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

Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader vs Speechify

Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 4.5★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Speechify
Speechify 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70

Speechify generally offers a more polished experience with a wider range of voices, but both apps struggle with reliability and pricing transparency, making Speak4Me a potentially better value for basic text-to-speech if its glitches are tolerable.

Full reviews: Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader · Speechify

Speechify boasts a larger user base and a broader selection of voices, including celebrity options, but users frequently complain about its high cost and misleading free trial. Speak4Me is praised for its value and utility for specific needs, though it's plagued by frequent glitches, poor pronunciation, and issues with its free trial and subscriptions.

Head to head

Features and Voice Quality edge: SpeechifyR2R5R15R16
Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader Speak4Me offers capable and some relaxing synthetic voices, with users finding them listenable despite being artificial R2R20. However, many users report issues with voices sounding 'congested' R5, poor pronunciation of common words and names R15R16, and difficulty with apostrophes R2. Some users also miss older voice options and note the lack of Apple Personal Voice support .
Speechify Speechify is praised for its many voice options, including celebrity voices like Snoop Dogg, and its ability to read Kindle Unlimited content . Users appreciate the somewhat realistic voices, but some still find them robotic at times and note mispronunciations of simple words . A common complaint is that the best voices are locked behind a paywall, making the free voices sound terrible .
Ease of Use and Document Handling tieR3R6R7R9
Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader Speak4Me is described as intuitive and easy to use , particularly for reading PDFs . However, users report issues with the app getting stuck in 'thinking mode' or indefinite pauses R3R6, crashing frequently R7, and struggling with offline reading R9. Scanning documents can produce incorrect context or fail to scan simple sentences . There are also complaints about the app forcing users to answer unnecessary questions before use .
Speechify Speechify is generally found easy to navigate and set up . It's helpful for quickly getting through reading material and reading PDFs . However, many users find the app confusing and struggle with its core functionality. The advertised feature of scanning books to read them often requires scanning page-by-page for books not in their limited library R97, which is seen as impractical and misleading R88R103R106. Users also report app crashes, especially after updates .
Reliability and Performance tieR3R4R6R7
Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader Speak4Me users frequently experience glitches, such as the app getting stuck, indefinite pauses, or buffering issues R3R6. It often crashes R7 and struggles to read certain words or numbers R7. Some report the app reading and highlighting different parts of text R4 or skipping/jumbling words R9. Loading times can be slow , and some voices require clicking play twice .
Speechify Speechify also suffers from reliability issues, with users reporting frequent app crashes, especially after updates . Some users experience long loading times and issues with ads popping up and deleting scanned pictures . There are complaints about the app not reading all words from scanned pages and reading headings in the wrong order .
Price and Value edge: Speak4Me Text to Speech ReaderR5R10R13R15
Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader Speak4Me is considered relatively cheap compared to other apps R5 and offers good value for its price . However, many users are frustrated by the aggressive paywall, feeling they have to pay for everything R46. There are numerous complaints about deceptive free trials that lead to immediate charges R10R34 and unexpected recurring charges R13. The free version is heavily ad-supported R15 and offers limited, often poor-quality voices .
Speechify Speechify is widely criticized for being expensive, with prices cited as $50 R64, $140 R70, and $25 for a basic plan , plus additional costs for books R61R72. Many users feel the app is misleadingly advertised as free but requires payment for core features . There are complaints about being charged immediately after a 'free trial' and difficulty getting refunds R66. The app's limited library means users often have to pay for books they already own R72.
Customer Support edge: Speak4Me Text to Speech ReaderR10R20R66
Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader Speak4Me has mixed reviews for support. One user praised the developer for acting quickly and resolving an account access issue R20. However, another user reported a negative experience, being denied a refund and struggling with unhelpful customer service representatives R10.
Speechify Speechify's customer support is generally viewed negatively. Users report difficulty contacting support, often finding only email options and no phone number R66. There are complaints about refund requests being denied R66 or being offered reduced rates instead of refunds R66. One user was eventually able to get a refund after persistent effort R66.
Pick Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader if

Pick Speak4Me if you are looking for a more affordable text-to-speech solution primarily for reading textbooks or PDFs, and you are willing to tolerate occasional glitches and less-than-perfect pronunciation R2R5. It might also be a better choice if you value responsive developer support for technical issues R20.

Pick Speechify if

Pick Speechify if you prioritize a wider selection of voices, including celebrity options, and need features like reading Kindle Unlimited content . It's also suitable if you need an app that can help improve reading levels and you are prepared to pay a premium price for its features R70.

Evidence note: Both apps have a significant number of negative reviews related to pricing and free trial transparency, which skews recent sentiment. Speechify has a much larger volume of reviews, which can dilute the impact of individual complaints compared to Speak4Me. The free-vs-paid asymmetry is evident in both, with many negative reviews for both apps stemming from free-tier limitations or unexpected charges after 'free trials'.

Frequently asked

Is Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader really free?
Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader is free to download, but many core features and better voices are behind a paywall, and users report frequent ads in the free version R15R46. There are also numerous complaints about deceptive 'free trials' that lead to immediate charges of around $40 R10R34.
Can Speechify read any book by scanning it?
While Speechify's advertisements imply you can scan any book, users report that this feature is often misleading; you typically have to scan books page-by-page if they are not already in Speechify's limited library R88R97R103. Many popular books and authors are reportedly unavailable in their library R106.
How much does Speechify cost?
Speechify is considered expensive, with users reporting costs such as $50 for the app R64, $140 for a subscription R70, and a basic plan offered at $25 . Additionally, users often have to pay for individual books even after purchasing a subscription R61R72.

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. [R2] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 4/5 · US Pretty good overall, needs support for apostrophes: I am using this app for reading textbooks to me. I like it a lot, the cheaper tier works just fine for me. The voice is obviously synthetic, but listenable. Right now I’m having real issues with the fact that the app can’t read apostrophes correctly. It’s distracting to hear about “Occam ess razor” instead of Occam’s razor. I hope that’s somethin
  2. [R5] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 4/5 · US The voices in the app sound congested: I really like the app because I hate reading and it’s relatively cheap compared to other apps. I only have the pro version of the app, but the voices all sound congested when reading 😭 I was using ChatGPT to read stuff to me at first, but it stopped working and would cut out in the middle of reading so I switched to this. It isn’t bad, I just can’t pick a voi
  3. [R15] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 3/5 · US Would not rely on this as your only form of communication: It works and has different peoples voices but it pronounces so many things wrong, like grr is G-R-R and also people’s names that aren’t as common. Also way too many ads that pop up in the middle of me typing and you can only add around 5 favorites. The voices are very robotic sounding. It’s okay if you want to use it for fun or if your thr
  4. [R16] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 1/5 · US terrible: terrible pronunciation
  5. [R3] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 3/5 · US Great product, but has some glitches: Generally works really great, but once in a while, it glitches and gets stuck in a thinking mode. Or sometimes it does an indefinite pause between pasted paragraphs. These are frustrations, which makes the product less than ideal. I also wish that it was smart enough to recognize but notes and end note when they document pasted, it would not read those numbers
  6. [R6] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 3/5 · US It’s okay: In hind site this is a great app but the glitches drive me up a wall if I didn’t need it and or had the energy to find another app I’d request a refund. It’s always “server issues” it constantly buffers between sentences and or paragraphs. It’s okay but aggravating.
  7. [R7] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 2/5 · US Ehh: App does what it needs to do, but for the price It did not perform to the standard I had hoped. App would continuously crash while I was using it and it struggled greatly to read certain words and numbers.
  8. [R9] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 3/5 · US Good. Not great.: Voices are good. Quality of the read leaves more to be desired. It skips words or jumbles them up. It can’t read documents offline. It pauses frequently when screen is turned off.
  9. [R4] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 1/5 · US Very disappointed: Im very disappointed with this app. I tried several that had the same pdf upload and read out function and this one was by far the best (at the time) this was November of 2025. I used the app through January without issue. I hadnt used it in some time and when i went back and uploaded a PDF for some reason In June of 2026 the app reads out and highlights two different parts of t
  10. [R10] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 1/5 · US I just got scammed: Free trial button didn’t give me a free trial but made it look like it would. Super sketchy. Want my money back. It had been a few days, my refund was denied and I have had to SPEAK (further damaging my vocal cords) to customer service reps who won’t help me with a refund. Legit evil company, don’t use these guys.
  11. [R13] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 1/5 · US This app has been just charging me: I have no subscription with this app, yet they keep charging my app account. I am just finding out and look in my subscription because I know I hadn’t subscribe ( sure didn’t subscribe). Service I didn’t get, refund me.
  12. [R20] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 4/5 · US Interesting App, Interesting Utility: After landing the app on AppAdvice, I was pleasantly surprised at the smooth and capable voices that proved capable and some even relaxing. The utility here is evident. I had an issue sharing my account access with my iPad from my phone and I contacted the developer. He was a gentleman and acted quickly with attentive resolve- that’s always a good sign. Admitt
  13. [R66] Speechify 3/5 · US Poor service: I purchased this, app used it maybe 5 times to try it out. They bill me & I try to contact no # only email won’t give refunds they try to keep by give you a reduced rate. I don’t use your app at this point just stop charging me. UPDATE: I got a refund app is cool but they need to expand that library I wanted to use it for Mgmnt books very limited
  14. [R34] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 1/5 · US Said free trial but charged me anyways: It said that I had a free trial so I got it for three days free the same day I got the free trial. It charged me 40 bucks.
  15. [R46] Speak4Me Text to Speech Reader 1/5 · US Have to pay for everything: This app is actually horrible. You literally have to pay for everything. It’s a scam. Don’t buy it.
  16. [R88] Speechify 1/5 · US False Advertising: The ads for this app shows someone taking a photo of a book and then being able to have it read to them. This is not how it works unless the book is among their limited library!!
  17. [R97] Speechify 2/5 · US Not what is shows in commercials: There is a lot of books not in this app. I’ve looked up seven and none of them have been in the app. And it’s not easy to download like they show in the commercial where you just scan the book and it starts reading it to you. You have to scan any book that is not in the app page by page and either added it to the app or just let it read it page by page. so, there’
  18. [R103] Speechify 1/5 · US Very disappointed: The advertisement implies that you can simply take a picture of most any book with your phone and the book can be read to you. Reality is that there are fewer than 100 books in their “library”. Incredibly misleading and disappointing. Would like my money back!
  19. [R106] Speechify 1/5 · US The most useless app I’ve ever downloaded: The ads are all false. None of the books I’ve searched for are available. Even best selling authors, like Parker, Patterson and Clancy, are unavailable. Waste of money
  20. [R61] Speechify 1/5 · US Not worth the money: There are apps out there that are so much better. So far, I cannot read a single book on this app without (of course) paying even more money! Absolutely not. I truly want a refund, advertised and what is delivered are two completely different things!!
  21. [R64] Speechify 1/5 · US Very deceptive: I paid $50 for this app thinking I could tap / take a picture of books and the app would read it too me. No it wants to charge me for everything. Extremely deceptive
  22. [R70] Speechify 1/5 · US Expensive: It’s 140$ to expensive
  23. [R72] Speechify 3/5 · US This app wasn’t the greatest: First off the app recommend you open the app. It gives you multiple things to buy, which I obviously declined. I don’t have money😭 then after that while I tried to read my book, it makes me buy the book. Even though I had a physical copy right there. I was reading a wrinkle in time and it was a great book, I just used it to read for like 8 minutes then 8.99 dollar for

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