# Speech Central: Text to Speech

> Text to speech for serious reading. Your PDF and web reader since 2014.

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.labsiisoftware.speechcentral](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.labsiisoftware.speechcentral)

## Overview

- **ID:** `com.labsiisoftware.speechcentral`
- **Platform:** Android
- **Type:** Android app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Labsii Ltd.
- **Category:** PRODUCTIVITY
- **Downloads:** 280,434
- **Rating:** 4.31 / 5 (1,561 ratings)
- **Version:** 16.8.4
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-03
- **First published:** 2019-04-24
- **Publisher country:** RS
- **Size:** 42 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-06
- **Store listing:** [Google Play Store](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.labsiisoftware.speechcentral)
- **Website:** [https://speechcentral.net](https://speechcentral.net/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://speechcentral.net/android-privacy-policy/](https://speechcentral.net/android-privacy-policy/)

## Description

Speech Central is a privacy-first Text to Speech (TTS) reader that can read PDFs, web pages, and documents aloud. It emphasizes long-form listening with no subscriptions, no ads, and no data collection. Unlock unlimited use with a one-time purchase, with free access in TalkBack-enabled or managed school environments. It supports PDF reading with accurate order, web article reading, and Instapaper integration, plus export options to DOCX or audio where available.

Advanced voices include offline device voices and optional AI/cloud voices via API keys. The app offers Instant Mode, deep customization, accessibility modes (ADHD and Dyslexia), automatic TalkBack adjustments, bookmarks, and export features, all while prioritizing privacy by design.

## Rankings

- #134,490 — Overall
- #3 — speech
- #9 — text to speech
- #26 — speech to text

## Permissions and access

### Permissions

- `android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE`
- `android.permission.CAMERA`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE`
- `android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE_MEDIA_PLAYBACK`
- `android.permission.INTERNET`
- `android.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS`
- `android.permission.WAKE_LOCK`
- `com.android.vending.BILLING`
- `com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE`
- `com.labsiisoftware.speechcentral.DYNAMIC_RECEIVER_NOT_EXPORTED_PERMISSION`

## Review summary

Users largely praise the app’s strong TTS, speed control, and accessibility. However, recurring update-related problems dominate: data loss, removal of library content and features, and UI/UX regressions. Voice quality is frequently criticized as robotic and English-only. PDF/text extraction misformatting disrupts listening. Device compatibility and stability also surface, with issues across newer devices and occasional progress resets. Overall, the app works well for many tasks, but persistent update instability and quality concerns limit reliability.

### Pros

- Powerful text-to-speech that converts articles and books into audiobooks, with adjustable playback speed.
- Significant accessibility benefit, especially for users with dyslexia.
- Pro version delivers additional features and is worth the price.
- Easy to use with capable continuous playback that doesn’t stop at every sentence.
- Reliable baseline performance for daily listening and reading tasks.

### Cons

- Updates frequently wipe data or delete large portions of the library, causing major data loss and regression.
- Voice quality is robotic and lacking natural expression; language support is limited (primarily English).
- PDF/text extraction and formatting are buggy, introducing mid-sentence paragraph breaks.
- UI/UX regresses after updates; new designs feel ugly or unintuitive and some features are removed.
- Cross-device stability and compatibility issues, including progress resets and site access problems on certain devices.

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- [Speechly - Text to Speech PDF](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.speechlyapp.speechly) — 102 users
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- [TalkyReader AI: Text to Speech](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.triforcedevs.ai.text.to.speech) — 241 users
- [Text to Speech - Ai Voices](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.text_to_speech.text_to_reader.voice_to_text.ocr) — 69,335 users

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/com.labsiisoftware.speechcentral)