Comparison

Sandbook vs Document Voice Reader

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

Head to head
About

Sandbook

This app converts text into natural-sounding speech using an on-device model. Read ePub, PDF, and TXT files, type or paste text, or even read webpages aloud. Export audio files for offline listening with complete privacy.

Highlights
  • On-device text-to-speech
  • Reads ePub, PDF, TXT files
  • Type or paste text
  • Read webpages aloud
  • Export audio files
  • Privacy protection
Features
Read full description

Sandbook reads books, documents and articles aloud in natural voices, entirely on your iPhone or iPad. Nothing you read is uploaded, and there is no account, no subscription and no ads. Press play, lock your screen, and Sandbook keeps reading. Found an article in Safari, Chrome or another app? Tap Save to Sandbook and it waits in your Listen Later queue. NATURAL VOICES, OFFLINE - 41 voices in American and British English, Spanish, French, Italian, Brazilian Portuguese and Hindi - A book in Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese or Hindi opens with a voice in its language - Powered by the open-source Kokoro model, running locally; no internet connection needed - Follow along as each spoken word is highlighted - Speed from 0.5x to 2.5x; each book remembers its voice and speed READ ALMOST ANYTHING - Import EPUB, PDF, Word (.docx), TXT, RTF, Markdown and HTML files - Add a web page by pasting a link, or save it from Safari, Chrome and other apps with Save to Sandbook in the share sheet - Scan printed pages with the camera, or pick a photo, and listen - Send files or selected text from any app with the share sheet, or type and paste your own - Open a document straight from the Files app with Open With, or set Sandbook as its default app - Browse a shelf of public-domain classics and play a short sample before you download one LISTEN THE WAY YOU READ - Opens at the paragraph where you stopped - Keep listening when you leave the book, with a mini player at the bottom of the screen - Bookmarks, and search inside a book - Sleep timer: stop after a set time or at the end of the chapter - Passages you've already heard play back instantly - In a PDF, the sentence being read is highlighted on the page; tap any sentence to read from there - Reading options: light, sepia and dark themes, fonts, text size and line spacing - Appearance: light, dark or matching your system - See each book's length, listening time and the time left in the chapter - Keep listening with the screen locked or while you use other apps; the lock screen shows the chapter's progress, with 15-second skips - Listen Later: web pages and text you save wait at the top of your library and play one after another - Continue Reading with Siri or the Shortcuts app - Export any text as an M4A audio file ACCESSIBILITY - VoiceOver, Voice Control, Switch Control, larger text and contrast improvements - The app is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil) and Hindi PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your books, text and voices stay on your device. Sandbook never sends what you read to a server. GOOD TO KNOW - Voices require iPhone 12 or later, or an iPad with an A14 or M1 chip or later. Sandbook also needs iOS 18.2 or later. Questions or ideas: support@sandbook.app

About

Document Voice Reader

Features
Read full description

Document Voice Reader is a practical app for reading and listening to documents, PDFs, text, emails, and links on your iPhone. It helps you turn written content into spoken audio so you can read more comfortably, save time, and enjoy hands-free access to information. Whether you want to scan printed pages, open a PDF, paste text, or listen to content from a link, Document Voice Reader gives you a simple all-in-one experience. It is designed for users who need a clear and convenient way to manage reading tasks on mobile. Key Features Read PDFs and Documents Open PDF files and documents in a clean interface that makes reading easier and more comfortable. Scan Text with OCR Use your camera to scan printed text and convert it into digital text quickly. Great for notes, books, receipts, papers, and other printed content. Text to Speech Turn text into voice and listen to it anytime. This is useful when you want to rest your eyes, multitask, or enjoy content while walking, driving, or working. Input Text Manually Paste or type text directly into the app and hear it read aloud instantly. Simple and Clean Design The app is built with an easy-to-use interface so you can upload files, scan text, enter text, and start listening without extra steps. Why Use Document Voice Reader? Document Voice Reader is useful for students, professionals, readers, and anyone who wants easier access to written content. It can help improve productivity, support accessibility, and make everyday reading more flexible. Perfect For - Reading PDFs and documents - Scanning text into digital form - Listening to text aloud - Reviewing notes and articles - Hands-free reading - Accessibility and convenience With Document Voice Reader, you can choose how you want to read: scan it, paste it, open it, or listen to it.

Screenshots

Sandbook4 screens
Document Voice Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Sandbook at none against Document Voice Reader's shown. Sandbook also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). Document Voice Reader's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.2). On price, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sandbook ships an update weekly, Document Voice Reader every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sandbook versus Document Voice Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSandbookDocument Voice Reader
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (135 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews80.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings135 — better—
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS18.213.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmashMelon LLCVan Hai Nguyen

In-app purchases

None

Sandbook

No in-app purchases

None

Document Voice Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sandbook free?
Sandbook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Document Voice Reader free?
Document Voice Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sandbook or Document Voice Reader have ads?
Document Voice Reader shows ads; Sandbook does not.
Which is updated more often, Sandbook or Document Voice Reader?
Sandbook ships an update weekly, and Document Voice Reader every 2 weeks. Most recently, Sandbook was updated on October 28, 2026 and Document Voice Reader on October 25, 2026.

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