Overview and Main Features
1. Natural-Sounding Voices
Speechify uses AI to generate human-like voices. Its voices have natural intonations and pauses, making them more pleasant to listen to. The premium version provides high-quality voices, including celebrity voices and multilingual options.
Note:
The AI voices sometimes mispronounce names, technical terms, or uncommon words, which can be frustrating.
2. Multi-Device Sync
Users can start listening on one device and continue on another. Speechify syncs progress across all devices and allow seamless listening across all your devices. That includes your smartphone, tablet, or desktop.
3. Customizable Reading Speeds
Speechify allows you to alter the reading speed. This feature ranges from normal pace to 9x faster reading. This is useful for speed readers or professionals looking to go through large volumes of text quickly.
4. Supports Multiple Formats
It can read aloud various file types, including PDFs, Word documents, web articles, and emails. Users can upload files directly or use the Chrome extension to listen to online content.
Cons:
- Documents with columns, tables, or heavy formatting may not be read properly. This could cause playback issues
5. OCR (Optical Character Recognition) Technology
Speechify’s OCR feature allows users to scan physical books or printed documents using their device’s camera. The app then converts the scanned text into speech, making it useful for students and professionals working with printed materials.
Note:
The tool may struggle to recognize handwritten text or unusual fonts, leading to errors in the scanned text.
6. Language and Accent Options
With over 30 languages available, Speechify caters to a global audience. Users can choose different accents to enhance their listening experience, making it ideal for language learners or those who prefer specific dialects.
7. Offline Listening
The premium version allows users to download audio files for offline playback. This feature is useful for people who want to listen to content while traveling or in areas with poor internet connectivity.
8. Chrome Extension
Speechify’s browser extension makes it easy to listen to web pages, articles, and Google Docs. With a simple click, users can convert online text into speech without switching applications.
9. Integration With Other Apps
Speechify integrates with various platforms, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and Evernote. This allows users to access and listen to saved documents without manually uploading files each time.
10. Background Playback
Users can listen to Speechify while using other apps. This feature is useful for multitasking, allowing users to take notes, browse the web, or complete other tasks while listening.