Better text to speech than macOS built-in text to speech

For the benefit of its users, macOS has built-in text to speech (TTS) software to read articles and other web content aloud. Although it serves a decent purpose, the quality of its function isn’t the best. Luckily, plenty of other options offer a  great user experience straight from the web or the App Store.

This article covers the best text to speech services you can use to upscale your macOS experience.

Activating the macOS TTS

The macOS allows users access to different text to speech features. You can use the built-in VoiceOver, which makes it easy to use the computer without using the keyboard.

VoiceOver is a screen reader similar to JAWS. It can read all elements on a window and reacts to specific keystrokes and swipes on the trackpad. Visually impaired people primarily benefit from this feature-rich tool to read the text in a written document.

It’s easy to start VoiceOver on a macOS. Hit the “Command” + “F5” keyboard shortcut simultaneously and you’ll activate the feature.

Text to speech functionality on macOS is simple and fairly limited in voice options. You can set it up by going to the Apple Menu, then navigating to System Preferences, Accessibility, and Spoken Content.

It’s possible to customize keyboard shortcuts, show an onscreen controller, tweak the speaking rate, and more.

Although these features are useful, they aren’t the best text to speech apps. If you want to create video tutorials, PowerPoint presentations, or experiment with different voices to read text documents, you’ll find little use in macOS’s built-in features.

The best text to speech readers for macOS users

The market is packed with text to speech readers. Here are some of the most popular options you can try not only on your Mac but on an iPhone, iPad, and other devices.

NaturalReader

NaturalReader is a robust text to speech reader for personal and professional use. It lets users upload any text document and convert it into an MP3 file. It’s possible to listen to the audio file on almost any device.

The software has plenty of high-quality natural-sounding voices. It relies on optical character recognition technology (OCR) to read documents like scanned images or physical documents and papers aloud.

With NaturalReader, you have access to all past recordings and can sync the content across the computer and mobile devices.

Voice Dream Reader

Voice Dream Reader is an Apple iOS-exclusive text to speech tool that can read text aloud. It works as a scanner, text to speech proofreader, and a practical tool for creating audio files or narrations. This reader is among Apple users’ most frequently downloaded text to speech apps.

The software supports more than 70 voices and 20 languages. There is a free version to test the software before making any commitments. The free version lets you read 300 characters of any document.

Overall, the app interface is user-friendly. The buttons are clearly labeled and you can use the app freely with VoiceOver.

Capti Voice

Capti Voice is a useful reading tool that lets you listen to articles, books, and other content across devices. It’s available on mac OS, Windows, Android, and iOS, even when you’re not connected to the internet.

The app comes with an annual subscription, a web app, and a semi-desktop version. Additionally, it’s super easy to use. It works with numerous file formats, including PDF, DOC, DOCX, PPT, TXT, EPUB, HTML, ODT, ZIP, and others.

There is a free trial for users who want to try the API before upgrading to the premium version. The company offers different plans for different audiences, including K-12, college students, personal use programs, advanced programs for boosting reading comprehension, and more.

Speechify

Speechify is a versatile text to speech reader for computers, tablets, and smartphones that can convert text into audio files with a few simple steps. Simply copy the text into the API, press the “Convert” button, and gain immediate access to your new audio files or high-quality voice recording.

With Speechify, you can read aloud Microsoft Word, Google Drive, Word Documents, Amazon product descriptions, and any other text file from any web page on your iPhone or macOS device.

So far, this reader has helped millions of readers with learning disabilities like dyslexia, ADHD, and similar. It’s used on iPads as support in special education and it makes reading and speaking much easier for those affected with visual or speech impairments.

Speechify - The ideal text to speech app for macOS

Speechify has numerous benefits for users, and it’s among the best text to speech software out there. It’s simple to use, doesn’t cost a fortune, and has dozens of high-quality natural voices (both male and female). Speechify is available as an app for iPhone, Mac, Windows, and Android devices but also comes as a Chrome extension.

The best thing is that you don’t even have to commit immediately. You can start a free text to speech experience by visiting the official Speechify website.

FAQ

What is the best text to speech for Mac?

There are numerous text to speech apps for Mac users that offer different languages. Speechify is among the best ones for macOS and other operating systems. It supports dozens of languages, plenty of natural-sounding voices, and is super easy to use.

What is the most realistic-sounding text to speech?

Many modern text to speech services offer realistic voices. Speechify is the best software in this regard. You can choose from various female and male voices in different pitches to customize the listening experience to resemble a real voice actor reading.

What are the benefits of text to speech?

Text to speech makes it easy create podcasts, voice-overs for educational videos, and other audio material. It’s also important in the banking, financing, and gaming industries for creating better user experiences. Finally, it helps people with learning disabilities be more productive and acquire language more easily.

Is there a text to speech for iOS?

Numerous iOS device apps can translate a text document into speech. Some popular examples include Speechify, Murf, Voice Reader, Natural Reader, and others.