The short answer
- Explainer videos, tutorials, courses, product demos, social clips, internal training: an AI voiceover is usually enough. It costs a few euros or nothing, and you have it in minutes.
- TV and radio ads, characters, emotional storytelling, a brand voice that must be unique: hire a voice actor. Their performance and direction are worth the fee.
- Not sure? Make the AI version first. It costs nothing to try, and if you still hire a voice actor, it works as a reference ("temp track") for timing and tone.
What a voiceover costs
Professional fees depend on length and on how the recording will be used (website, social media, paid ads, TV). These are minimum fees recommended by VOICE, the Austrian voiceover association, valid from August 2025:
| Job (voice actor) | Recommended minimum fee |
|---|---|
| Corporate or web video, up to 2 minutes | €350 (basic) to €850 (premium) |
| Corporate or web video, up to 5 minutes | €500 to €1,000 |
| Internal e-learning, up to 5 minutes | €350 |
| Revisions | from €150 |
| TV spot, national, 1 year | €600 per spot version |
Rate guides for the US and online marketplaces show a similar picture: a few hundred dollars for corporate narration, less on freelance marketplaces, more for broad usage rights. Sources are listed at the end.
The same jobs with an AI voice on VoiceAct (about 900 characters make a minute of speech):
| Job (AI voice on VoiceAct) | Characters | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2-minute explainer video | ~1,800 | free (3,000 characters a month) |
| 5-minute product video | ~4,500 | Starter plan, €8 a month |
| 10-minute course module | ~9,000 | Starter plan, €8 a month |
| 1-hour audiobook chapter set | ~54,000 | Starter (€8) or an €19 credit pack |
Changes don't cost a new session fee: edit the sentence and generate it again. See all plans and packs.
What you get with each
| Voice actor | AI voiceover | |
|---|---|---|
| Turnaround | usually days | minutes |
| Changes | revision fee or new session | a new take, a few seconds |
| Performance and direction | a real performer who takes direction | natural narration; limited acting range |
| Languages | one actor per language | 10 languages, also with the same voice |
| Usage rights | priced by usage, ads often time-limited | private and commercial use, no expiry (VoiceAct Terms) |
| Exclusivity | possible by contract | not exclusive |
When a voice actor is the better choice
- Paid advertising on TV, radio or cinema, where every nuance sells.
- Characters, games and audio drama with strong emotions, comedy or accents.
- A brand voice that must belong to you alone.
- Projects where your audience expects (or the platform requires) a human narrator.
Good voice actors are performers, and an AI voice doesn't replace a great performance. It replaces the many jobs that never had a budget for one.
How to make an AI voiceover in five minutes
- Paste your script into the Studio. Write for the ear: short sentences, numbers as you would say them.
- Pick a voice: a preset, a voice designed from a description ("calm, warm male narrator in his forties"), or your own voice (only with consent).
- Time it to your video: add exact pauses and start times with [pause 1s] and [at 0:12].
- Listen and retake sentences you want different; keep the voice by saving it.
- Download WAV or MP3 and subtitles (SRT/VTT) for your editor.
Using AI voices responsibly
Clone only your own voice or one you have written permission for. VoiceAct marks every file as AI-generated with an inaudible watermark, as the EU AI Act asks; if you publish it, saying that the voice is AI-generated builds trust with your audience.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a professional voiceover cost?
For a short corporate or web video, the Austrian voiceover association recommends at least €350–850 for up to 2 minutes and €500–1,000 for up to 5 minutes (2025), depending on the level. US rate guides for non-broadcast corporate narration are in a similar range; marketplace freelancers start lower. Ads for TV or radio cost more, and the licence usually runs for a limited time.
How much does an AI voiceover cost on VoiceAct?
About 900 characters make a minute of speech. A 2-minute script (about 1,800 characters) fits in the free 3,000 characters a month. A 10-minute course module is about 9,000 characters, well within the €8 Starter plan (60,000 characters a month).
Can I use an AI voiceover commercially?
On VoiceAct, yes: you may use the audio you generate for private and commercial purposes under our Terms. There is no per-usage licence and no expiry. AI-generated audio may not be protected by copyright in every country, and you don't get an exclusive voice the way you can with a contracted voice actor.
Is an AI voice as good as a voice actor?
For clear, natural narration (explainers, tutorials, training, product demos) modern AI voices are good enough for most viewers. A skilled voice actor still wins where the performance is the product: ads that must hit an exact emotion, characters, comedy timing, and brand voices.
How long does an AI voiceover take?
Minutes. The first audio plays after about two seconds; a 2-minute script is finished in about a minute. Changes are a new take, not a new booking.
Sources
- VOICE, the Austrian voiceover association: Voiceover fees Austria, minimum fee recommendations valid from 1 August 2025.
- VoiceBros: Voice over pricing guide 2026 (marketplace averages; a marketplace has an interest in lower prices).
- VoiceAct Terms of Service (commercial use) and pricing.