ElevenLabs Beginner tutorial

Beginner · step 1 of 7

What ElevenLabs is (and isn't)

ElevenLabs makes AI voice tools: text to speech, voice cloning, dubbing and sound effects. Usage is paid in credits; text to speech costs about 1 credit per character. The free plan gives 10,000 credits a month; paid plans add a commercial licence, voice cloning and more credits, which roll over for up to 2 months (elevenlabs.io/pricing).

Good for:

• Narrating videos and courses
• Audio versions of blog posts
• Cloning your own voice (Starter+)

Not good for:

• Cloning voices without consent
• Commercial use on the free plan
• Publishing without listening fully

Why this step matters: Knowing what it is good and bad at stops you using it for jobs where it will fail quietly.

Beginner · step 2 of 7

Get the official app

1. Start from elevenlabs.io or the official app.
2. Sign up and try text to speech with a stock voice first.
3. Check Subscription to see credits left.

Why this step matters: Copycat apps and unofficial installers are common; starting from the official source protects your account and data.

Beginner · step 3 of 7

Your first useful prompt

Give it a situation, a task and the format you want. Try this:

Welcome to Maple Street Bakery. We’re open 7am to 3pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Today’s special is pumpkin bread, four dollars a slice.

Then ask one follow-up that narrows it down.

A good result: output in the format you asked for, built only on what you gave it. If it drifts into generic advice, add the situation sentence again.

Why this step matters: A prompt with situation, task and format gets a usable answer first time, so you learn what the tool can actually do.

Beginner · step 4 of 7

Check the answer

1. Ask for the source of any fact you'll reuse.
2. Open the link and find the exact sentence (Ctrl+F).
3. If you can't find it, treat the claim as unverified.
4. For files, check two page or row references yourself.

Before you answer: separate what you checked from what you're assuming. Write "unknown" instead of guessing. Give a link for every number.

Why this step matters: Chatbots state wrong facts in the same confident tone as right ones. Checking is the only way to tell them apart.

Beginner · step 5 of 7

Privacy basics

• Don't paste passwords, ID numbers, card numbers or other people's private details.
• Assume the company can read and keep your chats unless its official policy says otherwise.
• For health, money or legal decisions, confirm with a professional or an official source.
• Only clone a voice you own or have written permission to use.
• Label AI voices in public content where your platform or law requires it.

Why this step matters: Anything you paste may be stored and read. Deciding what never goes in is easier than undoing a leak.

Beginner · step 6 of 7

What it costs

• Free: 10k credits/month.
• Starter: $6/month, 30k credits, commercial licence, Instant Voice Cloning.
• Creator: $22/month, 121k credits, Professional Voice Cloning.
• Pro: $99/month, 600k credits.
• Scale: $299/month. Business: $990/month.

Yearly billing costs 10 months’ price. Paid credits roll over up to 2 months. Text to speech is about 1 credit per character (elevenlabs.io/pricing, checked Oct 30, 2026).

Full details: ElevenLabs step-by-step tutorial.

Why this step matters: Paying for features you don't use is the most common waste. Knowing the limits first tells you if the free tier is enough.

Beginner · step 7 of 7

Your first week

1. Day 1: three real tasks from your week.
2. Day 3: compare its results with what you'd have done yourself.
3. Day 7: decide if it's worth paying, based on what you actually used.

Why this step matters: A week of real tasks gives you evidence for whether it saves time, instead of a first impression.