Text to speech
Speechify: review, pricing, data and alternatives
Speechify lets people who want to listen to documents have text read aloud, including photographed text. It also supports dictation, document summaries and questions, and audio content creation in Studio. A free tier exists; the first paid plan costs $29 per month. Access and transparency score: 75/100, #3 of 10 in its category.
| Access | 25/30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Openness | 20/30 | |
| Trust | 30/40 |
What is Speechify?
Speechify lets people who want to listen to documents have text read aloud, including photographed text. It also supports dictation, document summaries and questions, and audio content creation in Studio.
According to its documentation, Speechify lets you:
- read texts and documents aloud
- recognize photographed text to read it aloud
- adjust the voice and reading speed
- dictate text
- summarize a document and answer questions
- create audio content in Studio
We file it under Text to speech, the category of tools to turn text into natural speech, and it also overlaps with productivity and organisation and audio and podcast. The category lists 10 verified tools on this site.
The publisher is Speechify, Inc., based in United States. The service launched in 2017, which gives it some track record.
Who is it for?
It is mostly useful to these profiles: students, teachers, and podcasters. The need it covers is simple to state: turn text into natural speech.
Speechify is a good candidate if:
- you want to try before paying
- you plan to connect it to your tools or automations through its API
- you also work from your phone
The best test is a concrete case from your daily work: if the tool does not beat your current method within a week, move on to an alternative.
How much does Speechify cost?
Pricing model: freemium (limited free use, then paid). A free plan is offered, usually limited in volume or features.
The first paid plan costs $29 per month (Premium, monthly billing displayed on the pricing page; an annual option is also offered), according to the pricing page, checked on October 24, 2026.
Per month, that is more expensive than the category median ($9 per month, based on tools with a published price).
To estimate what the same work would cost done directly with an AI model, use our API price calculator. Prices change often: always check the official site before subscribing.
Data and privacy
According to its privacy policy, data is processed in the United States.
For professional use, check that a data processing agreement (DPA) is offered, and do not send customers' personal data or confidential documents without one.
Exporting your content: yes (details on the official site). Being able to get your data back makes switching tools easier later.
Three habits apply to every AI tool:
- turn off the use of your content for training if the option exists
- use a work account separate from your personal account
- review everything the tool produces before publishing or sending it
Platforms, languages and API
Speechify runs on: web browser, Windows, macOS, iPhone and iPad, Android, browser extension, and API.
Interface languages are not specified.
A public API lets you call it from your own programs or an automation tool, and plug it into an AI agent.
How we scored it
Our 75/100 score does not judge output quality: it measures what can be publicly verified about access to the tool, its openness and how far the publisher can be trusted.
| Criterion | Points | What counts |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 25/30 | free tier, published price, French interface |
| Openness | 20/30 | API, data export, open code |
| Trust | 30/40 | identified publisher, declared hosting, age, presence in reference lists |
The full calculation is explained on our method page.
Comparison with alternatives
Speechify against other tools in the text to speech category:
| Tool | Free | Entry price | API | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speechify | Yes | $29 per month | Yes | 75 |
| ElevenLabs | Yes | $1 per month | Yes | 90 |
| Murf AI | Yes | $19 per month | Yes | 81 |
| LOVO AI | Yes | not published | Yes | 68 |
| WellSaid | Yes | $120 per year | Yes | 68 |
| Speech Studio | Yes | not published | Yes | 61 |
| Gemini 3.8 Flash TTS | Yes | $0.25 pay as you go | Yes | 58 |
| iSpeech | Yes | $2.95 per month | Yes | 58 |
Verdict
Speechify is among the most accessible and transparent tools in its category.
Strengths
- Free tier to try it
- Public API
- Established since 2017
- Available on many platforms
Limitations
- More expensive than its category median
Avoid if…
- You handle sensitive personal data without a processing agreement
Alternatives
- ElevenLabsfree tier
- Murf AIfree tier
- LOVO AIfree tier
- WellSaidfree tier
- Speech Studiofree tier
- Gemini 3.8 Flash TTSfree tier
Categories and jobs
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
Is Speechify free?
Yes, a free plan exists, with usage limits. The first paid plan costs $29 per month.
Where is Speechify data stored?
According to the publisher, in the United States.
Does Speechify have an API?
Yes, a public API is documented.
What are the alternatives to Speechify?
In the same category: ElevenLabs, Murf AI, LOVO AI, and WellSaid.
Speechify or ElevenLabs: which one to choose?
Speechify starts at $29 per month, ElevenLabs at $1 per month and our score is 75/100 for Speechify and 90/100 for ElevenLabs. Try both on the same task before paying.
Related articles
- Creating videos with AI: what works todayOctober 10, 2026
- Generating images with AI: tools, pricing, and limitationsOctober 9, 2026
- How to use NotebookLM: a complete guideOctober 8, 2026
- Free ChatGPT alternatives: what they actually offerOctober 7, 2026
Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score