text to speech app ios

Speechify Text to Speech Audio 4+

Read aloud web, docs & pdf, speechify inc., designed for ipad.

• #2 in Magazines & Newspapers
• 4.6 • 186.8K Ratings
• Offers In-App Purchases

Screenshots

Description.

Text to speech from Speechify lets you listen to docs, articles, PDFs, email, and various other formats — anything you read. With 20M+ users, it is the top rated TTS app in the AppStore. Our users have listened to over 250 billion words with Speechify. FEATURES YOU'LL LOVE • Scan OCR: Screenshot Image to Audio Find an image with text on it, no matter the length, with one click, you can easily take a screenshot and sync it to your cloud. Speechify will read the text out loud. Letters from loved ones? Scan them and turn them into audible notes. • Listen at Any Speed Our high-quality AI voices can read 4.5x faster than the average reading speed, so you can learn even more in less time. Ease into 300 words per minute & slowly increase the speed to as fast as you need it to be. • Natural-sounding Human Voices Our text to speech voices sound more fluid & human-like than any other AI reader. • Active Text Highlighting The text is highlighted and perfectly synced, word for word, with the voice reader to help you read along. Reading & listening helps you retain more. • Listen to Any Book on Your Shelf Use the app to snap a pic of a page in any book or printed material and hear it read out loud to you. Your favorite book sitting on your bookshelf? Turn it into an audiobook. • Desktop or Mobile Anything you’ve saved to your Speechify library instantly syncs across devices so you can listen to anything, anywhere, anytime. * Hundreds of Free Timeless Audiobooks Titles you get with Speechify: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll; Frankenstein by Mary Shelley; Moby Dick by Herman Melville; A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens; Ulysses by James Joyce; War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy; The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald; Great Expectations by Charles Dickens; Beowulf; Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy; The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne; Les Misérables by Victor Hugo; Walden by Henry David Thoreau; Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra Gwyneth Paltrow Uses Speechify to Listen to Scripts. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Speechify lets me listen to Goop blog posts out loud in the car and gets my friends through grad school. It's amazing for scripts." – Gwyneth Paltrow ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sir Richard Branson Loves Speechify. It helps him read with Dyslexia. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Speechify is brilliant. I’m so glad to have it today.” – Sir Richard Branson ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other Features • Note taking tools • Save audio bookmarks • Floating widget • Exemplary customer experience • Inline player seamlessly integrates into all your websites • Get hundreds of timeless audiobooks for free • Cloud sync makes for a seamless listening experience across all your devices We created Speechify so that reading is never a barrier for anyone again. Designed to help people with dyslexia, ADHD, low vision acuity, concussions, and other reading disabilities. Speechify now helps hundreds of thousands of people to consume their reading content with ease. From those with reading disabilities to auditory learners, productivity fanatics, second language learners, hobbyists, and more, we love all of our users and strive every day to create a reading assistant that empowers them to read more and succeed in life. We can't wait for you to join the family :) Install Speechify today, for free! Privacy Policy: https://speechify.com/privacy/ Terms of Service: https://speechify.com/terms/

Version 3.0.5

We update Speechify every week to make it even better. Recent improvements: - Speechify – our biggest update yet tailored to you. Add widgets to your home screen, and dive into the Explore tab. - Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow’s voices added to Speechify - Improved ability to scan anything and have it read out loud to you in 100+ human-sounding voices - Resolved High CPU usage - Critical crash fixes - Different UI/UX improvements Like the app? Rate us! Thanks to your feedback, the Speechify app is growing. Have a question? Write to us at [email protected]

Ratings and Reviews

186.8K Ratings

For Mental-Visual Learners

This is probably the only app that is critical in my life. It might sound counterintuitive for me to say that the app that lets you listen to text is for visual learners but hear (lol) me out. Research (google it) has shown that whether we are looking at images through our eyes or seeing/conjuring images in our mind's "eyes", the visual cortex becomes active. Let me rephrase, regardless of whether you're seeing things in reality, say pictures or text on a book or visualizing what you did yesterday, the same part of the gain is being used to process those "images." The way I comprehend and learn from information is by constantly forming mental images of the concepts and linking and rearranging them into a graph model in my head--this becomes slow/more difficult when I have to (using the same visual cortex) basically multi-task/process text I'm reading on a page and synthesize corresponding mental images; the same part of my brain is doing the processing for two different tasks, so my reading speed and the quality and speed of the synthesized information in my head suffer. This is where speechify comes in. Speechify lets me engage my auditory cortex, which is otherwise unused in learning (from reading), for consuming and processing the information (text) and allows me to fully engage my visual cortex for comprehension and learning. I hope this makes sense, and I'd love if people could share any supporting or conflicting research.

Grateful, grateful, grateful! Thank you!

I am SO grateful there is FINALLY a app that is capable of reading out loud for me! With ADHD, Anxiety, and learning disabilities I struggle with just getting though a page, and I love to collect books and as much information as possible with ALL the good intentions possible to read and grow! I beat myself up for buy all the things I do (reading wise) bc I struggle with getting that time and focus long enough to read. Being a single momma of three kids ages 12,6,&5 and a fur mama of a cat and dog, I am very busy. Being able to hear the information of topics I am super interested in is LIFE CHANGING! I love my audiobooks! But when wanting to read websites (just finally was able to listen/read about CBT for ADHD on a website by copy and pasting the url! Life changing!), college text books (haven’t tried this feature just yet but I plan to soon) and I am looking forward to being able to have my email read about my kids endless school stuff! I have been searching for YEARS now for something that could help me and hands down this is what I have needed! Thank you for creating this app. Also keeping this app’s add on features at a reasonable price! I will be doing the add on for the speed preference and I want to support someone who created something so user friendly and for those like me who want to grow and yet are stuck and struggle with all the personal stuff that keeps us from growing! Thank you!

Audible or Speechify?

I spent hours comparing text to speech apps, and by far, Speechify has some of the best premium HD voices. I even considered dropping Audible, so that I could pay for an unlimited amount of HD voice listening time; however, while the HD voices are great, they’re not reliable enough for me to consider them as a replacement for Audible just yet. At times, they’re slow to load or glitchy. I wasted a good 200 or so words listening to Gwyneth lisp her way through sentences as if she was lapsing into a different language. I fiddled with her speech rate trying to remedy the problem, but it was to no avail. I had to switch to Michael. Michael read through everything perfectly, but he too had trouble staying on task. Even though I had plenty of of HD listening words left, he would intermittently cut out and be replaced by the British Male speaking voice. With all things considered, this is an app worthy of downloading. It does a respectable job transferring words from pictures—better than most. Sometimes, to my astonishment, it can read my handwriting. It hasn’t crashed, and apart from the HD voices, the standard voices seem quite reliable. I like that I can earn HD words the more I listen, and that there’s enough to stay entertained with in the free version. With a bit more perfecting, Audible might find itself facing the boot in favor of this nifty little app. For now, Audible is safe from the chopping block.

Developer Response ,

Hey Manxiepoo! Thanks so much for sharing your Speechify experience. We've received reports of the Gwyneth and Narrator voices skipping words or changing into different languages. We've already reported this to our Devs Team for a review and fix. The fix wouldn't be anytime soon but we'll keep you updated once it's out. In the meantime, please choose the other HD voices. Please reach out to us via your app messaging and we're happy to refill the lost HD words due to the Gwyneth voice issue.

NOW AVAILABLE

App privacy.

The developer, Speechify Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

Data Used to Track You

The following data may be used to track you across apps and websites owned by other companies:

• Identifiers

Data Not Linked to You

The following data may be collected but it is not linked to your identity:

• Contact Info
• Diagnostics

Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

Information

English, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Malay, Norwegian Bokmål, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Ukrainian

• Premium $139.99
• Speechify Premium $159.99
• $160 Donation No premium voice $7.99
• Dyslexia Donation $79.99
• $160 Donation No HD voices $9.99
• Dyslexia Donations $29.99
• Dyslexia Donation $29.99
• Speechify Premium $139.99
• Audiobooks + Speechify TTS $249.99
• Developer Website
• App Support
• Privacy Policy

More By This Developer

Speechify Books: Read & Listen

You Might Also Like

Peech - Text to Voice Reader

Curio - Audio Journalism

Good Food: Recipe Finder

The 6 Best Free Text-to-Speech Apps for iPhone

These free text-to-speech apps will make your iPhone read out onscreen text.

Text to speech is an assistive technology that reads digital text aloud and can assist with writing and editing, improve focus, or help people who struggle to read.

These text-to-speech apps for iPhone will make your life easier, regardless of your reasons for using them.

1. Text to Speech!

This eponymous app goes the extra mile to do what it says on the tin. Simple and sleek, it offers 95 different voices and 38 languages to choose from and allows you to change the rate and pitch of the voice—giving you full control. Simply start typing inside the app, and it will begin saying the words.

Through the Settings tab at the top right, you can change all the voice and app settings to suit your needs. The app will also let you export the audio or copy the text you've written to the clipboard to paste elsewhere. Quite a cool feature of the app is that you can use it to mix into phone calls, but keep in mind that you won't hear that on your own device.

Download: Text to Speech! (Free, in-app purchases available)

2. Speak4Me

Speak4Me works much the same as Text to Speech, offering three simple tabs: one for Favorites (saved past recordings), one for the actual text to speech, and one for Settings . You can change the rate and pitch of the voice, with an array of voices to choose from and a reasonable variety of different languages available.

You can share the recordings of the audio across social messaging apps, such as WhatsApp or Messenger. Or you can save them to your device for later use.

There's a voice animation feature that doesn't add anything functionality-wise but is a nice superficial feature. There isn't an in-app way to share text to speech in phone calls, but this can be circumvented by setting your phone to loudspeaker and using the Listen button on the app for the person you're calling to hear.

Download: Speak4Me (Free, in-app purchases available)

3. Voice Aloud Reader

Voice Aloud Reader, by Marcin Olawski, is a very capable and responsive app that saves you time by reading aloud digital text from websites, books, and whatever you put into the app yourself. It has a variety of languages, but only three voices for English. While the choices for English voices may be a little limited, the app more than makes up for it with its capability and unique features.

Voice Aloud Reader has an in-built web browser, where you can search webpages and add them to the reader to be read aloud. Through the My Library tab, the app can read books and files aloud. The app comes with A Christmas Carol, Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, and Alice in Wonderland pre-loaded, but by pressing the Add icon in the top right you can import documents of your own.

This app, used in conjunction with text-to-speech for Windows software , will ensure that you're always saving time by listening to books or articles rather than having to read them.

Download: Voice Aloud Reader (Free, in-app purchases available)

Speak is very responsive and has a simplified UI that allows you to learn the app's layout within minutes. You use the central box to input words, then press the Speak button to hear them played back to you. Like with the Text to Speak! and Speak4Me apps, you can alter the pitch and speed of the audio using controls just below the Speak button.

You can Export your entire history as a CSV file or individual audio recordings. There's a good range of languages and voices available. Unfortunately, there is no ability to import books or web pages, but you can always circumvent this by copying and pasting text from a webpage or e-book.

There is also no in-app feature to use the app while on phone calls, but this can be circumvented by using a loudspeaker while on a call.

Download: Speak (Free, in-app purchases available)

5. Text to Speech: Audio Books

Text to Speech: Audio Books by Vulcan Labs is simple to navigate and responsive. It offers a great list of options for your text-to-speech needs. With the ability to import from Gallery , Camera , Text , Links , or Cloud , you can input any text from almost anywhere and have it read out to you by cutting edge AI that sounds more lifelike than the voices offered across the other apps on this list.

While the number of voices offered on the free version is quite limited, they are very lifelike, which makes listening to text feel more natural. You can play around with the speed of the playback, making the voice faster if you want to get through a block of text as quick as possible.

Texts can be categorized into Folders for easy access, and the app will highlight the word is being spoken so you can follow along. The quality of the voices offered here make this app a worthy consideration for your text-to-speech needs.

Download: Text to Speech: Audio Books (Free, subscription available)

6. Native iOS Text to Speech

iOS has a very capable native text-to-speech feature that can be enabled through Settings . This feature has a couple of different voices available for a wide variety of languages, with more available to download. You can change the speed of the text-to-speech and enable highlighting of the text being spoken to help you follow along.

It'll also Speak Words While Typing if you want, and you can enable Hold to Speak Predictions to assist you with finding the right word to text to someone.

A cool, unique feature that native iOS text-to-speech offers is the ability to add custom pronunciations, which you can spell out or dictate. You can't see a history of text you've had turned into speech, but you can always use online tools to turn text-to-speech into MP3 audio .

Turning Text Into Speech

Whatever your needs for text-to-speech, the apps featured above, as well as the native iOS text-to-speech feature, will surely suit your needs. And best of all, they're all available to use for free.

• Text To Speech

Best Text-to-Speech Apps for iPhone

Discover top iOS text-to-speech apps and ElevenLabs' advanced TTS features, including voice cloning and multilingual support.

Do you ever wish you could just lay in bed and listen to documents on your iPhone instead of reading them? 

Enter the world of iPhone text-to-speech (TTS) apps, where this wish becomes a reality. These apps are convenient and build a bridge to greater accessibility and efficiency. 

TTS is a doorway to the written word for those with visual impairments or reading difficulties. For the multitasker, it's an opportunity to digest articles or reports while on the move. 

Beyond functionality, there's a certain magic in hearing words come alive , echoing the tradition of oral storytelling in our digital era. 

As TTS technology evolves, the once robotic voices have transformed into nuanced, human-like speech. Listen to ElevenLabs' text-to-speech technology below:

With ElevenLabs, you have the capability to create voice clones that sound remarkably identical to the original.

This article brings you the best TTS apps for iOS, illustrating how they seamlessly integrate into our daily lives, changing our interaction with text one spoken word at a time.

Article Summary

• The Magic of Text-to-Speech: Explore the transformative world of iOS text-to-speech apps, where advanced AI brings written words to life with human-like speech.
• Crossing Linguistic Frontiers: Discover how multilingual capabilities in apps like ElevenLabs break language barriers, making content globally accessible.
• The Best TTS Apps for iOS: A comprehensive review of top iOS text-to-speech apps, including Voice Dream Reader, NaturalReader, and innovative offerings from ElevenLabs.
• Essential Features in TTS Apps: Insights into key features to look for in top-tier text-to-speech apps, including multilingual capabilities, voice variety, and ethical AI use.
• ElevenLabs' Cutting-Edge Technology: Delve into ElevenLabs' revolutionary features like voice cloning, extensive voice libraries, and multilingual support.

The Power of iOS Text-to-Speech Apps: Beyond Just Reading Aloud

At the heart of iOS text-to-speech apps lies an intricate blend of artificial intelligence and linguistic processing. These apps do more than merely read text aloud; they breathe life into words, turning the mundane task of reading digital content into a dynamic auditory experience. 

The evolution of these tools, spearheaded by innovations in AI, has elevated the quality of synthetic voices to a point where they closely mirror human speech, offering a more natural and engaging user interaction​.

Why Embrace TTS on Your iOS Device?

With the rise of mobile platforms, multitasking has become the norm. The modern iOS mobile operating system currently enjoys a 42% share of the global market , and TTS apps have embraced the challenge to become champions of efficiency and inclusivity. 

TTS is not just a technology for those who prefer listening over reading, they are a lifeline for individuals with visual impairments or learning disorders like dyslexia. 

The technology has opened up new horizons in accessibility , allowing everyone to consume digital content without barriers​​.

Crossing Linguistic Frontiers

Modern TTS technology, particularly on iOS, is no longer confined to a single language. Advancements in AI and machine learning have enabled the creation of synthetic speech across a vast spectrum of languages , breaking down the traditional barriers faced by polyglots and voice actors. 

This innovation is revolutionizing how we interact with digital content, allowing individuals and businesses to connect with a global audience in a more accessible, personalized, and immersive way. 

For example, take a look at this video showcasing ElevenLabs’ technology narrating गोदान (Godaan) by Munshi Premchand in the Hindi language.

Coupled with voice cloning technology , multilingual TTS not only expands the reach of content but also retains the unique vocal characteristics of the original speaker. This feature empowers creators to produce vocal content in multiple languages, ensuring a consistent and authentic voice across different linguistic contexts. 

Voice cloning optimizes recording time and enhances the personal connection with the audience, potentially increasing information retention and maintaining consistency in multi-language projects.

TTS in Action: A Spectrum of Applications for iOS

The impact of iOS TTS technology is far-reaching:

• Enhanced User Experience: The hands-free interaction enabled by TTS apps not only makes using devices more convenient but also enhances productivity, especially for professionals who rely on constant information intake and persons with disabilities.
• Seamless Multitasking: Imagine cooking a meal or jogging in the park while listening to your favorite book or catching up on work emails - TTS makes this possible.
• Revolution in Customer Service: Automated responses such as integrated API are powered by TTS technology and are transforming customer service, offering quick and efficient solutions to queries.
• A New Dimension in Gaming: Game developers are tapping into TTS to provide gamers with rich, interactive narratives, adding depth to gaming experiences.
• Educational Empowerment: For teachers and their students who are finding reading challenging, TTS is a game-changer. It also serves as an invaluable tool for language learners, aiding in pronunciation and comprehension.​

Best Text-to-Speech Apps for iOS: A Symphony of Voices

While ElevenLabs stands out as the leading expert in the realm of text-to-speech technology, we recognize and celebrate the diversity and innovation brought forth by other applications in the iOS ecosystem. 

Each app offers unique features and functionalities that cater to various needs and preferences. Here, we explore some of the most distinguished apps in the field of iOS text-to-speech.

Voice Dream Reader : A versatile TTS app offering a wide range of voices and languages, ideal for avid readers and language learners.

• NaturalReader : Known for its natural-sounding voices and ease of use, it's perfect for listening to various types of documents and web content.
• Speechify : This stands out for its ability to convert scanned text and PDFs into speech, making it great for students and professionals.
• Overcast (Podcast Player with Smart Speed) : Primarily a podcast player, it features a unique Smart Speed function for adjusting speech pace in podcasts.
• OpenAI ChatGPT (with TTS functionality) : Integrates ChatGPT's conversational AI with text-to-speech technology, providing a unique and interactive experience for iOS users.

Voice Dream Reader: A Reader’s Paradise 

Voice Dream Reader by Voice Dream LLC is more than just a TTS app; it's a comprehensive tool that caters to avid readers and language enthusiasts. Its expansive library of voices and languages sets it apart, making it an ideal choice for those who seek variety and customization. 

The app's user-friendly interface and customizable reading experience – including adjustable speed, tone, and pitch – make it a favorite among iOS users. 

Dream Reader’s ability to integrate with various file formats and cloud services further enhances its versatility, making it a reliable companion for both casual reading and academic research.

Text-to-Speech Voice Quality: Extremely High. Voice Dream Reader is praised for its high-quality voice and we found the voice quality to be quite high. Voices were natural-sounding and catered to a huge range of user preferences.

Rating: 4/5

Price: Free to use with In-App purchases available. The subscription plan starts from $59.99/year.

NaturalReader: Simplicity Meets Elegance 

Distinguishing itself with its uncluttered interface and natural-sounding voices, Natural Reader by NaturalSoft is designed for ease of use. It allows users to effortlessly convert a wide range of text formats – from documents and podcasts, to web pages – into speech. 

Its strength lies in its simplicity, making digital content accessible to everyone, including those who may be new to TTS technology. 

The app also includes features like text highlighting in sync with speech, aiding in comprehension and retention, especially beneficial for language learners and individuals with reading challenges.

Text-to-Speech Voice Quality: High. A good balance between masculine and feminine voice. The narration voices were reasonably clear and pleasantly natural.

Rating: 3/5

Price: A free plan is available. For intensive personal use, plans start at $99.50/year. Professional plans start at $129.50/year and the Ultimate plan is $199.50/year.

Speechify: The Multitasker’s Ally 

Speechify excels in delivering high-quality voice output, making it a standout text-to-speech toolchoice for students, professionals, and anyone in need of converting written text to speech on smartphones. 

Its ability to scan and convert physical documents and PDF files into audible formats is particularly noteworthy. 

This feature is a boon for users who deal with a lot of printed material, allowing them to listen to their documents on the go. 

The app's intuitive interface and customizability in terms of speech speed and voice selection make it a versatile tool for various contexts, from studying to leisurely listening on both the iPhone and Microsoft Windows web browser.

Text-to-Speech Voice Quality: Exceptional. Speechify delivers outstandingly clear and articulate dictation. While the app excels in its range of functionalities, the voice quality stands out as well. Even the free voices offer a high level of clarity and naturalness, with the premium voices providing an even more refined and lifelike listening experience.

Rating: 5/5

Price: A free version is available including 10 free English voices. A paid subscription to Speechify is $139/year and includes different voices, different accents, 20 languages (including Russian, Portuguese, and Spanish), and 5 reading speeds. 

Speech Air: Note-Taking and OCR Combined

Speech Air by Wzp is a standout in the realm of iOS text-to-speech apps, particularly for its innovative integration of note-taking and OCR (Optical Character Recognition) capabilities for iPad. 

This app excels in its ability to convert textin extracting text from images, enabling users to effortlessly convert printed material from diverse sources – be it news articles, books, or text-laden images – into the narrator’s voice spoken words. Its simplicity shines through in its user-friendly interface, complete with handy widgets, making it accessible and easy to navigate. 

Ideal for students, professionals, or anyone in need of an efficient way to transform written contentvisual text such as word documents into audible format, Speech Air combines practicality with a variety of voicestechnological sophistication, making it a valuable addition to the toolbox of any iOS user.

Text-to-Speech Voice Quality: Extremely High. The Speech Air narration quality is clear and understandable. Even though the defining feature of this application is the integration of image to text, the voice quality is also quite remarkable. Expect higher quality from the premium paid voices. 

Price: Free to download and use. There are various micro-transactions to purchase more advanced features and voices. 

OpenAI ChatGPT: Revolutionizing Conversational AI 

The latest entrant in the iOS TTS landscape is OpenAI’s ChatGPT , which integrates the prowess of ChatGPT with text-to-speech capabilities. 

This app combines the conversational intelligence of ChatGPT with advanced speech generation, offering a unique and interactive TTS experience. 

Users can engage in conversations, ask questions, and receive responses in a natural, human-like voice. 

The app's ability to understand and generate speech in real-time makes it a groundbreaking tool for various applications, from education and customer service to personal entertainment.

Text-to-Speech Voice Quality: Excellent. The ChatGPT TTS feature adds incredible functionality to what is already an innovative platform. We were pleasantly surprised to find that in addition to the impressive generative AI features of ChatGPT, the TTS narration voices are clear, smooth, and excellent in quality.

Price: At the time of writing, the TTS feature on the ChatGPT mobile application is only available to those with a ChatGPT Plus subscription. The Plus plan is $20/month. OpenAI has indicated they are preparing to roll the feature out to free accounts in the near future.

What Technology to Look for in an Excellent Text-to-Speech Platform

In the quest for the most effective text-to-speech (TTS) platform, ElevenLabs emerges as a leader, offering a suite of groundbreaking features. 

At its core, ElevenLabs' technology is about generating lifelike, emotive speech in any language, harnessing the full power of AI for a context-aware auditory experience. 

The platform's ability to recognize text nuances creates synthetic human voiceovers that are not just accurate in intonation and resonance but also deliver crystal clear audio transcription at 128 kbps for a premium listening experience.

With ElevenLabs, users can effortlessly generate long-form content without quality compromise, explore a diverse and dynamic voice library, and even fine-tune voice outputs for precise delivery. 

The platform's commitment to emotional range, multilingual capability, and voice variety, alongside an ethical approach to voice AI generation, sets a new standard in the generation of TTS audio fileslandscape. 

Whether it's precision voice tuning, effective punctuation interpretation, or context and speaker profile matching, ElevenLabs provides an unparalleled tool for anyone looking to enhance their digital content with authentic and expressive voice technology.

Let’s take a look at the standout features you should expect to see in a text-to-speech platform in the digital soundscape:

Multilingual Capability and Translation: Breaking Linguistic Boundaries

Image: ElevenLabs

In a world resplendent with diversity, where over 6,900 unique languages weave the rich tapestry of global communication , ElevenLabs has made a groundbreaking move with the launch of Multilingual v2 . 

This foundational AI speech model embraces this diversity by supporting nearly 30 languages, marking a significant step towards bridging linguistic divides.

This advancement marks a significant stride in eliminating linguistic barriers, allowing content creators across various industries to enhance the accessibility of their offerings globally​.

The new multilingual voice generation model from ElevenLabs is capable of producing emotionally rich AI audio in a broad spectrum of languages, offering unprecedented authenticity. 

By integrating in-house research on human speech markers, ElevenLabs has developed mechanisms for understanding context and conveying emotions in speech generation, which ensures that the synthetic voices are not just linguistically accurate but also emotionally resonant​.

The Eleven Multilingual v2 model can automatically identify nearly 30 written languages and generate speech with maintained voice characteristics across all languages. 

This includes maintaining the original accent in different languages, thus offering creators the ability to use the same voice across diverse linguistic content. 

The languages supported include but are not limited to Chinese, Korean, Dutch, Turkish, and many more, encompassing a wide geographical spread from Europe to Asia and the Middle East​.

Looking to the future, ElevenLabs plans to introduce mechanisms for voice sharing on the platform, fostering human-AI collaboration and further expanding the scope of multilingual applications . 

This vision is in line with ElevenLabs' mission to make content universally accessible in any language and in any voice, ultimately aiming to eliminate linguistic barriers and enhance creativity, innovation, and diversity.

By reducing the cost and resources required to create high-quality audio content in multiple languages, ElevenLabs is enabling a more imaginative and culturally resonant content creation process. 

This technology provides significant benefits to various sectors, including gaming, education, and content creation for visually impaired or learning-challenged individuals, by supplementing visual content with speech in multiple languages​.

A Voice Library: The Heart of Versatile TTS Applications

A key feature to look for in an outstanding text-to-speech softwareplatform is an extensive and versatile voice library . ElevenLabs exemplifies this with its Voice Library, a groundbreaking community space where users can generate, share, and explore an almost infinite range of voices. 

Leveraging their proprietary Voice Design tool , the library offers a global collection of vocal styles, each unique, crisp, and lifelike, with parameters like age, gender, and accent customizable for a wide array of applications​.

The Voice Library at ElevenLabs is both a repository of voices and a dynamic community platform fostering discovery and sharing. 

Users can contribute their created voices, enriching the library and aiding others in finding the perfect voice for various applications, from audiobooks to video game characters. 

This participatory model not only encourages creativity but also rewards users when their voices are utilized by others, creating an ecosystem of shared resources and mutual benefits​.

Additionally, the library is equipped with features like sorting for the most-used or top-trending voices, aiding in identifying popular choices that resonate with the community. 

ElevenLabs plans to expand these features, introducing more labels, language-specific voices, and enhanced discovery tools to make the voice selection process even smoother and more effective​.

Voice Conversion: The Art of Authentic Replication in Text-to-Speech

Voice conversion technology, particularly as developed by ElevenLabs, stands as a vital aspect of what makes a text-to-speech (TTS) app exceptional. 

At ElevenLabs, voice conversion is executed through a sophisticated process known as voice cloning , which involves encoding a target voice to generate speech that matches the target speaker's identity while preserving the original intonation​.

This technology has revolutionary potential across various industries. It can optimize production time and costs and enables content creators to earn passive income through sharing their voices. 

Its applications range from filmmaking, where actors can share voice databases to create audio tracks remotely, to medicine, where it can help patients who have lost their ability to speak to communicate again in their own voice. 

In the realm of gaming, advertising, and educational content, voice conversion enriches the user experience by providing authentic, personalized audio content​.

ElevenLabs is also developing an identity-preserving automatic dubbing tool as part of their voice conversion software. This tool aims to make spoken content accessible across languages while maintaining the original speaker’s voice, creating a more immersive and entertaining way of engaging with content across different languages . 

Voice cloning here preserves the speaker's identity, while voice conversion ensures the preservation of emotions, intent, and style of delivery for maximum immersion​.

The process of voice conversion is analogous to face-swapping apps. It involves mapping the "atoms" of speech - phonemes - of the target speech and using them to render the source speech content. 

This ensures that the speech remains authentic to the target voice, balancing between preserving the emotional charge of the source speech and the distinct characteristics of the target voice​.

However, ethical concerns surrounding voice cloning and conversion are paramount. ElevenLabs addresses these concerns by implementing safeguards against misuse and supporting voice owners and licensors in claiming their rights. 

Our commitment to ethical use is reflected in their terms of service and content production protocols, ensuring that the technology is used responsibly​.

Elevating Digital Communication with ElevenLabs

Our journey through the world of iOS text-to-speech apps reveals a transformative digital landscape where technology bridges gaps, enhances accessibility, and enriches our daily interactions. 

From the versatile Voice Dream Reader to the advanced capabilities of ElevenLabs, these apps offer more than just convenience; they are a testament to human ingenuity and technological advancement.

As we embrace the future of text-to-speech technology, ElevenLabs stands out as a beacon of innovation. 

With our groundbreaking Multilingual v2, extensive Voice Library, and cutting-edge voice conversion technology, ElevenLabs is not just leading the way but redefining the boundaries of what's possible in voice AI. 

Our commitment to ethical use, combined with a vision to make content universally accessible, positions them at the forefront of this technological evolution.

Discover the possibilities with ElevenLabs’ state-of-the-art text-to-speech technology, sign up to be a part of this revolutionary community, and explore the future of digital voice at ElevenLabs Text-to-Speech, sign-up , and discover more insights with the ElevenLabs blog . 

Join us in shaping a world where every voice is heard, in every language, in every corner of the globe.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: what makes a text-to-speech app exceptional for ios users .

An exceptional text-to-speech app for iOS should offer high-quality, natural-sounding voices, multilingual capabilities, ease of use, and versatile features like voice cloning and customization. 

ElevenLabs sets a high standard in these areas with its advanced text-to-speech technology and extensive range of services.

Q: How does ElevenLabs enhance the text-to-speech experience with voice cloning? 

ElevenLabs takes text-to-speech to the next level with voice cloning technology . This allows users to create digital copies of real voices, offering a highly personalized and authentic listening experience. 

Voice cloning is ideal for content creators seeking to maintain a consistent voice across their digital offerings.

Q: Can ElevenLabs' text-to-speech technology support multiple languages? 

Yes, ElevenLabs' text-to-speech technology supports nearly 30 languages, making it an incredibly versatile tool for global content creation. 

Their multilingual capabilities ensure that users can produce content in various languages while maintaining high-quality, natural-sounding audio.

Q: What are some innovative uses of text-to-speech technology in different industries? 

Text-to-speech technology has diverse applications across industries, from creating immersive gaming experiences and enhancing educational content to revolutionizing customer service with automated responses. 

ElevenLabs provide insights and examples of these innovative uses on our blog .

Q: What are the ethical considerations in using text-to-speech technology, particularly voice cloning? 

Ethical considerations are crucial, especially in voice cloning. ElevenLabs prioritizes responsible use of technology , ensuring that voice cloning is done with consent and for legitimate purposes. 

They implement safeguards to prevent misuse and respect voice owners' rights, demonstrating a commitment to ethical technology use.

Try ElevenLabs today

How to use text-to-speech on iPhone and iPad

This guide will go over built-in methods and free third-party apps to turn text into speech on your iPhone and iPad.

1. Use Apple’s Speech Selection

All recent iPhones, iPads, and Macs have a built-in accessibility feature that lets you hear selected text. This system-wide setting works in Notes, Safari, Chrome, Pages, Mail, Gmail, Messages, and almost all other apps where you can select text.

Here’s how to use the Speak Selection feature on iPhone and iPad:

• Open the Settings app and tap Accessibility .
• Tap Spoken Content and turn on the switch for Speak Selection .
• Now, open Notes, Safari, Mail, or another app and select the text you want your iPhone or iPad to speak.
• Finally, tap Speak from the thin menu strip.

Your device will speak that text. You can use it to hear one word, a paragraph of several sentences, or multiple paragraphs — as long as the text is selected.

If you do not like the voice and the rate at which your iPhone or iPad speaks, head back to the Settings app > Accessibility > Spoken Content. From here, tap Voice to pick another voice. You can also adjust the Speaking Rate and explore other settings to your liking.

2. Use Live Speech on iOS 17 and later

Live Speech is yet another accessibility feature on iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 that allows you to type something and have your iPhone or iPad speak it. What makes it unique is that you can use Live Speech even on a phone call.

In addition to that, you can create your Personal Voice and set that as your Live Speech voice, after which whatever you type will be spoken in YOUR voice ! It’s brilliant, and you should learn more about both Live Speech and Personal Voice !

3. Use Safari

Safari has a built-in option that can read web articles to you. So, if you have a lengthy research paper to read, go through a news item, or just want to listen to a tutorial while you follow the steps, your browser can easily handle that.

Here’s how to have web articles read to you in Safari:

• Open Safari on your iPhone or iPad and visit the article you want to read.
• Tap the AA button in the URL address bar.
• Choose Listen to Page , and Safari will start reading the contents of this webpage to you.
• You can re-tap the AA icon and pick Listening Controls to pause, skip, change the speaking rate, or end listening.

4. Use iOS Shortcuts

You can convert custom text or web articles to speech using free Siri shortcuts. Here are two such options from Apple’s own shortcuts gallery.

• Open the Shortcuts app and tap Gallery .
• Use the search bar to find Turn Text Into Audio & Speak Body of Article shortcuts and add them.

• Now, tap the Turn Text Into Audio shortcut, type or paste the text you want to convert to speech, and tap Done , followed by the play button . This reader shortcut will speak what you entered.

• To use Speak Body of Article , open a web page in Safari or Chrome, tap the Share button , and select Speak Body of Article . The shortcut will read the main content of that web article. However, you won’t see an option to pause it, and the only way to stop it midway is to force close the browser !

5. Use Google

Google has several handy tricks up its sleeves, and here are two you must know about!

Use it for word pronunciation

While you can’t follow this method to hear long phrases or sentences, you can use it for situations where you want to know the meaning of a word as well as hear how it’s pronounced.

• Visit Google.com in a web browser like Safari or Chrome.
• Type the word and search for it. For some words, you may also have to add ‘ meaning .’ For instance, freemium meaning .
• Tap the tiny speaker icon to listen to its pronunciation.

Listen to web articles

Just like Safari, the Google app on iPhone and iPad (not Google.com in a web browser) can read articles to you. Here’s how:

• Get the Google app and visit the news, tutorial, or other such web page. Make sure the page loads fully.
• Tap the three dots menu icon from the top right and choose Read Aloud .
• Google will read the article, and you can manage its playback using the on-screen controls. To change the reading speed and voice, tap the three dots icon and customize it accordingly.

6. Use text-to-speech iOS apps

Finally, we come to free and freemium apps from the iOS App Store that can convert text to speech. You can use them to listen to pronunciations, have them read long PDFs and articles to you, or even export text as audio files.

Text to Speech

• Simple, quick, free, and ad-free

What I love about this app is its simplicity and chat-like interface that makes it effortless to use. Simply type the word or sentence and hit the Speak button. It will convert text to speak. You can further customize the settings by tapping the gear button from the top.

Download Text to Speech

Text to Speech: Voice Reader

• Export text as an audio file

This app is amazing as it does what it advertises. In addition to reading the text you ask it to, the app can also convert those text to audio and allows you to export it as a mp3 file ! It is super convenient if you want to use text-to-voice for simple YouTube tutorials and such.

Download Text to Speech: Voice Reader

Text to Speech!

• Listen to text or export audio

Text to Speech iPhone and iPad app by Gwyn Durbridge has a nice clean interface where you can type or paste your text and have it spoken to you as well as export it as an audio file in m4a, mp3, wav, or caf formats. You can also save your text (phrases) for later .

Download Text to Speech!

Text to Speech PDF Reader

• Have PDFs read out to you

You can add a PDF to this app from your iPhone or iPad’s Files app, and TTS PDF will read out the contents of that document. It also gives you the option to change the voice speed, pitch, etc.

Download TTS PDF

Voice Aloud Reader

• It will read books to you

Have you downloaded books and documents in epub , pdf , rtf , or such formats? You can add them to the Voice Aloud Reader, and it will read that book to you .

Download Voice Aloud Reader

Other honorable mentions

• TextToSpeech : It’s yet another clean app with lots of features. One in particular that I like is its ability to save the text of a web article from the browser Share Sheet. You can come back later inside this app to listen to the saved web article.
• Speechify : It has lots of high-quality voice options, and a subscription unlocks voices like those of Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow.
• Peech : Peech is a well-built iOS app where you can add custom text, files (PDF, Word, etc.), scans, or web URLs and the app will read out the contents.
• Natural Reader : It has a clean interface, and the voice it reads out to you feels very human-like. It’s worth a try.
• Text To Speech: Natural Voices : Text to Speech saves your recent text-to-speech phrases and sentences and allows you to replay them in a couple of taps. Handy for listening to long custom text in breaks.
• AIVoice : AIVoice has the option to generate audio from text and also helps you make a video.
• TTS : It offers a huge list of voice options with easy controls on the text-to-speech player screen.
• Speak4me : Finally, we have Speak4me, where you can scan a document with the in-app camera, and it will read out the contents.

Check out next: How to turn a PDF into an audiobook or have your computer read it out

• Productivity

Best text to speech for iPhone

Table of Contents

If you own an iPhone and are looking for only the best Text-to-Speech apps, we've curated the best that apps that are available for iPhone. See the list.

In today’s tech-driven world, smartphones are our constant companions, and for iPhone users, Apple offers an array of innovative features that promote accessibility and usability. One such feature is the powerful text-to-speech capability, integrated seamlessly across iOS devices. With a myriad of applications and potential uses, this tool empowers users to transform written content into spoken words, catering to various needs and preferences. In this article, we’ll delve into the best text to speech for iPhones, exploring how it works, its benefits, and how you can make the most of it across different scenarios.

Understanding Text-to-Speech on iOS

Apple’s commitment to accessibility shines through its robust text-to-speech capabilities. This feature, available across iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch devices, allows your device to “speak” selected text out loud. It’s a game-changer for individuals with visual impairments, learning disabilities, or anyone seeking a hands-free way to consume content.

Enabling Text-to-Speech

To utilize this feature, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content . Here, you’ll find options like Speak Selection and Speak Screen . Speak Selection enables you to highlight text in various apps and tap “Speak” from the pop-up menu to have it read aloud. You can adjust the Speaking Rate to find a pace that suits you best.

Speak Screen , on the other hand, takes text-to-speech a step further. Upon activation, a two-finger swipe down from the top of the screen initiates playback of the entire onscreen content. This is particularly handy for long articles, web pages, or eBooks.

Taking Advantage of Different Voices and Pronunciations

Apple devices offer a variety of high-quality voices, each available in different accents and languages. To explore and select different voices, head to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Voices . This allows you to customize your text-to-speech experience, making it not only functional but also engaging and personalized.

For those seeking absolute accuracy, you can even fine-tune pronunciations. Under Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Pronunciations , you can add phonetic spellings to ensure the text is spoken correctly.

Integrating Text-to-Speech Across Apps

The text-to-speech feature isn’t limited to Apple’s native apps. It extends its functionality to third-party apps, including Safari, iMessage, and even podcast apps. While reading articles in Safari, simply highlight the desired text and tap the Speak button from the pop-up menu. This is a game-changer for multitasking, as you can listen to content while navigating other apps or performing tasks.

Unlocking Multilingual Abilities and Accessibility Features

Apple’s text-to-speech isn’t restricted to English. It boasts an impressive range of supported languages, making it an invaluable tool for users around the world. Additionally, the feature extends its capabilities to other accessibility features like VoiceOver , which provides audio descriptions of onscreen elements, enhancing the overall user experience.

The Future of Text-to-Speech

With each iOS update, Apple continues to refine and enhance its text-to-speech functionality. iOS 16, for example, might bring new shortcuts and integration possibilities, opening up even more doors for users to leverage this feature in creative ways.

Exploring Text-to-Speech Apps

While Apple’s built-in text-to-speech is robust, some users might require more advanced features. The App Store offers a variety of third-party text-to-speech apps, some of which specialize in specific scenarios. From reading PDF files aloud to highlighting content in Chrome, these apps cater to a diverse range of needs.

Apple’s commitment to accessibility through text-to-speech on its iOS devices is undeniably transformative. By empowering users to consume content audibly, regardless of disabilities or preferences, it’s a prime example of technology’s potential to bridge gaps and enrich lives. Whether you’re catching up on your favorite blogs, listening to educational podcasts, or getting through a lengthy PDF, text-to-speech on your iPhone opens up a world of possibilities that truly redefine how we interact with information.

Use Speechify Text to Speech to integrate seamlessly

Speechify stands out as the ultimate text-to-speech solution for iPhone users, offering unparalleled convenience and versatility. What sets Speechify apart is its seamless integration across various platforms, including Android, Mac, and even Siri. With its intuitive interface, Speechify lets you access its functionality right from your home screen. The compatibility with MacOS, Windows, and Apple Watch ensures that you can engage with your content effortlessly, no matter the device. From audiobooks to highlighting content, Speechify excels in providing a comprehensive experience. The synchronization with iCloud and iPadOS guarantees that your preferences and progress seamlessly transfer between devices. The feature-rich nature of Speechify extends to phone calls and text messages, with its speech controller enabling hands-free interaction. Typing feedback and the ability to “speak on touch” make it a standout among the best text-to-speech apps available. For those seeking the finest in text-to-speech technology, Speechify is the answer, offering a harmonious blend of convenience, functionality, and user-centric design.

• Previous The 5 best alternatives to ReadSpeaker
• Next The benefits of reading to children

Tyler Weitzman

Tyler Weitzman is the Co-Founder, Head of Artificial Intelligence & President at Speechify, the #1 text-to-speech app in the world, totaling over 100,000 5-star reviews. Weitzman is a graduate of Stanford University, where he received a BS in mathematics and a MS in Computer Science in the Artificial Intelligence track. He has been selected by Inc. Magazine as a Top 50 Entrepreneur, and he has been featured in Business Insider, TechCrunch, LifeHacker, CBS, among other publications. Weitzman’s Masters degree research focused on artificial intelligence and text-to-speech, where his final paper was titled: “CloneBot: Personalized Dialogue-Response Predictions.”

Recent Blogs

Is Text to Speech HSA Eligible?

Can You Use an HSA for Speech Therapy?

Surprising HSA-Eligible Items

Ultimate guide to ElevenLabs

Voice changer for Discord

How to download YouTube audio

Speechify 3.0 is the Best Text to Speech App Yet.

Voice API: Everything You Need to Know

Best text to speech generator apps

The best AI tools other than ChatGPT

Top voice over marketplaces reviewed

Speechify Studio vs. Descript

Everything to Know About Google Cloud Text to Speech API

Source of Joe Biden deepfake revealed after election interference

How to listen to scientific papers

How to add music to CapCut

What is CapCut?

VEED vs. InVideo

Speechify Studio vs. Kapwing

Voices.com vs. Voice123

Voices.com vs. Fiverr Voice Over

Fiverr voice overs vs. Speechify Voice Over Studio

Voices.com vs. Speechify Voice Over Studio

Voice123 vs. Speechify Voice Over Studio

Voice123 vs. Fiverr voice overs

HeyGen vs. Synthesia

Hour One vs. Synthesia

HeyGen vs. Hour One

Speechify makes Google’s Favorite Chrome Extensions of 2023 list

How to Add a Voice Over to Vimeo Video: A Comprehensive Guide

Speechify text to speech helps you save time

Popular blogs.

The Best Celebrity Voice Generators in 2024

YouTube Text to Speech: Elevating Your Video Content with Speechify

The 7 best alternatives to Synthesia.io

Everything you need to know about text to speech on tiktok, the 10 best text-to-speech apps for android.

How to convert a PDF to speech

The top girl voice changers.

How to use Siri text to speech

Obama text to speech, robot voice generators: the futuristic frontier of audio creation, pdf read aloud: free & paid options, alternatives to fakeyou text to speech, all about deepfake voices, tiktok voice generator.

Text to speech GoAnimate

The best celebrity text to speech voice generators.

PDF Audio Reader

How to get text to speech indian voices, elevating your anime experience with anime voice generators, best text to speech online, top 50 movies based on books you should read, download audio.

How to use text-to-speech for Quandale Dingle meme sounds

Only available on iPhone and iPad

To access our catalog of 100,000+ audiobooks, you need to use an iOS device.

Coming to Android soon...

Join the waitlist

Enter your email and we will notify you as soon as Speechify Audiobooks is available for you.

You’ve been added to the waitlist. We will notify you as soon as Speechify Audiobooks is available for you.

Best text-to-speech software of 2024

Boosting accessibility and productivity

• Best overall
• Best realism
• Best for developers
• Best for podcasting
• How we test

The best text-to-speech software makes it simple and easy to convert text to voice for accessibility or for productivity applications.

1. Best overall 2. Best realism 3. Best for developers 4. Best for podcasting 5. Best for developers 6. FAQs 7. How we test

Finding the best text-to-speech software is key for anyone looking to transform written text into spoken words, whether for accessibility purposes, productivity enhancement, or creative applications like voice-overs in videos. 

Text-to-speech (TTS) technology relies on sophisticated algorithms to model natural language to bring written words to life, making it easier to catch typos or nuances in written content when it's read aloud. So, unlike the best speech-to-text apps and best dictation software , which focus on converting spoken words into text, TTS software specializes in the reverse process: turning text documents into audio. This technology is not only efficient but also comes with a variety of tools and features. For those creating content for platforms like YouTube , the ability to download audio files is a particularly valuable feature of the best text-to-speech software.

While some standard office programs like Microsoft Word and Google Docs offer basic TTS tools, they often lack the comprehensive functionalities found in dedicated TTS software. These basic tools may provide decent accuracy and basic options like different accents and languages, but they fall short in delivering the full spectrum of capabilities available in specialized TTS software.

To help you find the best text-to-speech software for your specific needs, TechRadar Pro has rigorously tested various software options, evaluating them based on user experience, performance, output quality, and pricing. This includes examining the best free text-to-speech software as well, since many free options are perfect for most users. We've brought together our picks below to help you choose the most suitable tool for your specific needs, whether for personal use, professional projects, or accessibility requirements.

The best text-to-speech software of 2024 in full:

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the entries on our best text-to-speech software list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best text-to-speech software overall

1. NaturalReader

Our expert review:

Reasons to buy

Reasons to avoid.

If you’re looking for a cloud-based speech synthesis application, you should definitely check out NaturalReader. Aimed more at personal use, the solution allows you to convert written text such as Word and PDF documents, ebooks and web pages into human-like speech.  

Because the software is underpinned by cloud technology, you’re able to access it from wherever you go via a smartphone, tablet or computer. And just like Capti Voice, you can upload documents from cloud storage lockers such as Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive.  

Currently, you can access 56 natural-sounding voices in nine different languages, including American English, British English, French, Spanish, German, Swedish, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch. The software supports PDF, TXT, DOC(X), ODT, PNG, JPG, plus non-DRM EPUB files and much more, along with MP3 audio streams. 

There are three different products: online, software, and commercial. Both the online and software products have a free tier.

Read our full NaturalReader review .

• ^ Back to the top

The best text-to-speech software for realistic voices

Specializing in voice synthesis technology, Murf uses AI to generate realistic voiceovers for a range of uses, from e-learning to corporate presentations. 

Murf comes with a comprehensive suite of AI tools that are easy to use and straightforward to locate and access. There's even a Voice Changer feature that allows you to record something before it is transformed into an AI-generated voice- perfect if you don't think you have the right tone or accent for a piece of audio content but would rather not enlist the help of a voice actor. Other features include Voice Editing, Time Syncing, and a Grammar Assistant.

The solution comes with three pricing plans to choose from: Basic, Pro and Enterprise. The latter of these options may be pricey but some with added collaboration and account management features that larger companies may need access to. The Basic plan starts at around $19 / £17 / AU$28 per month but if you set up a yearly plan that will drop to around $13 / £12 / AU$20 per month. You can also try the service out for free for up to 10 minutes, without downloads.

The best text-to-speech software for developers

3. Amazon Polly

Alexa isn’t the only artificial intelligence tool created by tech giant Amazon as it also offers an intelligent text-to-speech system called Amazon Polly. Employing advanced deep learning techniques, the software turns text into lifelike speech. Developers can use the software to create speech-enabled products and apps. 

It sports an API that lets you easily integrate speech synthesis capabilities into ebooks, articles and other media. What’s great is that Polly is so easy to use. To get text converted into speech, you just have to send it through the API, and it’ll send an audio stream straight back to your application. 

You can also store audio streams as MP3, Vorbis and PCM file formats, and there’s support for a range of international languages and dialects. These include British English, American English, Australian English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Dutch, Danish and Russian. 

Polly is available as an API on its own, as well as a feature of the AWS Management Console and command-line interface. In terms of pricing, you’re charged based on the number of text characters you convert into speech. This is charged at approximately $16 per1 million characters , but there is a free tier for the first year.

The best text-to-speech software for podcasting

In terms of its library of voice options, it's hard to beat Play.ht as one of the best text-to-speech software tools. With almost 600 AI-generated voices available in over 60 languages, it's likely you'll be able to find a voice to suit your needs. 

Although the platform isn't the easiest to use, there is a detailed video tutorial to help users if they encounter any difficulties. All the usual features are available, including Voice Generation and Audio Analytics. 

In terms of pricing, Play.ht comes with four plans: Personal, Professional, Growth, and Business. These range widely in price, but it depends if you need things like commercial rights and affects the number of words you can generate each month. 

The best text-to-speech software for Mac and iOS

5. Voice Dream Reader

There are also plenty of great text-to-speech applications available for mobile devices, and Voice Dream Reader is an excellent example. It can convert documents, web articles and ebooks into natural-sounding speech. 

The app comes with 186 built-in voices across 30 languages, including English, Arabic, Bulgarian, Catalan, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese and Korean. 

You can get the software to read a list of articles while you drive, work or exercise, and there are auto-scrolling, full-screen and distraction-free modes to help you focus. Voice Dream Reader can be used with cloud solutions like Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud Drive, Pocket, Instapaper and Evernote. 

The best text-to-speech software: FAQs

What is the best text-to-speech software for youtube.

If you're looking for the best text-to-speech software for YouTube videos or other social media platforms, you need a tool that lets you extract the audio file once your text document has been processed. Thankfully, that's most of them. So, the real trick is to select a TTS app that features a bountiful choice of natural-sounding voices that match the personality of your channel. 

What’s the difference between web TTS services and TTS software?

Web TTS services are hosted on a company or developer website. You’ll only be able to access the service if the service remains available at the whim of a provider or isn’t facing an outage.

TTS software refers to downloadable desktop applications that typically won’t rely on connection to a server, meaning that so long as you preserve the installer, you should be able to use the software long after it stops being provided. 

Do I need a text-to-speech subscription?

Subscriptions are by far the most common pricing model for top text-to-speech software. By offering subscription models for, companies and developers benefit from a more sustainable revenue stream than they do from simply offering a one-time purchase model. Subscription models are also attractive to text-to-speech software providers as they tend to be more effective at defeating piracy.

Free software options are very rarely absolutely free. In some cases, individual voices may be priced and sold individually once the application has been installed or an account has been created on the web service.

How can I incorporate text-to-speech as part of my business tech stack?

Some of the text-to-speech software that we’ve chosen come with business plans, offering features such as additional usage allowances and the ability to have a shared workspace for documents. Other than that, services such as Amazon Polly are available as an API for more direct integration with business workflows.

Small businesses may find consumer-level subscription plans for text-to-speech software to be adequate, but it’s worth mentioning that only business plans usually come with the universal right to use any files or audio created for commercial use.

How to choose the best text-to-speech software

When deciding which text-to-speech software is best for you, it depends on a number of factors and preferences. For example, whether you’re happy to join the ecosystem of big companies like Amazon in exchange for quality assurance, if you prefer realistic voices, and how much budget you’re playing with. It’s worth noting that the paid services we recommend, while reliable, are often subscription services, with software hosted via websites, rather than one-time purchase desktop apps. 

Also, remember that the latest versions of Microsoft Word and Google Docs feature basic text-to-speech as standard, as well as most popular browsers. So, if you have access to that software and all you’re looking for is a quick fix, that may suit your needs well enough. 

How we test the best text-to-speech software

We test for various use cases, including suitability for use with accessibility issues, such as visual impairment, and for multi-tasking. Both of these require easy access and near instantaneous processing. Where possible, we look for integration across the entirety of an operating system , and for fair usage allowances across free and paid subscription models.

At a minimum, we expect an intuitive interface and intuitive software. We like bells and whistles such as realistic voices, but we also appreciate that there is a place for products that simply get the job done. Here, the question that we ask can be as simple as “does this piece of software do what it's expected to do when asked?”

Read more on how we test, rate, and review products on TechRadar .

Get in touch

• Want to find out about commercial or marketing opportunities? Click here
• Out of date info, errors, complaints or broken links? Give us a nudge
• Got a suggestion for a product or service provider? Message us directly
• You've reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

John (He/Him) is the Components Editor here at TechRadar and he is also a programmer, gamer, activist, and Brooklyn College alum currently living in Brooklyn, NY. 

Named by the CTA as a CES 2020 Media Trailblazer for his science and technology reporting, John specializes in all areas of computer science, including industry news, hardware reviews, PC gaming, as well as general science writing and the social impact of the tech industry.

You can find him online on Threads @johnloeffler.

Currently playing: Baldur's Gate 3 (just like everyone else).

• Luke Hughes Staff Writer
• Steve Clark B2B Editor - Creative & Hardware

Adobe Dreamweaver (2024) review

Adobe Character Animator (2024) review

Cozy Earth Silk Pillow review

Most Popular

By Barclay Ballard February 28, 2024

By Barclay Ballard February 27, 2024

By Krishi Chowdhary February 26, 2024

By Barclay Ballard February 26, 2024

By Barclay Ballard February 24, 2024

By Barclay Ballard February 23, 2024

By Barclay Ballard February 22, 2024

By Barclay Ballard February 21, 2024

• 2 Everything new on Max in April 2024
• 3 In praise of Google Keep: an ode to the digital notebook for modern minds
• 4 Not a joke: LG's stunning C3 OLED TV drops to a record-low price at Best Buy
• 5 It's good that PC gaming is less convenient than console gaming
• 2 Gear up for the AI gaming revolution with AORUS 16X and GIGABYTE G6X
• 3 This neat iPhone camera trick will let you take pictures using nothing but your voice
• 4 Samsung can't blame Apple's iPhone monopoly for a lifetime of terrible software
• 5 I lived with Samsung’s S95D QD-OLED TV for a week, and it’s a game changer

7 Best Text To Speech iPhone Apps In 2024

Searching for the best text-to-speech iPhone apps? See our top 7 picks that make converting text to speech a breeze, plus they’re free!

Are you always on the go and struggling to find time to read? Do you wish you could be more productive while driving, working out, or doing chores? Are you a slow reader or need help with reading? If so, you're in luck! 

Text-to-speech (TTS) apps for iPhone are a game-changer, allowing you to convert written text into spoken words to communicate more effectively, stay productive, learn better, function at school and work at your best. 

But with so many text-to-speech iPhone apps available, it can be tricky to find the best one for your needs. That's why we've compiled the 7 Best Text To Speech Apps for iPhone in 2024.

And if you want to learn more about what's new in assistive technology, connect with Nagish to get the latest! 

If you want a deeper dive and learn more about this type of assistive technology, make sure to read this section:

What Do Text To Speech Apps Do?

How does tts work, what other uses does tts offer.

Or jump right into The 7 Best Text To Speech Apps for iPhone in 2024.

Text-to-speech (TTS) apps are assistive technology that reads digital text aloud, sometimes called "read aloud" technology, converting words on a screen into audio. 

Text-To-Speech apps (TTS) can also help reduce screen time and increase efficiency and productivity, and who doesn't want that? 

From reading a web page, email, or google docs, text-to-voice technology can turn anything into podcast-like audio in a natural-sounding voice, where you can even control the play speed, making it a helpful tool for those who struggle with reading or learn more effectively by listening. 

Caption your calls for free

Text-to-voice apps read aloud any text displayed on a computer, tablet, or phone screen using a computer-generated voice that can be sped up or slowed down for improved comprehension. 

The software uses "text analysis" to break down the written text into smaller parts, such as individual words, sentences, and paragraphs. The software then applies linguistic rules and algorithms to create natural-sounding speech, converting text into audio signals that a speaker or headphones can playback.

​​TTS technology has advanced significantly in recent years, producing highly realistic and lifelike voices that come very close to the sound of human speech. 

TTS technology is an incredibly versatile tool that enhances productivity, accessibility, and learning in various settings. 

With the help of TTS apps, you can easily listen to emails, news articles, and other written content while doing other tasks that would otherwise make it difficult to read. 

For example, you can use a TTS app while driving to listen to emails or documents hands-free without taking your eyes off the road. Similarly, if you're working out or doing chores around the house, you can listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or other audio content while still getting things done.

The 7 Best Text To Speech Apps for iPhone in 2023

01. speechify.

Why we love it?

It’s the #1 rated app for text-to-speech in the App Store, and a dyslexic person created it after his experience pushing through middle school with difficulty reading.

• Available for iOS, Android, and API and even has a Google Chrome extension.
• Available in more than 60 foreign languages
• Can playback 900 words per minute. Now that’s fast!
• Uses natural-sounding voices
• Converts images of text to spoken word.
• There's a free version, but it only contains some features. 
• The subscription is $139/per year.

02. Natural Reader

Overcomplicating things is overrated. Natural Reader is a simple and user-friendly platform with text-to-speech capabilities. 

• Available for iOS, Android, and API and web browser applications.
• Offers a variety of voice styles with different emotions and effects. 
• Converts scanned image text to spoken audio files.
• Free version available.
• A great solution for personal, commercial, or educational use.
• The free version only contains some of the features. 
• Pricing tiers range from $99.50 to $199.50

03. Text To Speech!

With 178 different voices in 63 languages and accents to choose from, there’s nothing robotic about this text-to-speech iPhone app.

• Includes rate and pitch adjustments
• No internet is required for use
• Exports speech into audio files
• Excellent tool for nonverbal individuals
• Simple and easy to use
• There’s a free version, but features are limited

04. Voice Dreamer Reader

It’s a 2021 Apple Design Award Winner, and with good reason. The app takes accessible design thinking into account by allowing you to adjust the size, color, and font style of text documents to accommodate personal preferences and needs.

• A popular choice for people with learning disabilities, autism, dyslexia, blindness or low vision.
• Not free, but only $9.99 (one-time charge!)
• Natural sounding voices
• Has a highlighter and notes function, great for studying!
• 27 languages are available for free
• Supports most document formats
• Internet is required for use
• Premium voices can be obtained from in-app purchases

Did you really think we weren’t going to toot our own horn? The free app is primarily used for phone calls and also functions as a text-to-voice app. 

When you use Nagish for a phone call, the other side of the call hears a natural-sounding voice, and whatever they say is shown as text on your screen. This bridges the gap between the deaf and HoH community and those with difficulty reading to still have a private communication channel that allows users to hear the other side in real-time.

• Fast, 100% private and FREE!
• Converts text-to-speech and speech-to-text in real time
• Works on iOS and Android
• Supports English, Spanish, Japanese, French, Italian, and Hebrew.
• Let’s you keep your call history private
• Let’s you refer back to past conversations with access to your call transcripts 
• Promotes accessibility and inclusivity 
• Includes built-in spam filters
• Lets you keep your phone number
• Offers a personal dictionary feature
• Sorry, we couldn’t think of any.

06.  Aloud!

Aloud! offers comprehensive language support, catering to a diverse range of users with proficiency in English, Spanish, German, Portuguese, and more. Whether you're a native speaker or a language enthusiast, Aloud! is your versatile companion. The application goes beyond language boundaries by accommodating various popular text formats, not limited to PDF, ePub, and docx; it extends its capabilities to iWork Pages files and the seamless importation of webpages.

• Adjustable reading speech and pitch
• Keeps you informed about your reading progress
• Offers in-app purchases

07. Speak4Me

This versatile text-to-speech app converts any text into speech with a variety of voices and languages. It can read PDFs, books, web articles, messages, and more. The app allows you to share your speech as an audio file via various platforms acting as a tool to help you express yourself with ease.  

• CustomizABLE voices
• Adjustable speed
• Offers over 20 languages
• Adjust the voice speed and the font size
• Save your phrases as favorites
• Download your speech as an audio file and share it with your friends via iMessage, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, and e-mail.
• Offers in-app purchases and subscription fees

AI and assistive technology are experiencing massive advancements, and we're here for it! From education, communication, and integration for all, AI-powered apps are unlocking possibilities with a big potential to create a greater good for society.   

If you know anyone who could benefit from text-to-speech iPhone apps, please share this article.

Join the thousands of people who use Nagish daily to caption their phone calls!

Marketing at Nagish

Suggested Articles

The Tech Edvocate

• Advertisement
• Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
• Home Page Four
• Home Page Three
• Home Page Two
• Icons [No Sidebar]
• Left Sidbear Page
• Lynch Educational Consulting
• My Speaking Page
• Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
• Newsletter Unsubscription
• Page Example
• Privacy Policy
• Protected Content
• Request a Product Review
• Shortcodes Examples
• Terms and Conditions
• The Edvocate
• The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
• Write For Us
• Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
• The Edvocate Podcast
• Assistive Technology
• Child Development Tech
• Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
• EdTech Futures
• EdTech News
• EdTech Policy & Reform
• EdTech Startups & Businesses
• Higher Education EdTech
• Online Learning & eLearning
• Parent & Family Tech
• Personalized Learning
• Product Reviews
• Tech Edvocate Awards
• School Ratings

How to Assemble a Crib: 15 Steps

Emotional detachment quiz, 3 ways to add a website to a bibliography, easy ways to steam beets: 14 steps, 3 ways to sit with hemorrhoids, how to get back your love, 3 ways to join a band, 5 ways to pick a good place to go on your first date, how to tune a trumpet: 10 steps, 4 ways to plant rye grass, the best free text-to-speech apps for iphone.

As technology advances, it’s becoming easier and easier for people to access information and entertainment through their smartphones. For people with visual impairments or learning disabilities, however, it can still be a challenge to engage with written text. This is where text-to-speech apps come in – by converting text into spoken words, these apps make it much easier for people to absorb information and enjoy written content.

If you’re an iPhone user looking for a free text-to-speech app, here are some of the best options available:

1. Voice Dream Reader – This app is designed specifically for people with dyslexia or other reading disabilities. It supports a number of file types, including PDFs, Word documents, and eBooks, and features a range of customizable voices and settings. You can even adjust the reading speed, pause and rewind readings, and take notes within the app.

2. NaturalReader Text-to-Speech – This free app is straightforward and easy to use. Simply copy and paste any text, and the app will read it out loud in a clear, natural-sounding voice. You can adjust the speed and volume, as well as choose from a variety of different voices.

3. Speak Text – This app is ideal for simple tasks such as reading out a website or email. Just copy and paste the text you want to hear, and the app will read it out loud in a clear voice. You can also save the text for later and listen to it offline.

4. Capti Voice – This app is designed with accessibility in mind and includes a wide range of features for people with disabilities. You can use it to listen to web pages, eBooks, and documents, or even select and listen to individual paragraphs. The app also supports a variety of file types, and you can customize the reading speed and voice.

5. Voice Aloud Reader – This app is great for people on the go, as it comes with a built-in web browser and allows you to listen to articles, news stories, and other online content. You can also import documents from other sources, such as Dropbox or Google Drive, and listen to them in the app.

6. Read Aloud – This app is ideal for reading books, as it supports a wide range of file types and allows you to create playlists of your favorite texts. You can adjust the reading speed and pitch, as well as choose from a selection of different voices.

Overall, these free text-to-speech apps for iPhone provide an easy and accessible way for people to enjoy written content. Whether you have a learning disability, visual impairment, or simply prefer to listen to text rather than read it, these apps can help you engage with text more effectively and enjoyably.

Where to Play Online Battleship for Free: ...

What are reddit coins how to get ....

Matthew Lynch

Related articles more from author.

The Best Third-Party Nintendo Switch Docks

Unique Ways to Organize Your Android Apps

What Is Google Nest and How Does it Work?

Best Plant Identifier Apps for Android and iPhone

Adobe Launches Cloud Spaces and Cloud Canvas Apps

Bounty Hunter TK4 Tracker IV Metal Detector Review

How To Use Text-to-Speech on iPhone and iPad

• The Text-to-Speech feature is available in Accessibility settings in iOS and iPadOS.
• Speak Selection allows you to highlight text which you want to be read aloud while the Speak Screen feature reads out everything on the screen.
• Once you enable the Speak Screen feature, you can ask Siri to “Speak Screen” and it will do the needful.

There’s no denying that reading is a good habit. But, reading from a screen might not be ideal as it increases your daily screen time and also causes vision-related issues. A simple solution to this problem is to use the Text-to-Speech feature. It will read aloud the text on the screen and you can customize everything from the language, speed, accent, and more. Read along to learn how to use Text-to-Speech on iPhone and iPad. 

Enable Speak Selection To Use Text-to-Speech on iPhone and iPad

The Speak Selection is an Accessibility feature in iOS and iPadOS. Using this feature, your device can read aloud text that you select and you get total control over it. The Speak Selection feature is useful for people who can manually highlight the text that they want to convert to speech. However, if you have problems related to vision, we suggest using the Speak Screen feature which we’ve covered later in the article. 

Time needed:  3 minutes

Steps to enable Spoken Content and use it to read aloud highlight text on iPhone and iPad.

You can also tap and hold on text messages in Messages, WhatsApp, etc., and then select the Speak option to use the Text-to-Speech feature. If you don’t see the Speak option right away, it might be hidden behind the More option. Navigating to the Speak feature after holding on text will be a similar process in most applications. 

Use Text-to-Speech in Safari Browser

Don’t want to strain your eyes while reading a super interesting blog online? You can use the in-built Text-to-Speech feature in Safari on iPhone and iPad. It will read aloud the entire blog from the beginning to the end without any interruptions. 

• Open the Safari Browser on your iPhone or iPad and head to the website or webpage you want to be read out aloud to you. 
• Tap the AA icon located in the bottom left corner of the address bar. 
• Tap the Listen to Page option in the pop-up menu and your device will start reading out aloud the contents of the website/webpage. 
• If you want to adjust the speed, rewind, skip, pause, or end listening to the page, tap the Listen to Page icon located at the bottom left corner and a pop-up will display all these options. 

Enable Speak Screen To Use Text-to-Speech for PDFs, eBooks, And More

If you have vision-related problems, it might not be the best idea to spend a lot of time on your iPhone or iPad. But, many of us use these devices to read news, books, research papers, etc. In this case, you can enable and use the Speak Screen feature which will convert all the text on the screen to speech. Here’s how to use the Speak Screen feature to convert Text-to-Speech on iPhone and iPad.

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone and head to the Accessibility option. 
• Tap the Spoken Content option. 

• Now, open any PDF files, eBook, etc . on your iPhone and iPad. 
• Swipe up from the top using two fingers and the Text-to-Speech feature will start reading out aloud the contents on the screen. 

You can use this feature on most apps on your iPhone and iPad. It might take a while to get used to swiping down from the top of the screen with two fingers. You might even fail many attempts, but will eventually get used to the process. 

Ask Siri To To Use Speak Screen Text-to-Speech on iPhone and iPad

Swiping down using two fingers to activate the Speak Screen feature is not very convenient. Moreover, you might even accidentally open the Notification Center or Control Panel while trying to do so. Therefore, a simpler method to activate the Speak Screen feature is to ask Siri to do it. 

• Enable the Speak Screen toggle on the next page. 
• Now, open any app of your choice where you want to use the Text-to-Speech feature to read aloud text. 
• Activate Siri and say, “ Hey Siri, Speak Screen. ”
• Siri will start reading out text on the screen. You can control the speed, play, pause, and rewind using the Speech Controller .  

Customize Text-to-Speech Voice and Speed

Don’t like the way the Text-to-Speech voice sounds? Is it too fast to understand or so slow that it takes forever to read aloud a single sentence? Don’t worry if you’re facing any of these problems. Because, you have total control over these factors and can easily change them. Here’s how you can customize the Text-to-Speech settings on your iPhone and iPad. 

• Select a Language of your choice from the list of available options. 
• Now, tap on a voice under the preferred accent. 
• On the next screen tap the Play button to listen to that voice. 

• Go back to the Spoken Content page. 

We hope this guide helps you learn how to use the Text-to-Speech feature on your iPhone and iPad. If you have any doubts, please let us know in the comments below. 

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Darryl Dsouza

7 Best speech to text apps for iPhone in 2024

Some people can type hell for leather, but we have to agree that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. How would it be if you could type as fast as you speak? Well, why think when you can execute! While iPhone’s native Notes app can handle your basic transcribing needs, it lacks added functionality.

So, here’s a list of the best speech-to-text apps for your iPhone!

• dictate2us Record & Transcribe
• Rev Voice Recorder & Memos
• Day One Journal

1. Evernote: Notes organizer – Editor’s choice

Evernote is a widely used application for note-taking. However, it serves multiple purposes like clipping articles, scanning documents, and also allows adding content (pictures, videos, audio, etc.) with notes.  

Open the virtual keyboard and tap the mic below the return key to dictate text. You can now dictate, and it’ll not only be converted but also sync across your devices.

If you’re a student, you can use the app to take notes, track them, and even create separate notebooks. Further, you can also bring people, projects, and ideas together with shared Spaces. This is especially helpful for businesses or if you are working on a group project. Evernote also has multiple other features and is free to use.  

• Scan and convert handwritten notes
• Transcription works flawlessly
• Numerous useful templates
• Note linking
• Excellent organization system
• Cannot save data offline
• Lean cloud storage
• Cannot sync with more than 2 devices with the basic plan

Price : Free (In-App Purchases start at $10.00)

2. dictate2us Record & Transcribe – Fastest transcription service

Dicatate2us is one of the leaders in transcription services, and you can get the audio transcribed within an hour regardless of the time, 365 days a year. You can record letters, reports, case notes, interviews, etc.  

All you need to do is save a recording which will get uploaded to the platform. A person, yes, an actual person, will sit and transcribe the audio, after which an editor will check if there are errors, and then the Google doc file will be sent to you.  

Dicatate2us can be downloaded for free, and you get a $15 free trial credit. After the trial ends, you are charged a minute rate depending on the turnaround time. D2U uses military-grade encryption, so you need not worry about confidential data being hacked.

• Military-grade encryption
• Fast turnaround time
• $15 Trial credit
• Can’t transcribe instantly

Price : Free ($15 trial credit) 

3. Transcribe: Speech to Text – Instant transcription

Some people repeatedly listen to their voice memos as reminders. However, listening to the whole message to get to something you want to hear might be a time-consuming event, and Transcribe comes in. It is among the fastest transcription apps. A tap of a button is all it takes to transcribe your audio or video files. 

It lets you transcribe any voice or video file into text. All is done with the help of AI. You get 15 minutes of the free trial, after which you will need to either upgrade to the Pro version or buy add-on hours. Transcribe Pro offers features like exporting files in TXT, PDF, and DOCX formats. You also get 5 hours of transcription every month and can save up to 50GB of files on its cloud.  

• Instant transcription
• Supports both audio and video files
• Supports multiple file formats
• Not great for longer duration transcriptions
• Users have reported frequent app crashes

Price : Free (In-app purchase starts at $4.99)

4. Rev Voice Recorder & Memos – Simplified design

Rev Voice is yet another transcription service that people have employed to transcribe audio. The company claims a 99% plus accuracy rate alongside fast turnaround times. You can get a 30-minute recording transcribed under 12 hours.  

The Rev Voice app has a clean and minimal user interface. Besides transcribing audio, it also lets you record audio, trim the audio, etc. You can use the recorder in the background, and it will automatically pause when you receive a call.  

While the application is free to download, Rev charges 1 credit for a minute of audio transcribed, and if you avail of their services through their website, it’ll cost you $1.50 for a minute of audio transcribed. You can also view the progress of your order, and once done, you’ll receive it in your email inbox and the app.

• Affordable rates
• Effortless editing
• High accuracy rate
• The subscription model would make the service more appealing
• Turnaround times are longer

Price : Free (1 credit costs $1.99)

5: Dictation: Speech to text – Translate your transcription

Dictation serves one purpose, converting speech to text, and it does the job quite decently. But there are instances where it might miss a few words. You can not only record audio in the app but also import audio files.

Further, translation is a unique feature offered by Dictation. It supports over 40 languages. All you have to do is tap a button to translate the transcribed text.

The app also has iCloud Synchronization. Once turned on, you can dictate text from your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, etc.

Besides, you can also share the text across several social media platforms like Twitter, WhatsApp, etc. However, the app is infested with ads. You will need to upgrade to the pro version to get rid of ads, costing $17.49 per year.

• Translation with support for 40 languages
• Works flawlessly across multiple iOS devices
• Cluttered UI 
• Infested with ads 

Price : Free (Pro version costs $4.99 per month)

6. Day One Journal: Private diary – Journalling made fun

If you want to get into the habit of maintaining a daily journal but have been postponing the idea for a long time because you find writing to be a tedious process, Day One Journal is here to help. You can add notes to your journal at any time of the day as the app provides speech-to-text services.

It’s not just words; you can also add videos and images alongside handwritten entries or drawings to your journal. However, this feature is limited to the premium version. You can also take notes from your Apple watch. If that was not enough, you could also send text messages or emails to your journals.  Pretty impressive, right?

• Easy to use
• Supports and integrates images, videos, etc., in the journal
• Can only be used as a diary

Price : Free (Premium costs $5.99 per month)

7. Otter: Transcribe voice notes – Best for businesses

Otter works flawlessly for transcribing text and is an excellent tool for personal use. But it shines more when put to use in a corporate environment. You can automatically take notes (through speech to text), save these notes, and share them with everyone on the team.

Another great feature of Otter is that it provides live captioning to the deaf or people with special needs. The app also lets users highlight text, and the punctuation is quite accurate.

The integration of Otter with iOS helps you start recording through Siri shortcuts and syncs notes with the iOS calendar, contacts, etc. You can also record with AirPods. The app offers all these features for a limited amount of time as a free trial, after which the Pro subscription offers 6000 transcription minutes per month. A great overall app for businesses!

• Caters to specially-abled users
• Great iOS integration
• The free plan is good for personal use
• Transcription is a hit or miss for longer audio files
• No support for images in notes

Price : Free (Premium Costs $16.99 per month) 

Wrapping up!

Well, this was my list of the best speech-to-text apps for iPhone and iPad, which are beneficial for both students and professionals. If you found the right speech-to-text app that suits your requirements, share your thoughts in the comments below!

• Best translation apps for iPhone and iPad
• Best voice changer for Mac
• Top alarm apps for iPhone and iPad
• Best voice recorder apps for iPhone

🗣️ Readers like you help support iGeeksBlog. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.  Read Disclaimer .

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Text-to-speech for iOS

Text-to-speech is a broad topic, but as far as Spokestack is concerned, there are two things your app has to handle: sending the input to be synthesized, and playing the resulting audio for your users. This guide will cover both.

Starting up

To synthesize speech in Spokestack, use the TextToSpeech component:

In this example, self implements the TextToSpeechDelegate protocol, which utilizes the delegate pattern to forward TTS events to your app.

We also use the default credentials for SpeechConfiguration.apiId and SpeechConfiguration.apiSecret , which are set to public values that let you try Spokestack TTS without creating an account. Create an account or sign in to get your own free API credentials and access to additional features!

Generating the audio

Generating a URL to an audio stream of a TTS synthesized voice is just a single method in Spokestack!

This is the simplest arity of synthesize , which takes an instance of TextToSpeechInput constructed with a plain text string as input. The success(TextToSpeechResult:) delegate function will be called with the result, which has a url property with the audio stream.

TextToSpeechInput has additional properties that you can use for more sophisticated speech synthesis. As always, there’s more detail in the API documentation . Let’s detail those advanced properties briefly:

The input is simply the string you want to hear synthesized.

The inputFormat argument is here because Spokestack supports serveral input formats: plain text, SpeechMarkdown , and a subset of the SSML spec for specifying pronunciation and specific pause times. See the TTS concept guide for more information on providing SSML input. If you don’t need this level of control, TTSInputFormat.text is the default.

The voice argument allows you to specify which of Spokestack’s library of synthetic voices you wish to use. Want something besides demo-male ? Create a Spokestack Maker account to train your own!

The optional id property allows you to track individual TTS synthesis requests; it will be echoed back in the corresponding TextToSpeechResult.id .

Using the generated audio

What you do with the synthesis result (or failure) is up to you! The streaming URL is valid for 60 seconds, so you can save it for later or play it back immediately.

To save it for later, you can simply download the audio before the 60-second TTL expires:

To use your own AVPlayer instance to control playback:

Simply speak!

Want to skip all that and let Spokestack handle the both the synthesis and playback of your synthesis? We’ve combined the two sections above into a single function call! Try speak(TextToSpeechInput:) !

You’ll receive event notifications when synthesis has completed ( success ), playback has begun ( didBeginSpeaking ) and playback has finished ( didFinishSpeaking ). A whole TTS feature in just one function call!

Related Resources

Want to dive deeper into the world of Android voice integration? We've got a lot to say on the subject:

Explore Related Tutorials

Explore related blog posts, explore related docs, something missing, become a spokestack maker and #ownyourvoice.

• Mobile Site
• Staff Directory
• Advertise with Ars

Filter by topic

• Biz & IT
• Gaming & Culture

Front page layout

Green is not the bluest color —

Apple’s green message bubbles draw wrath of us attorney general, rcs and green bubbles in iphone-to-android texts play role in apple/doj battle..

Jon Brodkin - Mar 21, 2024 8:02 pm UTC

The US Department of Justice is angry about green message bubbles. Announcing today's antitrust lawsuit against Apple, US Attorney General Merrick Garland devoted a portion of his speech to the green bubbles that appear in conversations between users of iPhones and other mobile devices such as Android smartphones.

"As any iPhone user who has ever seen a green text message, or received a tiny, grainy video can attest, Apple's anticompetitive conduct also includes making it more difficult for iPhone users to message with users of non-Apple products," Garland said while announcing the suit that alleges Apple illegally monopolized the smartphone market.

The attorney general accused Apple of "diminishing the functionality of its own messaging app" and that of messaging apps made by third parties. "By doing so, Apple knowingly and deliberately degrades quality, privacy, and security for its users," Garland said. "For example, if an iPhone user messages a non-iPhone user in Apple Messages, the text appears not only as a green bubble, but incorporates limited functionality."

When messages are presented in those telltale green bubbles, "the conversation is not encrypted, videos are pixelated and grainy, and users cannot edit messages or see typing indicators," Garland said. "As a result, iPhone users perceive rival smartphones as being lower quality because the experience of messaging friends and family who do not own iPhones is worse—even though Apple is the one responsible for breaking cross-platform messaging."

Garland mentioned a 2022 interview in which Apple CEO Tim Cook "was asked whether Apple would fix iPhone-to-Android messaging." The person asking the question said, "not to make it personal, but I can't send my mom certain videos." Cook responded, "Buy your mom an iPhone."

Apple touts planned RCS support

The DOJ lawsuit in US District Court for the District of New Jersey also mentions the Cook remark. The case is about more than just green bubbles and text messaging, of course. The DOJ alleges that Apple violated antitrust laws by restricting rivals' access to iPhone features and monopolizing the smartphone market. Messaging is one of several technologies that the DOJ points to in the antitrust complaint.

Garland's green-bubble remarks echoed complaints made by Android maker Google over the last few years. Apple today disputed the DOJ's entire lawsuit and said the department doesn't appear to understand how encryption in messaging works.

In a background briefing with reporters, Apple spokespeople touted the company's recent announcement that it will support the RCS messaging standard for iMessage sometime during 2024. In order to attend Apple's briefing and view a background document, we had to agree to paraphrase the company's remarks instead of quoting them directly.

Apple clarified that it is not implementing RCS as it exists today because it doesn't believe the standard offers enough privacy and security. Apple said it is working with a standards body—this is likely a reference to the GSMA—to ensure that the version of RCS it eventually implements will support encryption and strong privacy and security.

Apple said that once it adopts RCS, iPhone and non-iPhone users will be able to exchange messages with higher-resolution photos and videos, and will experience improved group texting. Apple said it hasn't brought its own message app to non-Apple devices because the user experience wouldn't meet the company's standards and that it cannot ensure that a third-party device's encryption and authentication are secure enough.

reader comments

Channel ars technica.