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Speechify Alternative: Best 7 Free Text-to-Speech Apps for 2026

Natural Reader, Murf AI, TTSReader, and Voice Dream Reader work as Speechify alternatives with different strengths. Natural Reader offers 5 free voices with premium plans from $99.50/year - 30% cheaper than Speechify. Murf AI provides 120+ AI voices in 20+ languages with studio-grade quality for professional voiceovers. TTSReader delivers completely free web-based text-to-speech with no account required. Voice Dream Reader offers one-time $14.99 purchase with lifetime access versus Speechify subscription at $139/year.

AmaraAmara
•Updated: 2025-12-13•16 min read

Detailed Tool Reviews

1
Natural Reader logo

Natural Reader

★4.6

Natural Reader provides free text-to-speech with 5 natural-sounding voices, offering premium plans 30% cheaper than Speechify while supporting PDF, Word, and ePub formats with OCR scanning.

Key Features:

  • ✓5 free natural voices
  • ✓OCR text scanning
  • ✓PDF and ePub support
  • ✓20+ premium voices
  • ✓Commercial use allowed
  • ✓Chrome extension
  • ✓Mobile apps (iOS/Android)

Pricing:

Free tier with 5 voices, Personal at $99.50/year, Professional at $199/year

Pros:

  • + 30% cheaper than Speechify ($99.50 vs $139/year)
  • + Free tier more generous (5 voices vs 1)
  • + Better document format support
  • + Lifetime commercial license available

Cons:

  • - Fewer premium voices than Speechify (50+ voices)
  • - Less polished mobile app interface
  • - No speed reading training features
  • - Smaller voice variety per language

Best For:

Students and professionals who want affordable text-to-speech for PDFs and documents with better value than Speechify premium

Try Natural Reader →
2
Murf AI logo

Murf AI

★4.7

Murf AI offers 120+ AI voices in 20+ languages with studio-grade audio quality for professional voiceovers, podcasts, and presentations - providing voice cloning and pitch/speed controls that Speechify lacks.

Key Features:

  • ✓120+ ultra-realistic AI voices
  • ✓20+ languages supported
  • ✓Voice cloning capability
  • ✓Pitch and speed control
  • ✓Emphasis and pause editing
  • ✓Background music library
  • ✓Team collaboration workspace
  • ✓Commercial usage rights
  • ✓API access for developers

Pricing:

Free tier with 10 minutes, Basic at $19/month, Pro at $26/month, Enterprise custom pricing

Pros:

  • + Studio-quality voices for professional content
  • + Voice cloning creates custom voices
  • + Commercial usage included in paid plans
  • + Better pronunciation control than Speechify
  • + Team collaboration features built-in
  • + API access for automation

Cons:

  • - Free tier limited to 10 minutes
  • - More expensive than basic alternatives ($19/month entry)
  • - Learning curve for advanced features
  • - Voice cloning requires Pro plan ($26/month)

Best For:

Content creators, podcasters, and businesses who need studio-grade voiceovers for professional videos, presentations, and audiobooks with commercial rights

Try Murf AI →
3
TTSReader logo

TTSReader

★4.5

TTSReader offers completely free web-based text-to-speech with no account, downloads, or subscriptions required - the best free alternative to Speechify for basic reading needs.

Key Features:

  • ✓100% free forever
  • ✓No account registration
  • ✓Web-based (no installation)
  • ✓Multiple language support
  • ✓Adjustable speed and pitch
  • ✓Pause and resume reading
  • ✓Works on all devices

Pricing:

Completely free, no account required

Pros:

  • + Completely free with zero costs
  • + No signup or account needed
  • + Works immediately in browser
  • + Privacy-focused (no data collection)

Cons:

  • - Basic voices compared to Speechify premium
  • - Web-only (no offline mobile app)
  • - No OCR or PDF scanning
  • - Limited voice customization

Best For:

Users who want instant free text-to-speech without creating accounts or paying subscriptions, perfect for occasional reading needs

Try TTSReader →
4
Voice Dream Reader logo

Voice Dream Reader

★4.8

Voice Dream Reader provides lifetime text-to-speech access with one-time $14.99 purchase - paying 10x less than Speechify annual subscription while offering superior dyslexia and accessibility features.

Key Features:

  • ✓One-time purchase (lifetime access)
  • ✓200+ premium voices available
  • ✓Dyslexia-friendly fonts and spacing
  • ✓PDF and document support
  • ✓Cloud sync (Dropbox, Google Drive)
  • ✓Highlighting while reading
  • ✓Offline reading capability

Pricing:

One-time purchase: $14.99 (iOS), $9.99 (Android)

Pros:

  • + $14.99 one-time vs $139/year Speechify (89% savings)
  • + Lifetime access with no recurring fees
  • + Best-in-class accessibility features
  • + Works completely offline

Cons:

  • - iOS version costs more than Android
  • - One-time fee per platform (iOS/Android separate)
  • - Premium voices cost extra ($0.99-4.99 each)
  • - No web version

Best For:

Users with dyslexia, students, and accessibility-focused readers who want lifetime text-to-speech without subscriptions

Try Voice Dream Reader →

Frequently Asked Questions

TTSReader is the best completely free Speechify alternative with zero costs, no account required, and instant web-based access. For users wanting more features in free tier, Natural Reader offers 5 free voices vs Speechify's 1 free voice, plus better PDF support. Microsoft Edge Read Aloud is also excellent as a built-in browser feature with high-quality voices.

Choose Your Speechify Alternative

Choose TTSReader for completely free text-to-speech with zero account requirements and instant browser-based access. Choose Natural Reader at $99.50/year for 30% savings versus Speechify with better free tier (5 voices vs 1) and superior PDF/document support. Choose Voice Dream Reader at $14.99 one-time purchase for lifetime access with exceptional dyslexia features and offline reading - paying just 11% of Speechify annual cost. For most users seeking free option, TTSReader delivers immediate value. For students and professionals reading documents, Natural Reader offers best feature-to-price ratio. For accessibility-focused users and those avoiding subscriptions, Voice Dream Reader provides unmatched value with lifetime access.

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About the Author

Amara - AI Tools Expert

Amara

Amara is an AI tools expert who has tested over 1,800 AI tools since 2022. She specializes in helping businesses and individuals discover the right AI solutions for text generation, image creation, video production, and automation. Her reviews are based on hands-on testing and real-world use cases, ensuring honest and practical recommendations.

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