Text-to-speech software that delivers natural results is hard to come by, so we’ve compiled our list to help
If you’re in need of text-to-speech (TTS) software, you’re in luck. With the rise of digital communication, there’s been a surge in the popularity of text-to-speech software. This technology can convert written text into spoken words, making it invaluable for creating accessible content, enhancing productivity, and even proofreading by vocalizing written work.
But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right one. That’s why we’ve meticulously tested various free software options and assessed them based on user experience, performance, and output quality. Our guide aims to help you find the best tool for your specific needs, regardless of budget constraints.
The Top Free Text-to-Speech Software of 2024
Looking for the best free text-to-speech software? Look no further. Our team has extensively tested and reviewed each entry on our list, ensuring that our recommendations can be trusted. Here are the top free text-to-speech software programs of 2024:
- NaturalReader
- Balabolka
- eSpeak
- ReadAloud
- TextAloud
Each of these programs offers unique features and benefits, from customizable voices to easy-to-use interfaces. Whether you’re looking to improve your reading comprehension or simply want a more convenient way to consume written content, these free software programs are sure to meet your needs.
The Best Free Text-to-Speech Software Overall
When it comes to software that is built to convert text into speech, Natural Reader stands out as one of the best options available. It offers an easy-to-use interface and produces high-quality results. Additionally, Natural Reader offers both online and desktop versions, giving you the flexibility to choose the platform that works best for you.
One of the standout features of Natural Reader is its built-in OCR functionality. This allows you to load up a photo or scan of text and have it read aloud to you. You can also load documents into the library and have them read aloud from there. Natural Reader supports an impressive range of file types, including eBook formats.
Another great feature is the floating toolbar. This mode allows you to highlight text in any application and use the toolbar controls to start and customize text-to-speech. This means you can easily use the feature in your web browser, word processor, and other programs. Additionally, there’s a browser extension that makes it even easier to convert web content to speech.
Similarly, for mobile users, the Android speech to text feature enhances accessibility by enabling voice to text functionality across various apps, making it simpler to navigate and use your device hands-free. This integration is particularly useful for creating texts or emails quickly without typing.
Natural Reader offers a range of user options and customizations, making it a versatile and user-friendly choice. However, it’s worth noting that the free version has limited voices compared to the paid plans. Additionally, it’s cloud-based, which may not be ideal for all users.
Overall, if you’re looking for a high-quality free software, Natural Reader is a great option to consider.
The Best Free Custom-Voice Text-to-Speech Software
2. Balabolka
When it comes to custom-voice text-to-speech software, Balabolka is the best free option available. It offers excellent file format support, a wide range of voices to choose from, and the ability to create audio files. However, the program’s old-school interface may not be for everyone.
One of the great things about Balabolka is the variety of ways you can use it. You can either copy and paste text into the program or open a number of supported file formats (including DOC, PDF, and HTML) directly in the program. This makes it easy to use Balabolka with a variety of different documents.
Balabolka offers three different routes for output: SAPI 4 with eight different voices, SAPI 5 with two voices, or the Microsoft Speech Platform. Regardless of which route you choose, you can adjust the speech, pitch, and volume of playback to create your own custom voice.
In addition to reading words aloud, Balabolka can also save narrations as audio files in a range of formats including MP3 and WAV. For lengthy documents, you can create bookmarks to make it easy to jump back to a specific location. Balabolka also offers excellent tools to help you customize the pronunciation of words to your liking.
Overall, Balabolka is an excellent choice for anyone in need of custom-voice TTS software. For more help using Balabolka, check out our guide on how to convert text to speech using this free software.
The Best Free Text-to-Speech Software for Beginners
3. Panopreter Basic
If you’re new to the conversion of text to speech, Panopreter Basic is the best free software to start with. It’s quick, simple, and easy to use, making it perfect for beginners.
One of the advantages of Panopreter Basic is that it accepts a variety of input formats, including plain and rich text files, web pages, and Microsoft Word documents. It also exports the resulting sound in both WAV and MP3 formats, which are saved in the same location with the same name.
The default settings work well for quick tasks, but you can customize the software to your liking by exploring the Settings menu. You can change the language, the destination of saved audio files, and even set custom interface colors. Panopreter Basic also has a unique feature where it can play a piece of music once it’s finished reading, which is a nice touch not found in other free text-to-speech software.
The only drawback of Panopreter Basic is that it’s only available for Windows. If you need more advanced features, a premium version of Panopreter is available. This edition offers several additional features, including toolbars for Microsoft Word and Internet Explorer, the ability to highlight the section of text currently being read, and extra voices.
Overall, Panopreter Basic is an excellent choice for beginners looking for a simple and hassle-free text-to-speech software.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quick and simple to use | Only available for Windows |
| Exports in WAV and MP3 formats | |
| Good range of input formats |
The Best Free Text-to-Speech Extension of Microsoft Word
WordTalk
If you’re looking for a customizable text-to-speech extension for Microsoft Word, WordTalk is a great option. Developed by the University of Edinburgh, WordTalk is a toolbar add-on that integrates with all editions of Microsoft Word and is accessible via the toolbar or ribbon, depending on which version you’re using.
One of the best features of WordTalk is its customizable voices. It supports SAPI 4 and SAPI 5 voices, which can be tweaked to your liking. Additionally, WordTalk has a speaking dictionary, which can be very helpful.
While the toolbar itself may not be the most attractive, it does have the ability to read aloud individual words, sentences, or paragraphs, which is a nice touch. WordTalk also allows you to save narrations and has a number of keyboard shortcuts that make frequently used options easily accessible.
One downside to WordTalk is that it is only compatible with Microsoft Word, so if you use other word processors, this extension may not be useful for you. Additionally, some users may find the toolbar a little unattractive and the buttons’ functions unclear, but there is a help file available to assist with any confusion.
Overall, WordTalk is a basic but effective text-to-speech extension for Microsoft Word that is worth considering if you need this functionality.
The Best Free Text-to-Speech Software for Websites
5. Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader
If you’re looking for a software that can convert words from websites to speech, Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is a great choice. Despite its simple interface, it offers a range of features that make it a valuable tool.
One of its most useful features is the ability to read aloud any text you copy to the clipboard, as long as the program is running and the relevant option is enabled. It can also open numerous file formats directly in the program or convert text files to WAV format.
Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader has good file format support, making it easy to use with a variety of text sources. However, it has limited voice options, and the only settings you can customize are volume and speed. If you want to fiddle with pronunciations, you’ll need to dig deep into the settings.
While Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is a great free option, it’s worth noting that additional voices come at an additional cost, which may be steep for some users. Despite this, it remains one of the best free text-to-speech software available.
In summary, Zabaware Text-to-Speech Reader is a reliable tool for those looking to convert text from websites to speech. Its ability to read aloud text from the clipboard and its good file format support make it a valuable choice. However, its limited voice options and expensive additional voices hold it back from a higher place on our list.
The Best Free Text-to-Speech Software: FAQs
What are the limitations of free TTS software?
While some free text-to-speech software may have limited voice options, the best free TTS software on this list comes with all the necessary features for the average user. For instance, Zabaware provides two free voices, but additional voices require payment.
What is SAPI?
SAPI, which stands for Speech Application Programming Interface, is a tool developed by Microsoft to generate synthetic speech for computer programs to read aloud text. Third-party TTS software, including those featured in this list, also use SAPI. SAPI 4 voices offer more options, while SAPI 5 voices generally have higher quality.
Should I output files to MP3 or WAV?
Many free TTS programs allow you to download an audio file of the speech to save and transfer to different devices. MP3 and WAV are the two most common audio formats. While MP3 files are compressed, making them smaller in size, WAV files are uncompressed and preserve fidelity. However, MP3 files with a bit rate of 256 kbps and above should suffice for speech audio, and you may not notice a significant difference between them and WAV files.
In summary, the best free TTS software offers sufficient features for the average user, SAPI is a tool used to generate synthetic speech, and both MP3 and WAV formats are compatible with modern devices, with the main difference being quality.
How to Choose the Best Free Text-to-Speech Software
Choosing the best free TTS software for your needs can be a daunting task, but by taking into account the following factors, you can make an informed decision:
- Voice options and customizations: Look for software that offers a variety of voices and the ability to customize aspects such as speed, pitch, and volume to suit your needs.
- Compatibility: Make sure the software is compatible with your operating system and the file formats you need it to read aloud from.
- Audio format options: Check if the software can save the audio output in a format that works for you.
- Advanced features: Consider what advanced features are available for free and if any performance or usability sacrifices are made.
It’s important to keep in mind what is fair and reasonable for free services. Our top choice offers plenty of features for free, so if other options seem bare in comparison, you can do better. By considering these factors, you can find the best free text-to-speech software for your needs.
How We Evaluate the Best Free Text-to-Speech Software
To determine the best free TTS software, we conduct a thorough evaluation of their features and performance. Our testing process involves subjecting each software to a wide range of syllables to assess their accuracy and clarity.
We also consider the accessibility features of each tool, including dyslexic-friendly fonts, to ensure that they cater to every user’s needs. Our comparison also includes paid-for rivals to provide a comprehensive overview of each software’s feature set.
Moreover, we assess how well each TTS tool meets the requirements of its intended users, whether for personal or professional use. Our evaluation process is designed to provide you with an unbiased and informed assessment of the best free text-to-speech software available.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What free text-to-speech software can you use on a Mac?
There are several free TTS software options available for Mac users. Some of the most popular ones include:
- NaturalReader
- Balabolka
- eSpeak
- Read Aloud
- GhostReader
Which text-to-speech apps offer the most natural sounding voices without cost?
Natural-sounding voices are essential for a good text-to-speech experience. Fortunately, there are several free text-to-speech apps that offer high-quality, natural-sounding voices. Some of the top-rated ones include:
- Google Text-to-Speech
- Amazon Polly
- IBM Watson Text to Speech
- Microsoft Text-to-Speech
Are there any unlimited text-to-speech services available online for free?
Yes, there are several unlimited TTS services available online for free. Some of the best ones include:
- NaturalReader Online
- Text2Speech.org
- FromTextToSpeech.com
- iSpeech
Can you download text-to-speech software for offline use at no charge?
Yes, there are several free TTS software options that you can download and use offline. Some of the best ones include:
- Balabolka
- eSpeak
- NVDA
- Panopreter Basic
- Read Aloud
What are the top-rated free AI text-to-speech programs currently available?
AI-powered text-to-speech programs offer some of the most advanced features and natural-sounding voices available. Some of the top-rated free AI text-to-speech programs currently available include:
- Google Text-to-Speech
- Amazon Polly
- IBM Watson Text to Speech
- Microsoft Text-to-Speech
How can you convert text to speech for free using AI technology?
There are several free AI-powered TTS tools available online that you can use to convert text to speech. Some of the most popular ones include:
- Google Cloud Text-to-Speech
- Amazon Polly
- IBM Watson Text to Speech
- Microsoft Text-to-Speech
To use these tools, simply copy and paste the text you want to convert into the tool’s interface, select the voice you want to use, and click the “Convert” button. The tool will then generate an audio file of the text in the selected voice.
