Comparison

Total Reader vs SpeakMe

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

Head to head
About

Total Reader

This app converts text files into natural-sounding speech, allowing users to listen to documents while following along with highlighted text. It supports a wide range of file formats and over 30 languages, with easy import options from cloud storage and computers.

Highlights
  • Reads documents aloud
  • Converts text to natural voice
  • Highlights spoken words
  • Supports PDF, Word, PowerPoint, RTF
  • Imports from cloud storage
  • Supports over 30 languages
Features
Read full description

Transform the way you consume text with Total Reader, your ultimate AI text to speech voice reader. Whether you want to listen to a work presentation hands-free, study complex documents, or enjoy your favorite EPUB on the go, our advanced speech synthesis engine converts written words into fluent, natural-sounding audio. Why choose Total Reader? Our advanced context-aware reader intelligently processes dates, numbers, and abbreviations, delivering a flawless, human-like narration experience that outperforms standard read-aloud tools. KEY FEATURES: • Advanced Speech Synthesis: Experience premium, expressive text-to-speech engines across 30+ languages for a smooth, fatigue-free listening experience. • Versatile Document Support: Import and read aloud PDFs, MS Word (.doc & .docx), Powerpoint presentations, RTF, and plain text files seamlessly. • Instant Web Reading: Save time by listening to articles, essays, and news directly from the web instead of straining your eyes. • Smart Document Scanner: Instantly digitize physical printed books, notes, or documents using the built-in OCR scanner to read them aloud. • Visual Reading Follow-Along: Boost your comprehension and focus with synchronized word-by-word visual highlighting as the audio plays. • Seamless Cloud Import: Easily fetch files directly from Apple Mail, Dropbox, Google Drive, or transfer them straight from your Mac or PC. • Custom Reading Environment: Personalize your app experience with beautiful, customizable themes optimized for both daytime and night reading. MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT: Total Reader reads documents flawlessly in over 30 languages and regional accents, including English (US, UK, Irish, Australian), Spanish (including Mexican), Portuguese (including Brazilian), Russian, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and many more. Streamline your daily routine and maximize your productivity. Download Total Reader today to experience the future of spoken audio content! https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

SpeakMe

This app transforms written content like books and articles into audio, allowing you to listen at accelerated speeds. It supports numerous languages and offers personalized listening experiences to enhance comprehension and save time.

Highlights
  • Convert text to audio
  • Listen to articles and PDFs
  • Adjustable reading speed up to 900 WPM
  • HD voices and 50+ languages
  • Interactive reading interface
  • Import text from various sources
Features
Read full description

LISTEN faster than you can READ Transform books, articles, and news into audiobooks. Let the app read any text for you. Get the app now. SpeakMe is an intelligent text-to-speech audio-reader that turns your reading material into interactive audiobooks so that you can save time, retain more information, and stay focused. Like your own personal reading assistant, SpeakMe can read books, documents, and articles while you cook, work out, commute, or any other activity you can think of. What you can do with SpeakMe: • Listen to articles, PDFs, digital text, or physical books AS AUDIO. • Listen with HD voices and 50+ languages. • Toggle your reading speed up to 900 words per minute (~5x faster than sight-reading)! LISTEN TO ANY TEXT, ANYWHERE: • Import online articles, PDFs, clipboard-copied text, or even photos of physical book pages, and listen while SpeakMe reads your content to you in the highest quality digital voices available anywhere. PERSONALIZE YOUR LISTENING EXPERIENCE: • Listen to your content with any of SpeakMe's HD voices or 50+ supported languages, and find the perfect reading speed that works for you. Read along with SpeakMe's interactive reading interface, or simply lay back and listen! SAVE TIME, RETAIN MORE, GET MORE DONE: • While the average sight-reading speed is approximately 200 words per minute, SpeakMe users quickly learn to listen to 400 words per minute or faster, doubling their reading speed. SpeakMe's reading screen highlights each word as it reads, and academic research shows that listening and reading at the same time results in significantly higher levels of comprehension. We created SpeakMe so that reading is never a barrier for anyone again. Designed to help people with dyslexia, ADHD, Low vision acuity, concussions, and other reading disabilities, SpeakMe now helps hundreds of thousands of people to consume their reading content with ease. From those with reading disabilities to auditory learners, productivity fanatics, second language learners, hobbyists, and more, we love all of our users and strive every day to create a reading assistant that empowers them to read more and succeed in life. We can't wait for you to join the family :) Let SpeakMe read for you! Privacy Policy: http://p.speakme.me/com.xarisa.speakme Our Terms: http://p.speakme.me/com.xarisa.speakme.terms

Screenshots

Total Reader4 screens
SpeakMe4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Total Reader at 3.8 against SpeakMe's 1.5. Total Reader also leads on ratings volume (37 vs 8). SpeakMe's advantage is review sentiment (50% vs 13%) and ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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. Total Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and SpeakMe sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Total Reader holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 37 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 13% of Total Reader's written reviews are positive against 50% of SpeakMe's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Total Reader ships an update every 2 months, SpeakMe weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Total Reader versus SpeakMe: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTotal ReaderSpeakMe
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (37 ratings) — better1.5 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews13.3% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings37 — better8
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1511.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB320 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStorchXARISA MEDIA LTD

Customer experience

Total Reader

All ratings37 ratings
Positive67.6%
Neutral8.1%
Negative24.3%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive13.3%
Neutral13.3%
Negative73.3%

SpeakMe

All ratings8 ratings
Positive12.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative87.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Total Reader

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Account for 1 month.$2.991 Month
  • Premium Account for 1 year.$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Total Reader Premium Lifetime.$39.99
3 purchases

SpeakMe

Subscriptions3
  • Premium Weekly3 Days trial$2.997 Days
  • Premium Week3 Days trial$9.997 Days
  • Premium Year$39.991 Year

Questions

Is Total Reader free?
Total Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SpeakMe free?
SpeakMe is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Total Reader or SpeakMe?
Total Reader is rated higher. Total Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while SpeakMe averages 1.5 from 8 ratings.
Do Total Reader or SpeakMe have ads?
Total Reader shows ads; SpeakMe does not.
Which is updated more often, Total Reader or SpeakMe?
Total Reader ships an update every 2 months, and SpeakMe weekly. Most recently, Total Reader was updated on September 30, 2026 and SpeakMe on October 2, 2026.

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