Speechify - Text to Audiobook

App review by Keri Wilmot, Common Sense Media
Speechify - Text to Audiobook Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Solid text-to-speech converter may be pricey for some.

iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad Free to try Education
Rate app

Parents say

age 11+

Based on 24 reviews

Kids say

age 2+

Based on 1 review

Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Rate app
  • Speechify App: Screenshot #1
  • Speechify App: Screenshot #2
  • Speechify App: Screenshot #3

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this app.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Speechify - Text to Audiobook is an educational app that reads uploaded text out loud. Users can snap a photo of a book, document, image, contract or worksheet to convert it to audio. It's free to try for three days, but after that it costs $139 annually. Users can adjust the voice of the reader, as well as the words spoken per minute. It also translates documents into another language. While it's only as educational as the uploaded content, it especially helps kids with dyslexia or other text-based learning issues access content. Parents should monitor and preview all content uploaded to make sure it has acceptable information that is suitable for a kid's age and skill level. Read the app's privacy policy to find out about the information collected and shared.

Community Reviews

MarissaLohmiller
MarissaLohmiller Adult
June 19, 2022
age 5+

NOT A Scam. Here’s Why!

I LOVE this tool! In love with it. You can use it as a browser extension on all devices, so that anything you look up it automatically pops up to play it for you. It also tells you the time it will take to read what you’re wanting it to read, you can adjust the speed of reading, you can change the voice, you can save the articles/websites and not have to search for them again, it highlights text as it reads, and you can fast forward the audio to the part of the article you’re wanting to hear. WARNING: All the reviews about it being a scam are fair ONLY because it does shock you by the price. It does not warn you. That is true. BUT, for me, it has helped me complete assignments in half the time. My productivity level has skyrocketed.

This title has:

Educational value
Easy to play/use
obregongm
obregongm Adult
June 7, 2022
age 18+

DO NOT PURCHASE THISPRODUCT!

This app is not worth the price. There is a trial period, but I was charged a full year subscription before midnight on the day the trial period was due to expire. I am a graduate student, and I figured I would continue to use it, however I am dissatisfied with their service. Customer support is one of the worst. They don't get back to you for days. There are settings where you choose your reading speed and reading voice. Every few weeks, the app defaults to its original settings with a Robot-like voice that is difficult to follow or listen to. You try to adjust the settings to your preferences, but ultimately it defaults to the original settings. Every time I have this issue, I have to contact app support, they take days to get back to me, and a few more days to resolve my issue. As a graduate student, I have a strict reading schedule and I can't afford to deviate from it. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT!
See all 24 parent reviews

What’s It About?

In SPEECHIFY - TEXT TO AUDIOBOOK users upload content into the app from websites, internet images, documents, or photos of worksheets. Once the content is uploaded into the app, the text is read out loud. Words are highlighted so that users can follow along at the same time. It's easy to change between different voices, like American male, American female, British male, British female, Australian, or a child. Sliding the dot at the bottom of the page easily adjusts the speed of the words spoken, from 100 up to 780 words per minute. You can organize the content you upload into different collections. There are 14 available languages for translation; they include Spanish, French, Chinese, Portuguese (male and female), Dutch (male and female), Hindi, Arabic, Japanese, German, Italian, Hebrew, and Russian. Note that it only works in a vertical orientation on the device.

Is It Any Good?

This reading tool provides users -- especially those with reading and learning disabilities -- with an option to hear written text spoken out loud. For those who have difficulty reading, Speechify - Text to Audiobook might help them learn new information and reduce the likelihood of frustration. Uploading content is simple, and the option to snap a photo of documents is very useful, especially for kids who might be given information from a variety of curricula, in different formats. Acclimating to the in-app voices can take some time, because they don't sound totally natural, but choosing the option for the child's voice definitely makes the content sound friendlier for younger users. For those who require translation of documents into various languages, it's easy to convert information from one language to another. At $7.99 per month for the Pro version (about $100 annually), it's expensive. Users should plan to make a dedicated effort to prepare to upload as much content as possible during the trial period to determine whether this strategy is helpful, so they have as much time as possible to experience the features before deciding whether to upgrade.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how Speechify - Text to Audiobook may benefit their ability to improve their comprehension or understanding of what they are reading and learning. Does it help to have text read out loud?

  • Talk about organization. For kids who are prone to losing their papers, would taking a picture and uploading the document into Speechify help kids keep their information in one place?

  • Discuss learning styles. Finding time to complete all of the steps needed for homework and studying can be hard with a lot of reading assignments, especially for those who struggle with reading. Does listening to content help your kid complete work faster? Or is it a distraction?

App Details

Our Editors Recommend

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate