Comparison

Text Reader Narrator vs Readr

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

Head to head
About

Text Reader Narrator

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
Read full description

Text Reader Narrator reads text out loud with the voices installed on your iPhone. Paste or type text, import text files and web pages, and listen with word-by-word highlighting. No account, no sign-up. Works offline once a voice is installed. WHAT IT DOES • Reads text aloud with word highlighting; Pause keeps your place • Imports TXT files and web pages (URL) for free; PDF, Word (.docx) and ePub (text only) with PRO • Scans printed pages with the camera (PRO) • Document library with Continue Reading and smart playlists • Speech to text: dictate and get the text back (iPhone microphone, device language) • Exports a narration as an M4A file (PRO) • Any voice installed on your iPhone, with speed, pitch and volume sliders FREE AND PRO Free, with ads: 5,000 characters a day, plus 2,000 for each short video you watch, up to 5 a day. PRO (subscription or one-time purchase) removes the ads and the daily limit, and unlocks PDF, Word and ePub import, camera scan, M4A export and reading fonts. GOOD TO KNOW • The voices are the ones built into iOS; you can download more in iOS Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content. The app has no AI or cloud voices. • PDF import reads the text layer only. • Lock screen controls work for playback started from Documents or playlists, not from the Reader. Terms of Use: https://masaapps360.com/tts-1501312978/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://masaapps360.com/tts-1501312978/privacy/

About

Readr

Features
Read full description

You don’t need more willpower. You need your phone to stop being easier than a book. Readr blocks your distracting apps until you’ve read for the day. Choose which apps to lock, choose which apps count as reading, and set a daily goal. Until you reach it, opening a locked app brings you back to your reason for reading. Once you complete your goal, your apps unlock for the rest of the day. HOW IT WORKS • Pick your reading apps: Kindle, Apple Books, Libby, Audible, Substack, Speechify or whatever you actually read with • Pick the apps to lock- the ones you open without deciding to • Set a daily reading goal, from a few minutes to a few hours • Create a personal lock-screen message that reminds you why you want to read • Start reading. Your time counts automatically, with no timer to start and nothing to remember BUILD A READING HABIT THAT LASTS • Maintain reading streaks and view your complete reading history • See how many hours you’ve spent reading over time • Use rest days without losing your streak when life gets busy • Take a temporary break when you genuinely need your phone • Keep your reading progress in sync across your iPhone and iPad YOU’RE ALWAYS IN CONTROL Readr isn’t a trap. Take a break, take the day off, or switch locking off entirely in Settings; it’s your phone. The point is friction, not punishment. Readr makes distractions a little harder to reach so that reading becomes easier to choose. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Readr cannot see the names of the apps you choose to lock or read with. Apple’s Screen Time framework gives Readr private tokens rather than app names, and your app selections stay on your device. Readr measures how long you use a selected reading app. It never sees what you read or what appears on your screen. READR PRO Readr Pro is required to lock apps and record reading time. Eligible new subscribers can start with a free trial. The trial length and subscription price are shown before purchase. Subscriptions renew automatically until cancelled. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time through your Apple Account settings. Your existing reading history remains available if your subscription ends. Apple Terms of Use (EULA) - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy - https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTUdpLtm8JR60dvVBWkiYzkUbU1GY8F9b-qtkrhFt7zdZtr7MYEJp6aY6dheAk_c5MvAsfvjIlQ2Sqi/pub Terms - https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vS6AGUAqmdrxwTTjYvhaZEzGT4E9rL253PqdNPc60Eetv3jbFM1rrR5eLHqpGyczhszI37jbTZjwHki/pub

Screenshots

Text Reader Narrator4 screens
Readr4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Readr at none against Text Reader Narrator's shown. Readr also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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. Text Reader Narrator sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days and Readr sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Text Reader Narrator ships an update every 6 weeks, Readr every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Text Reader Narrator versus Readr: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterText Reader NarratorReadr
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (32 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews38.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings32 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGrima HdezChidinma Ikebujo

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Text Reader Narrator

Subscriptions3
  • Pro Weekly3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly$7.991 Year
One-time1
  • TTS Plus Lifetime$14.99
2 purchases

Readr

Subscriptions2
  • Readr Pro7 Days trial$5.991 Month
  • Readr Pro14 Days trial$29.991 Year

Questions

Is Text Reader Narrator free?
Text Reader Narrator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Readr free?
Readr is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Text Reader Narrator or Readr have ads?
Text Reader Narrator shows ads; Readr does not.
Which is updated more often, Text Reader Narrator or Readr?
Text Reader Narrator ships an update every 6 weeks, and Readr every 2 days. Most recently, Text Reader Narrator was updated on October 29, 2026 and Readr on October 9, 2026.

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