Speechify and NaturalReader both turn PDFs, documents and web pages into audio, so you can listen to readings while you commute, proofread by ear or get through long assignments with less screen time. They differ in free-plan limits, pricing and study features. Here's how they compare for students.
| Feature | Speechify | NaturalReader |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Natural-sounding listening on every device | A cheaper paid plan with AI study tools |
| Free plan | 10 basic voices, up to 1.5x speed, 5-file limit | Unlimited listening with free voices, 5 min/day of Plus AI Voices, limited AI features |
| Paid price | Premium $139/year (about $11.58/month) or $29/month | Lite $79/year, Plus $119/year, Pro $159/year (monthly: $13.90 / $20.90 / $25.90) |
| Student deal | 25% off Premium for verified students via UNiDAYS | No individual student discount; schools can buy EDU licenses |
| Voices | 1,000+ voices in 60+ languages on Premium | Free, Lite, Plus and Pro voice tiers depending on plan |
| Scanning printed pages | Scan & Listen on Premium | OCR on paid plans |
| AI study features | AI summaries and chat, AI podcasts (Premium) | ReadAI, Podcast, Recap and Quizzes (paid plans; limited on free) |
| MP3 downloads | Offline MP3 download listed as a Premium feature | 1 million MP3 characters/month on paid plans |
| Platforms | iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome extension, web | Web app, iOS and Android apps, Chrome extension |
Prices and features as of October 2026 — check the official site for current details
Prices and features as of October 2026 — check the official site for current details
Best for: fast, natural-sounding listening across all your devices
Speechify is a text-to-speech app for iOS, Android, Mac, Chrome and the web. The free plan includes 10 basic voices, listening speeds up to 1.5x and a 5-file storage limit. Premium adds 1,000+ natural voices in 60+ languages, speeds up to 5x, Scan & Listen for reading printed pages with your phone camera, AI summaries and chat, AI podcasts, voice typing, and integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive. Premium costs $29/month billed monthly or $139/year (about $11.58/month). Speechify says verified students can get 25% off Premium through UNiDAYS.
Why students use it:
Best for: a cheaper paid plan with built-in AI study tools
NaturalReader is a text-to-speech app available as a web app, mobile app and Chrome extension, and it reads PDFs, documents, books and web pages. The free plan includes unlimited listening with free voices, 5 minutes a day of Plus AI Voices and limited AI features. Paid personal plans: Lite ($79/year or $13.90/month) adds OCR, unlimited listening with Lite Voices, 1 million MP3 characters a month and AI features (ReadAI, Podcast, Recap and Quizzes); Plus ($119/year or $20.90/month) adds 500,000 characters a day of Plus AI Voices; Pro ($159/year or $25.90/month) adds Pro Voices and reading styles. Schools can buy NaturalReader EDU licenses.
Why students use it:
Choose Speechify if you want the most natural voices, faster playback and a polished experience across your phone and computer — and use the student discount with annual billing to bring the cost down. Choose NaturalReader if you want unlimited free listening with standard voices or the cheapest paid plan, with AI quizzes and recaps included. Both offer free plans, so try each with one of your own readings before paying.
Listening to your readings with text-to-speech is generally fine and is a common accommodation — if you have a documented disability, your campus disability services office may be able to provide text-to-speech tools for free. AI summaries are a study aid, not a substitute for doing the reading, and using AI features on graded work should follow your instructor's policy.
Compare more options in our Best text-to-speech apps for students guide.