audio model comparison
Eleven v4 vs TTS-1
Eleven v4 and TTS-1 are both current audio models, from ElevenLabs and OpenAI. TTS-1 is 81% cheaper per character than Eleven v4, $0.000015 vs $0.00008. On Artificial Analysis Speech Arena, Eleven v4 scores 1326 Elo and TTS-1 1090 Elo (Artificial Analysis, measured October 13, 2026).
Data verified October 13, 2026 · Dataset 2026-10-13
Side by side
Standard-tier prices in effect today. The better value in each row is highlighted.
| Fact | Eleven v4 | TTS-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price per character | $0.00008 | $0.000015 (better) |
| Artificial Analysis Speech Arena | 1326 Elo (#2 of 11) (better) | 1090 Elo (#9 of 11) |
| Provider | ElevenLabs | OpenAI |
| Release date | September 28, 2026 | Not reported |
| Access | API only | API only |
| Context window | Not reported | Not reported |
| Max output | Not reported | Not reported |
| Input | text | text |
| Output | audio | audio |
When to choose each
Eleven v4
Best for
- Expressive narration and dialogue
- Multilingual voice content
Watch out for
- ElevenLabs' blind-test preference claims are its own; the independent rating is recorded below
- For low latency ElevenLabs points to Eleven v4 Turbo
TTS-1
Best for
- Low-latency text-to-speech
Watch out for
- OpenAI no longer lists TTS-1 on its models overview, though its model page and $15 per 1M characters price remain
Eleven v4 vs TTS-1 FAQ
Which is cheaper, Eleven v4 or TTS-1?
TTS-1 is 81% cheaper per character than Eleven v4, $0.000015 vs $0.00008.
Which scores higher on independent benchmarks, Eleven v4 or TTS-1?
Eleven v4 leads on Artificial Analysis Speech Arena, 1326 Elo to 1090 Elo. Scores are independent evaluations, not either vendor's launch figures.
Related comparisons
Production evaluation
Choosing between Eleven v4 and TTS-1?
Public benchmarks narrow the shortlist. We run both on your own tasks, data and cost limits, then build the routing and review controls to run the winner in production.
- A head-to-head evaluation on your real workload
- Routing between models by cost and difficulty