# Speech Central – Voice Reader

> PDF, ePub, Web Text to Speech

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1127349155](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1127349155)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1127349155`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Labsii
- **Category:** Productivity
- **Rating:** 4.60 / 5 (1,551 ratings)
- **Version:** 18.0.2
- **Last updated:** 2026-09-22
- **First published:** 2016-09-29
- **Size:** 34 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-23
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/speech-central-voice-reader/id1127349155)
- **Website:** [https://speechcentral.net](https://speechcentral.net/)
- **Privacy policy:** [https://speechcentral.net/speech-central-privacy-policy/](https://speechcentral.net/speech-central-privacy-policy/)

## Description

**Speech Central** is a powerful text-to-speech and reading app for PDFs, EPUBs, web articles, Word documents, presentations, HTML, Markdown, and more. Clean up distracting page elements, listen with high-quality offline Apple voices or compatible third-party voices, and connect cloud AI voices using your own API keys.

Built for focused reading, study, accessibility, and productivity, Speech Central includes annotation tools, AI summaries, audio export, RSS support, CarPlay, Apple Watch listening, and sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Dedicated profiles support ADHD, dyslexia, and low vision, with full VoiceOver compatibility. The app has no ads, tracking, or usage analytics, and offers free access for blind users with VoiceOver and schools using Apple School Manager. A one-time Pro upgrade unlocks unlimited use without a subscription.

## Rankings

- #45,581 — Overall
- #20 — speech
- #34 — voice control
- #68 — google docs
- #74 — reader

## Review summary

Reviewers repeatedly praise Speech Central for its one-time price, strong voice options, PDF/document reading, and CarPlay support. They also like the on-screen text follow-along and exportable audio. Reported drawbacks include occasional robotic-sounding voices, some language pronunciation quirks, UI quirks after updates, and limited feedback when external AI services fail.

### Pros

- Excellent value: a one-time purchase with no ongoing subscription, widely praised as a great deal.
- High-quality, customizable voices with support for third‑party options (Apple, Microsoft, OpenAI) and the ability to download enhanced/premium voices.
- Reads PDFs and other documents well and supports exporting audio files; no subscription required.
- CarPlay compatibility is a standout feature for long drives.
- On-screen text display helps follow along while listening, improving comprehension.

### Cons

- Voice quality can be robotic or less natural at times.
- Some features may require external APIs or keys for AI voices, which isn't ideal for all users.
- UI issues and regressions after updates (e.g., Select All not working, Dynamic Island controls sometimes grey).
- Pronunciation/language support isn't perfect for some languages (notably Chinese ellipsis and sentence segmentation).

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1127349155)