# Total Reader vs Timbre

The clearest difference is ads: Timbre at none against Total Reader's shown. Timbre also leads on rating (4.2 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Total Reader's advantage is ratings volume (37 vs 5) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Total Reader sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Timbre sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Timbre holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Total Reader has 37 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Total Reader ships an update every 2 months, Timbre every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Total Reader | Timbre |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/total-reader-text-to-speech/id1471506439/reviews) | **[4.2 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timbre-text-to-speech/id6745225224/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **37** | 5 |
| Positive reviews | 13.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 37 MB | 216 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15** | 18.2 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Storch](https://appshunter.io/developer/335855086) | [Jack Ransom](https://appshunter.io/developer/1811377391) |

## What reviewers say

### Total Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/total-reader-text-to-speech/id1471506439)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Account for 1 month. | $2.99 | per month |
| Premium Account for 1 year. | $19.99 | per year |
| Total Reader Premium Lifetime. | $39.99 | one-time |


### Timbre

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/timbre-text-to-speech/id6745225224)

Listen to your books aloud with natural-sounding voices and adjustable speeds. Highlight text as it's read to improve comprehension. Convert physical books into audiobooks by capturing images.

**Highlights:** Listen at 2X speed, Natural human voices, Text highlighting, Convert books to audiobooks, Free voice option

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Timbre Monthly Subscription | $19.99 | per month |
| Timbre Annual Subscription | $99.00 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Total Reader free?

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

### Is Timbre free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Total Reader or Timbre?

Timbre is rated higher. Total Reader averages 3.8 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while Timbre averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.

### Do Total Reader or Timbre have ads?

Total Reader shows ads; Timbre does not.

### Which is updated more often, Total Reader or Timbre?

Total Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Timbre every 3 weeks. Most recently, Total Reader was updated on October 24, 2026 and Timbre on October 7, 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.*