Speechify Review – Is This The Best Text To Speech Software?
Last Updated on January 19, 2023 by Jordan Alexo
Do you want to read faster? Do you find reading difficult or time-consuming? Speechify may be the answer for you!
This text-to-speech software can help you read at speeds up to 600 words per minute. It also has premium voices that sound natural and clear.
In this review, we will discuss the pros and cons of Speechify and whether or not it is worth purchasing.
What Is Speechify?
Speechify is a reading app that uses text-to-speech technology to read digital or physical text aloud. It can also convert text into audio files so you can listen to them later. The app has a library of over 50,000 audiobooks and documents.
Currently, Speechify is used by over 10 million people through the Google Chrome extension and iOS and Android mobile apps.
This app is fantastic for students and professionals who want to boost their productivity. Or anyone who wants to relax on their favorite sofa while listening to their favorite books.
How Does Speechify Work?
Speechify works by taking a photo of the text you want to read. The app then uses optical character recognition (OCR) to convert the text into digital form. Once the text is digitized, the app reads it aloud using a computer-generated voice.
The app can also upload PDFs, Word documents, and eBooks. Speechify will then convert the text into audio files. You can listen to these files anywhere, even if you don’t have an internet connection.
Who Created Speechify?
Cliff Weitzman founded Speechify in 2017. Cliff had dyslexia and was looking for a way to make reading easier. After trying several reading apps, he found they were all slow and challenging to use. So he decided to create his own app that would be fast and easy to use.
Since its launch, Speechify has helped millions of people around the world improve their reading speed and comprehension.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Speechify?
Some of the benefits of using Speechify include:
- You can drastically improve your reading speed. The app can read text aloud so you can listen while doing other tasks.
- You can convert text into audio files. This is helpful if you want to listen to something later or go on a long car ride.
- The app has premium voices that sound natural and clear.
- You can use the app offline. This is helpful if you have a poor internet connection or want to save data.
- You can easily listen to your favorite blog posts, and YouTube comments, and emails if you feel lazy to read them.
Best Features Of Speechify?
Let’s take a look at the best features of Speechify.
Desktop
Speechify has a desktop version that you can access using Google Chrome or another web browser. The user interface is simple and intuitive. It doesn’t have many options besides passing any document you’d like from text to speech.
You can listen to a pdf or text file by dragging and dropping it on the Speechify website. It will take a few seconds for the website to load it. You can also listen to blog posts online by copying and pasting the link onto the platform.
You can choose a reading voice, including one that sounds similar to former President Obama. Also, change between different reading speeds. I like to keep it at 1.2x anything more than that, and I find it hard to understand.
Chrome Extension App
Speechify Chrome app is fantastic! Once you install the app on your web browser, you’ll see a small icon. Click on this icon to open a window with several options when you are on any blog post.
You can see how long it will take to read the text, choose the synthetic voice you prefer, and have other options.
There is a small play button on the blog post that you can click to start reading from the section you want. I also like that you don’t have to be online to use it.
I also like the option to drag a rectangle on the area you want Speechify to read from.
Mobile App
The Speechify mobile app has the same features as the desktop and web versions. You can convert text into audio files and listen to them later. This is helpful if you’re going on a long car ride or want to listen to something while doing another task.
The app also has premium voices that sound natural and clear. You can choose from a variety of reading speeds. If you prefer, you can switch the user interface to dark mode, which is easier on the eyes.
Scan Printed Pages With Your Mobile
One unique feature of this device is the possibility of scanning a printed book. After a few minutes, the device will convert the book into an audio file you can listen to while on the go.
This feature is super awesome for someone who has dyslexia or prefers to listen to reading. To scan a book, hold your camera over the text, and the app will do the rest.
130 AI Voices and 30 languages
Speechify has a lot of reading voices to pick from. You can find both male and female reading voices and different languages. The reading voices sound natural and clear.
Speechify Pricing
The pricing for Speechify is subscription-based, and you have two plans.
Free Plan – $0
- You have ten standard reading voices.
- You can listen to audio at up to 1x speed.
- You can listen to podcasts and audiobooks anywhere.
Speechify Premium – $139 a year
- Get 30+ high-quality, natural reading voices
- 20 Different languages, such as Spanish, French, Italian, and other ones
- You can scan your favorite printed books and listen to them
- Have the option to listen at a 5x faster speed
- Advanced skipping and importing is a great ways to improve your workflow.
- The highlighting and note-taking tools are very powerful. You can use them to mark essential text parts and make notes about them.
Speechify Pros And Cons
Let’s take a look at some pros and cons of Speechify.
Speechify Pros
- Clean-looking and intuitive interface for desktop, Google Chrome app, and mobile
- The application can be used offline
- 30 languages to pick from
- 130 voices sound like people for you to choose from, including one that sounds like former president Obama and Gwyneth Paltrow.
- Efficient and friendly customer support
- If you want to try out the features of the Premium version, you can do so for free for three days.
Speechify Cons
- You may find some minor bugs here and there. But Speechify is quickly fixing them.
- The free plan has limited features. You need to upgrade to premium to get the most out of it.
Speechify Alternatives
If you’re not sure about Speechify, there are other options for text-to-speech software.
Murf AI (Best Text To Speech Software For Businesses)
If you’re looking for an app with great synthetic voices for podcasting, converting blog posts to audio, voiceovers, and more, you should try out Murf AI.
Murf AI is more business oriented than Speechify, which is more intended for students or people who want to listen to audio on the go.
NaturalReader (AffordableText To Speech Software)
NaturalReader has a good free version with most of the features you need. The only downside is many of the AI voices sound slightly robotic. If you want to upgrade to get premium voices and convert files to MP3, it will cost you $99.50 once.
Both software tools are similar! However, Speechify has more powerful features compared to NaturalReader. One of them is Speechify mobile app print book scanner and higher-quality synthetic voices.
But if you prefer a more affordable and simpler text-to-speech software, NaturalReader is a great pick.
Synthesia.io (Powerful AI Video Maker)
Synthesia is one of the best AI video makers on the market. You can make a professional-looking video by uploading a script and choosing an AI avatar and voice.
Synthesia is more intended for business owners who want to create marketing or explainer videos. But if you’re looking for a way to convert text into audio, Speechify is the right choice!
Speechify Personal Experience: My Favorite Text-To-Speech Software
I have reviewed similar text-to-speech software, but Speechify has been my favorite! This app comes with several impressive features that you won’t find anywhere.
The first thing I noticed was the design. The interface is sleek and easy to use. I didn’t have to watch video tutorials or anything. As soon as I login to Speechify, I knew what to do.
The app also has premium voices that sound natural and clear. You can choose from a variety of reading speeds. Contrary to similar text-to-speech tools, Speechify is intended to be used by people with reading differences like dyslexia and ADHD.
Also, as an entrepreneur, I can see many applications for Speechify. I can listen to business books, blog posts, or other content while driving or working out. This content can be easily turned into audio files and transferred to my phone.
One unique feature of Speechify is the print book scanner. I have not seen this feature anywhere else. I scanned a few pages from “Grow and Think Rich” by Napoleon Hills. After a few minutes, the app converted the pages into an audio file. Pretty impressive!
Overall, I’m very pleased with Speechify. It’s a great tool that I recommend to anyone who wants to improve their reading speed or just listen to content on the go. The app has a free trial, so you can try it out before you commit to anything.
Get Speechify Free Trial Today
Conclusion: Should You Buy Speechify?
I recommend Speechify to anyone who wants to improve their reading speed, has dyslexia, or just wants to listen to content on the go.
Speechify has unique features allowing you to listen to blog posts, your favorite paperbacks, and more, making this text-to-speech tool perfect for students, professionals, and productivity lovers.
The Speechify app can be installed on your mobile devices and browsers, so you can easily convert any text to audio wherever you are.
You also have a great selection of voices that sound natural. Just imagine listening to your favorite book with a voice similar to Obama’s.
I hope this review helped decide whether or not Speechify is the right text-to-speech software for you. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below, and I’ll be happy to answer them.
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Speechify Review: FAQ
Let’s check some frequently asked questions about Speechify.
1) Is there a limit to Speechify?
Premium Speechify users can hear up to 150000 words with Premium AI voices per month. This limit automatically renews at the beginning of each month.
2) How many languages does Speechify support?
Speechify currently offers reading in English (US), Spanish, German, Korean, Dutch, and more.
3) Can you use Speechify on PDF?
Yes, you can upload PDFs to Speechify, and it will turn them into audio.
