Today, Text To Speech software is used by many people for various reasons. Some people use it to help them with their work, as it can be difficult to read large amounts of text on a screen. Others use it for leisure, as it can be difficult to read books or newspapers when you are out and about. Those with learning disabilities or visual impairments may find Text To Speech software especially helpful. Thankfully, this technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now many options for those looking for the best text-to-speech Chrome extension for 2023.
Best All Around
Best Free Option
Best for Teams
For Educators
This list of the best text-to-speech Google extensions was compiled through exhaustive research of reviews, product features, video examples, and product listings to help you find the best text-to-speech extension for Chrome.
Some of the free text chrome extensions provided limited voice options with upgrading to a premium version, and those have been noted. These extensions offer many premium and pro plans, so you can upgrade if you want to access more features. Most of these extensions also offer different voice types if you prefer listening to natural readers. Prices are subject to change, and you should always check the latest prices before signing up for paid versions.
- Best All-Around Extension: Speechify
- Best completely free option: Read Aloud
- Best with paid upgrade: Natural Reader
- Best for Teams: Play.ht
- Best for Educators: Capti Voice
What are the Best Text to Speech Chrome Extensions
This list of text-to-speech apps with chrome extensions was compiled by looking at the features and user reviews of the Top Text-to-Speech Chrome Extensions.
1) The Speechify Reader – 4.6/5, 20M+ downloads, 150K 5-star reviews
Speechify is free, but a small monthly fee is required to access premium features.
Imagine a world where reading is no longer a chore but an enjoyable experience. A world where you can easily read any document, no matter the length, without feeling fatigued or bogged down. Thanks to Speechify, that world is now a reality.
The most popular and highest-reviewed text-to-speech Chrome extension on our list, Speechify, has more than twenty million users, 400 million impressions on social media channels, and over 150,000 five-star reviews.
Speechify allows you to quickly and easily read any text aloud with a single click. It is incredibly user-friendly and works right within your browser or web page. You can also customize your settings to match how
The Speechify Reader has helped countless people with dyslexia, ADHD, and other reading difficulties improve their reading comprehension and fluency. It has also proved useful for busy professionals who want to listen to documents while working on other tasks. Simply put, the Speechify Reader is changing the way we read.
You may need to upgrade to the paid version if you want features like saving documents and switching between voices.
How the Speechify Reader Works
The Speechify Reader extension uses text-to-speech (TTS) technology to convert written text into speech. TTS technology has been around for years, but it wasn’t until recently that it’s become good enough for general use. The Speechify Reader takes advantage of this by offering high-quality TTS voices in multiple languages.
One of the great things about the Speechify Reader is that it’s not just for people with reading difficulties. It can be used by anyone who wants to listen to documents while multi-tasking or wants an alternative way to consume content. The extension is free with premium upgrade options and can be used with any text content on the web.
To use the extension, click on the “Speechify” icon in your browser’s toolbar and select the text you want to have read aloud. The extension will then convert the text into speech using one of its high-quality TTS voices. You can also adjust the speaking rate and pitch as needed.
The Speechify Reader is a must-have tool if you frequently read long documents or articles online. It’s also great for students who want to listen to their textbook or lecture notes while studying or doing other things. And because it’s available in multiple languages, it’s perfect for non-native English speakers who want to improve their English listening skills.
Speechify Pricing
While the Speechify extension is free, the upgraded monthly subscription will get you:
- Premium high-quality voices
- Additional speed options
- Advanced skipping options
- Advanced importing
- and note taking
The cost is $11.58 and is billed annually.
2) Play.ht (4/5 Stars 3000 + Users)
While there is a Chrome extension in the chrome store, you’ll likely need to upgrade to a Play.ht subscription. This is a powerful tool for text-to-speech, with one of the best AI engines. You can upload long portions of documents and have them converted to audio files in just minutes.
The interface is quite intuitive, allowing you to select the parts of your document you want read aloud. Also, you can customize many aspects, such as reading speed, pitch, and language. You can also create your own custom audio file that you can use for podcasting or other creative applications.
The Play.ht online AI voice generator is a powerful tool that can be used to generate realistic text-to-speech audio. With this tool, you can instantly convert text into natural-sounding speech, and download the results as MP3 and WAV audio files.
You can integrate voice synthesis into your applications in real time with an easy-to-use API. In addition, you have access to more than 907 voices and accents from different providers.
How Play.ht Works
The Play.ht extension is incredibly easy to use. You must enter the text you want to convert into speech and then select from the many voices available. You can also control the generated voice’s speed, pitch, and pronunciation. The audio quality is excellent, and you can tweak it with a few clicks.
Make the audio sound more natural by adjusting speech styles and pronunciations and adding SSML tags.
Pros
- Will probably need to buy a subscription
- Voices that don’t sound like robots generated by computer algorithms.
- Voice-clone a voice for your brand
- Plans for teams and multiple users
- Email technical support is helpful
Cons
- The better voices require a paid upgrade
- Voice generation is limited based on your subscription
How much does Play.ht Cost?
The cost for a single user starts at $14.25 per month (billed annually) and goes up to $74.25 for teams.
3) Natural Reader Chrome Extension
Natural Reader is an AI-powered text to speech chrome extension with 4.5 out of 5 stars and 800,000 + users. While you will likely need to upgrade to a subscription plan to use this tool to its fullest potential, its free version still offers access to some great features.
What sets Natural Reader apart from other text-to-speech Chrome extensions is its versatility. It works on desktop and mobile devices and supports many file formats (including PDFs, Word documents, eBooks, webpages, and more). Its clean interface and easy-to-use features make it a great choice for personal and professional use.
Unlike other TTS Chrome extensions, Natural Reader has a human-like voice rather than the robotic voices common to most TTS software. It also offers the option to save audio files for offline listening, making it perfect for people who want to listen to documents while traveling or commuting. The extension is free, although a premium upgrade is available with additional voices and features.
Natural Reader allows users to customize various settings, including voice selection, reading speed, volume, and pitch. Plus, various highlight modes make it easier to follow along with the text as it’s being read aloud. And if you’re using Natural Reader on a mobile device, you can even enable background audio mode to multitask while still listening to the text.
Natural Reader is a great choice for an easy-to-use text-to-speech extension with human-like voices and plenty of customization options. It may not have all the bells and whistles of other TTS extensions, but it’s one of the best.
If you want to see how Natural Reader works, you can watch an excellent Youtube video. It will walk you through downloading, setting up, and using the extension with your Chrome browser.
4) Read Aloud, a Google Chrome Extension that Makes YourText to Speech More Robust
Today, there are a bunch of different Google Chrome Extensions that can do text-to-speech. However, what makes Read Aloud stand out is its easy use and compatibility with other devices. Here’s a breakdown of how it works.
How It Works
Read Aloud is an app you can easily click from your Google Chrome bar. With this extension, you can have any page or article read aloud. This is especially useful if you’re researching and want to jump to different screens while an AI voice reads your text.
To start, hit play, and the extension will begin reading your text. You can also adjust the speed and volume of the recording as well as choose from a variety of different voices. Plus, if you need a break, you can pause the recording and pick up where you left off later.
What’s also great about Read Aloud is that it’s compatible with other devices like Amazon’s Echo or Google Home. So, if you like to listen to audiobooks or articles while you’re doing other things around the house, this extension is perfect for you.
If you’re looking for a text-to-speech extension that’s easy to use and compatible with other devices, then Read Aloud is a perfect choice. With this extension, you’ll be able to have any page or article read aloud while you continue working on other things. Plus, you can adjust the speed and volume of the recording as well as choose from a variety of different voices.
Pros
- Excellent for studying exams
- Plenty of excellent features
- Quality, fluid voices
- Automatically skps image captions, footers, page headers, URLs and Citations
- Speed adjustments are convenient
- Continuous listening
- User-friendly features
Cons
- Will need to upgrade to a subscription to use at a high level
- Hard to understand if you don’t pay for the premium version
- Page numbers may run out of order on e-books
5) How Much Does Natural Reader Cost?
Four plans range from free to $199.50, each as single, one-time payments. Upgrades include additional voices, converting a file to MP3, and images for OCR to read.
4. Capti Voice: The Free Version is Legit!
We all know how difficult it can be to stay on top of our game when we have so much going on. Trying to read all of the articles and books assigned to us can be quite daunting, and let’s not even get started on how long it would take us to listen to all those podcasts and videos!
Enter Capti Voice, the app that can make your reading and listening woes disappear. Simply put, Capti Voice gives you everything you need with the free version, and if you don’t want to listen to the robotic voices, you can upgrade for a one-time fee vs. having to pay a monthly subscription. This makes it the most affordable option to get the features you need without the ones you don’t.
How Does Capti Voice Work?
To use Capti Voice, you only need an internet connection and a web browser. That’s it! No matter where you are or what device you use, as long as you have a web browser, you can use Capti Voice. It’s that simple. Just go to their website and start using it! And did we mention that Capti Voice works offline too? So even if you don’t have an internet connection, you can still listen to your content. How cool is that?
What Can I Do With Capti Voice?
Capti Voice allows you to upload content from the web or your computer and integrates with many popular applications such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, Box, Kindle Cloud Reader, Instapaper, Pocket, and RSS Feeds.
This means that no matter where your content is located, Capti Voice can help you organize it all in one place so you can easily find and listen to it.
In addition, Capti Voice has text-to-speech capabilities, which means that it can read any text aloud to you in various languages. And if you don’t like the sound of the robotic voices, there is an option to upgrade to human voices for a one-time fee. But trust us when we say that the robotic voices are pretty good!
And last but not least, Capti Voice allows you to control just about everything with simple shortcuts using just your keyboard or hotkeys. So whether you are on a Mac or PC, Capti Voice has got you covered.
Pros
- Saves Time
- Easy to Use
- Realistic voices (with upgrade)
- Convenient syncing abilities
- Excellent for educators
Cons
- Basic voices are robotic
- Hard to delete
- Probably need to purchase a few upgrades
6) How Much is Capti Voice?
The best part about it is that the free version gives you everything you need; however, if you don’t like the sound of the robotic voices reading your content aloud, there is an option to upgrade to human voices for a one-time fee.
Capti Voice offers in-app purchases such as:
- Advanced features: $2.99 per month
- Additional premium voices for IOS: $1.99 each
- Additional premium voices for use online: $5.99 per month
- Dictation and OCR services: per-use payment
There are also subscription options for educators.
5. Readme (4.5 Stars and 300,000 Users)
Readme.com is especially helpful for those trying to learn a new language or brush up on their reading skills. With this tool, you can easily control the speed of the narration and highlight words as they’re being read aloud. Plus, the highlights stay in place even if you pause or stop the audio, making it easy to review key concepts.
Readme.com also has an extensive library of ebooks in over 40 languages, so no matter what language you’re trying to learn, Readme.com has something for you. Plus, it’s compatible with text-to-speech devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home, making it easier to listen to your favorite books on the go.
7) How Does Readme Work?
Readme.com is incredibly easy to use and set up. All you need to do is create an account and add books to your library. Once you have the book in your library, Readme will automatically convert it into an audio format so you can easily listen to it wherever you go.
In addition, Readme also has a variety of features to make your listening experience even better. For example, you can adjust the speed of the narration or highlight keywords as they are read aloud. Readme also has a “sleep timer” feature that allows you to set a specific amount of time for the audio to play before stopping automatically.
Finally, Readme.com is free to use, so you don’t have to worry about spending any money to get access to the platform.
Overall, Readme is a great tool for anyone who wants an easy way to listen to their favorite books or learn a new language. Its intuitive interface and extensive library of books make it the perfect way to boost your literacy skills. Try it today, and you won’t be disappointed!
Pros
- Simple
- Free
- Easy to Use
- Automatically skips reading non-text items
Cons
- Can be buggy
- Uploaded docs have issues
- Might have to pay for some voices
- Reports of random pausing
The chrome extension is free.
8) Talkie: A Great Chrome Extension for Text to Speech
Talkie is a great chrome extension for text-to-speech. It is fast, easy, and high-quality. You can read out loud from websites, PDFs, and emails. This extension is privacy aware and does not track or use external services.
Talkie automatically detects the text language per page and chooses a voice in the same language to match it. This is a great extension for anyone who wants to listen to the selected text on any part of a page. Just highlight what you want to hear read aloud and hit play.
How to Use Talkie
Using Talkie is simple. Just highlight the text you want to hear read aloud and hit play. The extension will automatically detect the text language per page and choose a voice in the same language to match it. You can also install additional voices, languages, and dialects for free from Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Once installed correctly, Talkie will auto-detect them.
Assuming you have Google Chrome installed on your computer (if not, you can download it here), using Talkie is a breeze. Go to the Chrome Web Store and install the extension like any other. Once installed, Talkie will automatically detect the text language on each web page and choose a voice in the same language to match it. And if you come across a page in a language that Talkie doesn’t support, don’t worry—you can always change the voice manually from the extension’s settings menu.
Talkie Features
Talkie has many features that make it a great extension for text-to-speech. First, it is privacy aware and does not track or use external services.
Second, it automatically detects the text language per page and chooses a voice in the same language to match it.
Third, you can free install additional voices, languages, and dialects from Microsoft, Apple, and Google.
Fourth, Talkie will auto-detect them once installed correctly. Finally, this extension lets you listen to the selected text on any part of a page – whether it be a short snippet or an entire news article.
Pros
- convenient and easy to use
- Privacy-aware
- Automatically chooses a voice in the same language as the text
- Additional voices, languages, and dialects are available for free
- Can read out loud from websites, PDFs, and emails
Cons
- Have to read from the clipboard manually
- The installation shot feature does not work
- Can be slow at times
- Does not bundle voices
How Much Does Talkie Cost?
Talkie Premium lets you set a price as a donation and pay via Paypal. This is a great way to support the development of this extension while also getting some great features. You can choose how much you want to pay, depending on how much the additional features are worth to you.
How Read Aloud Can Improve Your Online Learning Experience (4/5 Stars with 4,000,000 + Users)
If you’re looking for a way to improve your online learning experience, you should consider using the Read Aloud extension for Google Chrome. This extension makes it easy to have web pages read aloud to you with just one click, using text-to-speech (TTS) technology.
The extension can be utilized on various websites, such as news sites, blogs, fan fiction, textbooks, and online university course materials.
Choose from various text-to-speech voices, including:
- Google Wavenet
- Amazon Polly
- IBM Watson
- Microsoft
Some of the cloud-based voices may require an additional in-app purchase to enable.
9) How Read Aloud Works
There’s an excellent example of how Read Aloud works on Youtube, which you can find here: https://youtu.be/hXkn0DVPEl4.
Read Aloud is a chrome extension with 4 out of 5 stars and 400,000,000+ users. Once installed, it reads the current web page article with one click, using text-to-speech (TTS) technology. It supports over 40 languages.
While it reads the text aloud, it also highlights the words being read in real-time so that you can follow along easily. You can adjust the reading speed and speech volume to suit your needs. You can also choose from a variety of male and female voices. And if you come across a word you don’t know, you can double-click on it to look up its definition in a dictionary (provided that you have an internet connection).
Why Use Read Aloud?
There are many reasons why you might want to use Read Aloud while you’re learning online. For one thing, it can help you process information more effectively by simultaneously presenting it in both spoken and written form. Additionally, if you’re an auditory learner or have difficulty reading for long periods, Read Aloud can make online learning more accessible for you.
Moreover, Read Aloud can be a valuable tool for language learners since it allows you to hear correct pronunciation while following along with the written text. Whether or not you find Read Aloud useful depends on your individual learning style and needs. But if you’re looking for a way to improve your online learning experience, it’s worth trying out!
Pros
- Free
- Easy to use
- Great for proofreading
- Excellent accuracy
Cons:
- Inability to change the speed
- Requires permissions at multiple phases
- Reads the entire page, not just the selected text
FAQ
What is Text to Speech Software?
Text to Speech (TTS) is the ability of computers to recognize written text and convert them into spoken words. It allows people to interact with their computers without reading aloud or typing, making it easier for those with difficulty reading or special learning needs.
How do Text-to-Speech Chrome Extensions Work?
Text-to-Speech Chrome Extensions allow users to listen to web pages, documents, and other text-based content on their computers. The extensions use voice synthesis technology to convert written words into audio signals, which are then played back through speakers or headphones.
What is Google Wavenet?
Google Wavenet is a deep learning-based Text-to-Speech system developed by Google. It has been used in many of its products, such as Google Assistant and Google Translate. It is known for producing natural-sounding voices with high accuracy and reliability.
What is Amazon Polly?
Amazon Polly is a cloud-based Text-to-Speech service developed by Amazon Web Services. It uses advanced deep learning technologies to synthesize natural-sounding speech from the text in multiple languages. Using Amazon Polly, developers can create applications that convert text into lifelike speech.
What is IBM Watson?
IBM Watson is a cloud-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform developed by IBM. It uses natural language processing to understand and answer questions and generate insights from large amounts of data. The Watson Text-to-Speech API helps developers create applications that can interact with users via synthesized speech.
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