# Text to Speech vs ZenSoft Read Aloud

Text to Speech and ZenSoft Read Aloud both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 67% of ZenSoft Read Aloud's written reviews are positive against 30% of Text to Speech's. ZenSoft Read Aloud also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). Text to Speech's advantage is ratings volume (667 vs 2). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Text to Speech sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. ZenSoft Read Aloud asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Text to Speech against 4.5 for ZenSoft Read Aloud. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Text to Speech has 667 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 30% of Text to Speech's written reviews are positive against 67% of ZenSoft Read Aloud's.

Text to Speech ships an update every 2 weeks, ZenSoft Read Aloud every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Text to Speech | ZenSoft Read Aloud |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (667 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-to-speech-ai-book-reader/id739280962/reviews) | **[4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zensoft-read-aloud/id6476550281/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **667** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 30.0% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 125 MB | 3 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dzionis Brek](https://appshunter.io/developer/525602569) | [Erdal Orman](https://appshunter.io/developer/889063171) |

## What reviewers say

### Text to Speech

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/text-to-speech-ai-book-reader/id739280962)

This app converts text into natural-sounding speech across 38 languages with over 140 customizable voices. It offers offline functionality, pitch and rate adjustments, and the ability to transform photos into text. Users can also convert speech to text and enjoy unlimited exports and sharing.

**Highlights:** 38 languages supported, 140+ natural voices, Adjustable pitch and rate, Offline functionality, Photo to text conversion (OCR), Speech to text conversion, Unlimited export and sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $3.99 | per 7 days |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $9.99 | per month |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $11.99 | per month |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $29.99 | per year |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $29.99 | per year |
| Text to Speech Unlimited | $49.99 | per year |
| 25 Extra Action | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎙️ Natural-sounding voices compared to Google Translate
- 📝 Handles longer text passages effectively
- 🎛️ Customizable voice, pitch, and speed settings
- ⬇️ Download functionality for created content
- ✍️ Helpful for writing and editing workflow

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 Robotic and unnatural voice quality
- 🐛 Small buttons difficult to tap on mobile
- ⚪ White flash when switching between pages
- 💰 Expensive pricing ($40-59 AUD annually)
- 🚫 No free trial before purchase

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch or during use
- Lag and stuttering during text scrolling
- Highlighting misaligned with audio playback
- Bluetooth/AirPods forced to phone speakers
- Selected voice doesn't match actual output

**Requested features**

- Additional new voice options
- Document upload and scanning capability
- Improved voice naturalness and quality
- Better character limit allowance


### ZenSoft Read Aloud

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zensoft-read-aloud/id6476550281)

This application reads your text or PDF files aloud, allowing you to create and save custom text files. It also offers speech-to-text functionality and saves your progress so you can resume reading later. Audio output can be saved and shared as audio files.

**Highlights:** Reads text and PDF files aloud, Speech-to-text functionality, Save and share audio output, Resume reading from last point, Create custom text files

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Text to Speech free?

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

### Is ZenSoft Read Aloud free?

ZenSoft Read Aloud is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Text to Speech or ZenSoft Read Aloud?

ZenSoft Read Aloud is rated higher. Text to Speech averages 4.4 out of 5 from 667 ratings, while ZenSoft Read Aloud averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.

### Do Text to Speech or ZenSoft Read Aloud have ads?

Both Text to Speech and ZenSoft Read Aloud show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Text to Speech or ZenSoft Read Aloud?

Text to Speech ships an update every 2 weeks, and ZenSoft Read Aloud every 3 days. Most recently, Text to Speech was updated on November 1, 2026 and ZenSoft Read Aloud on November 4, 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.*