Usage
Advertising, corporate film, audiobook or telephone message – each genre has its own pricing structure.
Voice artist rates 2026
How much does a professional voice cost?
Transparent Audiobird prices for advertising, corporate films, audiobooks, telephone messages and more. With our fee calculator, you'll know your net price in under a minute.
The principle
Usage determines the price
A voiceover fee is not a fixed unit price for a recording. You pay for the voice artist's performance and for the right to use the recording – meaning where, for how long and how often it is used. That is why a short TV advert often costs more than a long explainer video for a website.
At Audiobird, we structure voice fees on a modular basis: purpose, medium, territory, licence term and number of spots. That way, you pay for exactly what you really need – nothing more, nothing less.
Pricing factors
Six questions, one fair price
Medium
TV, radio, online, cinema or POS: each medium is a separate licence.
Territory
Regional, Germany-wide, DACH or worldwide – the larger the territory, the higher the fee.
Term
Advertising is licensed per year. Unlimited usage costs at least three times as much.
Creatives
Each standalone ad is a creative – additional creatives are charged in full.
Budget tier
Professional, Premium or Star – you decide which tier suits your project.
Rate calculator
Calculate your net price
Choose voice fee or audio production. The price updates immediately – all amounts net plus VAT. Celebrity voices: on request.
1 · What will the voice be used for?
2 · Budget tier of the voice
3 · Where will the commercial run?
Territory
Term
Number of creatives
You can find all items in detail in the Audiobird Rate Card.
Three budget tiers
From quick wins to star talent
Professional
Trained professionals with their own studio – ideal for web videos, internal projects and lean budgets.
Premium
Experienced voices with extensive credits – the market standard for advertising and corporate communications.
Star
Top voices from TV, dubbing and major campaigns – when your brand needs to sound unmistakable. Fee: on request.
Good to know
Tips for your calculation
- Text length: Around 900 characters including spaces equates to roughly one minute of spoken audio.
- Packages are worth it: TV, streaming and online combined cost significantly less than three individual licences.
- Clarify usage early: The more accurately you know where your ad will run, the more precise and cost-effective the quote will be.
- Artists' social security levy: For artistic services, the client pays the statutory contribution to the Künstlersozialkasse (KSK).
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about voice artist rates
Is everything at Audiobird curated?
Yes – nothing makes it into our selection unchecked. For real voices, we curate a pool of high-quality, first-class professional voices whose talent you can hear. This quality comes at a price: fees depend on the work involved and usage and follow VDS guidelines; you agree the binding quote directly with the artist. The same principle applies to AI audio: we only provide the best AI voices, the best models and the right music – affordably generated from approx. €0.10 per 5 seconds (net, plus VAT), with no subscription. So you always see a selection whose quality has already impressed us.
Can I also find real voices and real experts on Audiobird?
Yes. Alongside AI audio, you'll find real voice artists, singers, sound designers, composers and audio producers in the artist pool – many with their own professional studio. The Voice & Audio Agent always includes them in its suggestions when a voice needs to convey character, trust and brand identity, from budget-friendly quick wins to stars. Enquiries, casting and project handling go through Audiobird; you negotiate directly with the artist.
Why does the same script cost more on TV than in a corporate film?
With voice artist fees, you are not paying for the recording, but for the right to use it. A TV commercial reaches millions of people and actively promotes – that is a much broader usage than a video on your website.
Are studio and editing included in the price?
No. The fee covers the voice and the usage rights. Recording, editing, mixing and direction are calculated separately – many of our Artists have their own professional studio, making it particularly cost-effective.
What happens if my commercial needs to run for longer?
No problem: you simply renew the licence for another year. The only important thing is that this is done before expiry.
What does an archive licence mean?
After a paid online campaign, the ad cannot simply remain on YouTube or your website. With the archive licence, it stays visible online permanently.
Are there discounts for large projects?
Yes. For packages – such as TV, streaming and online combined – or large order volumes, there are noticeable package discounts. The calculator factors in the most important packages automatically.
How binding is the calculator?
It gives you a realistic net price guide. We confirm the final price as soon as the script and usage are finalised – free of charge and with no obligation.
Prefer to hear the right audio straight away?
Our Voice & Audio Agent suggests real voice artists, audio producers or AI voices, music and sounds within seconds – tailored to your budget and project.