Eleven v3

Eleven v3 is the model to reach for when the reading matters as much as the words. Several voice models here take a delivery instruction as a separate field or as a preset: a style prompt, an emotion selector, a speed dial. This one takes it inline: write \`[whispers]\`, \`[excited]\`, \`[sighs]\` or \`[laughs]\` into the text and the tag steers the phrase it sits in front of. That is a finer instrument than a per-take mood, because a single line can turn twice.

The trade is that it wants more from you. A flat paragraph handed to v3 reads about as well as it does anywhere else; the model earns its price on text somebody has actually directed. It speaks every language this catalog offers, across twenty-six preset voices, and it is the priciest per character apart from Gemini.

Reach for it on trailers, character work, anything with a turn in it. For long neutral narration where the point is clarity rather than performance, Gemini 3.1 Flash TTS is cheaper per minute of finished audio and needs no direction; for volume work, Kokoro 82M is a hundredth of the price. For an ElevenLabs voice beyond the presets, add its voice ID to your shelf; both Eleven v3 and Eleven v4 can speak with it.

Eleven v3 takes the same inline audio tags as Eleven v4, adds a speed control, and reads up to 3,000 characters per take with preset voices by name (Rachel by default). It cannot continue earlier lines, so pick v4 when lines must be stitched or the performance is the reason for the take.

Read the full Eleven v4 prompting guide