Speechify Review: The AI Text-to-Speech Reader

Voice & AudioFreemium

Best for: Text-to-speech reading

The #1 AI text-to-speech reader app, turning articles, PDFs, and books into natural audio with 1,000+ voices.

4.6(14.8k)

Founded 2016

Visit Website Compare

Speechify text-to-speech reader playing an article aloud with playback controls

What Is Speechify and Who Is It For?

It's an AI text-to-speech reader that converts any text — web articles, PDFs, emails, Google Docs, or photographed book pages — into natural-sounding audio. You can listen at up to 5x speed, follow along with word highlighting, and sync your library across devices.

It's used by students cramming for exams, professionals digesting reports on the commute, and people with dyslexia, ADHD, or vision impairments. The mobile app is the top-rated text-to-speech app on the App Store.

Speechify Features: Reading, OCR & Voice Typing

It has grown from a simple reader into a full voice AI assistant.

Text-to-speech with 1,000+ voices in 60+ languages
OCR scanning — photograph a book page and hear it read
Playback up to 5x speed with word highlighting
Voice typing to dictate at 5x the typing speed
AI summaries, podcasts, and a voice assistant

Speechify vs ElevenLabs: Reader vs Creator

The app is a consumption product: you upload documents and listen. ElevenLabs is a creation platform: you generate audio files for voiceovers, dubbing, and products. The two barely overlap — its Studio product is a separate tool for creator work, but ElevenLabs remains the quality leader for produced audio.

Pick the reader app for personal listening and study, ElevenLabs for creating voice content.

Speechify Pricing: Free, Premium & Studio

Free plan; Premium $29/mo ($139/yr ≈ $11.58/mo); Studio from $19/mo; Teams custom

Free

Basic text-to-speech for casual listening.

10 basic voices
Listen up to 1.5x speed
PDF & article reading
Web, mobile & extension

Start Free

Best For

Recommended use cases and scenarios where Speechify shines.

education content-creation voiceover youtube-creators research

Speechify: Strengths and Weaknesses

The app is the best text-to-speech reader for personal use, with some caveats around pricing and limits.

Pros

1,000+ natural voices in 60+ languages
Listen up to 5x speed with OCR scanning
Works across iOS, Android, Chrome, and desktop
Built for accessibility — dyslexia, ADHD, vision

Cons

Free tier has only 10 basic voices
Premium monthly price is steep ($29)
150k-word monthly cap on premium voices
Voiceover tools require separate Studio plan

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Speechify, answered.

Is Speechify free?

Yes, with limits. The free plan includes 10 basic voices, playback up to 1.5x, and core text-to-speech for PDFs and articles. Premium unlocks 1,000+ natural voices, 60+ languages, 5x speed, and OCR scanning.

How much does it cost in 2026?

Premium is $29/month month-to-month, or $139/year (about $11.58/month) billed annually. Studio starts at $19/month for creators making voiceovers.

Does it work on iPhone and Android?

Yes. The app is available on iOS, Android, Chrome, Safari, Edge, and desktop apps, with your reading library and progress synced across all of them.

Can it read scanned documents and books?

Yes. Its OCR lets you photograph a printed page or book and have it read aloud. Premium provides the most accurate text extraction.

Is it good for dyslexia?

Yes — it was founded by Cliff Weitzman, who built the app around his own dyslexia. It's widely used by people with dyslexia, ADHD, and vision impairments for text-to-speech, with word highlighting and adjustable speed.