# Text Reader Narrator vs Synthy

Text Reader Narrator and Synthy both sit at 4.1 stars, but that hides the real split: 81% of Synthy's written reviews are positive against 25% of Text Reader Narrator's. Synthy also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 3 months). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Text Reader Narrator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 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.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.1 for Text Reader Narrator against 4.2 for Synthy. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Synthy has 384 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 25% of Text Reader Narrator's written reviews are positive against 81% of Synthy's.

Text Reader Narrator ships an update every 3 months, Synthy monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Text Reader Narrator | Synthy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-reader-narrator-tts/id1501312978/reviews) | **[4.2 (384 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthy-read-aloud-doc-and-scan/id1579863833/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 31 | **384** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **81.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 213 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16.6** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Grima Hdez](https://appshunter.io/developer/1741481582) | [Dating onlain, ooo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503663142) |

## What reviewers say

### Text Reader Narrator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-reader-narrator-tts/id1501312978)

Convert any text, document, or scanned image into natural-sounding audio. Supports over 40 languages and offers background playback with highlighting. Export narrations as audio files.

**Highlights:** Text-to-speech conversion, Import PDF, DOCX, EPUB, TXT, Camera OCR for scanned text, Background playback, Word-by-word highlighting, Export audio to M4A, Supports 40+ languages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TTS PRO week sub | $0.99 | per 7 days |
| TTS & STT PRO mounth sub | $0.99 | per month |
| TTS PRO yearly sub | $34.99 | per year |


### 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 Text Reader Narrator free?

Text Reader Narrator 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, Text Reader Narrator or Synthy?

Synthy is rated higher. Text Reader Narrator averages 4.1 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Synthy averages 4.2 from 384 ratings.

### Do Text Reader Narrator or Synthy have ads?

Text Reader Narrator shows ads; Synthy does not.

### Which is updated more often, Text Reader Narrator or Synthy?

Text Reader Narrator ships an update every 3 months, and Synthy monthly. Most recently, Text Reader Narrator was updated on September 18, 2026 and Synthy on September 20, 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.*