Comparison

eSpeak vs EchoBox Player

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

Head to head
About

eSpeak

This open-source text-to-speech synthesizer supports over 100 languages and accents. It provides a compatibility layer for Apple VoiceOver users, enabling speech output for various applications.

Highlights
  • Supports over 100 languages and accents
  • Open-source software
  • Compact design
  • Compatibility layer for Apple VoiceOver
  • Based on eSpeak engine
Read full description

The eSpeak NG is a compact open source software text-to-speech synthesizer. It supports more than 100 languages and accents. It is based on the eSpeak engine created by Jonathan Duddington. This app adds a compatibility layer between eSpeak NG library and Apple VoiceOver.

About

EchoBox Player

An elegant, privacy-focused audio player for long-form content like audiobooks and podcasts. It preserves your folder structure, offers chapter support, customizable audio effects, and on-device transcription. Enjoy your media library with smart features that enhance listening without intrusive tracking.

Highlights
  • Preserves folder structure
  • Per-file relative volume control
  • Chapter support
  • Optional audio effects (EQ, compressor)
  • On-device transcription
  • Internet radio playback
Features
Read full description

Echobox player is an elegant, privacy‑minded audio player built for everyday listening. It respects your library, keeps folders as folders, and adds smart features that make long‑form audio a joy—chapters, effects, transcripts, and more—without getting in your way. Whether you’re listening to audiobooks, podcasts, lectures, or long mixes, Ecobox balances reliability with power. It runs great on‑device, handles big local libraries, and even plays live Internet radio. - Preserve folder structure: Import entire folders and keep your organization intact. EchoBox mirrors your file tree instead of flattening it. - Per‑file Relative Volume: Dial in the loudness of each file without permanently altering audio. Normalize your library tastefully—ideal for podcasts and audiobooks recorded at different levels. - Chapters done right: Fast chapter detection for m4a/m4b and MP3 (ID3 CHAP). Jump quickly via a clear, accessible chapter list and dedicated button. - Effects when you want them: Optional EQ, low‑cut, reverb, and a smart compressor powered by a robust AVAudioEngine path. Effects are off by default and won’t destabilize normal playback. - Storage awareness: A tidy footer shows used and free space so you always know when it’s time to declutter. - On‑device transcription: Generate timestamp‑aware transcripts from your audio using Apple’s Speech framework. Prefer on‑device models when available, with a clear live progress view. - Internet Radio (.radio): Save and play live streams with a simple .radio file. EchoBox optimizes controls for live playback and gets out of your way. - Swift, fast, and private: No accounts. No trackers. Your library stays on your device.

Screenshots

eSpeak2 screens
EchoBox Player1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: EchoBox Player at 5.0 against eSpeak's 4.0. EchoBox Player also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). eSpeak's advantage is ratings volume (22 vs 2) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

EchoBox Player holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: eSpeak has 22 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of eSpeak's written reviews are positive against 100% of EchoBox Player's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

eSpeak ships an update every 10 months, EchoBox Player every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
eSpeak versus EchoBox Player: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParametereSpeakEchoBox Player
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (22 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYury PopovOriol Gomez

Customer experience

eSpeak

All ratings21 ratings
Positive76.2%
Neutral9.5%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative26.7%

EchoBox Player

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

eSpeak

No in-app purchases

None

EchoBox Player

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is eSpeak free?
eSpeak is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is EchoBox Player free?
EchoBox Player is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, eSpeak or EchoBox Player?
EchoBox Player is rated higher. eSpeak averages 4.0 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while EchoBox Player averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do eSpeak or EchoBox Player have ads?
Neither eSpeak nor EchoBox Player shows ads.
Which is updated more often, eSpeak or EchoBox Player?
eSpeak ships an update every 10 months, and EchoBox Player every 2 months. Most recently, eSpeak was updated on October 24, 2026 and EchoBox Player on October 22, 2026.

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