be a deciding factor for users depending on their specific needs.

Different TTS APIs can vary in performance, with some being better suited for specific applications or languages. When choosing a TTS API provider, users must consider their requirements and expectations carefully.

Languages in Text To Speech API

Text-to-Speech APIs can perform differently depending on the language being used. Some providers specialize in specific languages and dialects, while others have a broader range of language options.

These differences can impact the accuracy and quality of the TTS output. Factors such as regional specializations and rare or uncommon language specializations can significantly influence the performance of TTS APIs across different languages.

Data Quality in Text To Speech API

The accuracy of TTS APIs can vary based on the quality of the input data. Factors such as punctuation, capitalization, and formatting can impact the performance of TTS APIs. Data quality is crucial for achieving high-quality TTS output, and users should ensure that their input data meets the necessary standards for optimal performance.

Fields in Text To Speech API

Some TTS APIs are trained with domain-specific data, such as medical or automotive fields. This specialized training enables these APIs to perform better for specific applications within those fields. Users with diverse needs across different fields must consider these specificities and optimize their choice of TTS API accordingly. By selecting a TTS API that aligns with their industry requirements, users can ensure the best possible performance for their applications.

How To Choose The Ideal TTS Engine For Your Business

deciding the best Text To Speech API

Performance and Scalability

When selecting a Text-to-Speech (TTS) API for your business, consider the performance and scalability of the solution. It is vital to check the API's response time and its ability to handle high volumes of requests. A reliable and scalable TTS API ensures consistent performance even during peak times or when processing large batches of text, improving user experience and operational efficiency.

Language and Accent Support

The language and accent support provided by a TTS engine play a crucial role in catering to diverse user populations and global audiences. Evaluate the TTS engine's support for multiple languages and dialects to ensure that your business can reach a broader audience and deliver content in different languages accurately and naturally.

Naturalness of Speech

One of the most critical factors to consider when choosing a TTS API for your business is the naturalness of the synthesized speech. Evaluate the TTS engine's ability to produce lifelike speech with proper intonation, rhythm, and emotional nuances. Natural and expressive speech enhances user engagement and creates a more immersive experience for your customers, increasing the effectiveness of your text-to-speech applications.

Integration Options

Explore the compatibility and integration capabilities of the TTS engine with your existing platforms, applications, and development frameworks. Choosing a TTS API that seamlessly integrates with your current technologies streamlines implementation and deployment processes, saving time and resources. Consider how well the TTS engine aligns with your business's technical requirements and infrastructure to ensure a smooth integration process.

Cost and Licensing

Analysis of the pricing structure, licensing agreements, and associated costs is essential when choosing a Text-to-Speech API. Understand the subscription fees, usage-based charges, and any additional features that may incur costs. Align the pricing and licensing model with your budget and scalability requirements to ensure that your business can leverage the TTS API effectively without unexpected expenses.

Try Unreal Speech for Free Today — Affordably and Scalably Convert Text into Natural-Sounding Speech with Our Text-to-Speech API

Unreal Speech provides an innovative and cost-effective Text-to-Speech (TTS) API that delivers highly natural-sounding AI voices. Our solution is designed to significantly reduce your TTS costs by up to 90%, making it the most affordable and high-quality option on the market. With Unreal Speech, you get access to human-like AI voices that can give your Long Language Model (LLM) a voice with ease and offer this functionality at scale.

Efficient and Customizable Text-to-Speech API Features

Our super-fast and low-latency API ensures that you can convert text into natural-sounding speech quickly and efficiently. We offer the option for per-word timestamps, allowing you to enhance the user experience of your applications further. Our simple and easy-to-use API makes it effortless to incorporate our text-to-speech solution into your products, regardless of your technical expertise.

Affordable and Realistic Audio Solutions with Unreal Speech

If you are looking for a cheap, scalable, and highly realistic TTS solution for your projects, try Unreal Speech's text-to-speech API today. Experience the power of natural-sounding AI voices that can transform your text content into immersive audio experiences, all at an affordable and scalable price.