> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sentifyd.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sentifyd.io/features/choosing-a-voice-mode.md).

# Choosing a Voice Mode

Every Sentifyd avatar has a **voice mode**, chosen when you create the avatar. It determines how the avatar listens and speaks, which voices are available, and which installation component your website uses. This page helps you pick the right mode for your use case.

### The Two Modes at a Glance

|                                                | **Standard**                                                  | **Real-time**                                                                                                   |
| ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Conversation style                             | Turn-based: the user speaks or types, then the avatar replies | Fluid speech-to-speech, like a phone call                                                                       |
| Latency                                        | Noticeable pause before replies                               | Low — near-instant responses                                                                                    |
| Voice selection                                | Large catalog of natural, region-specific voices              | Smaller set of voices                                                                                           |
| Languages                                      | Choose a language, or Multilingual with up to four locales    | Inherently multilingual — understands and answers in the user's language; your selected language is the default |
| Barge-in (interrupting the avatar by speaking) | Optional                                                      | Optional, and feels most natural here                                                                           |
| Overlay display mode                           | —                                                             | Available — frameless avatar layered over your own background                                                   |
| Web component / npm package                    | `<sentifyd-bot>` / `sentifyd-bot`                             | `<sentifyd-realtime>` / `sentifyd-realtime`                                                                     |
| Network                                        | Standard HTTPS/WebSocket                                      | Also uses WebRTC audio streaming                                                                                |

### Which Should You Choose?

**Choose Standard if…**

* Voice identity matters most: you want a specific accent, age, or tone from the large voice catalog.
* Your users mostly **type** (chat mode) or the conversation is naturally turn-based (FAQ answering, guided forms).
* Your audience may be on restrictive corporate networks where WebRTC can be blocked.

**Choose Real-time if…**

* You want the most natural, lifelike conversation — users talking to the avatar the way they'd talk to a person.
* Low latency matters: receptions, kiosks, concierges, sales conversations.
* You want to serve visitors in many languages without configuring each one.
* You want the **Overlay** display mode to blend the avatar into a hero section or custom design.

### Where You Set It

Voice mode is selected in the **Basic Information** step of the avatar creation form, together with the language and voice (the voice list changes depending on the mode). See [Creating Avatars](/features/editor.md).

You can change an avatar's voice mode later by editing the avatar — the change takes effect on the next conversation.

{% hint style="warning" %}
The voice mode determines the integration component. If you change the mode of an avatar that is already deployed, update your embed accordingly: `<sentifyd-bot>` for Standard, `<sentifyd-realtime>` for Real-time. The shareable hosted link and the WordPress plugin (with the matching voice-mode option selected) handle this for you.
{% endhint %}