What Is ElevenLabs + How To Use It [2026 Tutorial]

ElevenLabs, founded in 2022 by Piotr Dąbkowski and Mateusz Staniszewski, has quickly become a leader in text-to-speech (TTS) technology, enabling the conversion of text into natural-sounding AI voices across 29 languages. Known for its innovative offerings like a movie dubbing tool, voice library marketplace, and mobile app reader, the company utilizes advanced machine learning techniques such as Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) and Transformer architectures to produce realistic human-like audio. ElevenLabs offers six pricing tiers, including a free plan, and provides an API that facilitates the integration of TTS and voice generation into various projects. With significant funding, including an $80 million Series B round led by Andreessen Horowitz, the company has reached unicorn status. Users can explore alternatives like Murf AI and Play.ht for similar services, and ElevenLabs also offers resources for building voice chatbots using its API.