# 掌上融媒体 vs Synthy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 掌上融媒体 at none against Synthy's 7. 掌上融媒体 also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). Synthy's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Synthy sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. 掌上融媒体 asks for nothing beyond the download.

掌上融媒体 ships an update every 2 months, Synthy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 掌上融媒体 | Synthy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.2 (385 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthy-read-aloud-doc-and-scan/id1579863833/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **385** |
| Positive reviews | — | 81.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 213 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nanjing Router Software Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/896912421) | [Dating onlain, ooo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503663142) |

## What reviewers say

### 掌上融媒体

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1224519788)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### 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 掌上融媒体 free?

掌上融媒体 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Synthy free?

Synthy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do 掌上融媒体 or Synthy have ads?

Neither 掌上融媒体 nor Synthy shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, 掌上融媒体 or Synthy?

掌上融媒体 ships an update every 2 months, and Synthy monthly. Most recently, 掌上融媒体 was updated on October 26, 2026 and Synthy on October 30, 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.*