VT PDF Voice Reader vs Play Text (TTS)
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VT PDF Voice Reader
Listen to PDF documents with text-to-speech and get AI-powered summaries. This app offers local processing for privacy and an optional AI discussion feature using your own API key.
- Text-to-speech for PDFs
- AI-powered summaries
- Local processing for privacy
- Supports any PDF files
- Customizable voice selection
- Adjustable reading speed
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This free-of-charge PDF reader with text-to-speech is created by team VelaTango. It comes in handy when you want to listen to a book while taking a walk or working in garden. The voice reading runs completely offline. The AI summary of PDF text and continual discussions with AI can help you better understand the content as well as getting a good picture of books and articles that you do not have time to read in detail. Privacy is fully protected with this app. PDF reading and text-to-speech are completely local and runs offline. The AI summary part requires internet connection. It sends selected PDF text directly to Google Gemini using your own API key. This app does not collect any user data. No email account needed. No login required. Please refer to instructions for details including how to download voices required by this app and how to apply for free Gemini API key if you are interested. Some notes on features: In principle, any PDF files can be loaded into this app. You can read by viewing. But when it comes to listening with text-to-speech (TTS), there are some limitations that you want to be aware of: 1) TTS part now works for PDFs with two-column text. Some text with math equations still face some challenges in separating two columns properly. 2) Voices are limited to 4 for English and 4 for Chinese to avoid the overwhelmingly long list. If you like the app and would like to add voices of other languages, please specify which language, name of the voice (like Ana), and whether the voice is enhanced or premium. Your PDF and Gemini API key files (a txt file with only the key information) are good to be kept in the same place like in the Files folder on your device. The buttons or icons on the control panel are quite intuitive. The reset icon returns voice reading back to the top of the page. When voice selection and speed selection are changed, new selection starts on the same line. I have enjoyed using this app and I wish the same for you.
Play Text (TTS)
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We got fed up with paying for overpriced subscriptions just to have text read aloud — basic apps that, more often than not, turned out too buggy to actually rely on. So we put our AI tools and skills to work and built Play Text in a single evening. We hope it helps you too. Play Text turns anything you want to read into audio — and highlights each word as it's spoken, so you can listen and follow along at the same time. Drop in text from almost anywhere and press play: • Paste & Play — read whatever's on your clipboard • Web links — paste a URL and Play Text pulls out the readable article, skipping the menus, ads, and clutter • Files — open PDF, TXT, Markdown, RTF, or HTML documents • Share sheet — send selected text, a link, or a file straight from any other app A single, clean reading panel shows the full text and sweeps a highlight across each word as the voice reaches it — great for focus, reading along, language learning, proofreading, or accessibility. VOICES • Kokoro — the default. A high-fidelity neural voice that runs entirely on your device, with no account, no key, and no network. • Apple on-device voice — another fully offline option, available on every device. • ElevenLabs — optional cloud voices if you add your own API key. Adjust the reading speed to taste, from a relaxed pace up to nearly double speed. KEEPS PLAYING Audio continues when you lock your phone or switch apps, with Now Playing controls on the Lock Screen and in Control Center. SYNCS ACROSS YOUR DEVICES Your engine, voice, and speed settings sync over iCloud, so Play Text feels the same everywhere you use it. PRIVATE BY DESIGN The default Kokoro and Apple voices run completely on-device — your text never leaves your phone. ElevenLabs is strictly opt-in and only used if you choose to add your own key.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Play Text (TTS) at 18.0 against VT PDF Voice Reader's 26.0. 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | VT PDF Voice Reader | Play Text (TTS) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 372 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | WEN JIANG | Klemens Arro |
In-app purchases
VT PDF Voice Reader
No in-app purchases
Play Text (TTS)
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VT PDF Voice Reader free?
Is Play Text (TTS) free?
Do VT PDF Voice Reader or Play Text (TTS) have ads?
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