Text to Speech has been around for a long time. It certainly will surprise many. Ready? It’s been around since the late 1950s, originating from Japan.
Well, if you want to get technical, humans have been trying to get machines to emulate human sound since 1003 A. D., but we’re more focused on text-to-speech; as in the simple process of using AI to convert words into speech.
However in more recent times text to speech software has come around in leaps and bounds. Moore’s law states that the number of transistors on a microchips doubles every two years with a minimal cost increase. Technology like text to speech has been getting better, two-fold, much faster.
Speechify
Speechify is the leader in text to speech technology. Trusted by over 25 million users across the world and with 250,000 5 star reviews, it is one of the fastest growing text to speech software across all app stores.
Speechify Chrome & Edge extensions works on Mac and Windows. You can also download it on all your smart phones with varying operating systems, like iOS, Apple iPhone, Android, or iPad.
Easily convert text to speech in real time. Listen to Google Docs in difference voices that sound just like human speech.
Features:
- Listen in officially licensed celebrity voices
- Read along as you listen
- Listen up to 4.5x with clear enunciation
Pricing
- You can try Speechify for free
- To see the updated pricing check out our pricing page.
Speechify also offers various other studio products such as ai voice generator for voiceover, voice cloning, dubbing, custom voices, & more, which are great for content creators. Create podcasts, movies, or documentaries.
Top Speechify Features
Seamless Integration: Speechify can integrate with various platforms and devices, including web browsers, smartphones, and more. This means users can easily convert text from websites, emails, PDFs, and other sources into speech almost instantly.
Speed Control: Users have the ability to adjust the playback speed according to their preference, making it possible to either quickly skim through content or delve deep into it at a slower pace.
Offline Listening: One of the significant features of Speechify is the ability to save and listen to converted text offline, ensuring uninterrupted access to content even without an internet connection.
Highlighting Text: As the text is read aloud, Speechify highlights the corresponding section, allowing users to visually track the content being spoken. This simultaneous visual and auditory input can enhance comprehension and retention for many users.
Natural Reader
Natural Reader is a well-rounded TTS software that offers a variety of voices and languages, along with the choice of online or offline use.
Features:
- Multiple voices and languages, including various English accents.
- Syncs across devices for seamless project transitions.
- Integration with various programs through the floating bar feature.
- Proofreading functionality thanks to the ability to read highlighted text.
Pricing:
Natural Reader has a free version with limited features and paid versions starting from $9.99 per month.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Offers bookmarking and audiobook creation features for easy navigation.
- The paid version includes OCR compatibility to read scanned documents.
Cons:
- Some users report the voice quality could be improved.
- The free version has relatively few features.
Balabolka
Balabolka is a TTS software that's favored for its extensive file compatibility and the ability to save speech as an audio file.
Features:
- Enables reading of TXT, RTF, DOC, PDF, and HTML files directly.
- Support for a wide range of voices, most of which can be downloaded from the internet.
- The option to save spoken text as a WAV, MP3, MP4, OGG, or WMA file.
Pricing:
Balabolka is completely free to download and use.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Offers extensive configuration options for voice, speed, and volume.
- The software is lightweight and does not require a lot of system resources.
Cons:
- The user interface is less intuitive compared to other TTS software.
- It lacks integration with popular content creation platforms.
Amazon Polly
Amazon Polly is a cloud-based TTS service that provides a scalable and cost-effective solution powered by Artificial Intelligence.
Features:
- Natural sounding voices and high-end speech markup tags such as SSML.
- Options to customize aspects of speech such as pronunciation and volume.
- Pay-as-you-go pricing structure, perfect for small to large scale content creation.
Pricing:
Amazon Polly offers a free tier for the first 5 million characters, and standard pricing kicks in beyond that volume.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Offers the most accessible and natural-sounding TTS voices.
- High level of customizability, including breathing and whispered speech.
Cons:
- Requires some technical know-how for initial integration.
- Pricing may become expensive for very high text-to-speech conversion volumes.
Google Text-to-Speech
Google Text-to-Speech is a TTS service offered by Google that ensures great voice quality and speed.
Features:
- High-quality, nearly human-sounding TTS voices.
- Multiple language options and speed adjustment for a more natural listening experience.
- Free and easy integration with Android devices.
Pricing:
Google Text-to-Speech is free for use and integration in the Android operating system.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Seamlessly integrates with Google apps like Google Play Books and Google Assistant.
- Regularly updated with new languages and voices.
Cons:
- The customization and editing options are limited.
- Does not offer a standalone application for desktop use.
iSpeech
iSpeech offers a cloud-based TTS and automatic language translation service with applications in various industries, including content creation.
Features:
- Excellent voice quality and lifelike TTS human voices.
- Extensive easily programmable application interfaces (APIs) for integration with web and mobile platforms.
- Customizable pronunciation lexicon and emotional and expressive speech synthesis.
Pricing:
iSpeech provides a subscription-based model tailored to fit the needs of individual creators as well as larger companies.
Pros and Cons:
Pros:
- Offers a large set of configuration properties to control speech generation.
- The TTS voices are adaptable and can sound joyful, calm, serious, or angry.
Cons:
- User experience may be complex for beginners or casual users.
- Some users may perceive the number of available voices to be limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best text-to-speech (TTS) AI software often depends on specific needs and use cases. For high-quality, natural-sounding voices, Speechify is the best text to speech AI software.
Text-to-speech software is a type of application that converts written text into spoken words using speech synthesis technology. It’s used for creating audio files from text, aiding in eLearning, and making content accessible for those with disabilities.
Yes, many text-to-speech tools are designed to read text aloud. Software like Microsoft Word’s built-in read-aloud feature and standalone applications like Speechify can vocalize written text, including web pages and documents.
Yes, there are free text-to-speech AI solutions available. Some popular free versions include Balabolka and the text-to-speech functionality in Google Chrome, which provide basic TTS capabilities with AI-generated voices.
Yes, text-to-speech software exists and is widely used in various sectors. It utilizes speech synthesis technology to convert text into spoken voice output, often with lifelike and natural-sounding voices.
Some notable text-to-speech programs include Murf, Natural Reader, and Speechify. These programs offer a range of functionalities like different language support, realistic voice generation, and customization options for audio content.
For individuals with dyslexia, text-to-speech software like Natural Reader and Speechify are beneficial. They provide clear, natural-sounding speech that can aid in reading and comprehension. These tools often include features specifically designed to assist learners with dyslexia.
