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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Text to Speech! vs Voice Dream

Text to Speech! 4.6★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Tie
Voice Dream 4.5★ · Free + IAP 60

For basic text-to-speech needs and temporary communication, Text to Speech! is a viable free option despite its bugs and ads, while Voice Dream offers more advanced features for academic and professional use, but comes with a higher price point and recent subscription model frustrations.

Full reviews: Text to Speech! · Voice Dream

Text to Speech! is a free app praised for its simplicity and utility for temporary communication, though it's plagued by frequent ads, freezing, and other bugs. Voice Dream, while offering advanced features like document management and offline access, faces criticism for its high subscription cost, confusing voice selection, and issues with its recent subscription model.

Head to head

Features edge: Voice DreamR3R5R8R16
Text to Speech! Users appreciate the app's core text-to-speech functionality, especially for temporary communication needs like after surgery or illness R8. It allows exporting text to audio files . However, some users find it 'too simple' R5 and desire features like loop playback or better control over saved text R3. There are also complaints about limitations like text length limits R16 and issues with saving or exporting audio R18.
Voice Dream Voice Dream is lauded for advanced features crucial for academics and professionals, such as bookmarking, highlighting, and exporting tabbed text . It supports listening to textbooks and articles with adaptable speed and display settings . Users value its ability to import various documents like PDFs and web pages . However, some find the interface clunky and difficult to use , and there are complaints about the definition feature requiring too many taps .
Ease of Use edge: Text to Speech!R2R3R17R23
Text to Speech! Many users find Text to Speech! 'simple' and 'easy to use' R2R17R23. It's considered straightforward for basic communication R23. However, some UI settings are inconvenient, like the inability to copy text from the 'Starred' section R3. There are also complaints about not being able to clear sentences easily without restarting the app .
Voice Dream Voice Dream users praise its user-friendly interface for reading along and tracking audio and its ease of use for managing downloaded content . However, a significant number of users find the app 'extremely difficult to use' and its interface 'clunky' . Managing voices is described as a 'pain' due to long, unfiltered lists .
Reliability tieR1R9R11R12
Text to Speech! A major recurring issue for Text to Speech! is its instability. Users report frequent freezing R11R12, crashing R9R15R18, and glitching R1. Some have to delete and reinstall the app to resolve freezing R11. There are also reports of the app becoming unresponsive or stopping playback mid-sentence .
Voice Dream Voice Dream was historically reliable for years . However, recent updates have introduced issues, with some users reporting the app freezing in MacOS and losing their entire library and purchased voices . Syncing can also break down and overwrite data . Despite these issues, some users still find it a 'nice solid app' and appreciate its perfect offline operation .
Price/Value edge: Text to Speech!R2R4R6R10
Text to Speech! Text to Speech! is praised for being a 'free' app R2. However, the free version is heavily criticized for 'annoying ads' R4 and 'too many adds' that interrupt usage, especially for those with critical communication needs R6R10. Some users express a desire for a paid, ad-free version . The app also has in-app purchases (IAP) for more exports .
Voice Dream Voice Dream's pricing model is a significant point of contention. Many users, especially early adopters, feel punished by the transition to an annual subscription model, losing access to previously purchased voices or features . The app is considered 'very expensive' and 'overpriced' , with some noting it's almost double the price on Apple's App Store compared to Google Play . There are complaints about 'shadow charging' and automatic renewals for a full year after short trials R105. Some users state there is 'no free option' R85R88 or that the free trial is too short R91.
Voice Quality tieR17R18R28R36
Text to Speech! Users have mixed opinions on voice quality. Some find the voices 'aren’t bad' R38 or 'sound more realistic' with an overhaul . However, others describe voices as 'demonic' for some words R17, 'garbage' R49, or sounding like an 'Emergency broadcast' R28. There are also complaints about pitch being too high even after adjustment R36 and the removal of preferred voices R18.
Voice Dream Voice Dream receives significant criticism for its voice quality. Many users describe the voices as 'terrible' R67, 'robotic' , 'stilted' , and 'poor quality vocal and annunciation' . Users compare it unfavorably to NaturalReader R67 and other free readers . There are also complaints about voices not sounding natural enough and the removal of previously liked voices . Some users, however, find the voices acceptable once their brain adjusts .
Support edge: Voice DreamR11R12R13R15
Text to Speech! Reviews for Text to Speech! do not mention direct user support. Users frequently ask for fixes for bugs and freezing R11R12R13R15, indicating a lack of perceived responsiveness to issues.
Voice Dream Voice Dream has an 'Amazing Support Team!!!' that responds quickly and resolves issues . However, some users report that tech support couldn't fix issues like lost libraries or purchased voices , and there's a complaint about no customer support link being easily available .
Pick Text to Speech! if

you need a simple, free text-to-speech app for temporary communication or basic use, and are willing to tolerate frequent ads and occasional bugs R2R8.

Pick Voice Dream if

you require advanced features for academic or professional use, such as document management, highlighting, and offline access, and are prepared to pay a subscription fee for these capabilities .

Evidence note: Text to Speech! has a much larger volume of reviews, with many recent ones focusing on bugs and ads. Voice Dream's reviews are more polarized, with strong praise for its advanced features contrasting with significant frustration over its pricing model and recent changes.

Frequently asked

Is Text to Speech! truly free?
Yes, Text to Speech! is a free app R2, but it is heavily supported by frequent and intrusive ads that many users find disruptive R4R6R10. There are in-app purchases available, but no explicit ad-free paid version is mentioned by users .
Does Voice Dream offer a free trial?
Voice Dream offers a free trial, but users report it is often very short, sometimes only 3 days R91, and can lead to automatic annual subscriptions charged at a high price, such as $79.99, if not canceled precisely R105. Many users also complain that there is no truly free version of the app for basic use R85R88.
Which app has better voice quality?
Neither app consistently receives praise for superior voice quality; both face criticism. Text to Speech! voices are described as ranging from 'not bad' to 'demonic' or 'garbage' R17R38R49. Voice Dream's voices are frequently called 'robotic' and 'terrible,' with many users preferring other apps like NaturalReader R67.
Are there many bugs or stability issues with these apps?
Both apps have significant stability issues. Text to Speech! users frequently report the app freezing, crashing, and glitching, often requiring reinstallation R1R9R11R12. Voice Dream has also experienced issues, with reports of freezing in MacOS and loss of libraries and purchased voices after updates .

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R3] Text to Speech! 3/5 · US Inconvenient to use: The app needs refinement regarding its UI settings and core functionality. Currently, you cannot copy text from the 'Starred' section. This is a major inconvenience because it prevents me from backing up or transferring important data before the app's auto-delete function triggers. Having to manually transcribe text that should be copyable is frustrating
  2. [R5] Text to Speech! 4/5 · US Too simple: Its a great app but its much too simple
  3. [R8] Text to Speech! 5/5 · US Text to speech: I recently had a double jaw surgery and this app helped me communicate to everyone including plenty of my nurses and my family members.
  4. [R16] Text to Speech! 2/5 · US Reduced Usability: Was much better before text length limit was implemented. I can’t listen to a full article anymore, only a 2 or 3 paragraph excerpt.
  5. [R2] Text to Speech! 5/5 · US Best free text to speech app: Love how this app is free! I also like how simple it is. Definitely worth having.
  6. [R17] Text to Speech! 4/5 · US I love this app but there are a few things I don’t like: So for one this is an awesome app but even if you pick out a good voice out of the few choices for some words it can sound very demonic, for another thing is yes there are adds but of course there are, also it can take a while to type out what you need to say. So if you need a temporary way to communicate it is a great app. I also love how
  7. [R23] Text to Speech! 5/5 · US Powerful because it’s simple: I titled my review powerful because it’s simple as an absolute compliment. By simple I mean it’s easy to use. The interface is clean and clear and I can listen to the very long emails and newsletters that I received from my students and my professional organizations… Things that normally take me forever to get through there’s so many coming at me all the time, but wit
  8. [R1] Text to Speech! 2/5 · US Glitchy already: I just downloaded this app cause of surgery so I can “talk” still and it’s already glitching out and making my keys stick
  9. [R9] Text to Speech! 3/5 · US Bugs: This app is so buggy but it’s the only fully free one out there so i don’t really care. It won’t let me put any of files in for it to read and it also crashes if I add too much text when typing or copy and pasting
  10. [R11] Text to Speech! 4/5 · US Problems recently though: Love the app had it for a few years works perfectly up until last month. When it started freezing. Had to delete app and reload now it seems like it’s happening every couple days. If not sooner is the latest update the problem? Is there a resolution for this? Please fix the app Thank you.
  11. [R12] Text to Speech! 3/5 · US Amazing app but freezes a lot: The app freezes a lot but other than that it’s amazing please fix it asap
  12. [R4] Text to Speech! 1/5 · US Ads: Annoying ads not good quality software but doesn’t say yeah very well
  13. [R6] Text to Speech! 3/5 · US To many adds: So every time I click a the words I saved like if I click 3 or 5 and add always pops up so if you could pls put less adds
  14. [R10] Text to Speech! 1/5 · US 5 stars must be fake: The in-app ads make this unusable and infuriating. A person who can’t speak doesn’t want or need an ad interrupting what could be a desperate need to communicate. My friend with PLS can barely use his hands in the first place, so just using the device is an obstacle already…this app is 100% useless as long as it has video ads that play while trying to use it.
  15. [R18] Text to Speech! 3/5 · US What’s happening😭?: So I really freaking love this app, like a lot it helps me with my YouTube channel, but recently every time I try to put something in, the app always seems to kick me out of it and when I am able to save the audio, it’s only the intro and nothing else gets saved. Is there a way to fix this??? And the app also took away the voice named Aaron that I always used💔💔
  16. [R28] Text to Speech! 1/5 · US I got scared: Bro the voices sound like an watching a Emergency broadcast T_T😭
  17. [R36] Text to Speech! 3/5 · US Pitch: Even after adjusting the pitch it’s still too high
  18. [R13] Text to Speech! 1/5 · US Please fix the multiple bugs: When the app is in slide over view after a few seconds and I open it back up in the slide over view mode, the letters are misplaced so I have to exit slide over view and put it back. Also, the controls to change the text size doesn’t work.
  19. [R15] Text to Speech! 3/5 · US App crashes: I have both both regular and Pro. But both app keep crashing. Need update
  20. [R85] Voice Dream 1/5 · US No Free Option: I would use any bottom of the barrel voice to read my PDFs, but this app doesn’t even offer a free version. I am not going to pay for something that should be free and can be gotten elsewhere. I am deleting the app and won’t come back if a free option isn’t available.
  21. [R88] Voice Dream 1/5 · US Not free: Not free
  22. [R91] Voice Dream 2/5 · US Sleazy: I was offered a 7-day trial. That was mysteriously changed to 3-days. Then I see a note that says you must cancel 24-hours before your subscription expires. I like the app, but that is simply to sleazy. I’ll find another solution.
  23. [R105] Voice Dream 5/5 · US Do not click here: App description regarding a trial period is a lie. So is being charged monthly. I downloaded this app on a trial period and if kept chose a monthly subscription. I was charged the same day it was downloaded and charged for an entire year. Not only is that wrong, the app doesn't do what I thought it would. When I went in to cancel it I noticed I was charged. Looked at bank accoun
  24. [R38] Text to Speech! 5/5 · US Amazing app: It’s soo good and the voices aren’t bad either
  25. [R49] Text to Speech! 1/5 · US Skip: I downloaded this and it sounded like garbage ?
  26. [R67] Voice Dream 1/5 · US Sounds terrible: This sounds awful. DON’T BUY! I purchased it for a month and even the paid versions are terrible. NaturalReader was much better and I’ll still with that. If I could , I’d give it a zero.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store