AI can now write a full song with vocals or read your script in a realistic human voice. Two of the most popular tools, Suno for music and ElevenLabs for voice, both have free plans. But if you want to use the results in a YouTube video, an ad or a podcast you earn money from, the free plans have an important catch. We checked their pricing pages on October 25, 2026.
Suno: free songs every day, but not to publish
Suno’s free plan gives 50 credits a day on its free model, which is enough to create songs regularly. The pricing page then lists three things the free plan does not include:
- no monthly song downloads,
- no commercial rights,
- no option to buy extra credits.
Pro, from $8 a month billed yearly, adds 2,500 credits a month, 20 song downloads a month and commercial use rights. In other words, free Suno is for fun and experiments; publishing starts at Pro. Suno in detail.
ElevenLabs: 10,000 free credits, no commercial licence
ElevenLabs’ free plan includes 10,000 credits a month for text-to-speech and its other audio tools. The commercial licence, including for music, starts on the Starter plan at $6 a month. So a free ElevenLabs voice-over in a monetised video or a client project is not covered. ElevenLabs in detail.
Why the commercial licence matters
If you use free-plan audio commercially when the terms forbid it, you risk takedowns, demonetisation or a claim from the provider. Platforms increasingly check where music and voices come from. Our guide on using AI-generated content commercially explains the wider rules, which apply to audio too.
A quick checklist
- Just experimenting or making something for friends? The free plans are fine.
- Posting on a channel that earns money? Check that your plan includes commercial rights.
- Making client work? Use a paid plan and keep a record of which plan you were on.
- Cloning a voice? Only use your own voice, or one you have clear permission to use.
See all AI music tools and AI voice and audio tools.
Sources
- Suno pricing — Suno
- ElevenLabs pricing — ElevenLabs