Best text to speech online

There are a multitude of text-to-speech apps that you can use online. Searching Google will show you hundreds of results but we've curated only the top 5.

The Best Text To Speech Apps Available Online

Text-to-speech online apps are a great way to make reading and understanding written text easier, especially for individuals with dyslexia and other reading or language learning disabilities. Many people use text-to-speech applications for school and work to help them read more quickly and retain more information than manual reading. Other uses for the best text-to-speech online tools include interactive voice response (IVR) and voice API.

Text-to-speech online tools offer many benefits, revolutionizing how we interact with written content. These tools enable users to effortlessly convert text into spoken words, catering to various languages like Arabic, Norwegian, Turkish, Finnish, Chinese, Danish, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian, and more. The real-time nature of these solutions ensures a seamless experience, whether you’re engaging with audiobooks, educational resources, or even YouTube videos. From assisting individuals with visual impairments to enhancing language learning and comprehension, text-to-speech online tools prove versatile in their use cases. They can be easily accessed via web browsers or integrated as a Chrome extension, simplifying converting text from websites or documents. With a diverse range of text-to-speech voices, these tools offer a personalized auditory experience, enriching content consumption for users across different linguistic backgrounds and accessibility needs.

Below, compare 5 of the top text-to-speech programs and get answers to your most frequently asked questions.

1. Speechify

Speechify is a TTS reader available as a mobile app and a Chrome browser extension. With AI voices capable of reaching up to 900 words per minute, playback, reading processing, and comprehension become significantly faster and more accessible, even for people with learning challenges like dyslexia. Speechify also uses Optical character recognition (OCR) software to convert images to spoken word and Speech Synthesis Markup Language (SSML) to mark up language for speech synthesis programs. Listen to PDFs, articles, emails, Word documents, and more using Speechify’s state-of-the-art text-to-speech technology.

Pricing

• Enjoy a free version with limited features.
• Purchase the full version for $139 annually.

Features

• Natural-sounding voices in English and over 60+ different languages, including Spanish, Swedish, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, and more
• Allows users to choose from multiple file formats, such as web pages, PDFs, HTML, or a text file
• Compatible with iOS, Android, and Microsoft Windows
• Top-tier customer support from live people
• Reach the industry’s fastest text-to-speech speeds.

2. Balabolka

Balabolka is a free text-to-speech application that allows users to translate text into spoken words and export audio files in various formats, such as WAV, MP3, MP4, WMA, and OGG. Although the user interface is outdated and clunky, it offers relatively adequate functionality that meets many needs. This tool also needs to be updated regularly for new languages.

Pricing

• Free basic text-to-speech capabilities

Features

• Designed for beginners and people who have never used a text-to-voice program
• Customization options for multiple settings, including articulation, reading speed, and voice style
• Good compatibility with Microsoft Windows
• Bookmarking tools make studying and work easier

3. NaturalReader

NaturalReader is a sophisticated text-to-speech app and browser extension popular for commercial and personal use. The AI-powered voice reader features more natural-sounding voices than some competitors, making it an excellent choice for various purposes.

Pricing

• Limited free version available
• The personal version is a one-time payment of $99.50
• The professional version is a one-time payment of $129.50
• Ultimate version is a one-time payment of $199.50

Features

• Scan images and convert them to audio text using OCR technology
• Compatible with desktop and mobile devices
• Available for both Windows and Mac operating systems
• Speech voices are able to identify specific syntactic environments

4. Voice Dream Reader

The Voice Dream Reader is a high-quality voiceover app often considered one of the best text-to-speech online tools. Adjustable font style and size make reading more accessible for people with low vision, dyslexia, and other visual or learning challenges.

Pricing

• Purchase the program once for $9.99 (no subscriptions).
• Pay extra for premium voices

Features

• Over 200+ voices that can be bought in-app
• 30+ languages available
• Multiple reading levels
• Dynamic customization of text and audio controls
• Listen to content read to you at speeds of 50 to 500 words per minute

5. Amazon Polly

Amazon Polly is a free text-to-speech application offered within Amazon’s suite of online tools. Polly allows users to convert essential documents and images to spoken text and provides creatives with the tools needed to create speech-enabled products and innovative talking applications. However, this application’s pricing model is a little complex at first glance, which may be intimidating for some users, especially those new to text-to-speech software.

Pricing

• Limited free version available at 5 million characters per month for the initial 12 months of service (Neural voices are available at 1 million characters per month for the initial 12 months of service)
• Pay-as-you-go option available at $4.00 per 1 million characters of speech

Features

• Neural Text-to-Speech (NTTS) voices improve speech quality and sound exponentially
• News narration voices are unique to this application
• Work with Amazon’s team of TTS professionals to develop a completely custom voice using Polly Brand Voice technology
• Fluid pronunciation of written text in multiple languages
• In-browser pricing calculator helps potential customers estimate how much they can expect to spend with Amazon Polly’s TTS software

Final thoughts

Choosing the right text-to-speech program involves comparing multiple applications and examining their benefits and drawbacks. You will also need to consider your budget, what you will be using the application for, and any special needs you may have. Look for tools with free trial versions or completely free apps before purchasing text-to-speech software.

FAQ

What is the most realistic text-to-speech tool?

Amazon Polly and Speechify offer extremely accurate, lifelike, and human-sounding voices. However, Amazon’s complicated pricing model makes Speechify a better choice for affordable and realistic text-to-speech.

Which is the best text-to-speech app?

The best text-to-speech app is the one that works for your unique needs. Many options are available on the market, each with different pros and cons. The best way to find the right app is to try it out and see which one fits.

Is there a website that reads text to you?

Any text-to-speech app or browser extension can read basic text to you through WAV files, MP3 files, and other audio files.

What is the best free text-to-speech online tool?

The best text-to-speech online app for free is Speechify’s trial version. Even though Balabolka is completely free, the program lacks several important features that Speechify offers at no cost.

Which speech apps have the best human voices?

NaturalReader, Speechify, and Amazon Polly have all text-to-speech applications' most lifelike human-sounding voices. Polly’s Neural Text-to-Speech (NTTS) makes it a leading choice, with Speechify close behind.

What is the best text-to-speech software for recording podcast audio files?

Most popular text-to-speech programs can record podcast audio files that can be edited and uploaded to podcast-listening platforms like iTunes and Spotify. Text-to-speech tools are a great way to get started with podcast recording if you are uncomfortable speaking aloud or do not have high-quality podcast recording equipment.

What is the best text-to-speech reader for Android and iOS?

There are multiple options for text-to-speech readers on iOS and Android. Which you choose depends largely on what features you need and whether you want to use the application in a browser or an app. Try on several for size and keep the one you like best.

Which natural-sounding speech synthesis tools use deep learning or e-learning for custom voice generation?

The most technologically advanced text-to-speech applications are arguably Amazon Polly and Speechify. Both use deep learning and artificial intelligence to generate natural-sounding, human-like voices that can read any document.

Which is the most lifelike speech tool for personal use?

If you need a text-to-speech application for personal use with lifelike speech, NaturalReader and Speechify are both excellent options.

Which text-to-speech apps have the best celebrity speech voices?

Speechify has the most comprehensive list of popular celebrity voices available on any text-to-speech application. Users can choose from popular celebrity voices include A-list celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gwyneth Paltrow, and more.

Where can I find the best text-to-speech online tutorials?

Many Internet tutorials are available for the wide variety of text-to-speech tools on the market. Some of the best text-to-speech online tutorials are on YouTube and other similar video platforms.

Speechify Text to Speech Features