Text-to-speech (TTS) technology has become essential for a range of uses, from improving accessibility to making multitasking more efficient. Whether you’re looking to have your favorite web pages read aloud or convert lengthy PDF files into spoken content, iOS offers a variety of powerful text-to-speech apps. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best text-to-speech apps available on the App Store for your iPhone, iPad, and other Apple devices, highlighting their features, accessibility options, and how they can improve your daily experience.
For many, text-to-speech apps serve as crucial tools for accessibility, especially for those with dyslexia, visual impairments, or other disabilities. These apps allow users to listen to spoken content from news articles, epub books, PDF files, and more, transforming any readable material into audio. But even if you don’t have a disability, TTS apps are fantastic for multitasking—whether you’re driving, exercising, or just prefer listening over reading.
On iOS devices like the iPhone and iPad, the seamless integration of TTS features allows for greater convenience. Many apps even sync across Apple Watch and MacOS, offering a fully connected experience. Let’s look at some of the top apps.
One of the most popular TTS apps on iOS, Speechify turns any text into natural-sounding voices. It’s perfect for turning audiobooks, articles, and even Kindle books into high-quality speech. With the ability to adjust reading speed and select from different speech voices, Speechify offers a lot of customization. It also supports multiple formats like PDF and integrates with Google Docs. While the free version has basic functionality, in-app purchases unlock additional features like higher-quality voices and offline access.
Voice Dream Reader is one of the most powerful TTS apps available for iPhone and iPad, designed with accessibility in mind. It can read aloud various file types, including epub, PDF files, and web pages, offering impressive versatility. The app also offers a wide range of natural-sounding voices in different languages, making it ideal for both reading for pleasure and professional use. Voiceover support makes it a fantastic choice for users with visual impairments, while features like customization of voice speed, pronunciation settings, and text highlighting add to the overall experience.
Another excellent option for TTS on iOS, NaturalReader offers a simple, intuitive interface that supports multiple formats such as PDF, web pages, and Google Docs. Like Speechify, NaturalReader uses AI-powered, natural-sounding voices, and it even lets you save audio files to listen later. With a focus on high-quality audio and smooth playback, this app is perfect for turning long documents or books into a podcast-like experience. In-app purchases unlock premium features, but the basic free app offers plenty for most users.
Voice Aloud Reader stands out for its ability to read text from a variety of sources, including web pages, news articles, and epub files. It offers various customization options, allowing you to tweak the voice’s pitch, speed, and more. This app is particularly useful for those who frequently browse the web, as it can convert long articles into speech quickly. It’s free with optional in-app purchases for extra features, making it accessible for most users.
You might not need to download anything at all to access text-to-speech functionality on your iPhone. Using Siri or the Shortcuts app, you can set up automation for text to be read aloud. For example, you can create a shortcut to have Siri read PDF files, news articles, or even transcribe voice memos into text. While Siri’s TTS is not as feature-rich as dedicated apps, it’s a quick and convenient solution for simple tasks.
One of the advantages of using Apple products is the way everything works together. Many TTS apps on iOS, like Voice Dream Reader and Speechify, sync content across macOS, iPhone, iPad, and even Apple Watch. This makes it easy to listen to spoken content across your devices without missing a beat.
Many of these apps offer a high degree of customization in terms of voice selection, reading speed, and pronunciations. For users who need TTS for accessibility, this level of control can greatly enhance their reading experience, whether they’re listening to documents for work or enjoying an audiobook.
From PDF files to epub books, TTS apps on iOS are compatible with a wide range of file formats. Many of these apps also support different languages, so you’re not limited to just English. This is perfect for multilingual users or those who want to improve language learning by listening to foreign text.
For users with disabilities, especially those with dyslexia or visual impairments, TTS apps on iOS devices offer a new level of accessibility. Apple has always been known for its commitment to accessibility, and its ecosystem of apps helps make reading more accessible through voiceover and TTS tools. Apps like Voice Dream Reader offer text highlighting and synchronized playback for users who need additional visual cues, while NaturalReader and Speechify include pronunciation guides to aid in learning and understanding.
Most of the best text-to-speech apps on iOS offer a free version, though premium options exist for additional voices, offline access, or more natural-sounding speech. For basic functionality like converting web pages or PDF files into speech, the free versions are more than adequate. If you’re looking for high-quality, lifelike voices or need advanced features like transcription or exporting audio files, premium in-app purchases may be worth the investment.
Whether you’re using an iPhone, iPad, or macOS device, the App Store has a wide variety of text-to-speech apps to fit your needs. From powerful tools like Speechify and NaturalReader, to the built-in Siri features, TTS on iOS can significantly enhance accessibility, multitasking, and everyday productivity. For those who prefer a highly customizable experience, apps like Voice Dream Reader offer premium features like voice adjustments, text highlighting, and file integration, while simpler apps like Voice Aloud Reader give you exactly what you need without the extras. Whether you’re looking to turn web pages into audio, convert an epub into speech, or just listen to audiobooks hands-free, there’s an iOS app that’s perfect for you.
The VoiceOver feature on iOS reads text aloud and is built into all Apple devices. Additionally, apps like Voice Dream Reader and Speechify offer enhanced text-to-speech functionality for reading various formats.
Several apps on the App Store provide text-to-speech, including NaturalReader, Speechify, and Voice Aloud Reader, which allow you to listen to documents, web pages, and more.
Yes, Apple devices have a built-in text-to-speech feature called Speak Screen, which can be enabled through accessibility settings. VoiceOver also offers text-to-speech for users with visual impairments.
Yes, apps like Apple’s Dictation, Dragon Anywhere, and Microsoft Dictate provide speech-to-text functionality, allowing users to transcribe spoken words into written text.
Company Name | Votes | Win Percentage |
---|---|---|
PlayHT | 371 (458) | 81.00% |
ElevenLabs | 67 (135) | 49.63% |
Speechgen | 18 (125) | 14.40% |
Listnr AI | 44 (124) | 35.48% |
Uberduck | 60 (123) | 48.78% |
TTSMaker | 46 (117) | 39.32% |
Narakeet | 44 (114) | 38.60% |
Resemble AI | 55 (109) | 50.46% |
Speechify | 41 (106) | 38.68% |
Typecast | 31 (98) | 31.63% |
Murf AI | 6 (25) | 24.00% |
NaturalReader | 6 (24) | 25.00% |
WellSaid Labs | 6 (19) | 31.58% |
Wavel AI | 2 (17) | 11.76% |