Looking for the right text-to-speech app to turn your documents into audio? Speechable, Speechify, and NaturalReader are three popular options — but they take very different approaches to pricing, features, and values.
We built Speechable, so we're obviously biased. But we also believe in transparency. This comparison is as honest as we can make it: we'll tell you where competitors genuinely do better, where we think Speechable stands out, and most importantly, which tool is the best fit for your specific needs.
Quick Comparison Table
| Feature | Speechable | Speechify | NaturalReader |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 5 docs, unlimited Eco Mode playback (AI voices), 10 credits/mo | Unlimited with robotic voices only, 1.5x max speed | Unlimited basic voices, 20 min/day Premium, 5 min/day Plus |
| Premium price | $10/mo or $72/yr ($6/mo) | $29/mo or $139/yr (~$12/mo) | $20.90/mo (Plus) or $25.90/mo (Pro) |
| Voices | 52 AI voices | 1,000+ (incl. celebrity voices) | 200+ AI voices |
| Languages | 8 | 60+ | 50+ |
| Unlimited playback | Yes (Eco Mode, free) | With robotic voices | With robotic voices |
| Chat with documents | Yes (text and voice, in your language) | Yes (Premium only) | Yes (ReadAI, paid plans) |
| Podcast mode | Yes (2 speakers, choose duration and language) | Yes (multiple formats) | Yes (ReadAI, up to 2 speakers) |
| Lecture mode | Yes (TED-style breakdowns) | Yes (educational format) | Recap mode (single speaker summary) |
| OCR / photo import | Yes (textbooks, handwritten notes, physical books) | Yes (Premium only, printed text mainly) | Yes (paid plans, ~60-70% accuracy reported) |
| MP3 download | Yes | Yes (Premium) | Yes (paid plans) |
| Local / offline processing | Yes (Eco Mode, browser-based, 20x less energy) | iOS on-device only | Legacy desktop software only |
| Content clean-up | Yes (strips footnotes, citations, ads, noise) | Basic | AI Smart Filter (headers, footers) |
| Ebook import (ePub) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web article import | Yes (with ad/clutter removal) | Yes (via extension) | Yes (via extension) |
| Section selection | Yes (choose which sections to play) | Limited | Limited |
| Playback speed | Adjustable | Up to 5x (Premium), 1.5x (Free) | Adjustable |
| Accessibility discounts | Up to 50% off, trust-based, no verification | 25% student discount (UNiDAYS), UK DSA | EDU group pricing only |
| Privacy | No data training, no data selling | SOC2 compliant, cloud processing, vague AI training clause | 2048-bit SSL, files stored on AWS, deleted after use |
| Eco / sustainability | Core value: local processing uses 20x less energy | No claims | No claims |
| Platforms | Web app, Chrome extension, mobile app (coming soon) | iOS, Android, Mac, Web, Chrome/Edge extensions | Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, legacy desktop |
Pricing: What Do You Actually Pay?
Pricing matters — especially for students and anyone on a tight budget. Here's a transparent breakdown.
Speechable
| Plan | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 forever | 10 documents, unlimited Eco Mode playback, 10 credits/month |
| Premium | $10/mo or $72/yr ($6/mo) | Unlimited documents, unlimited playback, 1,200 credits/month, priority support |
| Credit Pack | $7 one-time | 500 credits, never expires, no subscription needed |
| With accessibility discount | Up to 50% off | Trust-based — no verification required |
Premium with the accessibility discount: $36/yr ($3/mo). That's $3/month vs Speechify's $29/month — nearly 10x cheaper.
Don't want another subscription? Speechable is the only app in this comparison that offers a one-time credit pack ($7 for 500 credits, never expires). Use credits when you need them — no recurring charges, no auto-renewals to forget about. Combined with the free Eco Mode for unlimited playback, many users find the free plan plus an occasional credit pack is all they need.
Speechify
| Plan | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited playback with robotic voices only, 1.5x max speed, 5-file limit |
| Premium | $29/mo or $139/yr (~$12/mo) | 1,000+ voices, 60+ languages, OCR, AI features, up to 5x speed |
| Student discount | 25% off via UNiDAYS | Requires student verification |
Note: Speechify has separate subscriptions for Studio (voiceover/content creation) and Audiobooks. The Reader subscription covers document-to-audio. Some users report confusion around which subscription covers what.
NaturalReader
| Plan | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Unlimited basic voices, 20 min/day Premium voices, 5 min/day Plus voices, no MP3 |
| Plus | $20.90/mo or $119/yr | AI voices, OCR, MP3 download, ReadAI features |
| Pro | $25.90/mo or $159/yr | HD LLM voices, everything in Plus |
| EDU | From $199/yr (5 users) | Group pricing for schools |
The bottom line on pricing
Speechable is by far the most affordable option:
| Speechable | Speechify | NaturalReader (Plus) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yearly (standard) | $72/yr | $139/yr | $119/yr |
| Yearly (with discount) | $36/yr | ~$104/yr (UNiDAYS) | No individual discount |
| Monthly | $10/mo ($7/mo with discount) | $29/mo | $20.90/mo |
| One-time option | $7 credit pack ($5 with discount) | None | None |
And unlike both competitors, Speechable offers a one-time credit pack for users who don't want yet another subscription in their life.
The free tiers tell the most interesting story: Speechable is the only app that gives you unlimited playback with AI voices for free through Eco Mode. Speechify's free plan is unlimited but restricted to robotic-sounding voices — you have to pay $139/year to access their AI voices. NaturalReader gives you just 20 minutes/day with Premium voices and 5 minutes/day with Plus voices on the free plan.
Where Speechify and NaturalReader Are Genuinely Better
We said we'd be honest. Here's where competitors have real advantages over Speechable:
More voices and languages
Speechify offers 1,000+ voices across 60+ languages, including celebrity voices. NaturalReader has 200+ voices in 50+ languages. Speechable currently offers 52 voices across 8 languages. If you need a specific language or want a massive variety of voice options, Speechify and NaturalReader have us beat — significantly.
Native mobile apps
Speechify has dedicated iOS, Android, and Mac apps. NaturalReader has iOS and Android apps. Speechable has a Chrome extension and web app, with a native mobile app coming soon. If you need a polished native mobile experience today, Speechify is the strongest option here.
Playback speed range
Speechify supports up to 5x playback speed on Premium (though reviewers note speeds above 2-3x become hard to follow). Speechable and NaturalReader offer adjustable speed but don't market extreme speed as a feature — because we think comprehension matters more than raw speed.
Brand recognition and scale
Speechify has 55 million+ users and celebrity endorsements. NaturalReader has 10 million+ users and institutional clients like the UN. Speechable is newer and smaller. If you value the reassurance of a large, established platform, the competitors have that edge.
Where Speechable Stands Out
Truly unlimited playback (Eco Mode)
This is the biggest difference. Speechable's Eco Mode runs text-to-speech locally on your device — no cloud calls, no credits consumed, no limits. You can listen to an entire textbook and it costs nothing. Speechify and NaturalReader both impose word or character limits, even on paid plans.
Eco Mode also uses up to 20x less energy than cloud-based processing. It's unlimited because it's sustainable — not despite it.
Requirements: A modern browser with WebGPU support (Chrome 113+, Safari 17+, Firefox 141+). Works especially well on Apple Silicon devices.
Content clean-up that actually works
Speechable strips footnotes, citations, page numbers, and document noise before converting to audio. When you import a web article, ads, cookie banners, and navigation clutter are removed. You hear the content — nothing else.
Speechify and NaturalReader offer some filtering, but Speechable's clean-up is more aggressive and thorough, designed specifically for listening rather than visual reading.
Engagement over consumption
Most TTS apps focus on speed and volume: listen to more, listen faster. Speechable takes a different approach.
- Lecture mode turns a dense document into a TED-style breakdown, explaining complex concepts clearly
- Podcast mode creates a genuine two-voice conversation about your document, with options for duration (5, 10, or 15 minutes) and output language
- Chat lets you stop and ask questions — by typing or speaking — and get answers in your language
This isn't "passive playback." It's designed for actual understanding.
Speechify and NaturalReader both offer podcast and chat features now, and they're capable tools. But Speechable's focus on learning-first design — choosing duration, focusing on key topics, and speaking to your document in your own language — reflects a different philosophy.
Trust-based accessibility discounts
Speechable offers up to 50% off any plan for people with ADHD, dyslexia, visual impairments, students, educators, researchers, non-profits, or anyone facing financial hardship. That brings Premium down to $36/year — $3/month. The key difference: no proof is required. No verification, no documentation, no gatekeeping. We trust you.
Speechify offers 25% off for students through UNiDAYS (requires verification) and supports UK Disabled Students' Allowance applications. NaturalReader offers group EDU pricing for schools but no individual accessibility discounts.
Privacy by design
Speechable does not train AI models on your uploads. Does not sell your data. Period. With Eco Mode, text-to-speech processing happens locally in your browser — no cloud calls needed for playback.
Speechify is SOC2 compliant but processes documents in the cloud, and their privacy policy includes a clause about using content to "improve algorithms" — which is vague enough to raise questions. NaturalReader stores files on AWS for up to a year.
Photo import including handwriting
All three apps support OCR from photos. But Speechable specifically supports handwritten notes — photograph your study notes or a physical textbook page and convert it to audio or chat with it. Speechify's OCR works best with clean printed text. NaturalReader's OCR accuracy is reported at 60-70% on real-world documents.
Best For: Which Tool Fits Your Needs?
Choose Speechable if:
- You want truly unlimited playback without worrying about credits or limits
- You're a student or have ADHD/dyslexia and want affordable, trust-based pricing (as low as $36/year — or free with Eco Mode)
- You don't want another subscription — the free plan with occasional credit packs ($7 one-time) may be all you need
- You care about sustainability and energy-efficient AI
- You want to turn documents into podcasts or lectures, not just audio
- You value privacy and want local TTS processing that doesn't rely on cloud calls
- You want to chat with your documents by speaking in your language
- You work with handwritten notes or physical textbooks
Choose Speechify if:
- You need a polished native mobile app today (iOS/Android)
- You want access to 1,000+ voices across 60+ languages
- You need celebrity voices or the widest voice variety
- You need up to 5x playback speed
- You prefer a large, established platform with 55M+ users
Choose NaturalReader if:
- You need an offline desktop application (legacy software)
- You want a middle-ground on pricing between Speechable and Speechify
- You're in an educational institution looking for group/classroom licensing
- You want HD LLM-powered voices (Pro plan)
- You need support for a wide range of file formats (PPT, XLS, ODT, etc.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I convert a PDF to audio for free?
Yes, with all three apps. Speechable's free plan includes 10 documents with unlimited Eco Mode playback using AI voices — you can listen as much as you want without spending credits. Speechify's free plan offers unlimited playback but only with robotic-sounding voices — AI voices require a Premium subscription. NaturalReader's free plan includes unlimited basic voices but limits Premium voices to 20 minutes/day and Plus voices to 5 minutes/day, and doesn't include MP3 download.
Which app has the best voice quality?
Voice quality is subjective and depends on the language you need. Speechify has the largest selection with 1,000+ voices. NaturalReader's Pro LLM voices are marketed as their highest quality option. Speechable offers 52 natural AI voices that are optimized for long-form document listening. We recommend trying the free tiers of each app to compare voice quality for your specific use case.
Do any of these apps work offline?
Speechable's Eco Mode processes text-to-speech locally in your browser — no internet needed after the page loads. Speechify offers on-device processing on iOS. NaturalReader has a legacy desktop application for offline use. All three allow downloading MP3s for offline listening (on paid plans for Speechify and NaturalReader; included in Speechable's credits system).
Which is the most affordable option for students?
Speechable at $36/year (Premium with accessibility discount, no verification needed) — or completely free with Eco Mode unlimited playback plus a $7 one-time credit pack when needed. Speechify at ~$104/year (with 25% UNiDAYS student discount, requires verification). NaturalReader at $119/year for Plus (no student discount; EDU pricing requires institutional purchase). Speechable is 3-4x cheaper than the alternatives.
Can I chat with my documents in these apps?
All three apps offer document chat features. Speechable lets you chat by typing or speaking, and responds in whatever language you ask in. Speechify offers AI Chat on its Premium plan. NaturalReader includes Chat through its ReadAI suite on paid plans. Speechable is the only one that supports voice-based chat in your language by default.
Can I turn documents into podcasts?
Yes, all three offer podcast-style conversion. Speechable lets you choose between podcast (conversational) and lecture (TED-style) formats, with duration options and output language selection. Speechify offers podcast, late night show, debate, and lecture formats. NaturalReader's ReadAI includes podcast (2 speakers) and recap (single speaker) modes.
Which app is best for ADHD or dyslexia?
All three apps serve this community, but they approach it differently. Speechable offers trust-based accessibility discounts (up to 50% off, no proof needed) and truly unlimited playback through Eco Mode — important when you need to re-listen without worrying about limits. Speechify was founded by someone with dyslexia, offers student discounts, and supports UK Disabled Students' Allowance. NaturalReader includes dyslexia-friendly fonts and word-by-word highlighting. We recommend trying Speechable and Speechify free tiers to see which fits your workflow.
Is my data safe with these apps?
Speechable does not train on your data, does not sell it, and with Eco Mode, text-to-speech processing happens locally in your browser. Speechify is SOC2 compliant and states they don't sell data, but their policy includes an "improve algorithms" clause and documents are processed in the cloud. NaturalReader uses AWS storage with encryption and states they don't share data with third parties, but files are stored for up to a year.
Final Thoughts
There's no single "best" TTS app — it depends on what matters most to you.
If you value unlimited listening, sustainability, privacy, and trust-based accessibility, Speechable was built for you.
If you need the widest voice library and a native mobile app across all platforms, Speechify is hard to beat.
If you want institutional group pricing for a classroom or need a legacy desktop app, NaturalReader is worth considering.
The good news: all three have free tiers. Try them. The right tool is the one that fits your life.
Last updated: February 2026. We'll keep this comparison current as features and pricing change. If you spot something inaccurate, let us know — transparency means being willing to be corrected.