It might sound like science fiction. But this is real.
Thanks to a breakthrough AI tool called ElevenLabs, people are now earning money by doing something that once felt impossible: renting out their voice.
That’s right. Your voice can be used by content creators, podcast producers, YouTubers, audiobook narrators, and more.
And every time someone uses it, you get paid.
What used to require a studio, an agent, or years of vocal training can now be done in your bedroom with a smartphone.
This is one of the most accessible (and surprisingly passive) income streams available today.
ElevenLabs is an AI voice generator platform.
You feed it text, and it talks back with incredibly lifelike speech, complete with emotions, pauses, and even accents.
But here’s where things get really interesting: the platform lets you clone your own voice and then list it publicly in their Voice Library.
Once listed, anyone can license your voice and use it for their projects.
You earn royalties based on usage.
Think of it as putting your voice to work, even while you sleep.
At first glance, it might seem like a novelty.
But creators are already turning this feature into a real revenue stream.
On Reddit, you’ll find dozens of people talking about how they’re earning from podcasts, explainer videos, even audio ads—all using their AI-cloned voices.
No marketing required. No sales funnel. Just upload your voice and let the platform do the rest.
Here’s a complete breakdown of how to go from zero to earning royalties using ElevenLabs.
This is the only real “work” involved and it’s worth it.
You’ll need to record at least 30 minutes of clean, high-quality voice audio.
If you can do more, even better.
Recording 3 hours qualifies you for a “Pro” badge, which boosts your ranking in the Voice Library (translation: more visibility and more earnings).
No fancy mic? No problem.
You can record using your phone or laptop.
For best quality, record in a closet.
The clothes help absorb echo and background noise, making your voice sound crisp and clear—even without a professional setup.
What should you record?
Read a blog post.
Narrate a book chapter.
Or just talk conversationally.
Keep it clean and background-noise free.
Once you’ve recorded your audio, go to Voices → Add New Voice in ElevenLabs.
The processing time is usually around 6 hours. After that, you’ll be asked to verify your identity by reading a short sentence. Once verified, your voice is ready to be used.
Note: To access the rental/royalty feature, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. Pricing starts affordably, and this upgrade unlocks your ability to monetize.
This step makes everything real.
Yes, this includes while you sleep. Passive income at its finest.
Your sample clips are like your voice’s demo reel.
They help potential users decide whether to license your voice.
Record 4–5 short clips that showcase your tone and style.
Some ideas:
Make each clip unique and compelling.
These clips are your audition.
Now it’s time to go live:
Then:
That’s it!
Your voice is now publicly listed in the ElevenLabs Voice Library.
From that moment forward, anytime someone chooses your voice for a project, you earn money automatically.
This isn’t just another AI trend.
This is the future of digital licensing, where your voice becomes a digital asset that keeps working long after you’re done recording.
And the best part? You’re still early.
The public voice library on ElevenLabs is new, which means the opportunity is wide open for early adopters.