People with reading differences
Listen while following highlighted text as one possible support for dyslexia, ADHD, visual fatigue or other reading-access needs.
Independent tool overview
Speechify at a glance
Speechify is a cross-platform text-to-speech reader that turns web pages, documents, books and photographed text into spoken audio.
Visit the official Speechify site ↗
- Primary use
- Listen to written content
- Platforms
- Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Chrome and Edge
- Premium voices
- 1,000+
- Languages
- 60+
- Premium price
- $139/year or $29/month
- Last reviewed
- August 30, 2026
Overview
What Speechify is
Speechify is built for listening to material that already exists. Import a PDF, DOCX, EPUB or text file, open an article in a browser extension, paste text into the web app or photograph a printed page, then choose a voice and playback speed. A synced library lets users continue listening across the web, desktop and mobile apps.
The core Reader should not be confused with Speechify Studio or the Speechify API. Reader is for personal reading, studying and accessibility; Studio is a separate subscription for producing distributable voiceovers and dubbed content; the API is for developers embedding speech in another product. Speechify Premium now also bundles AI summaries, document chat, voice typing, AI podcasts and a voice assistant around the reading experience.
Use cases
Who Speechify is best for
The strongest fit depends on the job you need the product to complete, not the size of its feature list.
Students with large reading loads
Turn course readings, PDFs, notes and photographed pages into audio for review away from a desk.
Professionals who prefer audio
Listen to reports, articles, emails and documents while commuting, exercising or handling low-attention tasks.
Language learners
Hear text across more than 60 languages and adjust the voice and speed to practice listening and pronunciation.
Cross-device reading
Start a document on a computer and continue from a synced place on a phone or tablet.
Capabilities
Core Speechify features
Document and ebook reading
Upload PDF, DOCX, TXT and EPUB files or paste text directly into Speechify for spoken playback.
Web-page listening
Use the Chrome or Edge extension and web app to hear articles, emails, Google Docs and other browser content.
Scan and Listen
Use a mobile camera and optical character recognition to convert printed pages and images into readable text and audio.
Adjustable playback speed
The free plan reaches 1.5x, while Premium advertises listening speeds up to 5x.
Large voice and language library
Premium lists more than 1,000 natural voices across more than 60 languages, accents, ages and styles.
Synchronized library
Save documents and listening position to an account so a user can continue across supported devices.
Cloud-storage imports
Premium connects with Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft OneDrive for faster document access.
AI summaries and chat
Ask questions about a document or generate a shorter overview before deciding which sections need full attention.
Voice typing
Dictate new text through Speechify's voice-typing feature instead of using the keyboard.
AI podcasts and voice assistant
Premium can recast source material as a conversational audio format and support spoken questions about a website or book.
Process
How the Speechify workflow works
Step 1
Choose the source
Open a web page, upload a document, paste text, connect cloud storage or scan a printed page.
Step 2
Check the extracted text
Correct OCR mistakes, remove navigation clutter and confirm that headings, tables and special terms were captured properly.
Step 3
Select voice and language
Preview a voice that matches the source language and choose a comfortable accent and speaking style.
Step 4
Set a useful speed
Begin near normal speed and increase gradually; dense or unfamiliar material often needs slower playback than casual articles.
Step 5
Listen and follow along
Use synchronized text, highlighting, saved position and notes as appropriate for the reading task.
Step 6
Verify important material
Return to the source text for names, numbers, formulas, citations, legal language and any decision that depends on exact wording.
Cost
Speechify pricing and free plan
Speechify Reader has a permanent Free plan and a Premium subscription. Speechify lists Premium at $29 when billed monthly; a current Speechify pricing explainer lists $139 per year, or about $11.58 per month paid upfront. Speechify Studio and its developer API are separate products with separate pricing.
Free
$0
Basic personal text-to-speech listening across supported devices.
- 10 standard, robotic-sounding voices
- Playback up to 1.5x
- Text-to-speech features only
- Does not include Premium's AI, scan, cloud-integration and natural-voice package
Premium Annual
$139/year
The lower effective monthly price for regular listeners.
- About $11.58 per month, paid annually
- 1,000+ natural voices and 60+ languages
- Playback up to 5x and Scan and Listen
- AI summaries, chats, podcasts, voice typing and voice assistant
- Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive integrations
Premium Monthly
$29/month
The same current Premium feature set without an annual commitment.
- Higher total cost than annual billing
- Premium voice use is subject to a monthly word allowance
- Speechify guarantees 1 million Premium-voice words per month during 2026, with a 150,000-word contractual baseline
Pricing checked . Check current pricing at the source ↗
Assessment
Speechify strengths and limitations
Where it stands out
- Works across browsers, desktop and mobile devices
- Reads web pages, common documents, ebooks and photographed text
- Large Premium voice and language selection
- Playback speed up to 5x for users who can follow it
- Useful synced listening position and library
- Permanent free tier for basic TTS
- Cloud-storage integrations reduce import friction
- AI summaries and document chat can help triage long material
- Accessibility support is central to the product rather than an add-on
What to consider
- The free plan is limited to 10 standard voices, 1.5x speed and core text-to-speech
- Premium costs $29 month to month, making annual billing much more economical for regular use
- Premium natural voices have a monthly word allowance rather than unlimited use
- The temporary 1-million-word allowance is guaranteed only for calendar year 2026; the contractual baseline is 150,000 words per month
- Account sharing, automation and commercial distribution are restricted by Speechify's usage policy
- Reader, Studio and the developer API are separate products and subscriptions
- OCR can misread columns, tables, handwriting, formulas and low-quality scans
- Synthetic voices can mispronounce names, acronyms, numbers and specialized terminology
- AI summaries, chats and podcasts can omit detail or introduce errors
- Listening at very high speed is not suitable for every person or every kind of material
- Sensitive documents are processed through Speechify's service and should be evaluated against organizational privacy requirements
- Speechify can support accessibility but does not replace formally required educational or workplace accommodations
- Reader pricing does not grant broad commercial rights to redistribute generated audio; creators should use the appropriate Studio or business product
- Exact plan pricing and trials can vary by platform, region and promotion
Compare
Speechify alternatives
The right alternative depends on the specific output, workflow, controls and budget your project requires.
Students
Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM)
Choose NotebookLM when source-grounded research, document questions and generated Audio Overviews matter more than continuous read-aloud playback.
Explore Gemini Notebook (formerly NotebookLM) →Marketing
ElevenLabs
Use ElevenLabs when the goal is producing and publishing polished voice content rather than listening to personal reading material.
Explore ElevenLabs →Miscellaneous
Gemini 3.1 Flash TTS
Consider Gemini 3.1 Flash TTS when developers need a controllable speech API to build into their own application.
Explore Gemini 3.1 Flash TTS →Content Creator
Async (formerly Podcastle)
Use Async, formerly Podcastle, for an editing and production workflow centered on podcasts and creator audio.
Explore Async (formerly Podcastle) →Questions
Speechify FAQs
What does Speechify do?
Speechify reads written content aloud. It can handle web pages, PDFs, documents, ebooks, pasted text and photographed pages across browser, desktop and mobile apps.
Is Speechify free?
Yes. The Free plan includes 10 standard voices, listening across supported devices and playback up to 1.5x. Natural Premium voices and advanced AI features require a paid plan.
How much is Speechify Premium?
Speechify lists Premium at $29 per month or $139 per year. The annual price works out to about $11.58 per month but is paid upfront.
How many words can Speechify Premium read?
Speechify guarantees at least 150,000 Premium-voice words per month. For calendar year 2026, it has extended that allowance to 1 million words per month for Premium subscribers.
Can Speechify read PDFs and scanned books?
Yes. It accepts PDF and other common document formats, and its mobile Scan and Listen feature uses OCR on photographed text. Complex layouts and low-quality scans should be checked for extraction errors.
Is Speechify good for dyslexia or ADHD?
Many people with dyslexia, ADHD and other reading differences find text-to-speech and synchronized highlighting helpful. Individual needs vary, and the app should complement rather than replace any formal accommodation plan.
Is Speechify Reader the same as Speechify Studio?
No. Reader is for listening to existing text. Studio is a separate creator product for voiceovers, dubbing and downloadable commercial media, and the Speechify API is a separate developer offering.
Can I use Speechify audio commercially?
The personal Reader usage policy restricts commercial distribution without permission. Use Speechify Studio, the API or an appropriate business agreement when audio will be published, resold or broadcast.
Bottom line
Our Speechify verdict
Speechify is one of the most complete cross-device tools for people who want to listen to almost anything they would otherwise read. Its free tier is enough to test the habit, while Premium's natural voices, 5x playback, scanning and AI features make the biggest difference for daily listeners. The annual plan is far better value than monthly billing, but buyers should understand the Premium word allowance and the separate pricing and rights for Studio, API and commercial distribution.
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