Comparison

Reader vs Text to Speech PDF Reader

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

Head to head
About

Reader

This app provides a distraction-free reading and annotation experience for PDF documents on iOS. Seamlessly sync your annotated files with your Mac for further editing and workflow integration via iCloud.

Highlights
  • Distraction-free reading
  • PDF annotation
  • iCloud sync with Mac
  • Companion to macOS app
Read full description

The iOS companion to the macOS Reader PDF viewer. Here you can read with no distractions and annotated, then work further with your documents back on your Mac using iCloud.

About

Text to Speech PDF Reader

Listen to your PDF documents with a variety of high-quality voices and languages. The app highlights words as it reads, automatically scrolls pages, and remembers your reading progress. Save and access specific text sections as highlights.

Highlights
  • Listen to PDF documents
  • Multiple high-quality voices and languages
  • Word highlighting and automatic scrolling
  • Resume reading from last position
  • Save and access text highlights
  • Crop feature to skip content
  • Sync documents across devices
Features
Read full description

Read along to enhance comprehension or just kick back and listen to any PDF. * Dozens of high-quality voices in multiple languages to choose from with additional voices available to download on your device for free. * Choose a primary and secondary voice and switch between them easily as you read. * The app will highlight words as it reads and scroll the page automatically. * The app will remember where you left off and scroll to that position automatically next time you open a document. * Select any portion of text to save it as a highlight. * Tap any of your saved highlights and the app will open the pdf and scroll to the appropriate position. * Use the crop feature to skip repeated content that you don't want the app to read. * Support for dynamic type. * Support for Dark Mode. * Save as many pdfs as you want. * Optionally sync your documents with all of your iOS/iPadOS devices. If you enjoy the app please let us know through the in-app contact form and don't forget to rate us! Thank you for trying TTS PDF. --- "TTS PDF Yearly" is an annual auto-renewable subscription for $9.99. Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period. You can turn off auto-renew up to 24 hours before your next subscription payment is due via your App Store settings page. Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://bretlester.com/app_content/ttspdf_terms.html Privacy Policy: https://bretlester.com/app_content/ttspdf_privacy_policy.html

Screenshots

Reader2 screens
Text to Speech PDF Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Reader at free with in-app purchases against Text to Speech PDF Reader's subscription. Reader also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (56% vs 44%). Text to Speech PDF Reader's advantage is ratings volume (552 vs 3). 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Text to Speech PDF Reader sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Reader holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Text to Speech PDF Reader has 552 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Reader's written reviews are positive against 44% of Text to Speech PDF Reader's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Reader ships an update weekly, Text to Speech PDF Reader every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Reader versus Text to Speech PDF Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterReaderText to Speech PDF Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings) — better4.5 (552 ratings)
Positive reviews55.6% of reviews — better44.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3552 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 10 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS14.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThe Augmented Text Company LTDBret Lester

Customer experience

Reader

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive55.6%
Neutral14.8%
Negative29.6%

Text to Speech PDF Reader

All ratings552 ratings
Positive86.1%
Neutral4.0%
Negative10.0%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive44.0%
Neutral5.2%
Negative50.7%

Bugs and requests

Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Text to Speech PDF Reader

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Skips paragraphs and double plays when pausing
  • Erased files without consent
  • Doesn't work with two-column text
  • Reads text backwards
  • Unable to copy/paste or open certain files
Show 3 more
  • Skips sentences and doesn't read column text in the correct order
  • Skips whole paragraphs
  • Glitches and gets stuck in a reading loop

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add ability to read alternate text (alttext) in PDFs
  • Improve voice quality and options
  • Add ability to organize files in folders
  • Add mobile-friendly version
  • Improve handling of scanned/column PDFs
Show 2 more
  • Add ability to skip headers/page numbers
  • Improve pronunciation of uncommon words

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Reader

One-time1
  • Ask AI Subscription$1.99
10 purchases

Text to Speech PDF Reader

Subscriptions9
  • TTSPDF Unlimited Weekly7 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • TTS PDF Yearly7 Days trial$9.991 Year
  • Premium Weekly$9.997 Days
Show 6 more
  • Premium Weekly7 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • TTS PDF Basic7 Days trial$12.991 Year
  • Premium Monthly$29.991 Month
  • Premium Monthly7 Days trial$29.991 Month
  • Premium Annual$119.991 Year
  • Premium Annual7 Days trial$119.991 Year
One-time1
  • 1 Million Characters$39.99

Questions

Is Reader free?
Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Text to Speech PDF Reader free?
Text to Speech PDF Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Reader or Text to Speech PDF Reader?
Reader is rated higher. Reader averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Text to Speech PDF Reader averages 4.5 from 552 ratings.
Do Reader or Text to Speech PDF Reader have ads?
Neither Reader nor Text to Speech PDF Reader shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Reader or Text to Speech PDF Reader?
Reader ships an update weekly, and Text to Speech PDF Reader every 10 days. Most recently, Reader was updated on August 14, 2026 and Text to Speech PDF Reader on September 23, 2026.

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