# NaturalLocalReader: Read Aloud — PDF, EPUB & Safari to Audio

> On-device text-to-speech reader for web pages and documents. (iPhone/iPad app by Yanjue Yan.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/naturallocalreader-read-aloud/id6764353454 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Yanjue Yan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1852948270)
- Category: Books, Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 13 MB
- Languages: American English, Chinese (Simplified, China)
- Released: 2026-04-30
- Data updated: 2026-08-17
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/naturallocalreader-read-aloud/id6764353454/reviews.md

## What is NaturalLocalReader?

Listen to Safari articles and imported documents entirely on-device — no internet required for playback. NaturalLocalReader offers English and Chinese text-to-speech with voice cloning, optional AI-powered multi-voice narration, a Safari extension, offline audio preparation, and a saved reading library.

Use the Safari extension to send any article straight into the app, or import `.txt`, `.epub`, `.pdf`, `.md`, or `.html` files and keep them in a reading library with saved progress. Pick up where you left off, jump to any paragraph or chapter, and listen with simple playback controls.

**English and Chinese playback, fully on-device.** English content is read using PocketTTS — a fast, natural-sounding engine with voice cloning support. Chinese content uses MOSS — a CoreML-powered voice engine also with voice cloning. Record a short clip or import any audio file, and the engine reads in your voice. No internet connection needed for any engine.

**Voice cloning for English and Chinese.** Record a short clip in Settings → Voice Reference and the engine reads in your voice — available for both PocketTTS (English) and MOSS (Chinese). MOSS also lets you save multiple named voice references and switch between them instantly.

**Multi-voice narration, for an audiobook feel.** Turn this on in Settings with your own free Gemini API key, and imported Chinese or English books are automatically read with a distinct voice per character — narrator, dialogue, and each speaker read separately. It's entirely opt-in and off by default; the resulting audio is still prepared and played back on-device.

For longer listening sessions, NaturalLocalReader can prepare offline audio for any saved file so you can keep listening with fewer pauses. Preparation is resumable — start, stop, and pick up again any time.

NaturalLocalReader requires a subscription or one-time purchase to access all features. A 7-day free trial is included with the subscription.

### Highlights
- Send article text from Safari to the iOS app with one tap.
- Import and save `.txt`, `.epub`, `.pdf`, `.md`, and `.html` files in an in-app reading library.
- Read English text aloud using PocketTTS with voice cloning — record your voice and PocketTTS reads in your style.
- Read Chinese text aloud using MOSS with voice cloning — record your voice and MOSS reads in your style.
- Save multiple named voice references for Chinese and switch between them in Settings.
- Jump to any paragraph by tapping it; navigate chapters with the chapter list.
- Return to the home screen without losing the current article or saved text.
- Keep your reading progress for any reopened saved file.
- Prepare offline audio for any imported file and resume unfinished preparation later.
- Adjust playback speed: 0.75×, 1×, 1.25×, 1.5×, or 2×.
- Use on-device playback — your content stays private, nothing leaves your device.

### Current playback experience
- **English** uses PocketTTS (on-device, voice cloning supported).
- **Chinese** uses MOSS (on-device CoreML, voice cloning supported) or Qwen (on-device, no internet required).

### Good fit for
- People with dyslexia, ADHD, or reading fatigue who prefer listening
- Reading articles while walking, commuting, or doing chores
- Listening to Chinese web novels, articles, or study material on the go
- Reducing screen fatigue
- Saving long documents to listen later
- Listening to imported ebooks (EPUB, PDF) with saved progress

Terms of Use:
This app uses Apple’s standard End User License Agreement (EULA).
https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

## Key features

- On-device text-to-speech
- Safari extension for articles
- Import EPUB, PDF, TXT, MD, HTML
- Voice cloning for Chinese
- Offline audio preparation
- Saved reading library with progress

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Annual Subscription | $9.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Access | $15.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (3 of 3)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/naturallocalreader-read-aloud/id6764353454/reviews.md

### 1/5 — 7天免费

*2026-08-09*

大家别下载了

### 3/5 — 读小说好卡啊

*2026-07-24*

点了准备音频但还是一卡一卡的，体验不太好

**Developer response:** 您好，谢谢反馈！中文模型在改善中了，新版本应该部分解决了卡顿的问题

### 3/5 — 自己的声音不知道怎么添加进去

*2026-07-02*

录入声音后提示需要添加codes.bin，没有操作选项

**Developer response:** 您好，谢谢反馈！新发布的版本已经解决了这个问题。

## Frequently asked questions about NaturalLocalReader

### Does NaturalLocalReader have ads?

No, NaturalLocalReader does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download and offers features through a subscription or one-time purchase.

### What languages does NaturalLocalReader support for text-to-speech?

NaturalLocalReader supports English and Chinese for text-to-speech. English content uses the Otosaku voice engine, while Chinese content utilizes MOSS or Qwen, both operating on-device.

### Can I use NaturalLocalReader offline?

Yes, NaturalLocalReader is designed for on-device processing, meaning no internet connection is required for its core text-to-speech functionality. You can also prepare offline audio for saved files for uninterrupted listening.

### What file types can I import into NaturalLocalReader?

You can import `.txt`, `.epub`, `.pdf`, `.md`, and `.html` files into NaturalLocalReader. These files are saved in an in-app library with your reading progress maintained.

### How does the voice cloning feature work in NaturalLocalReader?

The voice cloning feature, available for Chinese text with the MOSS engine, allows you to record a short audio clip of your voice. MOSS can then read Chinese text in your cloned voice, and your voice data remains on your device.

### What are the subscription options for NaturalLocalReader?

NaturalLocalReader offers a monthly subscription for $1.99 and an annual subscription for $9.99. Both subscription plans include a 7-day free trial.

### How is my reading progress saved in NaturalLocalReader?

NaturalLocalReader automatically saves your reading progress for any reopened saved file. You can pick up where you left off, and the app allows you to jump to any paragraph or chapter.

### What is the age rating for NaturalLocalReader?

NaturalLocalReader has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children and general audiences, with no mature content.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.3.8 — 2026-08-15

### What's New (1.3.8)
- Fixed voice import — importing an audio file to clone your voice in Settings no longer fails with a processing error.
- Faster prep for very large books — preparing offline audio for extremely long imported books (millions of words) no longer stalls during chapter detection.
- Improved VoiceOver support — playback controls, chapter and bookmark buttons, and voice settings now have clear VoiceOver labels throughout the app.

### 1.3.7 — 2026-08-01

### What's New (1.3.7)
- More reliable Chinese voice model downloads — faster and less likely to time out, especially on slower connections.

### 1.3.6 — 2026-07-30

### What's New (1.3.6)
- Lower-power Chinese narration — Chinese text-to-speech synthesis now runs on the Neural Engine, using less power during long reading sessions.

### 1.3.5 — 2026-07-29

### What's New (1.3.5)
- Better chapter detection — recognizes more chapter title formats, including some that were previously missed in imported PDFs and plain-text novels, so more books show a complete, accurate chapter list.
- Faster jumps in long books — searching and jumping to a paragraph in very long books is now much faster and lands on the right spot more reliably.
- More efficient multi-voice preparation — if multi-voice narration fails for a chapter, the app no longer keeps retrying it for every chapter that follows.

### 1.3.4 — 2026-07-28

### What's New (1.3.4)
- Recovers automatically when your device is warm — both listening and offline audio preparation now pause briefly on their own if your device gets warm, then pick back up automatically once it cools, instead of getting stuck or needing a restart.
- Clearer storage breakdown — Storage & Cache now shows your Chinese and English voice models separately, and the compiled model cache is kept tidy automatically with no manual clearing needed.

## More apps by Yanjue Yan

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- [Reel Life: Photo Calendar](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reel-life-photo-calendar/id6757208253)

All apps by Yanjue Yan: https://appshunter.io/developer/1852948270

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*