Comparison

Talking Scripts vs AsteraNext

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

Head to head
About

Talking Scripts

This app reads film and TV scripts aloud with customizable voices, perfect for actors to run lines or anyone who wants to listen to scripts on the go. It intelligently ignores script formatting to focus on dialogue, offering a seamless and immersive experience.

Highlights
  • Reads film and TV PDF scripts aloud
  • Virtual partner for running lines
  • Customizable voice pitch and speed
  • Automatic character voice assignment
  • Ignores script formatting (headers, page numbers)
  • Line learning feature for actors
  • Siri integration for script notes
Features
Read full description

"Hi, this is Idris Elba. Most scripts are read under pressure. Late nights. Flights. Prep. Walks between meetings. As someone with dyslexia, this was a killer. I wanted a simpler way to stay connected to stories. I looked everywhere for something that could do this. I couldn't find it. So I built Talking Scripts with award-winning director Stefan Schwartz - an app that brings your scripts to life, wherever you are. We hope it helps you the way it's helped us." Idris Elba & Stefan Schwartz Talking Scripts is an iOS app that reads film and TV PDF scripts aloud with natural-sounding voices. Now featuring Professional Subscriptions with access to our new generation of expressive, high-quality voices designed to make scripts feel more alive, immersive and easier to follow. 40% FOUNDERS MEMBER PRICING is currently available for early subscribers locked in for life. There’s even a free 50-page trial so you can try Talking Scripts for yourself. Talking Scripts Studio is built in. A professional solution for productions and studios. Instantly distribute scripts with fully cast voices, custom workflows and production-friendly tools designed for professional environments. Talking Scripts Studio includes watermarking, secure script distribution and full security controls, giving productions a safer and more flexible way to share, review and listen to scripts on the move. • PROFESSIONAL SUBSCRIPTIONS Unlock our latest natural-sounding voices with Professional plans. Designed for producers, executives, assistants, actors, writers, crew and anyone who reads scripts. • TALKING SCRIPTS STUDIO Built for productions and studios that need secure, production-friendly script distribution. Fully cast scripts, watermarking and professional security controls help teams review and listen to scripts safely wherever they are. • LINE LEARNING FOR ACTORS Choose any character in your script to play. Adjust the pause length, and you are good to go. Talking Scripts mutes your lines to help you rehearse and prepare. • NATURAL-SOUNDING VOICES Listen to scripts performed with human-sounding voices. Multiple voice options are available depending on your subscription. • VARIABLE SPEED Customise playback speed to match the way you like to work. Slow things down for detail or speed through coverage on the move. • YOUR LEADS ALL HAVE DIFFERENT VOICES Talking Scripts automatically assigns masculine and feminine voices to characters. Or you can fully customise voices script by script for your preferred listening experience. • PAGE NUMBERS, HEADERS, FOOTERS AND WATERMARKS - ALL IGNORED Talking Scripts intelligently skips page numbers, watermarks, continued lines, headers and footers so you hear the story, not the formatting. FEATURES • Professional subscriptions with premium natural-sounding voices • Founder Member pricing available for a limited time • Line Learning for actors • Script notes • Variable voice speed • Listen while driving, walking, travelling or cooking • Bookmark your place automatically • Ignores page numbers, headers, footers, continued/more lines and watermarks • Choose from free and premium voices WEBSITE Visit Talkingscripts.com to learn more about available voices and subscriptions. SUBSCRIPTION Your payment will be charged to your iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. Your subscription automatically renews monthly or annually unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. You can manage or cancel your subscription at any time in your iTunes account settings. Founder Member and promotional pricing apply while your subscription remains active. If you cancel and later return, standard pricing may apply. TERMS AND CONDITIONS Privacy Policy: https://www.talkingscripts.com/privacy-policy Terms and conditions: https://www.talkingscripts.com/terms-of-service

About

AsteraNext

Control complex lighting setups with intuitive tools for creating custom programs and effects. Manage DMX addresses, diagnose and update fixtures, and ensure seamless runtime for your productions.

Highlights
  • Intuitive lighting control
  • Customizable programs and effects
  • DMX address and footprint setup
  • Fixture diagnosis and updates
  • Layer effects for pixel control
  • Scheduled standby mode
Features
Read full description

The AsteraNext offers intuitive and fast control of complex lighting setups of current and upcoming Astera products. It provides fully customizable programs and effects and also it is designed to work seamlessly with other control methods. It can set up DMX addresses and footprints for CRMX control. In addition, lamps can be diagnosed, updated or reset from the AsteraNext. Here are some of the features: Layer Effects It is now easier than ever to control pixels of your Astera lights and create complex effects. CRMX Support That would make it much easier for customers to understand how the DMX works, also easier to operate the CRMX module. Talkback+ Detect all available lights, set them up, check their status, configure DMX addresses and DMX profiles. Seamless Runtime Set the length of your production and be sure that your lights won`t run out while still getting the maximum brightness. Effects Quickly build programs out of colors and effects, trigger them or make them match a beat. Targets Quickly create groups of lights, assign positions and select which lights should receive commands. Scheduled StandBy Switch lights into power-saving standby and schedule them to wake up when the production starts. Dynamic PowerBoost This exclusive feature makes the light able to display the maximum brightness at all time and intensify non-white colors. Green/Magenta Correction Adjust green/magenta during content creation to reduce postproduction work. Emergency Lights Switches to white light when AC power is cut to keep your event save DJ Feature Auto BPM analyzes the beat and matches programs to it, flash buttons can trigger special effects while being held down. Other Features The AsteraNext is packed with many additional items and new features are frequently added via software update.

Screenshots

Talking Scripts4 screens
AsteraNext4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Talking Scripts at 4.2 against AsteraNext's 2.3. Talking Scripts also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 50%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). AsteraNext's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (14.2 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. Talking Scripts sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. AsteraNext asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Talking Scripts holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 23 and 8 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Talking Scripts's written reviews are positive against 50% of AsteraNext's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Talking Scripts ships an update weekly, AsteraNext every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Talking Scripts versus AsteraNext: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTalking ScriptsAsteraNext
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (23 ratings) — better2.3 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews80.8% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings23 — better8
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.014.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size127 MB166 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTalking Scripts LtdAstera LED Technology GmbH

Customer experience

Talking Scripts

All ratings23 ratings
Positive78.3%
Neutral8.7%
Negative13.0%
Written reviews26 reviews
Positive80.8%
Neutral7.7%
Negative11.5%

AsteraNext

All ratings8 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Talking Scripts

Subscriptions8
  • Premium Monthly1 Month trial$3.991 Month
  • Solo$12.991 Month
  • Pro$24.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Max$36.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly1 Month trial$45.991 Year
  • Solo (Yearly)$136.991 Year
  • Pro (Yearly)$279.991 Year
  • Max$404.991 Year
One-time2
  • Top-up 100$9.99
  • Top-up 500$32.99
None

AsteraNext

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Talking Scripts free?
Talking Scripts is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is AsteraNext free?
AsteraNext is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Talking Scripts or AsteraNext?
Talking Scripts is rated higher. Talking Scripts averages 4.2 out of 5 from 23 ratings, while AsteraNext averages 2.3 from 8 ratings.
Do Talking Scripts or AsteraNext have ads?
Neither Talking Scripts nor AsteraNext shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Talking Scripts or AsteraNext?
Talking Scripts ships an update weekly, and AsteraNext every 3 weeks. Most recently, Talking Scripts was updated on October 9, 2026 and AsteraNext on October 3, 2026.

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