📚 Reading apps and reading coaches · 🔊 Reading aloud and accessibility · 🧩 Learning differences
Speechify
By Speechify Inc.. Visit Speechify
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-10-24.
Speechify is a text-to-speech app that reads documents, PDFs and web pages aloud in computer voices. It is also sold for voice typing, AI podcasts, dubbing and voice-overs, and markets itself to people with dyslexia and other reading needs. Students use the browser extension or phone app to listen to school reading at a faster speed. The free tier has basic voices; Premium adds natural-sounding voices and more features.
Our take: Useful for a teen with dyslexia who needs to listen to schoolwork; younger children have simpler free options such as Immersive Reader.
| Ages it suits | teens and adults; children only on a parent's account |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | You must be 18 (or the age of majority) to use it. Minors may use it only with a parent's or guardian's involvement and consent, under that adult's account. Children under 13 should not give personal data unless through a Speechify for Education license. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free tier; Premium $29 a month billed monthly, or $139 a year (US, Oct 2026). Free trial (3 days per the terms) turns into a paid plan automatically. |
| Works on | Web, iPhone and iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Chromebook |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | None |
| In-app purchases | Not stated |
| The AI in it | AI voices read text aloud, and other AI features turn text into podcasts and take dictation. |
What's good
- Works on nearly every device and in the browser
- Helps kids with dyslexia keep up with grade-level text
- Free tier is usable for basic listening
Watch for
- Terms are written for adults; kids must use a parent's account
- Premium is expensive and auto-renews after a short trial
- Many features target adult work use, not kids
- Marketing tracking on the website
Data and privacy
Speechify says it does not sell personal data or help other companies advertise to you, but it uses cookies and pixels (Google Analytics, Facebook) to market its own products. It says it does not knowingly collect data from children under 13 outside Education licenses. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker's own claims only (user numbers and testimonials). No independent study of Speechify found.
In the Big Index
Alternatives to Speechify
Desk researchFree
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes · ages 18+ only
Useful for blind or low-vision adults, including parents; children should not use it, by the maker's own terms.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Bloom Library
SIL Global · ages mostly early readers; some books for adults (health, farming)
A standout for families reading in a home or heritage language; parents should filter by topic, since religious and adult titles mix with children's books.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Bookshare
Benetech (nonprofit) · ages all ages (PreK-12 students through adults)
A free, practical library for US students with a documented print disability; families without that need should use a public library app instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
C-Pen Reader
C-Pen (sold in the US by Scanning Pens) · ages school-age readers and adults
Worth a look for a child with dyslexia who reads paper books and worksheets; ask the school first, since many lend them.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
Cboard
Cboard (Comunicacion Aumentativa Chile SpA) · ages all ages (children and adults who need AAC)
A low-cost way for families and therapists to try AAC on existing devices; families who need a fully supported, ad-free system funded through insurance may prefer a dedicated AAC product.
Desk researchFree, with paid extrasNo ads
Kami
Kami (Kami Limited, also maker of Book Creator) · ages grades K-12 (about 5-18), plus adults
A practical school tool for marking up and turning in work, especially for kids who need read-aloud or translation; parents rarely need it at home.
Where these facts come from
- https://speechify.com/
- https://speechify.com/pricing/
- https://speechify.com/terms/
- https://speechify.com/privacy/
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.