There is no denying it: ElevenLabs changed the game for AI voice generation. Their ability to produce emotionally rich, incredibly human-like speech set a new industry standard.
But in the fast-evolving world of AI, the leader today is often just one of many great options tomorrow. Now, as developers and businesses seek unique voices and specific features, the search for powerful ElevenLabs alternatives is heating up.
But here’s a critical question most people forget to ask: What good is a perfect voice if it can’t hold a real-time conversation? You can have the most beautiful, emotive AI voice in the world, but if it takes three seconds to respond in a live phone call, the experience is ruined. The user is left in an awkward silence, and the illusion of intelligence shatters.
This guide will not only rank the best ElevenLabs alternatives available in 2025 but will also reveal the most crucial component you need to actually use them effectively: the voice infrastructure that makes real-time conversation possible.
Table of contents
The Real Challenge: It is Not Just the Voice, It is the Latency
Before we compare Text-to-Speech (TTS) engines, let’s address the elephant in the room: latency. When you build an interactive voice agent, the workflow looks something like this:
- A user speaks.
- Audio is streamed and converted to text (STT).
- An LLM processes the text and generates a response.
- The text response is sent to a TTS engine (like ElevenLabs or an alternative).
- The TTS engine generates an audio file.
- That audio file is sent back and played to the user.
Steps 4, 5, and 6 are where most voice applications fail. The process of sending text, waiting for an audio file to be generated and downloaded, and then playing it back introduces massive delays. This is fine for creating an audiobook, but it’s a conversation killer.
To solve this, you need a voice infrastructure layer that can stream audio directly from the TTS engine to the user in real-time, eliminating the download-and-play bottleneck. This is the “plumbing” that ensures a fluid, natural conversation, regardless of which voice you choose.
Also Read: What Are The Key Advantages of Using Deepgram AI For Automating Calls in Your Business
Ranking the Top ElevenLabs Alternatives in 2025
With the critical role of infrastructure in mind, let’s look at the top players. We’ll start with the foundational layer that makes any TTS engine powerful, and then dive into the direct voice-generating alternatives.
FreJun AI (The Foundational Infrastructure)
While not a direct TTS engine, FreJun AI is the #1 tool you need to effectively deploy any of the ElevenLabs alternatives in a real-time setting.
FreJun AI is a voice infrastructure platform designed for developers. We handle the complex telephony layer, managing phone calls, capturing raw audio, and enabling real-time, low-latency streaming. Instead of you wrestling with SIP, WebRTC, and audio codecs, you can focus on building your AI logic.
Why FreJun AI #1 on Our List
- Model-Agnostic: You can plug in ElevenLabs, Play.ht, Google TTS, or any other provider. You get to choose the best voice for your needs without being locked into an ecosystem.
- Eliminates Latency: Our architecture is built to stream audio directly from your chosen TTS API to the caller, cutting response times from seconds to milliseconds.
- Developer-First: With robust SDKs and comprehensive documentation, you can launch a production-grade voice agent in days, not months.
Bottom Line: Before you choose your voice, you need to choose your delivery system. FreJun AI is the engine that makes your chosen voice conversational.
Now, let’s look at the top direct TTS competitors to ElevenLabs.
| Tool | Best For | Key Feature |
| Play AI | Ultra-realistic voice cloning and API performance. | High-fidelity voice cloning from just seconds of audio. |
| Microsoft Azure TTS | Enterprise-grade reliability and scalability. | Neural voices with a wide range of languages and styles. |
| Google Cloud Text-to-Speech | Integration with the Google Cloud Platform (GCP). | Access to WaveNet voices for natural-sounding speech. |
| Murf.ai | All-in-one studio for content creators. | Voice editing features like pitch and speed control. |
Also Read: What Are The Key Advantages of Using Play AI For Automating Calls in Your Business?
Play AI
Play.ht has emerged as a major contender, focusing heavily on creating high-fidelity, indistinguishable AI voices and voice clones. Their API is fast and well-documented, making them a favorite among developers looking for one of the most powerful ElevenLabs alternatives.
Why Play AI is a Great Alternative
- Superior Voice Cloning: Many users report that Play.ht requires less audio input for high-quality clones.
- Performance-Tuned API: They offer a low-latency streaming API designed for real-time applications.
- Broad Voice Library: A massive collection of pre-made, high-quality voices.
Microsoft Azure TTS
Part of the Azure Cognitive Services suite, Microsoft’s TTS is an enterprise powerhouse. It’s known for its reliability, scalability, and seamless integration with other Microsoft services.
Why Microsoft Azure Is a Great Alternative
- Custom Neural Voice: Allows businesses to create a unique brand voice.
- Excellent Language Support: Extensive support for various languages and regional dialects.
- Enterprise-Grade Security: Backed by Microsoft’s robust security and compliance standards.
Google Cloud Text-to-Speech
As a key player in the AI space, Google’s TTS offering is a solid choice, especially for those already invested in the GCP ecosystem. Their proprietary WaveNet technology generates speech with remarkably human-like intonation.
Why Google’s TTS is a Great Alternative
- WaveNet Voices: Delivers a more natural cadence and flow compared to standard TTS.
- Scalability: Leverages Google’s massive infrastructure for reliable performance.
- Easy Integration with other Google AI: Works seamlessly with tools like Dialogflow.
Murf AI
Murf.ai positions itself as an all-in-one voice studio, making it extremely popular for content creators (podcasters, video producers, etc.). While it has an API, its primary strength lies in its user-friendly interface for generating and editing voiceovers.
Why Murf AI is a Great Alternative
- Rich Editing Suite: Provides granular control over pitch, timing, and emphasis.
- Voice Changer: Allows you to upload a recording and convert it into a different AI voice.
- Collaboration Tools: Great for teams working on audio projects.
Also Read: Voice AI APIs for Developers: How to Choose the Right One in 2025
How to Implement These ElevenLabs Alternatives in Real-Time?
So, you have chosen a voice you love from Play.ht or Azure. Now what? Here’s how you make it work in a live conversation using FreJun AI:
- Handle the Call with FreJun AI: An incoming or outgoing call is initiated through the FreJun AI API. Our platform manages the connection.
- Stream Audio for Transcription: The caller’s speech is captured and streamed in real-time to your chosen STT service (e.g., Deepgram, AssemblyAI).
- Process with Your LLM: The transcribed text is sent to your AI brain (e.g., GPT-4, Llama 3) to determine the correct response.
- Generate Speech with Your Chosen TTS: The text response is sent to your chosen TTS API (Play.ht, Azure, etc.).
- Stream the Voice Back Instantly: FreJun AI takes the audio stream directly from the TTS API and plays it back to the caller with minimal delay.
This workflow turns any of the best ElevenLabs alternatives into a powerful, conversational tool.
Conclusion: Your Voice is Only as Good as Its Delivery
The search for ElevenLabs alternatives in 2025 has revealed a vibrant market full of incredible voice AI tools. Providers like Play.ht, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud offer compelling features for creating unique and lifelike voices. However, the defining factor for success in interactive voice applications is not just the quality of the voice but the speed of the conversation.
By prioritizing your voice infrastructure with a platform like FreJun AI, you give yourself the freedom to choose any voice engine you want and the power to deploy it in a seamless, real-time experience. Stop choosing between a great voice and a great conversation; with the right foundation, you can have both.
Also Read: Oman’s High-Growth Enterprises: Streamlining Messaging with WhatsApp Template Creation
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It depends on your use case. For content creation, voice quality and editing features are key (e.g., Murf.ai). For interactive voice bots, API performance, low latency, and the ability to stream audio are the most critical factors. This is why a supporting infrastructure like FreJun AI is essential.
Yes, tools like Coqui TTS and Tortoise TTS are popular open-source options. They offer a high degree of customization but require significant technical expertise to deploy and scale, especially for real-time use.
Pricing models vary. Some, like Google, charge per character. Others, like Play.ht and Murf.ai, offer monthly subscriptions with character limits. Enterprise solutions like Azure often have a pay-as-you-go model based on usage.
Voice cloning creates a digital replica of a specific person’s voice from an audio sample. A custom voice (or custom neural voice) is a unique, new synthetic voice created by a provider for a brand, often trained on data from a voice actor hired by the company.