ElevenLabs gets a lot of attention for AI voice generation.
But if you run an ecommerce store, you need more than just realistic voices.
You need tools that handle product videos, multilingual support, and customer service at scale.
I tested seven alternatives that work better for online stores.
Each one solves a specific problem, whether that's budget constraints, real-time voice agents, or professional video editing.
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What to look for in an ecommerce voice AI tool
Before diving into the options, let's clarify what actually matters for online stores.
Product video narration is different from customer service voice agents.
One needs emotional range and polish. The other needs sub-second latency and reliability at scale. Most tools excel at one or the other, not both.
Here's what to prioritize based on your use case:
- Product video narration: Look for emotion control, multiple languages, and integrations with video editors like Canva or Descript
- Customer service agents: Prioritize low latency (under 100ms), WebSocket streaming, and telephony integrations
- Multilingual stores: Check which languages sound natural versus robotic, and whether the same voice can speak multiple languages
- Seasonal scaling: Usage-based pricing works better than fixed monthly fees if your volume fluctuates
Quick comparison of all 6 alternatives
The 6 best ElevenLabs alternatives for ecommerce
1. PlayHT
PlayHT focuses on content creation with a massive voice library and fast generation speeds.
With 600+ voices across 140+ languages, it's built for marketers who need variety.
The voice cloning feature works with just 30 seconds of audio.
Their PlayDialog engine handles conversational AI well, with support for streaming integration via WebSocket and Twilio for phone systems.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Huge voice library (600+ voices)
- Fast generation speeds
- Strong API for developers
- Twilio integration for phone agents
Cons:
- Gets expensive at scale
- Limited native ecommerce integrations
- Free tier is restrictive
Best ecommerce use case: Bulk product description narration and multilingual video ads.
If you're producing dozens of product videos monthly, PlayHT's variety and speed justify the cost.
2. Cartesia
Cartesia built their platform on state-space models, achieving 90ms time-to-first-audio with their Sonic-3 model.
That's four times faster than most competitors.
The platform offers both instant voice cloning (free) and professional voice cloning (30 minutes of training).
Their Line platform is specifically designed for building voice agents.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Fastest latency in market (90ms)
- Free instant voice cloning
- Purpose-built for voice agents
- Ink-Whisper STT at competitive rates
Cons:
- Smaller voice library than competitors
- Credit system can be confusing
- Agent minutes require separate prepaid balance
Best ecommerce use case: Live customer support bots and interactive voice shopping.
If you need real-time conversation, Cartesia's speed is unmatched.
3. Fish Audio
Fish Audio ranks #1 on TTS-Arena blind tests, beating ElevenLabs on quality at a fraction of the cost.
They also offer an open-source model (Fish Speech 1.6) for developers who want self-hosted options.
The platform hosts over 2,000,000 voices in their community library. Their S1 model supports emotion tags, letting you control tone dynamically.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Best-in-class voice quality (per blind tests)
- 80% cheaper than ElevenLabs
- 2M+ voices in community library
- Open-source model available
Cons:
- Free tier excludes commercial use
- Smaller enterprise feature set
- Newer company with less track record
Best ecommerce use case: Cost-effective voiceovers for large product catalogs.
If you have thousands of products to narrate, Fish Audio's API pricing keeps costs manageable.
4. Deepgram
Deepgram processes 50,000 years of audio annually for enterprise customers.
Their Aura TTS is built for production workloads, not creative projects.
The platform offers transparent per-character pricing and on-premise deployment options for security-conscious retailers. Their WebSocket streaming delivers sub-second latency reliably.
Aura TTS Pricing:
Pros:
- Proven at massive scale
- Transparent usage-based pricing
- On-prem deployment option
- Sub-second latency with WebSocket
Cons:
- Smaller voice catalog
- Prioritizes clarity over expressiveness
- Enterprise features require sales contact
Best ecommerce use case: High-volume call centers and reliable voice agents. If you need 99.9% uptime for customer service, Deepgram delivers.
5. Descript
Descript is an all-in-one video and audio editor with AI voice features built in.
Their Overdub technology lets you edit audio by editing text, fixing mistakes without re-recording.
The platform includes screen recording, transcription, podcast production, and AI audio enhancement.
It's designed for content creators who need more than just voice generation.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Edit audio like text
- Full video editing suite
- Screen recording built-in
- AI audio enhancement
Cons:
- Voice features are secondary to editing
- Overdub requires training time
- More expensive than pure TTS tools
Best ecommerce use case: Product video editing with voiceovers and tutorial creation. If you're already editing video content, Descript consolidates your workflow.
6. WellSaid Labs
WellSaid Labs focuses on enterprise customers who need brand consistency and compliance.
Their strict content moderation and enterprise security make them suitable for regulated industries.
The platform offers professional-grade AI voices with custom voice avatar creation.
All plans include API access and collaboration tools.
Pricing:
Pros:
- Professional, consistent voice quality
- Brand-safe content moderation
- Enterprise security and compliance
- Custom voice avatars
Cons:
- Expensive compared to alternatives
- Limited self-serve options
- May be overkill for small businesses
Best ecommerce use case: Large-scale brand campaigns and enterprise training. If you need strict brand control across hundreds of pieces of content, WellSaid delivers consistency.
How to choose the right voice AI for your store
With seven solid options, here's how to narrow it down based on your primary use case.
For product videos: PlayHT or Murf AI. Both offer quality voices and video integrations.
Murf AI wins if you use Canva. PlayHT wins if you need more voice variety.
For customer service: Cartesia or Deepgram. Cartesia has the lowest latency for real-time conversations.
Deepgram offers more enterprise reliability and deployment options.
For budget-conscious stores: Fish Audio. The quality rivals ElevenLabs at 80% less cost. Just remember the free tier is personal use only.
For video editing workflows: Descript. It's the only tool that combines editing and voice generation.
If you're already using separate video software, this might not matter.
For enterprise compliance: WellSaid Labs or Deepgram. Both offer SSO, security reviews, and custom contracts that large organizations require.
Start using AI voice in your ecommerce business
ElevenLabs isn't the only option, and for many stores, it's not the best fit.
The alternatives above solve specific problems, whether that's budget constraints, real-time latency, or enterprise compliance.
My recommendation: Start with free tiers. Test voice quality with your brand's tone.
Generate a few product descriptions or a sample customer service script. The right tool becomes obvious once you hear your actual content.
For AI-powered customer support that understands your products, try Ringly.
It handles order questions, returns, and product recommendations with the context of your actual inventory.
Voice AI should solve problems, not create new workflows. Pick the tool that fits how you already work.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best ElevenLabs alternatives for ecommerce product videos?
For product videos, Murf AI and PlayHT are the strongest options. Murf AI offers direct Canva and PowerPoint integration, making it easy to create marketing content. PlayHT provides more voice variety with 600+ options across 140+ languages. Both offer free tiers to test before committing.
Which ElevenLabs alternatives for ecommerce offer the best value for small businesses?
Fish Audio offers the best value, with Pro plans starting at $9.99/month for 200 minutes of generation. Their API pricing is $15 per million characters, roughly 80% cheaper than ElevenLabs. Cartesia also offers excellent value at $4/month for their Pro plan if you need voice agents.
Can I use ElevenLabs alternatives for ecommerce customer service automation?
Yes, several alternatives work well for customer service. Cartesia offers the lowest latency at 90ms, making it ideal for real-time conversations. Deepgram provides enterprise-grade reliability with on-premise deployment options. Both support WebSocket streaming for live voice agents.
Do any ElevenLabs alternatives for ecommerce offer free plans for commercial use?
Most free plans have restrictions. Murf AI's free plan allows commercial use but limits you to 10 minutes of generation. Cartesia's free plan is for personal use only. Deepgram offers $200 in free credits for their pay-as-you-go plan, which allows commercial use. Always check the terms before using free tiers commercially.
Which ElevenLabs alternatives for ecommerce support the most languages?
PlayHT leads with 140+ languages. Murf AI offers 30+ languages with Multi-Native Voices, letting the same voice speak multiple languages naturally. Fish Audio supports 8+ languages including English, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, French, German, Arabic, and Spanish. Most tools handle major ecommerce markets well.
Are there any open-source ElevenLabs alternatives for ecommerce?
Fish Audio offers Fish Speech (also called S1-mini) as an open-source model. You can self-host it if you have technical resources, avoiding per-character API costs entirely. This works well for stores with high volume and in-house development teams.
How do I integrate ElevenLabs alternatives into my existing ecommerce stack?
Most alternatives offer REST APIs and SDKs for common languages. Murf AI integrates directly with Canva and PowerPoint. PlayHT supports Twilio for phone systems. Cartesia and Deepgram offer WebSocket streaming for real-time applications. Check each platform's documentation for Shopify, WooCommerce, or custom store integrations.
