MiniMax Audio is the speech platform behind the acclaimed Speech-02 model, delivering emotionally rich text-to-speech and voice cloning in 40+ languages.
MiniMax Audio comes from MiniMax, the Chinese AI lab behind the Hailuo video models. Its Speech-02 engine is widely regarded as one of the best TTS models globally, producing expressive, emotionally nuanced speech with natural pacing and emphasis. The platform supports over 40 languages and hundreds of voice presets, from newscasters to anime characters.
Beyond synthesis, MiniMax Audio provides voice cloning from short samples, audiobook-grade long-form reading with consistent prosody, and dubbing tools for video content. A web studio, API access, and competitive pricing have made it a favorite for creators and developers who need Chinese-language quality alongside global language support.
MiniMax’s pricing pressure on the market is real: comparable or better quality than Western incumbents at noticeably lower cost, with especially strong Mandarin output. Long-form reading consistency makes it viable for audiobook production, and the API keeps pace with the web studio’s features.
MiniMax Audio combines a web studio with a pay-as-you-go API. API text-to-speech is billed per character: Speech 2.8 Turbo costs $60 per 1M characters and Speech 2.8 HD $100 per 1M characters, with rapid voice cloning at $1.50 per voice and voice design at $3 per voice. Audio subscriptions with monthly character credits are also sold for the web app, starting at $5/month.
MiniMax Audio serves content creators, audiobook producers, and developers who need high-quality Chinese and multilingual speech synthesis.
It is a strong choice for anyone benchmarking against ElevenLabs at lower cost.
Cross-border e-commerce sellers use MiniMax to produce product narration in multiple languages for international listings.
The web studio offers daily free credits; heavy usage and API access are billed through credit packs or subscriptions.
Yes — MiniMax exposes its speech models through a developer API with streaming and voice cloning endpoints.
MiniMax matches or exceeds ElevenLabs on Chinese speech and offers competitive multilingual quality at lower price points, while ElevenLabs has broader tooling and brand recognition.
Yes — the platform offers voice cloning from short reference samples, producing custom voices usable across text-to-speech, dubbing, and long-form reading projects.