Comparison

Speech Central vs Synthy

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Speech Central

This app transforms text from various documents and web pages into speech, offering a distraction-free reading experience. It supports numerous file formats and provides customizable voices, including offline and AI options. Designed for productivity and accessibility, it syncs across Apple devices and offers study tools.

Highlights
  • Optimized PDF & Web Reading
  • Broad Document Support (PDF, EPUB, DOCX)
  • Offline and Cloud AI Voices
  • Cross-device Sync
  • CarPlay & Apple Watch Support
  • Accessibility Profiles
  • Annotation and Export Tools
Features
Read full description

Speech Central has been built for focused, serious reading since 2014. It works across PDFs, web articles, books, and documents. Designed for productivity and accessibility, it combines powerful controls, deep customization, and seamless integration across Apple devices. No subscription. A one-time upgrade unlocks unlimited use. Free access is available for blind users with VoiceOver and for schools deploying the app through Apple School Manager. READING WITHOUT DISTRACTIONS Optimized PDF & Web Reading • Accurate reading order and navigation • Optional cleanup to reduce distractions such as headers, footnotes, citations, and links • RSS support and easy sharing from Safari and other apps Broad Document Support • PDF (including scanned PDFs with two-column layout) • EPUB • Word (.docx) • PowerPoint (.pptx) • OpenOffice formats • HTML, TXT, RTF, Markdown, and more VOICES: OFFLINE AND CLOUD AI • Use high-quality Apple system voices offline • Supports compatible system-wide voices from third-party apps, including offline neural voices from Piper - Neural TTS and ToBe SAID (Pocket TTS) apps • Connect cloud AI voices (OpenAI-compatible APIs, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, xAI) using your own API keys • Proprietary enhancement layer improves realism and streaming playback • Optional AI summarization tools help you review content more efficiently BUILT FOR THE APPLE ECOSYSTEM • Sync reading position and playlists across iPhone, iPad, and Mac • CarPlay support for listening and control in your vehicle • Independent Apple Watch app — listen without your iPhone nearby • Optional Health integration to track mindful listening time ACCESSIBILITY FIRST • Dedicated profiles for ADHD, dyslexia, and low vision • Interface and reading behavior adapt for reduced distraction and improved comprehension • Fully accessible with VoiceOver STUDY & KNOWLEDGE TOOLS • Annotate while reading • Export annotated text to .docx • Export text to audio files for offline listening PRIVACY BY DESIGN • No ads • No tracking • No usage analytics WHO USES SPEECH CENTRAL • Students and researchers • Professionals converting reading into listening time • Users who rely on assistive reading tools • Anyone who prefers distraction-reduced, hands-free reading Notes: - Free version limited by the number of daily articles; unlimited access available with Pro upgrade. - Some features require the latest OS version. - License is valid only on iOS/watchOS; separate licenses required for other platforms. - DRM-protected books (e.g. Kindle) are incompatible. - AI features may occasionally perform unexpectedly.

About

Synthy

Transform documents, books, and web content into audio with advanced text-to-speech technology. Scan physical documents or import digital files and listen to them read aloud with natural-sounding AI voices. Adjust playback speed and enjoy background listening for a seamless audio experience.

Highlights
  • Scan and read documents
  • Text to speech with AI voices
  • Adjustable reading speed
  • Import files and web links
  • Background listening mode
  • Type and listen functionality
Features
Read full description

Introducing Synthy — Your Ultimate Audio Books & Reading App! Do you have a mountain of documents, books, or material to read but no time? Synthy is the perfect PDF reader, text to speech tool, and voice aloud reader to save your day! Simply scan and read, upload text, document or web-link and listen to any text aloud. Whether it’s book reading, articles, or newspapers, our app reads everything for you with natural TTS voices. Key Features of Synthy: Text to Speech & Voice Reader Transform any text into audio! Use your phone’s camera to scan and read books (PDF, EPUB, DOCX, etc.), and let Synthy read text aloud like a personal audio book reader. Perfect for multitasking or book reading on the go! Realistic AI Voices for Document Reader No more robotic sounds! Enjoy voice reader technology with lifelike voices. Whether for PDF read aloud, screen reader tasks, or reading apps, Synthy adapts to your style. Adjustable Speed Reading App Customize pacing for read aloud comfort. Speed up for quick reviews or slow down to savor content—ideal for audio books and document reader needs. Type & Listen with Voice Aloud Reader Need to read text aloud from notes? Type anything, and Synthy will turn text to voice instantly. Great for students and professionals! Import Files & Web Content Import PDFs, eBooks, or links—Synthy acts as a screen reader for all formats. Even online articles become audio books with our TTS! Background Mode Keep listening while your phone is locked. A must-have for book reading fans and voice reader enthusiasts! Why Choose Synthy? More than a PDF reader or text to speech tool, Synthy is your all-in-one voice aloud reader and audio book reader. Whether for scan and read convenience, read aloud flexibility, or document reader functionality. Book reading lovers Professionals needing PDF read aloud Anyone who wants a screen reader or voice reader to speak for me effortlessly! Privacy policy: https://speechie.app/privacy.html Terms of use: https://speechie.app/terms.html Support: • Email: support@speechie.app • FAQ: https://speechie.app/faq.html

Screenshots

Speech Central4 screens
Synthy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Speech Central at 4.6 against Synthy's 4.2. Speech Central also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and ratings volume (1.6K vs 384). Synthy's advantage is review sentiment (81% vs 70%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Speech Central sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Synthy sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Speech Central holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.6K and 384 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 70% of Speech Central's written reviews are positive against 81% of Synthy's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Speech Central ships an update weekly, Synthy monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Speech Central versus Synthy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpeech CentralSynthy
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings) — better4.2 (384 ratings)
Positive reviews69.6% of reviews81.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.6K — better384
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB213 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLabsiiDating onlain, ooo

Customer experience

Speech Central

All ratings1,552 ratings
Positive90.3%
Neutral4.3%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews467 reviews
Positive69.6%
Neutral9.4%
Negative21.0%

Synthy

All ratings384 ratings
Positive81.0%
Neutral2.6%
Negative16.4%
Written reviews300 reviews
Positive81.3%
Neutral3.7%
Negative15.0%

User reviews

Speech Central

From 1.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Life-saving app
  • 👍 Nice app
  • 👍 Great app
  • 👍 Affordable and full-featured
  • 👍 Excellent app for accessibility

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Not great
  • 🐛 Trash
  • 🐛 Robotic voices
  • 🐛 Terrible voices
  • 🐛 Buggy

Synthy

From 384 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Convenient text-to-speech
  • 🚀 Efficient scanning and conversion
  • 🔊 Natural-sounding voices
  • 🔍 Versatile content support
  • 🔧 Customizable reading experience

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
  • 💰 Subscription-based model
  • 🔌 Inconsistent performance
  • 📚 Limited free content access
  • 🤖 Occasional mispronunciations

Bugs and requests

Speech Central

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • Crashes when changing advanced settings
  • Inconsistent behavior when importing documents
  • Fails to recognize some file formats
  • Playback issues with high-speed mode
  • Repeating chapters unexpectedly
Show 1 more
  • Scrolling issues with long documents

Requested features

8 requests
  • Add more natural-sounding voices
  • Improve chapter/section navigation
  • Allow custom pronunciation of words
  • Add support for more languages
  • Integrate with Bookshare library
Show 3 more
  • Improve PDF formatting and layout
  • Add more customization options
  • Improve sync between devices

Synthy

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Scanning issues with page breaks
  • Playback pauses at paragraph ends
  • Inconsistent text recognition
  • Subscription cancellation problems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Highlight and annotate text
  • Background playback with screen lock
  • More language and voice options
  • Improved OCR accuracy
  • Easier file management and organization

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Speech Central

One-time1
  • Speech Central Pro$9.99
7 purchases

Synthy

Subscriptions7
  • Synthy Scan & Read Premium$4.997 Days
  • Endless Listening with Synthy$5.991 Month
  • Endless Listening with Synthy$9.991 Month
Show 4 more
  • Endless Listening with Synthy3 Days trial$12.991 Month
  • Three months$34.993 Months
  • 6 month premium3 Days trial$49.996 Months
  • Synthy Premium3 Days trial$79.991 Year

Questions

Is Speech Central free?
Speech Central is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Synthy free?
Synthy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Speech Central or Synthy?
Speech Central is rated higher. Speech Central averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while Synthy averages 4.2 from 384 ratings.
Do Speech Central or Synthy have ads?
Neither Speech Central nor Synthy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Speech Central or Synthy?
Speech Central ships an update weekly, and Synthy monthly. Most recently, Speech Central was updated on September 30, 2026 and Synthy on September 20, 2026.

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