[OpenAI](/ai-gateway/models/labs/openai) # TTS-1 TTS-1 is OpenAI's text-to-speech model optimized for real-time use, converting text into natural-sounding audio across built-in voices and multiple output formats at low latency. Your use is subject to OpenAI's [Terms](https://openai.com/policies/terms-of-use) & [Privacy](https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy) Policies. Speech [Use with AI Gateway](https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Futm_source%3Dgateway-model-page%26utm_campaign%3Dai-gateway-models&title=Get+Started+with+Vercel+AI+Gateway) [View docs](https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway) ``` 1import { experimental_generateSpeech as generateSpeech } from 'ai'; 2import { gateway } from '@ai-sdk/gateway'; 3import { writeFile } from 'node:fs/promises'; 4 5const result = await generateSpeech({ 6 model: gateway.speechModel('openai/tts-1'), 7 text: 'Hello from the Vercel AI Gateway!', 8 voice: 'alloy', 9}); 10 11await writeFile('speech.mp3', result.audio.uint8Array); ``` [Read docs](https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway/sdks-and-apis/ai-sdk) [Overview](/ai-gateway/models/tts-1) [About](/ai-gateway/models/tts-1/about) [Providers](/ai-gateway/models/tts-1/providers) [Similar](/ai-gateway/models/tts-1/similar) [FAQ](/ai-gateway/models/tts-1/faq) ## [Copy link to heading](#playground)Playground Try out TTS-1 by OpenAI. Usage is billed to your team at API rates. Free users (those who haven't made a payment) get $5 of credits every 30 days. ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75)TTS-1 Text The text the model will read aloud. Voice AlloyEchoFableOnyxNovaShimmer ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=96&q=75) Your generated audio will appear here ## [Copy link to heading](#providers)Providers Route requests across multiple providers. Copy a provider slug to set your preference. Visit the [docs](/docs/ai-gateway/provider-options) for more info. Using a provider means you agree to their terms, listed under Legal. | Provider | | --- | | Input | Capabilities | ZDR | No Training | Release Date | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) [OpenAI](/ai-gateway/models/providers/openai) Legal:[Terms](https://openai.com/policies/terms-of-use)•[Privacy](https://openai.com/policies/privacy-policy) | $15/M chars | | | | 11/06/2023 | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ## [Copy link to heading](#more-models-by-openai)More models by OpenAI All Text Code | Model | | --- | | Context | Latency | Throughput | Input | Output | Cache | Web Search | Capabilities | Providers | ZDR | No Training | Release Date | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) [openai/gpt-5.6-luna](/ai-gateway/models/gpt-5.6-luna) | 1.1M | 0.9s | 141tps | $1/M$0.20/M Fast $0.40/M+1 more | $6/M$1.20/M Fast $2.40/M+1 more | Read: $0.1/M$0.02/M+1 more Write: $1.25/M$0.25/M+1 more | $10/K \+ input costs | +4 | ![azure logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fazure.png&w=48&q=75) ![bedrock logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Famazon%2520bedrock.png&w=48&q=75) ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) | | | 07/09/2026 | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) [openai/gpt\-5.6-sol](/ai-gateway/models/gpt-5.6-sol) | 1.1M | 4.2s | 111tps | $4/M$2/M Fast $4/M+1 more | $20/M$10/M Fast $20/M+1 more | Read: $0.4/M$0.2/M+1 more Write: $5/M$2.5/M+1 more | $10/K \+ input costs | +4 | ![azure logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fazure.png&w=48&q=75) ![bedrock logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Famazon%2520bedrock.png&w=48&q=75) ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) | | | 07/09/2026 | | | ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) [openai/gpt-5.6-terra](/ai-gateway/models/gpt-5.6-terra) | 1.1M | 2.0s | 191tps | $2.50/M$2/M Fast $4/M+1 more | $15/M$12/M Fast $24/M+1 more | Read: $0.25/M$0.2/M+1 more Write: $3.13/M$2.5/M+1 more | $10/K \+ input costs | +4 | ![azure logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fazure.png&w=48&q=75) ![bedrock logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Famazon%2520bedrock.png&w=48&q=75) ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) | | | 07/09/2026 | | | ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) [openai/gpt-5.4](/ai-gateway/models/gpt-5.4) | 1.1M | 0.7s | 80tps | $2.50/MFast $5/M+1 more | $15/MFast $30/M+1 more | Read: $0.25/M+1 more Write: — | $10/K \+ input costs | +4 | ![azure logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fazure.png&w=48&q=75) ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) | | | 03/05/2026 | | | ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) [openai/gpt-5-nano](/ai-gateway/models/gpt-5-nano) | 400K | 3.2s | 203tps | $0.05/M | $0.40/M | Read:$0.01/M Write:— | $14/K \+ input costs | +3 | ![azure logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fazure.png&w=48&q=75) ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) | | | 08/07/2025 | | | ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) [openai/gpt-5-mini](/ai-gateway/models/gpt-5-mini) | 400K | 2.9s | 94tps | $0.25/MFast $0.45/M | $2/MFast $3.60/M | Read:$0.03/M Write:— | $14/K \+ input costs | +3 | ![azure logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fazure.png&w=48&q=75) ![openai logo](/vc-ap-vercel-marketing/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2F7nyt0uhk7sse4zvn.public.blob.vercel-storage.com%2Fdocs-assets%2Fstatic%2Fdocs%2Fai-gateway%2Flogos%2Fopenai.png&w=48&q=75) | | | 08/07/2025 | | ## [Copy link to heading](#about-tts-1)About TTS-1 TTS-1 debuted on November 6, 2023 at OpenAI's first DevDay, alongside GPT-4 Turbo and the DALL-E 3 API. The release included two variants: TTS-1, optimized for real-time use, and `tts-1-hd`, optimized for audio quality. The model ships with built-in voices, including `alloy`, `echo`, `fable`, `onyx`, `nova`, and `shimmer`, each with a distinct character. Output formats cover MP3, Opus, AAC, and FLAC, and playback speed is adjustable from 0.25x to 4x. Pricing is per character of input text, which keeps cost estimation simple: count the characters in your script. Through AI Gateway, you call TTS-1 with the AI SDK's `generateSpeech` function. The result returns audio data you can save, serve, or play directly, all behind AI Gateway's authentication, observability, and spend controls. ## [Copy link to heading](#what-to-consider-when-choosing-a-provider)What To Consider When Choosing a Provider - Configuration: Audio support on AI Gateway is in beta. Speech generation runs through the AI SDK's `generateSpeech` function, where you set the text, a voice such as `alloy`, and an output format. If you're producing narration or other polished audio rather than interactive responses, `tts-1-hd` trades some speed for higher audio quality. - Zero Data Retention: Zero Data Retention is offered on a per-provider and model basis. See the [documentation](https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway/security-and-compliance/zdr) for details. - Authentication: AI Gateway authenticates requests using an [API key](https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway/authentication-and-byok#api-key-authentication) or [OIDC token](https://vercel.com/docs/ai-gateway/authentication-and-byok#oidc-token-authentication). You do not need to manage provider credentials directly. ## [Copy link to heading](#when-to-use-tts-1)When to Use TTS-1 ### Best for - Interactive voice responses: Low-latency speech for apps where speed beats studio polish - Accessibility features: Reading interfaces that speak content on demand - Request-time audio: Notifications, IVR prompts, and short-form clips generated as needed - Voice output prototyping: Testing spoken interfaces before committing to a realtime stack ### Consider alternatives when - Polished audio production: `tts-1-hd` delivers higher audio quality when latency is negotiable - Two-way voice conversation: The gpt-realtime family handles live speech-to-speech directly - Audio-first workflows: `gpt-4o-transcribe` and `whisper-1` cover the transcription direction ## [Copy link to heading](#conclusion)Conclusion TTS-1 is the fast, economical way to give your app a voice through AI Gateway. Use TTS-1 for interactive and request-time speech, and switch to `tts-1-hd` when the audio itself is the deliverable.