How Rate My Voice works
Your browser captures a short clip and measures pitch and loudness every 10 milliseconds with a pitch-tracking algorithm (YIN). A speech-to-text model then finds each word and its timing so we can measure pace and count filler words. Six sub-scores are combined into one number.
The scoring curves were calibrated on more than 130 real recordings from public speech datasets — volunteers reading aloud, audiobook narrators and phone calls — so an ordinary, clear recording lands around 7 rather than a flattering 10.
| Sub-score | What we measure | What scores 10 | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarity | How far your voice stands above the room noise; mic bandwidth; clipping | Voice ~60 dB above the background, full-range mic, no distortion (30 dB ≈ 6.5) | 25% |
| Steadiness | Pitch roughness — tiny wobbles that aren't part of normal intonation | Under 0.04 semitones of roughness | 15% |
| Expressiveness | How much your pitch moves across sentences | 3.8–5 semitones of variation: lively, not monotone, not sing-song | 20% |
| Dynamics | Volume contrast while speaking | 5.5–9 dB of variation | 10% |
| Pace | Words per minute | 140–175 wpm, the range of most podcasts and audiobooks | 15% |
| Fluency | Filler words (um, uh, “you know”) and pauses over 0.8 s | No fillers, few long pauses | 15% |
What is a good voice score?
In our calibration set the middle 80% of everyday speakers scored between about 5.5 and 8.3, with a median near 7.
- 9–10 Radio and voice-over ready: clean, steady, expressive and well paced.
- 8–8.9 Excellent: top 10–15% of ordinary recordings.
- 6–7.9 Good to decent: where most people land. Usually one or two fixable issues.
- Below 6 Often a recording problem (noise, a Bluetooth headset mic, distance from the mic) rather than your voice itself — try again in a quiet room.
How deep is my voice?
Your result shows your average speaking pitch (fundamental frequency). Typical adult speaking voices fall roughly between 85 and 255 Hz. For a dedicated depth reading and percentile, use the deep voice test.
| Average pitch | Voice depth |
|---|---|
| Under 100 Hz | Very deep |
| 100–130 Hz | Deep |
| 130–165 Hz | Medium-low |
| 165–200 Hz | Medium |
| 200–240 Hz | Medium-high |
| Over 240 Hz | High |
Depth is not part of your score — a high voice and a deep voice can both earn a 10.
5 quick ways to improve your voice score
- Fix the room first. Soft furnishings and a closed window can add a point of clarity instantly.
- Use a real mic. Bluetooth headsets switch to a phone-quality mic when recording; your laptop's built-in mic usually sounds clearer.
- Breathe low. Diaphragm breathing keeps your pitch steady to the end of each sentence.
- Stress one word per phrase. A small pitch lift on key words beats monotone delivery.
- Swap “um” for silence. A half-second pause sounds confident; a filler word doesn't.
FAQ
How does Rate My Voice score my voice?
We measure clarity, steadiness, expressiveness, dynamics, pace and fluency. Each gets a 0–10 sub-score and the weighted result becomes your 1–10 voice score. The weights are listed in the table above.
Is my recording stored?
No. Pitch and loudness are analyzed inside your browser. When a test needs speech-to-text, the clip is sent once to our provider and not saved by us. Shared links contain only your numbers. See the privacy policy.
What is a good voice score?
Most people score between about 5.5 and 8. A score of 8+ puts you in roughly the top 10–15% of everyday recordings; 9+ is typical of trained presenters.
Why did I get a low clarity score?
Usually background noise or a Bluetooth headset, which records in phone quality. Try your laptop's built-in mic in a quiet room.
Does it rate singing?
This page is tuned for speaking. For singing, use Rate My Singing, which scores pitch accuracy and note control instead.
What does the AI voice coach do?
It reads the words you just said in a professional synthetic voice so you can compare pacing and emphasis. It never copies or clones your voice.