Starts atFree plan · paid from $6/mo
- Free plan
Head-to-head
ElevenLabs vs Suno: do you need AI voices or AI songs?
At a glance
Starts atFreemium; Pro $10/mo or $8/mo billed yearly, with commercial rights
- Free plan
These tools do different jobs. ElevenLabs turns text into speech, clones voices and dubs video. Suno writes full songs with vocals from a prompt. Faceless channels often use both: ElevenLabs for the narration, Suno for the background track. Both have free plans, but neither free plan lists commercial rights.
Quick verdict
- Choose ElevenLabs for narration, voice cloning and dubbing. Starter is $6/month with a commercial license.
- Choose Suno for original music. Pro is $8/month with commercial use and 20 song downloads a month.
- Use both if you make faceless Shorts with voice and music.
Side-by-side comparison
| Detail | ElevenLabs | Suno |
|---|---|---|
| What it makes | Speech, voice clones, dubbing | Songs with vocals and instrumentals |
| Free plan | 10,000 credits/month (about 10 min of text to speech) | 50 credits a day, free models only (v6-mini) |
| Commercial use on free | Commercial license not listed | No commercial rights |
| Entry paid plan | Starter: $6/month, 30,000 credits, commercial license | Pro: $8/month, 2,500 credits, 20 song downloads, commercial use |
| Mid plan | Creator: $22/month, 121,000 credits | Premier: $24/month, 10,000 credits, 60 downloads, Suno Studio |
| Yearly billing | Yearly = 10 months' price (Starter $60/year) | Saves 20% (Pro saves $24 a year) |
| Best for | Voiceovers for faceless videos | Original background music and songs |
For Shorts, TikTok and Reels
A 60-second Short with narration needs about a minute of speech. ElevenLabs Free's 10,000 credits cover roughly 10 minutes, so about 10 Shorts a month to test with. To post them on a monetized channel, the paid Starter plan is the one that lists a commercial license.
Suno is for the music bed or for a song-based video. Free gives 50 credits a day but no commercial rights and no monthly downloads, so for posting music in videos you earn from, Pro at $8 a month is the floor.
How to choose
- Need a voice reading your script? ElevenLabs.
- Need an original track? Suno.
- Posting to a monetized channel? Budget $6 (ElevenLabs Starter) plus $8 (Suno Pro), $14 a month in total.
- Only testing? Use both free plans and keep those videos off monetized channels.
Questions
Can ElevenLabs make music like Suno?
ElevenLabs' pricing page we checked is about voice credits. Suno is built for songs, so for music it is the direct pick.
Can I use Suno songs commercially for free?
No. Suno's Free plan says no commercial rights. Pro ($8/month) and Premier ($24/month) include commercial use.
Is ElevenLabs free for YouTube?
The free plan gives 10,000 credits a month, but a commercial license is not listed on it. The license starts with Starter at $6/month.
Related: Suno vs Udio, ElevenLabs vs Murf AI, AI music tools, AI voiceover tools.
Sources: elevenlabs.io/pricing, suno.com/pricing. Checked on 16 October 2026. Based on published plans and terms, not a hands-on test.