Text to speech vs voice cloning
Both turn text into speech. The difference is whose voice does the talking.
Definition
Text-to-speech and voice cloning both turn text into spoken audio. The difference is whose voice speaks. TTS uses a voice from a catalog. Voice cloning first recreates a specific person’s voice from a sample, then synthesizes text in that voice. The synthesis step is identical; the input voice is what changes.
How they differ
With TTS, you pick a ready-made voice by ID and synthesize. With cloning, you first create a voice from an audio sample, with the speaker’s consent, and then reference that new voice by ID exactly like a catalog voice. Cloning adds a one-time creation step; after that, using it is the same.
When to use each
Reach for a catalog voice when any suitable natural voice works: most narration, IVR prompts, notifications, and accessibility reading. Reach for cloning when the identity of the voice is the point: a branded narrator, an author reading their own audiobook, a recurring character, or a signature voice across a channel.
A constraint to know
Cloning needs a paid plan. On Simba 3.5 a cloned voice speaks all 48 languages under one model id, and it speaks other languages with the accent of its recording. The older Simba 3.2 (English) and Simba 3.0 (6 languages) take cloned voices too. See the voice cloning page for how creation and consent work.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between text-to-speech and voice cloning?
When should I use voice cloning instead of TTS?
Do cloned voices work everywhere TTS does?
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Both turn text into speech. The difference is whose voice does the talking.