MeloTTS

At a glance

• Editor score
  3.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  CPU-friendly multilingual open-source TTS
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Commercial use
  Yes
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Supports six named languages and multiple English accents
  • Runs real-time inference on CPUs
  • Offers Python, CLI, and browser-based WebUI access

• Where it doesn't

  • Windows deployment uses Docker
  • Designed around local, self-hosted workflows
  • Custom training requires a suitable dataset

Our verdict on MeloTTS

MeloTTS is an open-source multilingual text-to-speech library maintained by MyShell.ai. It is aimed at developers and teams building local or self-hosted speech-generation workflows rather than users seeking a purely hosted voice tool. Speech generation is available through a Python API, command-line interface, and browser-based WebUI. Supported languages include English, Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, with multiple English accent variants and adjustable speech speed.

The pricing model is open source, with a free plan and MIT licensing that permits commercial use. The published project details show API access through the Python interface, along with WAV export. Its platform coverage includes web, Windows, macOS, Linux, API, and self-hosted deployments. Installation is oriented toward technical users: Linux and macOS can run the project directly, while Windows and macOS can use Docker. That combination makes the product suitable for teams comfortable managing local software and development environments, but less suitable for buyers who want a managed setup with minimal configuration.

MeloTTS stands out for combining multilingual generation, accent options, CPU real-time inference, and custom-dataset training in an open-source package. The focus is practical and developer-led, with multiple access methods rather than a narrow single-interface experience. Its local inference model can fit workflows where CPU operation and self-hosting matter, while custom training gives teams a path to adapt the system to their own datasets. Choose MeloTTS if you need an open-source, multilingual TTS foundation that can run locally and integrate with code or command-line workflows. Choose an alternative if your priority is a hosted experience that does not center on local deployment and developer tooling.

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MeloTTS pricing

MeloTTS fact sheet

Alternatives to MeloTTS

• ElevenLabsAffordable voice cloning with multilingual generation, dubbing, streaming, and API access.9.4
• Google Cloud Text-to-SpeechA broad, API-only TTS service for developers building voice-enabled products.9.3
• Azure AI SpeechA broad, production-ready TTS platform for teams building voice applications.9.2

See all MeloTTS alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

MeloTTS is listed in our Text-to-Speech Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update