Speex is a patent-free compression format designed especially for speech. It is specialized for voice communications at low bit-rates in the 2-45 kbps range. Possible applications include Voice over IP , Internet audio streaming, audio books, and archiving of speech data .

A patent-free audio codec designed especially for voice signals and providing good narrowband and wideband quality. This project is complementary to the Ogg Vorbis codec.

Speex is a free software speech codec that claims to be unencumbered by patent restrictions. Speex is licensed under Xiph's BSD-like license and can be used with the their Ogg container format or directly transmitted over UDP/RTP.