Learn what a text to talk app is, why you may need it, and how to find the best one for your needs.

Text to talk app

Text to talk apps may seem like something new, but text to talk is just another way of referring to text to speech (TTS) or read-aloud software. It’s an assistive technology that speaks digital text in different voices and languages to help readers absorb information. It can make reading articles or work emails more relaxing, like listening to an audiobook over Bluetooth.

When might I use a text to talk app?

Text to talk apps have many uses in business, education, leisure, and accessibility. Text to speech functionality shouldn’t be underestimated. Here are just a few of many ways to use a text to talk app:

Reading content on web pages aloud

Not everyone can read or has time to read web page content, but a text to talk or TTS app can read text aloud—skipping ads, buttons, links, and other web elements. It’s a reliable way to go through daily emails, news articles, social media posts, and more.

Creating audio files for videos

Some text to talk apps are more basic than others. For example, they may convert text to audio in real-time online. But others let you download the audio version as an MP3, WAV, MP4, and many other audio file formats. Therefore, you can use the speech as a track on podcasts, YouTube tutorial videos, presentations, and more.

Reading text in different languages

Reading and hearing a foreign language involves different brain processes and reaction times. Sometimes, reading can be more challenging. Being familiar with a language at a conversational level can make it easier to listen and understand speech, and TTS apps can help you listen to audio versions of foreign articles and access a broader range of online content to improve your comprehension.

Overcoming reading disabilities

Kids, teens, and adults may have reading disabilities and difficulties, with dyslexia being among the most common. Sometimes, people with reading disabilities must practice consistently and use assistive technology to minimize the effects and improve their skills. Text to speech apps with text highlighting help users follow the narration and text comfortably. This practice makes it easier to recognize and memorize words, letters, and numbers.

Improving reading speed

Reading and listening to text simultaneously helps people read faster. It works even better when you can speed up the narration, which many text to talk apps allow. Skimming and retaining information gets easier with repetition.

Furthermore, adjustable playback can help people practice reading at different speeds. If you can control the voiceover, you can dictate the pace and gradually increase it as you progress. Of course, the quality of the voice will matter a lot.

Great text to talk apps to try

You don’t have to go out of your way to find an app that can take a transcription and turn it into a voiceover or read online articles for you while you’re driving to work in the morning. Some may require subscriptions, while others may offer in-app purchases for special features.

Amazon Polly

Amazon Polly has a powerful and well-polished API. The Amazon-backed cloud-based text to speech service leverages deep learning technology. It can convert articles, HTML files, written scripts, and more digital text into natural-sounding speech.

The platform has multiple uses in content creation, eLearning, and telephony. It supports multiple languages, integrates with websites, RSS feeds, and apps, and can customize speaking styles for better phrasing and intonation.

Voice Aloud Reader

Voice Aloud Reader is one of the most popular Android TTS readers. It’s user-friendly and can convert URLs and documents from text to speech using various voices. Even better, Voice Aloud Reader offers a comprehensive tutorial upon its first installation, making it great for new TTS users.

However, the app is an Android-exclusive option. iOS and macOS users need other alternatives to use text to talk functionality.

NaturalReader

Developed by NaturalSoft Ltd, NaturalReader is a reliable text to speech app for business and leisure. It has a web browser extension and an online app and is available in the Google Play Store and Apple App store, and it works on most mobile devices and computers. Users can upload directly from Dropbox, One Drive, or Google Drive for easy conversions.

In addition, NaturalReader lets users download speeches as MP3 files, making them usable for commercial purposes. That also means NaturalReader is a helpful TTS app even when people don’t have an internet connection.

Voice Dream Reader

People who want text to talk functionality but aren’t interested in anything outside Apple’s sphere of influence can use Voice Dream Reader. It’s the direct counterpart of Voice Aloud Reader and an iOS and macOS-exclusive TTS reader.

The app offers many features for reading, writing, and scanning documents to convert text into narration. It’s a versatile tool with flexible pricing that can make it accessible to various mobile device users.

Speechify

Whether you need a mobile app, Chrome extension, or natural-sounding voices, Speechify can offer the solution. It’s one of the best text to speech apps for English and foreign language reading and listening. You can use Speechify on a Microsoft Windows PC, an iPhone or iPad, and almost any other platform.

The reader accepts text files, Word docs, PDFs, and images. Combined with optical character recognition (OCR,) the Speechify TTS reader turns almost any digital and physical text into high-quality voices with adjustable playback. Its powerful speech synthesis technology can offer a shortcut to generating realistic voices for personal and commercial use.

Try Speechify—The powerful text to speech app

You can try many tools for reading in English, Portuguese, Italian, and Chinese from various materials, but Speechify has the most powerful speech recognition technology and some of the most realistic voices in multiple languages.

Try Speechify for a customizable and enhanced reading experience with an immersive auditory twist.

FAQ

Is Siri a text to talk app?

Siri can function as a text to talk app, despite not being primarily a TTS reader. Thee Apple assistant can read on-screen text back to the user, helping them access information and navigate their device.

Is text to talk good for studying?

Text to talk, or text to speech, technology is excellent for studying. It can help people with and without reading difficulties and improve their auditory learning skills, memory, and focus.