Comparison

Speech Central vs ElevenReader

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 digital text into spoken word, supporting various document formats and offering customizable voices. It's designed for focused reading, productivity, and accessibility across Apple devices, with an optional one-time upgrade for unlimited use.

Highlights
  • Reads PDFs, ePubs, and web articles
  • Supports multiple document formats
  • Offline and cloud AI voices
  • Customizable reading experience
  • Syncs across Apple devices
  • 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

ElevenReader

Listen to books, PDFs, and documents with incredibly natural AI voices. Access thousands of free audiobooks or convert your own files into audio. Offers a wide range of customization for a personalized listening experience.

Highlights
  • Listen to books, PDFs, and documents
  • Thousands of AI voices in 30+ languages
  • Convert text files and web links to audio
  • Offline listening support
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Text highlighting for learning support
  • Customizable voice creation
Features
Read full description

Listen to anything — bestsellers, PDFs, docs, articles — in stunningly natural voices you'll love. ElevenReader is one of the highest-rated reader apps that lets you read books aloud, turn PDFs into audio, and listen to thousands of best-selling audiobooks. Hear the difference as one of the most natural-sounding text to speech (TTS) apps — powered by leading voice technology in 30+ languages. WHY READERS CHOOSE ELEVENREADER Thousands of Audiobooks Your next obsession is waiting. Bestselling audiobooks, eBooks, and hidden gems — many read aloud in voices you choose. Romance, fantasy, thrillers, sci-fi, and more, with new titles every week. 1,000+ AI Voices You Choose Pick your narrator for your uploaded files or select eBooks and audiobooks. Choose from 1,000+ voices in 30+ languages that actually sound human. No robotic narration. Just natural listening. Read PDFs Aloud Instantly Upload any PDF, doc, ePub, or article link. ElevenReader transforms text to audio in seconds. Iconic Voices Hear classics narrated by legendary voices — Michael Caine, Judy Garland, James Dean, Burt Reynolds, Maya Angelou, Richard Feynman, and more. AI audio at its most magical. TURN ANYTHING INTO AUDIO • Read books aloud — bestsellers, romance series, and classics • Read PDFs aloud — reports, study notes, research papers • Listen to news, blogs, and newsletters like podcasts • Import from other text files, docs, web links, or paste text • Read aloud fluently in 30+ languages with natural-sounding accents FEATURES YOU'LL LOVE • 1,000+ voices — choose by accent, tone, and style • Text highlighting — perfect for dyslexia, ADHD, and learning support • Adjustable speed — 0.25x to 4x playback • Offline listening — download and listen anywhere • Create your own voices — Design and customize your narrator's voice • Sleep timer — drift off to your favorite book • Pronunciation dictionary — customize pronunciations for names or words • Bookmarks — never lose your place and add notes • Sync across devices — start on phone, continue on tablet or web THOUSANDS OF FREE BOOKS Explore timeless audiobooks and eBooks at no cost: The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice, Frankenstein, Anna Karenina, Moby Dick, Alice in Wonderland, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, War and Peace, The Odyssey, Don Quixote, and thousands more. BETTER THAN EXPENSIVE AUDIOBOOK SUBSCRIPTIONS ElevenReader gives you more listening for less. No confusing credits. No overpriced subscriptions. Just thousands of premium audiobooks and eBooks for less, plus content you bring. ULTRA MEMBERSHIP Access thousands of audiobooks and ebooks, unlimited TTS, and powerful features like offline mode and voice design with ElevenReader Ultra. If you're new to ElevenReader, you can try membership for free and take your listening to a new level. PERFECT FOR • Anyone who prefers listening to reading • Bookworms who want to listen to audiobooks • Commuters who want to read more • Students turning PDFs and textbooks into audio • Professionals listening to reports and articles Powered by ElevenLabs — the leading AI voice model trusted by millions. Terms of Service: https://elevenreader.io/elevenreader-terms Privacy Policy: https://elevenlabs.io/privacy

Screenshots

Speech Central4 screens
ElevenReader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: ElevenReader at #59 against Speech Central's unranked. ElevenReader also leads on ratings volume (11K vs 1.6K). Speech Central's advantage is review sentiment (69% vs 58%) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, update cadence and ads 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 ElevenReader sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $10.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Speech Central against 4.7 for ElevenReader. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ElevenReader has 11K ratings behind it against 1.6K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Speech Central's written reviews are positive against 58% of ElevenReader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Speech Central ships an update every 9 days, ElevenReader every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Speech Central versus ElevenReader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpeech CentralElevenReader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (1.6K ratings)4.7 (11K ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews — better58.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.6K11K — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#59 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size34 MB124 MB
Age rating4++12
DeveloperLabsiiElevenLabs, Inc.

Customer experience

Speech Central

All ratings1,565 ratings
Positive90.4%
Neutral4.2%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews470 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral9.4%
Negative21.3%

ElevenReader

All ratings11,177 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral1.8%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews1,348 reviews
Positive58.0%
Neutral9.8%
Negative32.2%

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

ElevenReader

From 11K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Incredible voices
  • 👍 Intuitive interface
  • 🔓 No hidden fees or subscriptions
  • 🎨 Wide range of voice options
  • 💡 Turns PDFs/ebooks into audiobooks

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 🔄 Buffering and loading problems
  • 🔇 Playback stops unexpectedly
  • 📚 Issues with importing/syncing files
  • 🔍 Lack of search/bookmarking features

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

ElevenReader

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login/sign-in issues after updates
  • Inconsistent voice quality and tone
  • Text highlighting not working properly
  • Compatibility problems on older devices
  • Inability to use custom/user-created voices

Requested features

6 requests
  • Offline listening/download option
  • Customizable voices and pronunciations
  • Bookmarking and note-taking features
  • Sleep timer and continuous playback
  • Support for more file formats (Kindle, Markdown, etc.)
Show 1 more
  • Improved sync and cross-device functionality

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Speech Central

One-time1
  • Speech Central Pro$9.99
8 purchases

ElevenReader

Subscriptions4
  • Plus Monthly$10.001 Month
  • Ultra Monthly3 Days trial$11.001 Month
  • Plus Annual7 Days trial$96.001 Year
Show 1 more
  • Ultra Annual3 Days trial$99.001 Year
One-time4
  • Book$2.99
  • 10 Hour Pack$5.00
  • 20 Hour Pack$10.00
Show 1 more
  • Book Purchase$25.00

Questions

Is Speech Central free?
Speech Central is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ElevenReader free?
ElevenReader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Speech Central or ElevenReader?
ElevenReader is rated higher. Speech Central averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.6K ratings, while ElevenReader averages 4.7 from 11K ratings.
Do Speech Central or ElevenReader have ads?
Neither Speech Central nor ElevenReader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Speech Central or ElevenReader?
Speech Central ships an update every 9 days, and ElevenReader every 6 days. Most recently, Speech Central was updated on November 9, 2026 and ElevenReader on November 10, 2026.

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