Best Text to Speech JavaScript APIs We’ve compiled the Best Text To Speech Javascript APIs for all your JS devs. Take a look.

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October 2, 2024 9 min read
Best Text to Speech JavaScript APIs

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When adding text to speech functionality to your JavaScript application, you want a TTS API that delivers high-quality, natural-sounding voices, low latency, and easy integration. Text to speech is invaluable in creating more engaging user experiences, whether you’re building voiceovers, chatbots, or accessibility tools. Check out the Best Text to Speech JavaScript APIs.

JavaScript developers have a number of excellent APIs at their disposal. Let’s explore why JavaScript is a great choice for TTS, its pros and cons, and the best TTS APIs you can integrate today.

Why JavaScript for TTS?

JavaScript is the most widely used language for web development, making it a natural choice for integrating text to speech. Here’s why:

Advantages:

  1. Cross-platform compatibility: JavaScript works across all modern browsers and platforms—whether your users are on Chrome, Edge, iOS, or Android, your app can deliver seamless speech synthesis.
  2. Real-time interaction: With its event-driven architecture, JavaScript excels in providing real-time audio output, a must for applications like chatbots, live streaming, or interactive web pages.
  3. Integration with web technologies: JavaScript blends perfectly with HTML and CSS, allowing developers to create dynamic and engaging user interfaces. With support for SSML (Speech Synthesis Markup Language), you can fine-tune pronunciation, pauses, and emphasis, delivering lifelike speech.

Disadvantages:

  1. Performance constraints: JavaScript, being interpreted, may lag behind compiled languages like C++ or Java, particularly when handling large volumes of text or generating long audio files like audiobooks.
  2. Browser-specific quirks: While JavaScript is broadly supported, TTS functionality might differ across browsers. Some may require additional configuration or polyfills for full TTS support.

Other Programming Languages for TTS API Development:

  1. Python
  2. Java
  3. C++
  4. Swift
  5. Go

Below you’ll find a list of providers with the not just the best support for JS, but with generally the best text to speech APIs. Should you decided to build in other languages later, like Python , you should be good. Also, with SDK support, these offer tremendous flexibility.

Top Text to Speech API Providers with JavaScript Support

Now that you know why JavaScript is a good fit, let’s look at the best TTS APIs you can use, with PlayHT at the top of the list for its flexibility, quality, and ease of integration.

1. PlayHT (Best Option)

PlayHT provides the most natural-sounding voices and an easy-to-use TTS API for JavaScript developers. Whether you’re working on real-time voiceovers or creating an interactive chatbot, PlayHT’s speech synthesis can meet your needs with ultra-low latency.

Here’s a simple example of integrating PlayHT’s API into your JavaScript project:

const axios = require('axios');

const options = {

  method: 'POST',

  url: 'https://api.play.ht/v1/convert',

  headers: {

    'Content-Type': 'application/json',

    'Authorization': 'YOUR_API_KEY'

  },

  data: {

    text: 'Welcome to PlayHT!',

    voice: 'en_us_male',

    output_format: 'mp3'

  }

};

axios.request(options).then(response => {

  console.log(response.data);

}).catch(error => {

  console.error(error);

});

Why PlayHT?

  1. High-quality, lifelike voices: Built with advanced machine learning and neural network models. PlayHT is generally considered to be one of the best AI voice generators in the market.
  2. Real-time audio output: Low latency, making it perfect for live applications.
  3. Custom voice models: Tailor the voice output to match your app’s tone or brand identity.
  4. Flexible pricing: Offers plans for all project sizes, from small-scale apps to enterprise solutions.
  5. Broad language support: Provides a wide range of languages and voices.

2. ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs is known for its high-quality voice cloning and AI voice generation. With its powerful API, developers can generate human-like speech that works great for everything from audiobooks to interactive bots.

Features:

  1. Voice cloning: Create customized, unique voices for your application.
  2. Advanced neural network: Uses deep learning to provide accurate and natural-sounding speech.
  3. Wide language and style support: Offers various voices and accents for different applications.

3. Speechify

Speechify is a popular TTS platform designed to make reading more accessible. Its JavaScript API is great for developers looking to convert written text into speech in web and mobile applications, especially in e-learning environments or for accessibility use cases.

Features:

  1. High-quality voices: Provides clear, easy-to-understand voices.
  2. User-friendly API: Easy to integrate into your app, with built-in support for multiple languages.
  3. Real-time processing: Ideal for applications that require on-the-fly speech synthesis.

4. Amazon Polly

Amazon Polly offers a robust, reliable TTS API that integrates well with JavaScript applications. Its real-time TTS capabilities make it an excellent choice for interactive applications like chatbots, virtual assistants, or voice-driven services.

Features:

  1. Neural TTS: Produces high-quality, human-like voices using machine learning algorithms.
  2. SSML support: Allows fine-tuning of the voice output, such as adding pauses or controlling pitch and speed.
  3. Multilingual support: Supports a wide array of voices and languages, perfect for international apps.

5. Google Cloud Text-to-Speech

Google’s Cloud TTS API is a leading solution in the text to speech world. It provides real-time synthesis, customizable voice outputs, and strong language support, making it ideal for dynamic web applications.

Features:

  1. Deep learning-based speech synthesis: Provides clear, human-like speech.
  2. SSML support: Lets developers fine-tune how the speech sounds.
  3. Multiple voice options: Includes over 220 voices across more than 40 languages.

6. IBM Watson Text to Speech

IBM’s Watson TTS API is well-suited for developers who need high-quality voice synthesis with flexible controls for custom voice models and SSML integration. It’s a great choice for applications requiring nuanced speech output, like transcription services or detailed voiceovers.

Features:

  1. Custom voice models: Allows you to build voices that fit your brand’s identity.
  2. Language and voice diversity: Supports multiple languages and speaking styles.
  3. High-quality transcription: Can convert text into speech with highly accurate pronunciation.

7. Microsoft Azure Text to Speech

Microsoft Azure TTS integrates seamlessly with JavaScript applications, offering a wide variety of voices and languages. It’s part of Azure’s larger cognitive services, so it can be combined with other AI-driven functionalities for even more robust features.

Features:

  1. SSML support: Customize the intonation, rate, and pitch of the voice output.
  2. Customizable voice models: Create personalized voices for your brand or app.
  3. Wide language and voice support: Offers numerous languages and natural-sounding voices.

Murf AI

Murf is another standout text to speech provider that offers a robust API for generating high-quality, natural-sounding speech using JavaScript. Murf leverages artificial intelligence and deep learning to produce lifelike voices, making it a great choice for applications requiring realistic voiceovers, e-learning, audiobooks, or chatbots. The Murf TTS API is designed to be developer-friendly, with easy integration into web and mobile applications.

Key Features:

  1. Human-like voices: Murf’s AI voice generator produces voices that sound remarkably close to real human speech, with natural intonation and phonetic accuracy.
  2. Multi-language support: Offers a variety of voices in different languages, including English.
  3. Customization options: Allows developers to control tone, speed, and other aspects of the speech to match specific use cases.
  4. File output formats: Supports multiple audio formats, including WAV and MP3, for generating voiceovers or speech for media content.

Sample JavaScript Integration:

Here’s a basic example of how you might use Murf’s TTS API in a JavaScript project:

const axios = require('axios');

const options = {

  method: 'POST',

  url: 'https://api.murf.ai/v1/text-to-speech',

  headers: {

    'Content-Type': 'application/json',

    'Authorization': 'YOUR_API_KEY'

  },

  data: {

    text: 'Welcome to Murf!',

    voice: 'en_us_male',

    format: 'mp3'

  }

};

axios.request(options).then(response => {

  console.log(response.data);

}).catch(error => {

  console.error(error);

});

Why Choose Murf?

  1. AI-driven speech synthesis: Provides realistic and customizable voice outputs that are ideal for professional use cases such as audiobooks, voiceovers, and interactive applications.
  2. Real-time capabilities: Supports real-time speech synthesis, perfect for conversational AI and live interactions.
  3. Scalable and flexible pricing: Offers various pricing models that can scale with your project needs, making it one of the best text to speech APIs for developers looking for flexibility and high-quality output.

Murf is an excellent choice for developers looking to create immersive user experiences through speech synthesis in their applications, whether for automation, speech recognition, or simply generating engaging audio files.

Use Cases for Text to Speech in JavaScript

Integrating TTS in JavaScript apps opens up a world of possibilities, from enhancing accessibility to providing real-time voiceovers. Here are some of the most common use cases:

  1. Accessibility: Improve access for users with visual impairments by reading web content aloud.
  2. Chatbots and virtual assistants: Add lifelike voices to conversational AI, making it more engaging.
  3. E-learning and audiobooks: Create dynamic, voice-based educational tools or narrate entire books.
  4. Voiceovers for media: Add instant, high-quality voiceovers to videos and live streams.
  5. Transcription services: Convert written content into spoken text for transcription or voice applications.

JavaScript is an excellent choice for adding text to speech functionality to web applications, with its cross-platform compatibility and support for real-time interaction. Among the various providers, PlayHT stands out as the best option, offering a perfect blend of real-time capabilities, high-quality voices, and easy integration for JavaScript developers.

Other strong contenders like ElevenLabs, Speechify, Amazon Polly, Google Cloud Text-to-Speech, IBM Watson, and Microsoft Azure also provide excellent APIs, each with unique features for different use cases. Whether you’re building an accessible web app, creating lifelike voiceovers, or enhancing user interactions with conversational AI, these APIs can help bring your projects to life.

What is the most realistic text to speech API?

PlayHT and ElevenLabs are among the most realistic text to speech APIs, utilizing advanced artificial intelligence and neural networks to generate lifelike, human speech. These APIs are ideal for applications requiring high-quality voiceovers and real-time interaction.

What is the text to speech API for JavaScript?

Several TTS APIs support JavaScript, including PlayHT, Amazon Polly, and Google Cloud Text-to-Speech. These APIs offer easy integration for web applications, providing human-like voices and customizable audio outputs using advanced text-to-speech technology.

What API converts text to speech?

APIs like PlayHT, Amazon Polly, and Google Cloud convert text to speech using machine learning algorithms to generate natural-sounding audio in formats such as WAV or MP3. These APIs support multiple languages, including English, and offer customizable voices for various use cases.

Is Google text to speech API free?

Google Cloud Text-to-Speech offers a free tier with limited usage, after which pricing applies based on the number of characters processed. It’s a powerful solution for converting text to speech using artificial intelligence and deep learning for high-quality audio generation.

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