# Synthy vs Fast Annotate

The clearest difference is price: Synthy at Free against Fast Annotate's $4.49. Synthy also leads on iOS requirement (16.6 vs 18.0). Fast Annotate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Synthy is free to download; Fast Annotate costs $4.49 up front. Synthy sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Fast Annotate asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Synthy | Fast Annotate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.49 |
| Rating | **[4.2 (384 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthy-read-aloud-doc-and-scan/id1579863833/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **384** | — |
| Positive reviews | 81.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 213 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.6** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dating onlain, ooo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1503663142) | [Oliver Letterer](https://appshunter.io/developer/433507462) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Fast Annotate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-annotate/id6476487917)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Synthy free?

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

### Is Fast Annotate free?

Fast Annotate costs $4.49, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Synthy or Fast Annotate have ads?

Neither Synthy nor Fast Annotate shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Synthy or Fast Annotate?

Synthy ships an update monthly, and Fast Annotate monthly. Most recently, Synthy was updated on October 15, 2026 and Fast Annotate on October 10, 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.*