Speech Central vs TextVoice
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
TextVoice
Convert text, PDFs, ebooks, and even photos into natural-sounding speech. Enjoy offline listening with privacy-focused on-device processing. Customize voices, speed, and export audio.
- Text to speech conversion
- PDF, EPUB, TXT import
- Web article reading
- OCR from photos
- Natural-sounding voices
- Offline functionality
- Audio export
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Listen to anything. TextVoice turns text, PDFs, ebooks, web pages, and even photos into natural, lifelike speech — right on your device, even offline. No accounts. No uploads. Your text never leaves your iPhone. WHY TEXTVOICE • Natural, expressive voices that sound human — not robotic • Works 100% offline. No network required, ever • Private by design: text is processed on-device and never uploaded • 32 languages with multiple male and female voices TURN ANYTHING INTO SPEECH • Type or paste any text and hear it instantly • Import PDF, Word, EPUB, and TXT documents • Read web articles — paste a link and listen to the story • Snap a photo or pick from your library, and TextVoice reads the text (OCR) • Continuous reading across long documents, chapter by chapter LISTEN YOUR WAY • Choose from a range of voices — warm, bright, calm, energetic, broadcast • Adjust speed and quality to your taste • Sleep timer: stop after a set time, the current segment, or the whole piece • Resume right where you left off • Export audio as M4A or WAV to keep or share SAVE & SYNC • Save anything you make to your History • Sync history across your devices with iCloud • Audio is regenerated on each device — only text and settings sync, never your files GREAT FOR • Turning long articles and PDFs into hands-free audio • Studying, proofreading, and catching typos by ear • Readers who prefer listening, including support for dyslexia • Commutes, workouts, chores, and resting your eyes TEXTVOICE PRO Upgrade to Pro for unlimited synthesis, continuous reading, and unlimited saved history. Available as a yearly or monthly subscription, or a one-time Lifetime purchase. • Payment is charged to your Apple ID at confirmation of purchase. • Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. • Manage or cancel anytime in your device Settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy and Terms of Use are also available in the app. RESPONSIBLE USE TextVoice creates AI-generated speech. Please use it responsibly: don't clone others' voices without consent, generate misinformation, or use it for unlawful purposes. Disclose AI-generated audio when sharing it publicly. Download TextVoice and turn everything you read into something you can listen to.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Speech Central at 69% against TextVoice's 50%. Speech Central also leads on device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Speech Central sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and TextVoice sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Speech Central ships an update every 9 days, TextVoice every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Speech Central | TextVoice |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (1.6K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 69.3% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 34 MB | 580 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Labsii | 培 李 |
Customer experience
Speech Central
TextVoice
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
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- 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
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- Improve PDF formatting and layout
- Add more customization options
- Improve sync between devices
TextVoice
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Speech Central
- Speech Central Pro$9.99
TextVoice
- Pro Monthly$4.991 Month
- Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$39.99
Questions
Is Speech Central free?
Is TextVoice free?
Do Speech Central or TextVoice have ads?
Which is updated more often, Speech Central or TextVoice?
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