Screen Reader for Google Chrome

Name: Screen Reader for Google Chrome
Rating: 2.2758620689655173 (58 reviews)
Author: Pawel Uchida-Psztyc

This extension provides aid for the visually impaired people.

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The Screen Reader for Google Chrome extension offers an easy-to-use text-to-speech tool that helps visually impaired users by reading aloud the selected text on any web page. Simply click on any text to activate the built-in TTS service and hear the content clearly. Users can customize the voice settings by selecting their favorite text-to-speech service via the extension's configuration dialog.

Developed during the Google Hackathon 2012 in Warsaw, this extension leverages the native TTS capabilities available on each operating system to provide seamless accessibility support. For feature requests or issues, users can reach out via the developer's GitHub page. This side project aims to improve web accessibility and assist visually impaired users in navigating online content effortlessly.

Extension

By:

Users:

Rating:

Version:

0.8.0 Last updated: 2023-12-12

Creation date:

2015-01-08

Risk:

Permissions:

storage
tts

Size:

195.00KB

Email:

ja*****@gmail.com

URLs:

Full description:

Source:

Chrome Web Store

Data ingested on:

2025-07-09

Ranking

# 8,136 ▲ 69

Other rankings

#1755 in Accessibility ▼ 1

#3 in screenshot reader keyword 50

#24 in reader keyword 69 ▲ 2

#35 in screen keyword 92 ▲ 11

#205 in text to speech keyword 73 ▲ 4

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User reviews

User reviews reveal that 'Screen Reader for Google Chrome' can work on some websites but is inconsistent and often difficult to operate. Many users struggle to activate its reading features, and it generally reads only the selected line or paragraph, requiring repetitive clicking. The voice quality is often mechanical, lacking advanced options like speed control. While some appreciate its functionality for specific use cases, such as reading web news, overall the extension has usability and reliability issues that limit its effectiveness.

Pros

Works well on certain pages like Facebook.
Able to read selected text after clicking on it.
Helpful for improving English reading by listening to web news.
Functions properly after restarting Chrome post-installation.
Provides clear underlining to indicate text being read.

Cons

Does not work consistently across all websites, such as Kindle Reader or PDFs.
Not user-friendly; unclear how to activate or use the reading feature.
Only reads the line or paragraph clicked; requires frequent clicking for continuous reading.
Voice sounds robotic and lacks modern text-to-speech finesse; no speed or voice options.
Screens out parts of text or reads components combined inaccurately, breaking sentence flow.

Recent reviews

doest work o.O

Ma*****, 2025-07-01

Does work now and then and then only on part of a page. Seperate components on a sticky banner are handled as one component. If there is a text and buttons on that banner, all texts from separate components is read as if it was one component.

Ge*****, 2025-05-15

can't even hear it, doesn't work. i tried highlighting text, clicking text, nothing. not even the settings tester worked.

Cr*****, 2024-12-22

View all user reviews ›

Extension safety

Risk impact

Risk impact measures the level of extra permissions an extension has access to. A low risk impact extension cannot do much harms, whereas a high risk impact extension can do a lot of damage like stealing your password, bypassing your security settings, and accessing your personal data. High risk impact extensions are not necessarily malicious. However, if they do turn malicious, they can be very harmful.

Screen Reader for Google Chrome requires very minimum permissions.

Risk impact analysis details

High Injects scripts into web pages, which may alter or extract site contents, resulting in a substantial risk.

Risk likelihood

Risk likelihood measures the probability that a Chrome extension may turn malicious. This is determined by the publisher and the Chrome extension reputation on Chrome Web Store, the amount of time the Chrome extension has been around, and other signals about the Chrome extension. Our algorithms are not perfect, and are subject to change as we discover new ways to detect malicious extensions. We recommend that you always exercise caution when installing a Chrome extension.

Screen Reader for Google Chrome is probably trust-worthy. Prefer other publishers if available. Exercise caution when installing this extension.

Risk likelihood analysis details

High This extension has low user count. Unpopular extensions may not be stable or safe.
Medium **** ********* *** *** **** *******
Low **** ********* *** ******* **** **** * ****** **** ***** ******** *** **** ****** ** ** ****** *** *****
Low **** ********* *** ***** **** **** * ****** **** ***** ********** *** **** ****** ** ** ****** *** *****

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