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Speechify

API

Have any text, PDF, or website read aloud in natural voices so you can absorb content while doing other things. New Voice Typing dictation feature launched in 2026.

Productivity
4.5freemium

Alternatives

Overview

Speechify converts any text, articles, PDFs, emails, Google Docs, web pages, newsletters, into natural-sounding audio you can listen to at up to 4.5x normal reading speed. The core use case is consuming written content faster by listening rather than reading: paste a URL, import a document, or use the Chrome extension to listen to any web page while doing other tasks. The AI voice quality is high enough that listening at 2–3x speed becomes comfortable after a few sessions of adaptation, enabling professionals to consume their reading list 2–4x faster than silent reading allows. Speechify's OCR capability converts physical text, whiteboards, textbooks, printed documents, photographed with a phone camera into listenable audio.

The Chrome extension reads any web content aloud from the browser, including paywalled articles, email newsletters, and web app interfaces. Cross-device sync maintains reading position across phone, tablet, and computer. AI-generated voices include celebrity voice options alongside standard voice libraries. Used by professionals with heavy reading requirements, people with dyslexia or visual processing difficulties, language learners who benefit from hearing content read aloud, and anyone who wants to convert commute or exercise time into content consumption.

Free tier provides limited listening hours. Premium plans start at $139/year for unlimited access and the highest-quality AI voices.

Key Features

  • Text-to-speech for any content
  • 4.5x playback speed
  • Browser extension
  • PDF and document import
  • Natural voice options
  • Cross-device sync
Pros
  • Dramatically increases reading throughput for dense material
  • Works on virtually any text source
  • Strong accessibility use case
Cons
  • Premium subscription required for best voices and features
  • Audio quality drops on complex technical content

Other Productivity tools builders reach for alongside Speechify.