AI tools I recommend for small-business content: voiceovers and 3D product models
Honest short reviews of ElevenLabs, Tripo AI and Meshy for UK small businesses: what each is good for, where it falls short and what it costs to try. Contains affiliate links.
In this guide
Most of what I write about here is AI tools that save small businesses time. But clients often ask about the other side of AI: making content. Product videos, voiceovers, images for a shop listing. Here are three tools I recommend for that, with an honest take on each.
ElevenLabs: natural-sounding voiceovers
What it does: turns text into speech that sounds like a real person, in lots of voices and accents (British ones included), and can dub audio into other languages.
Good for: narration for a product video or social reel, a short explainer on your website, an on-hold message, or reading out a how-to guide.
Watch out for: odd names and place names sometimes need spelling phonetically, and the free tier is limited. Don’t clone anyone’s voice without their written permission.
Try ElevenLabs (affiliate link)
Tripo AI: 3D models from a photo or a prompt
What it does: creates a 3D model from a text description or one or more photos, and can go as far as rigged, animated models.
Good for: a rotating 3D view of a product for your website, mock-ups of something before you make it, or simple 3D assets for ads.
Watch out for: fine detail and text on products often need tidying up, and results depend heavily on clear, well-lit photos. Treat it as a fast first draft, not a finished studio model.
Try Tripo AI (affiliate link)
Meshy: 3D models and textures
What it does: similar to Tripo. It generates 3D models from text or images and is particularly handy for adding or changing textures on an existing model.
Good for: trying different colours or finishes of a product, game-style assets, and quick visuals for presentations.
Watch out for: as with any AI 3D tool, check the output closely before using it in adverts. It shouldn’t show a product as better than it really is.
Try Meshy (affiliate link)
Which should you try first?
| If you need… | Start with |
|---|---|
| a voiceover for a video or reel | ElevenLabs |
| a 3D model of a product from photos | Tripo AI |
| to try different colours or textures on a model | Meshy |
AI content tools are brilliant for first drafts. A person should still check everything before it goes in front of customers.
All three have free tiers or trials, so try them on a real task before paying. Check the current prices on each site, as plans change often.
Want it wired into your workflow?
If you’d like one of these connected to how you already work, for example a small web app that turns your product descriptions into voiceovers, tell me what you're making. I’ll give you a fixed price.