Voice Dream Reader vs. Speechify
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Wondering what text to speech app to use? Let’s dive into the Voice Dream Reader vs. Speechify battle and determine which program is the winner.
Text to speech (TTS) apps are invaluable tools that transform digital text into spoken content. As such, they can be used for various purposes, including personal use, learning, and teaching.
These apps significantly benefit individuals with reading disorders such as dyslexia, allowing them to navigate their everyday activities without frustration. TTS apps are also a lifesaver in the academic environment. Namely, learners with disabilities can convert any text into speech, allowing them to easily master their study materials on the go.
Fortunately, there’s no shortage of high-quality TTS apps on the market. Today, we’ll discuss two prominent examples and determine which one comes out on top.
Here’s everything you need to know about Voice Dream Reader and Speechify.
What is Voice Dream Reader?
Voice Dream Reader is a mobile TTS app for numerous Apple products, including iPhone, iPad, and macOS. The app was meticulously designed for individuals with specific needs due to their physical or mental disabilities.
What is Speechify?
Speechify is a text-to-speech software program available across all major platforms and devices. This powerful tool was designed to provide a more accessible and enjoyable reading experience for its users, regardless of their needs.
Speechify offers numerous features that can equally benefit people with learning disabilities and casual users who prefer auditory learning and want to improve their productivity. Users can fully customize their reading experience using handy shortcuts and change the reading speed as necessary.
Voice Dream Reader vs. Speechify - The comparison
To determine which TTS tool is better, we need to look at the features of Voice Dream Reader and Speechify in more detail. We’ll also discuss the pricing of each software program and the subscription packages on offer.
Language availability
Regarding language availability, Speechify offers 30 different languages, enabling the program to read aloud a wide variety of content. On the other hand, Voice Dream Reader is limited to 20 languages. As expected, English is the most popular choice across both programs.
Range and quality of voices
The quality of available voices is one of the most crucial aspects of TTS tools that can make or break the reading experience.
The basic version of the Voice Dream Reader app offers 61 free voices and one premium Acapela voice. All the other premium voices from Acapela and other platforms like Ivona and NeoSpeech must be purchased separately. Their prices range from $1.99 to $4.99. Unfortunately, the free voices sound somewhat robotic, meaning users will have to spend more money to acquire more natural-sounding voices.
In contrast, a Speechify subscription automatically unlocks over 30 customizable human-like voices without paying for each one individually. In total, you can choose between over 100 voices in Speechify, including some exciting celebrity options.
Pricing
The Voice Dreamer iOS app costs $19.99 on the App Store. This price unlocks the app’s basic features and dozens of non-premium voices. The voice library can be upgraded through in-app purchases. Currently, you can choose between over 100 natural-sounding voices, but you’ll have to purchase each one separately.
As for Speechify’s pricing, it functions a bit differently. Namely, you purchase a one-time subscription that lasts for a year and unlocks the program’s complete set of features, voices, and languages. In addition, you can activate your subscription across multiple devices, allowing you to make the most out of Speechify.
Compatible file formats
Voice Dream Reader and Speechify excel at the range of compatible file formats they offer:
- Plain text files (TXT)
- PDF files
- Microsoft Word docs (DOCX)
- Web pages
- Rich Text Format (RTF)
- DAISY text
- HTML
- EPUB
In addition, you can integrate these apps with file storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive. This way, you can quickly source your material from around the web or store it securely and listen on the go.
Platform availability
For now, only Apple users can enjoy the benefits of Voice Dream Reader.
Speechify, however, is available across all major platforms. You can use Speechify as:
- A Google Chrome extension for Windows users
- A macOS app or Safari web browser extension for Mac users
- An iOS app for iPhone and iPad users
- An Android app for Android smartphone and tablet users
On top of that, Speechify allows users to export audio files and save them as Microsoft’s standard WAV format. Then, Linux users can use various API tools to play these files on their computers.
Additional tech
Thanks to a built-in optical character recognition (OCR) feature, Speechify can recognize text in images and translate it into audio using speech synthesis. This feature is invaluable for navigating study materials, manuals, and everyday instructions. Voice Dream also offers a similar function but requires you to purchase an additional app called Scanner.
Another feature worth mentioning is exporting recorded audio files. This nifty option allows you to create your personal podcasts and listen to them on the go, even when offline.
Try Speechify for free today
Thanks to its incredible features, Speechify outperforms the impressive Voice Dream Reader and comes out as the winner in the Voice Dream Reader vs. Speechify battle.
The good news is that Speechify offers a free tier, allowing you to become familiar with the program’s essential functions. Even better, you can sign up for a free version trial and experience this powerful software in all its glory.
FAQ
Is there something better than Speechify?
Although there are some excellent TTS options on the market, including TextAloud. Speech Central, Amazon Polly, and Voice Aloud, no software can come close to the functionality of Speechify.
Is NaturalReader better than Speechify?
Speechify outclasses Natural Reader in many ways, making it the better TTS software program.
What is the most realistic text-to-speech app?
Several options will undoubtedly meet your requirements if you’re looking for realistic text to speech software. Thanks to its diverse features and capabilities, Speechify tops this list.
Can I use Voice Dream Reader on my iPhone?
You can use Voice Dream Reader on your iPhone as an iOS app or a Safari extension.
What is the difference between Voice Dream Reader and Voice Dream Reader Pro?
Voice Dream Reader Pro offers more features and natural-sounding voices through in-app purchases.
What is the best text-to-speech app for the iPad?
Speechify is the best TTS app for iPad, significantly expanding the device’s accessibility.
Cliff Weitzman
Cliff Weitzman is a dyslexia advocate and the CEO and founder of Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews and ranking first place in the App Store for the News & Magazines category. In 2017, Weitzman was named to the Forbes 30 under 30 list for his work making the internet more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Cliff Weitzman has been featured in EdSurge, Inc., PC Mag, Entrepreneur, Mashable, among other leading outlets.