Pika’s two speech tools
Pika Speech
“For narration and character reads, Pika Speech is the fastest, most cost-efficient text-to-speech model on the market. Use it to turn any script into a spoken performance, read by one of over 50 voice presets. Or say it yourself by uploading a sample of your voice.”
Speech Studio
“Create studio-level voiceover and narrative audio from any text. Just input the script you want read, and select a voice. The app will deliver a professional audio file, indistinguishable from a human voice actor, for use in podcasts, customer service, or video voiceover.”
Sources: Pika Speech and Speech Studio pages. Icon: Pika.
In short, both take a script and a voice and give you spoken audio. Pika Speech is a model Pika pitches on speed and cost; Speech Studio is an app Pika pitches on studio-quality voiceover. Pika lists Pika Speech under its speech models alongside ElevenLabs Multilingual v2 and ElevenLabs Turbo v2.5.
Which one should you use?
| Pika Speech | Speech Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Text-to-speech model | Voiceover app |
| Pika’s pitch | “Fastest, most cost-efficient” | “Studio-level voiceover” |
| Voices | “Over 50 voice presets,” or a sample of your own voice | “Select a voice” |
| Uses Pika names | Narration and character reads | Podcasts, customer service, video voiceover |
| Good first choice for | Drafts, many takes, social clips | Final narration you want polished |
The last row is our suggestion, not Pika’s. Pika’s pages don’t list credit costs, so check the cost shown in the app before generating, and see Pika pricing.
Make your first voiceover
- Sign in through Pika’s login page and open Speech Studio or Pika Speech.
- Paste your script. Start with two or three sentences for a quick test.
- Select a voice that fits the tone: calm, energetic, warm or serious.
- Check the credit cost shown in the app, then generate.
- Listen on headphones for mispronounced words, odd pauses and pace.
- Edit the script, not just the voice: most problems are fixed with punctuation or spelling.
- Generate the full script once the test sounds right, then download the audio.
Writing a script that sounds natural
Text-to-speech reads exactly what you write, so write for the ear, not the page.
- Short sentences. One idea each. Long sentences run out of breath.
- Punctuation is direction. Commas add small pauses, full stops add longer ones, and a dash or ellipsis adds a beat.
- Write numbers as words when the reading matters: “twenty twenty-six,” “three point five.”
- Spell tricky names phonetically if they’re misread, for example “Pee-kah.”
- Avoid symbols and abbreviations like &, %, e.g. or URLs; write them out.
- Read it aloud yourself first. If you stumble, the voice probably will too.
- Time it. Around 130–160 spoken words per minute is a common pace, so a 30-second ad needs roughly 65–80 words.
Script templates to adapt
These are our own. Replace the details and keep the rhythm.
Social ad (about 15 seconds)
Tired of cold coffee by nine a.m.? Meet the Thermo Mug. Hot for six hours. Cold for twelve. Tap the link and keep your coffee just right.
Documentary narration
Every morning, before the city wakes, the harbour comes alive. The boats go out one by one… and the gulls follow, as they have for a hundred years.
Tutorial intro
In this video, you’ll learn how to turn a single photo into a short video. It takes about two minutes. Let’s start.
Podcast opener
Welcome back to Small Studio Stories, the show about people who make big things with tiny teams. I’m your host. Today — a bakery that went viral by accident.
Character read
Stay close to me. The forest changes after dark… and not everything in here wants us to leave.
Customer service message
Thanks for calling. Your call is important to us. Please stay on the line, and the next available team member will be with you shortly.
Choosing the right voice
| Project | Look for a voice that is… |
|---|---|
| Product ad | Upbeat, clear, confident |
| Documentary or travel | Calm, warm, unhurried |
| Tutorial | Friendly, neutral, easy to follow |
| Story or character | Expressive, with a distinct personality |
| Customer service | Polite, steady, reassuring |
Test two or three voices with the same short line before generating a long script. Keep the same voice across a series so viewers recognise it.
Adding the voice to a Pika video
- Write the script to the edit. Match lines to shots, and leave gaps for visuals to breathe.
- Generate the voice and place it on your timeline.
- Add music underneath with Pika Music, kept well below the voice.
- Add effects with Pika SFX for key moments.
- Check captions. Many people watch social video on mute.
Want it all in one step? Pika Soundtrack “gives any footage native music, voiceover, and motion-aware sound effects.” Use Speech when you need an exact script read word for word.
Project guides: product ads, YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
Voiceover in other languages
For multilingual work, Pika offers two ElevenLabs speech models:
- ElevenLabs Multilingual v2: Pika’s card says it can “localize any voice across 29 languages for studio-grade voiceover.”
- ElevenLabs Turbo v2.5: “A high-speed, high-quality text-to-speech model with support for 32 languages.”
Have a native speaker check translated scripts before you generate.
Using your own voice
Pika says you can “say it yourself by uploading a sample of your voice.” Before you do:
- Only upload your own voice, or one you have clear permission to use.
- Never imitate real people in ways that could mislead or harm them.
- Record a clean sample: a quiet room, no music, steady distance from the microphone.
- Disclose AI voices where platforms or laws require it.
- Commercial use: Pika’s pricing page lists a commercial license on the Creator and Fancy plans.
Common problems and fixes
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| A word is mispronounced | Spell it phonetically or swap in a synonym |
| Reads too fast | Shorter sentences; add commas and full stops |
| Sounds flat | Try a more expressive voice; add questions and exclamations |
| Numbers or dates read oddly | Write them out in words |
| Too long for the video | Cut words, not speed; aim for about 2–2.5 words per second |
| Voice buried under music | Lower the music in your editor, especially under speech |
Pika Speech FAQs
What’s the difference between Pika Speech and Speech Studio?
Pika Speech is a text-to-speech model Pika describes as its fastest and most cost-efficient. Speech Studio is an app for “studio-level voiceover and narrative audio from any text.”
How many voices does Pika Speech have?
Pika says “over 50 voice presets.” The app shows the current list.
Can I use my own voice?
Pika’s Pika Speech page says you can “say it yourself by uploading a sample of your voice.” Only use your own voice or one you have permission to use.
Can Pika Speech sing?
It’s built to read scripts. For songs with vocals, use Pika Music or MiniMax Music 3.0.
How much does it cost?
Pika’s speech pages don’t list prices. Check the credit cost in the app and Pika pricing.
Is this the official Pika website?
No. pikaais.com is an independent informational guide. Generation, accounts and purchases take place on Pika’s official services.
Record a 15-second test read
Paste the social ad template above, try two voices, and keep the one that fits your brand.
Open Speech Studio ↗Next: Pika SFX · Pika Music · Audio models
Sources: Pika Speech, Speech Studio, Pika apps, Pika homepage and Pika pricing, checked September 24, 2026. Images: Pika. Scripts, tips and suggestions are our own.