Comparison

Text Reader Narrator vs Goby Live

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 is the most powerful text-to-speech app on the App Store. Convert any text, document, or scanned image into natural-sounding audio with one tap. WHAT'S NEW IN v4.2.0 - Import PDF, DOCX, EPUB and TXT files directly from the Files app - Camera OCR: Point your camera at any text and listen instantly - Background Playback with Control Center integration - Word-by-word karaoke highlighting as you listen - Export narrations to M4A audio files - Home Screen Widget and Dynamic Island support - Improved HD voices across 40+ languages KEY FEATURES Read Any Text Aloud Paste text, import documents, or scan with your camera. Text Reader Narrator supports PDF, DOCX, EPUB, TXT, and web articles. Every word is read aloud with natural, high-quality voices. 40+ Languages and Voices Choose from dozens of voices in over 40 languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Russian, and Arabic. Premium HD voices sound remarkably natural. Listen Anywhere Play in the background while you work, exercise, or commute. Full Control Center and lock screen controls. Connect to Bluetooth speakers, AirPods, or CarPlay. Word-by-Word Highlighting Follow along as each word is highlighted in real time. Adjust reading speed from 0.5x to 3x. Perfect for studying, language learning, and accessibility. Export Audio Save any narration as an M4A audio file. Build your personal audiobook library. Share audio files with friends or listen offline. Camera OCR Point your camera at a book, sign, menu, or any printed text. Our OCR engine recognizes text instantly and reads it aloud. Great for people with visual impairments. Widget and Dynamic Island Access your recent texts from the Home Screen widget. See playback controls on the Dynamic Island while multitasking. FREE TO USE Get 1,000 free characters every day. Watch a short video for 500 extra characters. Subscribe for unlimited access with no ads. Text Reader Narrator is perfect for: - Students studying textbooks and articles - Professionals listening to documents on the go - Language learners improving pronunciation - People with dyslexia or visual impairments - Anyone who prefers listening over reading Download now and turn any text into audio. Terms & Condition: https://ghapps1.wordpress.com/terms-condition/ Privacy Policy: https://ghapps1.wordpress.com/privacy-policy/

About

Goby Live

Features
Read full description

Goby Live is the messenger for people who don't share a language. Every message arrives twice: what they wrote, and what it means in your language. Tap it and hear it spoken aloud in your language, in the sender's own voice when they have lent it. Reply in your language; they read theirs. Photos, voice notes, emotes and reactions, everything you expect, plus the one thing you don't have anywhere else: you understand each other. Groups work the same way: six people, six languages, one chat. Make plans inside the group with polls, events and calendar invites. Give a busy group topics, and a forum with tags, guidelines and side discussions when it grows. Keep the groups that belong together in a community, each with its own door. Video and voice calls come with double subtitles. Each of you speaks your own language and reads the other's words as they are said, like subtitles on a film. Keep the transcript in the chat if you want it. And when you are in the same room, put one phone on the table. Live captions and translations appear for everyone at once, on their own phones if they like, and reading along needs no account. • Chats translated as they arrive, with the original beneath • Hear any message spoken in your language • Photos, voice notes, emotes, stickers and reactions • Groups with polls, events, topics, forums and discussions • Communities that keep related groups together • Video and voice calls with live double subtitles • Live captions for the room, shared with a code • 40+ languages, detected as people speak • Call audio is never stored; a transcript exists only if you save it Made for families, friends and colleagues who live between languages. goby Premium: 15 hours a month of live translation and call subtitles, your own voice, a head start in Explore and every sticker expansion. Monthly or yearly subscription through your Apple account; it renews automatically unless turned off at least 24 hours before the period ends, in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use: https://goby.live/terms.html Privacy Policy: https://goby.live/privacy.html

Screenshots

Text Reader Narrator4 screens
Goby Live4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Goby Live at none against Text Reader Narrator's 3. Goby Live also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 months). On price 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. Text Reader Narrator sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 7 days. Goby Live asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Text Reader Narrator ships an update every 3 months, Goby Live daily. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Text Reader Narrator versus Goby Live: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterText Reader NarratorGoby Live
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.1 (31 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings31 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsDaily — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB167 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGrima HdezELMER NASH LIN

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Text Reader Narrator

Subscriptions3
  • TTS PRO week sub3 Days trial$0.997 Days
  • TTS & STT PRO mounth sub$0.991 Month
  • TTS PRO yearly sub$34.991 Year
None

Goby Live

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Text Reader Narrator free?
Text Reader Narrator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Goby Live free?
Goby Live is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Text Reader Narrator or Goby Live have ads?
Text Reader Narrator shows ads; Goby Live does not.
Which is updated more often, Text Reader Narrator or Goby Live?
Text Reader Narrator ships an update every 3 months, and Goby Live daily. Most recently, Text Reader Narrator was updated on October 5, 2026 and Goby Live on October 9, 2026.

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