AI tool ElevenLabs for beginners: free credits and the license catch
ElevenLabs turns written text into spoken audio. The free plan includes 10,000 credits a month and 3 Studio projects, and unused credits don't roll over. The free plan doesn't list a commercial license. That starts with the Starter plan, listed at $6 a month after a $1 first month.
- What it is
- AI voice generator
- Free credits
- 10,000 a month
- Commercial use
- Starter plan and up
What the free plan includes
From the ElevenLabs pricing page:
- 10,000 credits a month.
- 3 projects in Studio.
- No rollover. Credits you don't use are gone at the end of the month.
Credits are what you spend when you generate audio. The more text you turn into speech, the more you use.
The license catch
The pricing page lists a commercial license in the Starter plan's features, and the plans above it build on Starter. It isn't in the Free plan's list. If you want a voiceover for a business video, an ad or a monetized channel, plan on Starter at least, and read the terms on the ElevenLabs site first.
What the paid plans cost
| Plan | Listed price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 10,000 credits a month |
| Starter | $6 a month | $1 for the first month. Commercial license |
| Creator | $22 a month | $11 for the first month |
| Pro | $99 a month | |
| Scale | $299 a month | |
| Business | $990 a month | |
| Enterprise | Custom |
Prices are from the ElevenLabs pricing page on Nov 11, 2026.
What to try first
- Paste in a short paragraph. Something you'd read aloud, like a voicemail greeting or the opening of a video.
- Try a second voice on the same text. You'll hear how much the voice changes the feel.
- Fix the script, then the audio. Short sentences sound better read aloud, so edit the text before you spend more credits.
Write and trim your script in a free chat assistant first. Every regeneration spends credits, so arrive with the words settled.
When paying makes sense
Two reasons to move up: you need the commercial license, or 10,000 credits a month isn't enough for what you make. For a one-off personal project, Free may cover it.
For editing the video that goes with the voice, see Descript and our page on AI tools for video and voice.
Frequently asked questions
Is ElevenLabs free?
Yes. The ElevenLabs pricing page lists a Free plan at $0 a month with 10,000 credits a month and 3 projects in Studio.
Can I use free ElevenLabs audio in videos I make money from?
The pricing page lists a commercial license starting with the Starter plan. It isn't in the Free plan's feature list, so read the license terms before you publish anything commercial.
Do unused ElevenLabs credits roll over?
Not on the Free plan, according to the pricing page's FAQ.
How much are the paid plans?
On Nov 11, 2026 the pricing page listed Starter at $6 a month, Creator at $22, Pro at $99, Scale at $299 and Business at $990. Starter and Creator showed a lower first month, at $1 and $11.
How do we know this?
We check every plan, price and limit on this page against the company's own pages, and re-check on a schedule. Spot something out of date? Tell us.