Play.ht AI Review 2024: A Comprehensive Guide to the Text-to-Speech Software

If you are looking for a way to create engaging and realistic voiceovers for your projects, you might have come across Play.ht, a popular text-to-speech software that uses artificial intelligence to generate lifelike voices from any text. But what exactly is Play.ht, how does it work, and how does it compare to other similar tools in the market? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more, giving you a comprehensive review of Play.ht AI in 2024.

What is Play.ht?

Play.ht is a text-to-speech software that allows you to convert any written content into high-quality audio using AI voices. You can use Play.ht to create voiceovers for your videos, podcasts, audiobooks, presentations, articles, and more. Play.ht offers over 900 natural-sounding voices in more than 140 languages and accents, giving you a wide range of options to suit your needs. You can also customize the voice parameters, such as speed, pitch, volume, and emotion, to make the audio sound more natural and expressive. Play.ht also has a voice cloning feature that lets you create a digital copy of your own voice or any voice you want, using a short sample of speech.

How does Play.ht work?

Play.ht works in a simple and intuitive way. You can either type or paste your text into the software, or upload a document or a URL. Then, you can choose a voice from the library, or use the voice cloning feature to create a custom voice. You can also adjust the voice settings, such as speed, pitch, volume, and emotion, to fine-tune the audio output. Once you are satisfied with the preview, you can download the audio file in MP3 or WAV format, or embed it into your website or app using the audio player widget. You can also use the Play.ht browser extension to convert any web page into audio with one click.

What are the features of Play.ht?

Play.ht has many features that make it a powerful and versatile text-to-speech software. Some of the main features are:

AI Voices: Play.ht uses advanced neural network models to generate realistic and natural-sounding voices from any text. You can choose from over 900 voices in more than 140 languages and accents, covering a variety of genres, styles, and moods. You can also create your own voice using the voice cloning feature, or request a custom voice from the Play.ht team.
Voice Customization: Play.ht allows you to customize the voice parameters, such as speed, pitch, volume, and emotion, to make the audio sound more natural and expressive. You can also use the SSML (Speech Synthesis Markup Language) tags to add pauses, breaks, emphasis, and other effects to the speech.
Audio Quality: Play.ht delivers high-quality audio output in MP3 or WAV format, with a bitrate of up to 320 kbps. You can also choose the sample rate, ranging from 8 kHz to 48 kHz, depending on your needs.
Audio Player Widget: Play.ht provides an audio player widget that you can embed into your website or app, to let your visitors listen to your content. The widget is responsive, customizable, and accessible, and supports playback controls, speed adjustment, and download options.
Browser Extension: Play.ht has a browser extension that works seamlessly with many popular platforms, such as Medium, WordPress, and Google Docs. You can use the extension to convert any web page into audio with one click, and listen to it on the go.
API: Play.ht also offers a text-to-speech API that you can use to integrate the software into your own applications and workflows. The API is easy to use, scalable, and secure, and supports various formats, such as JSON, XML, and plain text.

What are the pricing plans of Play.ht?

Play.ht has four pricing plans to suit different needs and budgets. The plans are:

Free Plan: The free plan lets you use up to 1,000 words per month, with access to 30 AI voices, MP3 export, and the audio player widget.
Professional Plan: The professional plan costs $39 per month, and lets you use up to 10,000 words per month, with access to all AI voices, MP3 and WAV export, the audio player widget, the browser extension, and the voice cloning feature.
Premium Plan: The premium plan costs $99 per month, and lets you use up to 50,000 words per month, with access to all AI voices, MP3 and WAV export, the audio player widget, the browser extension, the voice cloning feature, and the API.
Enterprise Plan: The enterprise plan is a custom plan that lets you use unlimited words per month, with access to all AI voices, MP3 and WAV export, the audio player widget, the browser extension, the voice cloning feature, the API, and dedicated support and service.

How does Play.ht compare to other similar tools?

Play.ht is not the only text-to-speech software in the market. There are many other similar tools that offer different features and benefits. Some of the most popular alternatives to Play.ht are:

Speechify: Speechify is a text-to-speech software that helps you read faster and comprehend better. It can convert any text into audio, and sync it across your devices. You can use Speechify to listen to books, articles, documents, emails, and more. Speechify offers over 200 high-quality voices in 30 languages and accents, and also has a voice cloning feature. Speechify has a free plan that lets you use up to 5,000 words per month, and a premium plan that costs $9.99 per month, and lets you use unlimited words per month, with access to all features and voices.
Murf.ai: Murf.ai is a text-to-speech software that helps you create engaging voiceovers for your videos. It can convert any script into audio, and sync it with your video. You can use Murf.ai to create voiceovers for explainer videos, tutorials, presentations, podcasts, and more. Murf.ai offers over 100 realistic and expressive voices in 15 languages and accents, and also has a voice cloning feature. Murf.ai has a free plan that lets you use up to 1 hour of audio per month, and a pro plan that costs $19 per month, and lets you use up to 10 hours of audio per month, with access to all features and voices.
LOVO: LOVO is a text-to-speech software that helps you create personalized and emotional voice content. It can convert any text into audio, and add emotion, tone, and style to the speech. You can use LOVO to create voiceovers for audiobooks, podcasts, games, ads, and more. LOVO offers over 180 natural and emotional voices in 34 languages and accents, and also has a voice cloning feature. LOVO has a free plan that lets you use up to 4,000 characters per month, and a studio plan that costs $24.99 per month, and lets you use up to 100,000 characters per month, with access to all features and voices.

What are the pros and cons of Play.ht?

Play.ht has many advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before using it. Here are some of the pros and cons of Play.ht:

Pros

Play.ht has a large and diverse library of AI voices, covering a wide range of languages, accents, genres, styles, and moods.
Play.ht has a voice cloning feature that lets you create a digital copy of your own voice or any voice you want, using a short sample of speech.
Play.ht has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners.
Play.ht delivers high-quality audio output in MP3 or WAV format, with a high bitrate and sample rate.
Play.ht has an audio player widget that you can embed into your website or app, to let your visitors listen to your content.
Play.ht has a browser extension that works seamlessly with many popular platforms, such as Medium, WordPress, and Google Docs.
Play.ht has a text-to-speech API that you can use to integrate the software into your own applications and workflows.

Cons

Play.ht can be expensive for some users, especially if they need a large amount of words per month.
Play.ht can sometimes lack natural inflection, especially with technical terms or complex sentences, which can affect the listening experience.
Play.ht can sometimes have issues with pronunciation, spelling, or grammar, which can affect the accuracy and quality of the audio.

FAQs

Here are some of the frequently asked questions about Play.ht:

Q: How do I use Play.ht?
A: To use Play.ht, you need to sign up for an account, and choose a pricing plan that suits your needs. Then, you can either type or paste your text into the software, or upload a document or a URL. Next, you can choose a voice from the library, or use the voice cloning feature to create a custom voice. You can also adjust the voice settings, such as speed, pitch, volume, and emotion, to fine-tune the audio output. Finally, you can download the audio file in MP3 or WAV format, or embed it into your website or app using the audio player widget.
Q: How do I clone a voice with Play.ht?

A: To clone a voice with Play.ht, you need to record or upload a short sample of speech, preferably 10 seconds or longer, of the voice you want to clone. Then, you need to wait for a few minutes while the software analyzes and synthesizes the voice. Once the voice is ready, you can use it to convert any text into audio, just like any other voice in the library.
Q: How do I embed the audio player widget into my website or app?
A: To embed the audio player widget into your website or app, you need to copy the HTML code that Play.ht provides for each audio file. Then, you need to paste the code into the source code of your website or app, where you want the widget to appear. The widget is responsive, customizable, and accessible, and supports playback controls, speed adjustment, and download options.
Q: How do I use the browser extension with Play.ht?
A: To use the browser extension with Play.ht, you need to install the extension from the Chrome Web Store or the Firefox Add-ons Store. Then, you need to sign in to your Play.ht account, and grant the extension permission to access the websites you want to convert into audio. After that, you can simply click on the Play.ht icon on your browser toolbar, and choose a voice and a speed to listen to any web page.
Q: How do I use the API with Play.ht?
A: To use the API with Play.ht, you need to sign up for a premium or enterprise plan, and get your API key from your dashboard. Then, you need to follow the documentation and the examples provided by Play.ht, to make API requests using various programming languages, such as Python, JavaScript, Ruby, and PHP. You can use the API to convert any text into audio, and get the audio file URL or the audio data as a response.
Q: How do I request a custom voice with Play.ht?
A: To request a custom voice with Play.ht, you need to contact the Play.ht team, and provide them with the details of the voice you want, such as the language, the accent, the gender, the style, and the sample. The Play.ht team will then create a custom voice for you, and add it to your account, for an additional fee.
Q: How secure is Play.ht?
A: Play.ht is very secure and respects your privacy. Play.ht uses SSL encryption to protect your data in transit, and AWS S3 to store your data in secure servers. Play.ht also complies with the GDPR and the CCPA, and does not share your data with any third parties, unless you give your consent.
Q: How do I cancel or change my subscription with Play.ht?
A: To cancel or change your subscription with Play.ht, you need to go to your dashboard, and click on the billing section. There, you can see your current plan, your usage, and your payment history. You can also cancel your subscription, or switch to a different plan, at any time. If you cancel your subscription, you will still have access to your account and your audio files until the end of your billing cycle.
Q: How do I contact the Play.ht support team?
A: To contact the Play.ht support team, you can either use the live chat feature on the website, or send an email to [email protected]. The Play.ht support team is available 24/7, and will respond to your queries and issues as soon as possible.
Q: How do I give feedback or suggest a feature to Play.ht?
A: To give feedback or suggest a feature to Play.ht, you can use the feedback form on the website, or send an email to [email protected]. The Play.ht team appreciates your feedback and suggestions, and will consider them for future updates and improvements.
Q: How do I get started with Play.ht?
A: To get started with Play.ht, you can sign up for a free account, and start converting your text into audio. You can also watch the tutorial videos, read the blog posts, and join the community forum, to learn more about the software and its features. You can also upgrade to a paid plan, to unlock more features and voices, and enjoy unlimited words per month.