Piper
Piper is a free, local neural text-to-speech engine for turning text into spoken audio.
What Piper is
Piper is a free, local neural text-to-speech engine for turning text into spoken audio. It supports 44 languages and exports WAV files. The project lists a command-line interface, web server, Python API, and C/C++ API, with API, Linux, self-hosted, and web platforms. Piper embeds espeak-ng for phonemization, and its README gives `pip install piper-tts` as the installation route. The project also links instructions for training new voices. Its repository lists GPL-3.0 as the license, and commercial use is marked No. The README names Home Assistant, NVDA, Open Voice Operating System, JetsonGPT, and LocalAI among projects using Piper, and links to Piper JNI as a Java binding. The Open Home Foundation owns and governs Piper among more than 250 open-source projects, standards, drivers, and libraries. The foundation says its principles include privacy, choice, and sustainability for smart homes. It is looking for Piper maintainers and lists [email protected] for inquiries.
Good
- Free software under GPL-3.0
- Supports 44 languages
- Offers command-line, web, Python, and C/C++ interfaces
- Links instructions for training new voices
Watch out
- Commercial use is marked No
- Audio export is listed as WAV
Who it suits
Piper may suit people who want local text-to-speech and can use its listed interfaces or platforms. Its listed terms do not allow commercial use.
Verdict
Piper offers several ways to integrate local text-to-speech and supports 44 languages. Check the GPL-3.0 license and the stated restriction on commercial use against your intended use.
Plans and prices
From Piper's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Piper | Free | GPL-3.0 licensed software |
The facts
Each one read from Piper's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- API access
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
- Commercial use
- Nochecked 20 Sep 2026
- Export formats
- WAVchecked 20 Sep 2026
- Foundation principles
- The Open Home Foundation describes its principles as privacy, choice, and sustainability for smart homes.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The README says to install Piper with `pip install piper-tts`.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Integrations and users
- The README lists Home Assistant, NVDA, Open Voice Operating System, JetsonGPT, and LocalAI among projects using Piper.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Interfaces
- The project lists a command-line interface, web server, Python API, and C/C++ API.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Java support
- The README links Piper JNI as a Java binding.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Languages
- 44checked 20 Sep 2026
- License
- The repository lists GPL-3.0 as its license.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Maintainers
- The README says the Open Home Foundation is looking for Piper maintainers and provides [email protected] for inquiries.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Phonemization
- Piper embeds espeak-ng for phonemization.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Piper is described as a fast, local neural text-to-speech engine.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Stewardship
- The Open Home Foundation says it owns and governs Piper among more than 250 open-source projects, standards, drivers, and libraries.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Voice training
- The README links instructions for training new voices.checked 8 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 20 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platforms
- web,linux,apichecked 20 Sep 2026
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