Speechify vs. ReadMe—How do these two popular text to speech apps compare? Read our breakdown of both TTS apps, and discover which is best.

Speechify vs. ReadMe

Text to speech technology can drastically improve the lives of people with specific disabilities. Dyslexic individuals, as well as those with vision impairment, rely on text to speech (TTS) every day.

You can find many TTS readers on the market, some with free API and others with subscription plans. One of the more popular options are ReadMe and Speechify. These text to speech platforms have several essential features in common but also some significant differences.

But when it comes to comparing Speechify vs. ReadMe, which one is better? Let’s examine both of these popular text to speech voice readers.

What is ReadMe?

The ReadMe voice generator text to speech service is familiar to many as a popular TTS web browser extension. You can install and start using the Google Chrome ReadMe extension in minutes, making it incredibly convenient.

This browser extension reads written text aloud, including text files like Google docs and other formats. It's also available for Microsoft Edge if that is your browser.

Firefox users are out of luck concerning ReadMe. However, they can try the Read Aloud browser add-on that works in a similar way to ReadMe.

ReadMe is also available as a downloadable text to speech software, and it relies on artificial intelligence (AI) and speech synthesis technology to convert entire web pages into audio files.

What is Speechify?

Speechify was initially designed to help people with dyslexia by transforming text into speech. Therefore, this text to speech platform was established by someone with first-hand experience of a learning disability—but it’s been developed into a TTS app that anyone can use.

Speechify is a comprehensive text to speech app and online platform with natural-sounding voices and high-quality voiceover narration. With Speechify, you can turn documents into speech. 

Speechify enables users to read faster, boost their productivity, and stay on top of their work or studies. Many people are natural auditory learners, and interactive text to speech platforms like Speechify can significantly improve their lives.

What’s more, the narrators on Speechify sound like authentic human voices, and they've recently introduced the actual voice of actress Gwyneth Paltrow as an option for subscribers.

Speechify vs. ReadMe—The key differences

Now you know the basics of ReadMe and Speechify. But if you're on the fence about which one is best for you, exploring the specific similarities and differences is vital.

Pricing

Choosing a text to speech reader is not always an easy task. Granted, you need to ensure it can read web pages correctly and that the narration is excellent, but that's not all. Pricing is a very important metric.

At present, ReadMe is an entirely free service, and you can even acquire their API to integrate into your website. The ReadMe Edge and Chrome extensions are also free of charge. Undoubtedly, this makes ReadMe an appealing option for many users.

Speechify also has a free version, and it has some terrific features. You can listen to free text read aloud anywhere, at up to 1x reading speed, and in 10 standard reading voices. The voices can be customized, and you can use the free version of Speechify on any device you own.

Those willing to invest in more than introductory text to speech functionality may consider Speechify Premium for $11.58 per month, billed annually. With a subscription plan, users get the full experience of this phenomenal TTS platform. In addition, Speechify offers special pricing for groups, including businesses and schools.

Feature richness beyond basic TTS

One of the most impressive features of ReadMe is that it's relatively easy to use. The web browser extension is lightweight and won't burden your device with lags or glitches. This platform uses deep learning techniques to produce natural human speech. If you're searching for features beyond the basic TTS, however, ReadMe fails to impress.

Speechify, on the other hand, is all about versatility. Speechify offers tutorials on using their products and has an impressive article collection about all text to speech topics.

Platform compatibility

How do you plan on using your text to speech reader? ReadMe will provide a reliable service if you only need a Chrome browser extension. The same applies to the Microsoft Edge extension, though it's probably less popular than Chrome.

Android users can download ReadMe from the Google Play store directly, too. It automatically extracts text from web pages, regardless of the source.

Both ReadMe and Speechify can be used on Windows and Mac computers, but iOS users can only rely on Speechify for their mobile devices. If you use an iPad as the primary device for work or leisure, Speechify is your only option for text to speech.

Number of narrators and languages available

It's unclear exactly how many narrators ReadMe has to offer. Regarding different language availability, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Danish, and Japanese are currently available, but expect to see more in the future.

Speechify has 15+ exclusive languages and 30+ natural-sounding narrators, and all of them can be customized even further to your listening preference. If you want many more options and need different voices across numerous platforms, Speechify is the logical choice.

Which file formats does each works with

Most people are likely to use ReadMe for web pages and Google docs. However, Speechify can read EPUB, PDF files, txt, HTML, Microsoft Word docs, PowerPoint files, and many more file types. With Speechify Premium, you can take advantage of optical character recognition (OCR) by taking a picture of any text and having it read to you out loud.

The winner—Speechify text to speech

Two of ReadMe's standout features are ease of use and the free-of-charge service. It's an efficient but pretty basic TTS reader. Speechify is an entirely different beast. It's a comprehensive TTS tool with versatile service and a deep understanding of their users’ needs. The free version of Speechify is available, but you can also try the premium option for free today.

FAQ

What is the best text to speech extension?

Speechify is the best text to speech extension for you mobile phone, computer, or web browser.

What is the most realistic text to speech app?

Many realistic text to speech apps like Natural Reader or Amazon Polly are currently available, but Speechify’s voices are ultimately the most natural-sounding.

Can Speechify read text messages?

If you copy the text from your message into Speechify, it will read the text aloud.

What are some other examples of text to speech readers?

You can find many high quality text to speech readers. Platforms like Capti, Natural Reader, Amazon Polly, and many others come to mind. However, none compare to the high-qu