Comparison

Read Aloud vs ReadBack

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

Head to head
About

Read Aloud

Features
Read full description

Turn documents, books, and articles into audio with Read Aloud. Import a PDF, open an EPUB ebook, add a Word document, or paste your own text. Listen while you commute, study, or take a break from the screen. Make every reading session your own: • Read more formats: Listen to PDFs, EPUB ebooks, and Word documents, including DOC and DOCX files. • Choose your voice: Use built-in system voices or explore natural-sounding premium voices with Read Aloud Plus. • Set your pace: Adjust playback speed and preview a voice before you start. • Stay in control: Pause, resume, and navigate through your reading. • Keep your place: Return to saved reading progress and continue where you left off. • Save what matters: Bookmark passages and add notes for later. From study materials and work documents to your next favourite book, Read Aloud gives you another way to enjoy the words that matter. Premium voices and selected features require a Read Aloud Plus subscription.

About

ReadBack

This application converts documents like PDFs and Word files into natural-sounding speech. It's designed for users who need to listen to written content, offering lifelike voices and background playback for multitasking. Your files are processed and stored locally for enhanced privacy.

Highlights
  • Reads documents aloud (PDF, Word, EPUB)
  • Lifelike, comfortable voices
  • Background playback for multitasking
  • Unlimited audio replays
  • Local file processing for privacy
  • Pay-as-you-go credits or subscriptions
Features
Read full description

ReadBack is a powerful, easy-to-use text-to-speech app built for writers, students, and professionals. Import your Word docs, PDFs, EPUBs, text files, or notes and let ReadBack read them aloud in voices designed to stay smooth and comfortable for long listening. Whether you’re proofreading chapters, reviewing lecture notes, or catching up on research during your commute, ReadBack makes it easy to keep up with your reading. Why people love ReadBack: - It reads real documents, from start to finish (yes, even full manuscripts) - Lifelike voices designed for hours of listening. - Plays in the background so you can multitask. - Unlimited replays of generated audio. - Great for catching awkward sentences, studying on the go, or giving your eyes a break. Privacy comes first: Your files are yours. After processing documents into audio, ReadBack doesn’t store your content on its servers. All of your documents and document audio live on your device only. Perfect for drafts, sensitive notes, or research. Subscriptions & Credits: Choose the plan that works best for you. ReadBack's subscriptions offer the best value for frequent listeners. But, for infrequent or irregular listening, try pay-as-you-go credits. They never expire. Why wait? Join writers, students, and professionals already using ReadBack to polish your work, focus better, and save time. Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Read Aloud4 screens
ReadBack4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ReadBack at fortnightly against Read Aloud's every 7 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Read Aloud sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per 7 days and ReadBack sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Read Aloud ships an update every 7 months, ReadBack fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Read Aloud versus ReadBack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRead AloudReadBack
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—10 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB43 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAPPSURGETrent Guillory

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Read Aloud

Subscriptions3
  • Read Aloud Premium$3.997 Days
  • Read Aloud Premium$14.991 Month
  • Read Aloud Premium$89.991 Year
7 purchases

ReadBack

Subscriptions4
  • ReadBack Plus$4.991 Month
  • ReadBack Pro$9.991 Month
  • ReadBack Plus7 Days trial$47.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • ReadBack Pro$95.991 Year
One-time3
  • 1 Hour Credit$0.99
  • 5 Hour Credit$4.49
  • 10 Hour Credit$7.49

Questions

Is Read Aloud free?
Read Aloud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ReadBack free?
ReadBack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Read Aloud or ReadBack have ads?
Neither Read Aloud nor ReadBack shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Read Aloud or ReadBack?
Read Aloud ships an update every 7 months, and ReadBack fortnightly. Most recently, Read Aloud was updated on October 15, 2026 and ReadBack on October 6, 2026.

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