# Speechify vs Synthy

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Synthy at 81% against Speechify's 34%. Synthy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). Speechify's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and ratings volume (528K vs 385). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Speechify sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per 7 days 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.

Speechify holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Speechify has 528K ratings behind it against 385, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of Speechify'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.

Speechify ships an update weekly, Synthy monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Speechify | Synthy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (528K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speechify-text-to-speech-pdf/id1209815023/reviews)** | [4.2 (385 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthy-read-aloud-doc-and-scan/id1579863833/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **528K** | 385 |
| Positive reviews | 34.4% of reviews | **81.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#19** | — |
| Size | 531 MB | 213 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Speechify Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1263322875) | [Dating onlain, ooo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503663142) |

## What reviewers say

### Speechify

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/speechify-text-to-speech-pdf/id1209815023)

**Currently charting:** #19 Top Grossing · Productivity, #45 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

This app transforms text into spoken word with lifelike voices, reads documents, images, and articles aloud, and offers voice typing. It also features an AI assistant for summarizing and quizzing, and allows for AI podcast creation.

**Highlights:** Reads text aloud from various sources, Voice typing for faster input, AI assistant for summarization and quizzes, Customizable listening speeds, Human-like voices, Cross-device syncing, AI podcast creation

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| $160 Donation No HD voices | $9.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Premium Monthly | $24.99 | per month |
| Dyslexia Donation | $139.99 | per year |
| Premium | $139.99 | per year |
| Premium | $139.99 | per year |
| Speechify Premium | $159.99 | per year |
| Speechify Library | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient text-to-speech
- 👍 Diverse voice options
- 🤖 Realistic AI narration
- 💡 Helpful for dyslexic/ADHD users
- 🤓 Improved reading comprehension

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription
- 🔇 Inconsistent voice quality
- 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
- 🔀 Unreliable page navigation
- 🚫 Restrictive word limits on premium voices

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent app crashes
- Text syncing issues
- Incorrect word pronunciations
- Inconsistent highlighting/pacing
- Unexpected voice switches

**Requested features**

- Ability to edit/annotate text
- Improved PDF/document handling
- More affordable subscription options
- Seamless integration with ebooks/websites
- Automatic removal of citations/formatting


### Synthy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthy-read-aloud-doc-and-scan/id1579863833)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Synthy Scan & Read Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Endless Listening with Synthy | $5.99 | per month |
| Endless Listening with Synthy | $9.99 | per month |
| Endless Listening with Synthy | $12.99 | per month |
| Three months | $34.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 month premium | $49.99 | per 6 months |
| Synthy Premium | $79.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Speechify free?

Speechify 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, Speechify or Synthy?

Speechify is rated higher. Speechify averages 4.7 out of 5 from 528K ratings, while Synthy averages 4.2 from 385 ratings.

### Do Speechify or Synthy have ads?

Speechify shows ads; Synthy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Speechify or Synthy?

Speechify ships an update weekly, and Synthy monthly. Most recently, Speechify was updated on November 5, 2026 and Synthy on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*