Best free ElevenLabs alternatives (open source, 2026)
Updated · 20 repos compared · data refreshed nightly from GitHub
The best free ElevenLabs alternative for most people is GPT-SoVITS (63k GitHub stars, MIT license). VoiceStudio describes itself as an ElevenLabs alternative. All 20 options below are open source and run on your own computer or server, so there's no subscription.
ElevenLabs (AI voice generation and cloning) is a paid, closed-source product. The open-source projects below do the same job and run on your own computer or server. Stars and activity come straight from GitHub.
Top picks
1 min voice data can also be used to train a good TTS model! (few shot voice cloning)
- Needs:
- works on Mac (per README)
- Trade-off
- Better than ElevenLabs: a permissive MIT license, very active development. Worse: you install and run it yourself instead of ElevenLabs' hosted app.
VoiceStudio is the open-source, fully-local ElevenLabs alternative — voice cloning, voice design, video dubbing, dictation, transcription & audiobook creation in 646 languages.
- Needs:
- works on Mac (per README)
- Trade-off
- Better than ElevenLabs: the biggest community (81k stars), very active development. Worse: AGPL: if you run it as a service, you must share your changes.
- Editor's pick
SOTA Open Source TTS
- Needs:
- Hardware not stated in its README
- Trade-off
- Better than ElevenLabs: very active development. Worse: license not detected by GitHub; check it before commercial use.
A multi-model local AI Voice Generator (TTS) studio. An open-source alternative to ElevenLabs and expensive online voice generators.
- Needs:
- no GPU (runs on CPU), works on Mac (per README)
- Trade-off
- Better than ElevenLabs: no GPU needed, a permissive MIT license. Worse: a small community, so fewer guides and fixes.
Comparison
✓ yes · ✗ no · – not stated in the README. Hardware details are read from each README and may be incomplete.
ElevenLabs vs open source: what you give up
- Setup. ElevenLabs is ready as soon as you sign up. These projects need installing, usually with Python, Node or Docker.
- Hardware. Most READMEs don't state hardware needs; heavier models run much faster with a GPU. 1 says it runs on a regular CPU. 6 mention Mac support.
- Polish and support. Paid products usually have a smoother interface, managed updates and customer support. Open source gives you privacy, no usage limits and no monthly bill.
- Maintenance. 13 of 20 were updated in the last 30 days.
- License. 14 of 20 use a standard open-source license (MIT, Apache, GPL and similar). Check the license before commercial use.
How we picked
Projects that describe themselves as an ElevenLabs alternative come first, then projects that do the same job, ranked by how well they match and by GitHub stars. Projects that need a paid API key, and projects from ElevenLabs's own company, are left out. Stars and activity are verified with the GitHub API every night; hardware details come from each README. Full method.
FAQ
Is there a free alternative to ElevenLabs?
Yes. We list 20 free, open-source GitHub projects that do the same job as ElevenLabs. The most popular are VoiceStudio, GPT-SoVITS and Real-Time-Voice-Cloning.
What is the best open-source ElevenLabs alternative?
It depends on your setup. Best overall: GPT-SoVITS. Closest ElevenLabs replacement: VoiceStudio. Also excellent: fish-speech. Compare GitHub stars, license and hardware needs in the table on this page.
Can I run an ElevenLabs alternative on a Mac?
Yes. According to their READMEs, GPT-SoVITS, VoiceStudio and openlive run on macOS.
Do I need a GPU to replace ElevenLabs?
Most READMEs don't state hardware needs. 1 says it runs on a regular CPU, including voice-studio.
Are these ElevenLabs alternatives really free?
Yes. All 20 are open source on GitHub, and projects that need a paid API key are left out. 14 use a standard open-source license such as MIT, Apache or GPL; check the license before commercial use.