The best text to speech reader for most people is already built into their iPhone or Android phone, offering a free, hands-free way to hear messages, emails, and notifications while driving or multitasking. These built-in tools require no downloads, no subscriptions, and no extra setup beyond a few taps in your settings.
What is the best text to speech reader for you?
If you want to listen to your phone’s screen or incoming messages without touching the device, the most reliable solution is the accessibility feature already on your phone. Apple’s iPhone and Google’s Android Auto both include powerful text-to-speech capabilities that let you hear what’s on the screen or have your messages read aloud. For the vast majority of users, these free, built-in tools are the best choice because they are private, always available, and require no third-party app.
How to use the built-in text-to-speech reader on iPhone
Apple includes a feature called Spoken Content that can read any text on your iPhone screen. To enable it:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Accessibility.
- Tap Read & Speak.
- Turn on Speak Screen to have iPhone read all text on the screen.
- Turn on Speak Selection to have iPhone speak text you select.
Once enabled, you can hear selected text by highlighting it and tapping Speak. To hear all text on the screen, simply swipe down with two fingers from the top of the screen. These features are available in over 80 distinct voices and more than 60 languages and locales, making them incredibly versatile for hands-free use.
How to use the built-in text-to-speech reader on Android
Android users can rely on Google Assistant within Android Auto to read messages aloud. This is perfect for hands-free use while driving. To listen to your messages:
- Say “Hey Google” or select the microphone icon to ask Gemini or Google Assistant to read your messages.
- You can also tap the notification on the screen to listen to the message immediately.
- Google also allows you to ask Gemini to summarize your messages, giving you a quick overview without reading each one individually.
This method requires no additional apps and works seamlessly with your car’s display or your phone’s driving mode.
Key advantages of using a text-to-speech reader
Using a text-to-speech reader offers three major benefits. First, it makes replies quick: you can hear the contents of your messages and respond without touching your phone, often using voice recognition to dictate your reply. Second, it assists the visually impaired by reading messages aloud for anyone with reading difficulties, poor eyesight, or medical conditions. Third, it helps in eye care by reducing the time you spend staring at a screen, which can prevent eye strain and fatigue.
When to consider a third-party text-to-speech app
While built-in tools cover most needs, specialized third-party apps exist for niche use cases. For example, Speaking Email is a dedicated app that reads incoming emails on Android or iOS, filtering out headers, signatures, and disclaimers, and allowing gesture or voice commands to send preset replies. ReadItToMe can understand common text messaging jargon or acronyms (e.g., BTW, LOL) and your word translations, and can tone down the volume of playing music so you can hear your text messages being read. Drivemode offers automatic activation when you start your car, a Do Not Disturb mode, and access to your driving history. Out Loud lets you input your interpretation of slang terms, can be set to activate or deactivate automatically on certain conditions, like when the display is active, the device is on silent mode, or when earphones or Bluetooth accessories are connected, and its free version is limited to working on one app at a time. Car Dashdroid recognizes up to 40 custom shortcuts and works in full-screen mode, keeping the display on while you are driving. DialMyCalls is for message broadcasting and has a free limit of 25 recipients weekly; you must purchase call credits to go beyond that. Ping can be set to read who the message is from but not the body text, for privacy with passengers, and has a 14-day trial period, after which you must choose a $2, $4, or $7 monthly plan. Rogervoice supports more than 100 languages and works in any region, transcribing and converting text to speech in real time during calls hosted via the app. However, for the majority of users who simply want to hear text messages, notifications, or emails while driving or multitasking, the free built-in tools on iPhone and Android are the most reliable, private, and hassle-free choice. If you encounter issues with your phone’s voice assistant, you may need to look into voice assistant and microphone fixes to ensure smooth operation.
15 Best Free Text-to-Speech Readers
1. ReadItToMe
ReadItToMe is among the best text-to-speech readers because it lets your Android device read caller names, SMS, and text from messaging apps aloud and send your voice response afterward. It can understand common text messaging jargon or acronyms and your word translations, and it can tone down the volume so you can hear your text messages being read even if your mobile phone or tablet PC is playing music.
2. Drivemode
Drivemode is suitable for handling text messages while driving a vehicle. It relies on voice recognition to work, and when it reads aloud your text message, you can reply by telling the app the message to send or respond using your preset replies.
3. Out Loud
Out Loud is another contender for the best text-to-speech app that offers customization. You can set the reader to work in different ways, and the app reads out loud text sent to you from another number or a messaging app, including the notifications.
4. Android Auto
Android Auto uses Google Assistant to work as a smart driving companion app. With a voice command that starts with “OK Google,” the app will recite the contents of your SMS or online messages. It can also let you answer calls hands-free, give you news updates and the most accurate directions, and activate your music streaming apps.
5. Car Dashdroid
Support for multiple voice and quick commands is what makes Car Dashdroid one of the best text-to-speech readers for drivers. The app reads SMS, and WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook messages aloud if you tell Google Assistant to do so or if you use the swipe shortcut for the command.
6. DialMyCalls
DialMyCalls is the best text-to-speech app when it comes to message broadcasting, or sending and receiving SMS intended for more than one receiver. If you are a sender using DialMyCalls, you can transmit a recorded call or SMS to broadcast to up to 25 recipients weekly. If you are on the receiving side, you will be able to hear the message being read out loud by the app.
7. Message Reader
Message Reader has a minimalistic look, having one central activation button. Moreover, it has simple checkboxes to tick for choosing the text or online message sources the app will cover, and slider controls for the volume and speech speed. Message Reader’s neat appearance is great for anyone who just wants the basics of a text-to-speech reader.
8. Ping
Ping packs a lot of advanced features. The text-to-speech app can dictate to you any SMS or online messages from other apps and analyze the way you drive.
9. Rogervoice
Rogervoice is more of a transcriber app for the visually impaired but still makes it to this list of best text-to-speech readers. It can read out loud text inputted by the caller for you during a call hosted via the app. Rogervoice supports more than 100 languages and works in any region and transcribes and converts text to speech in real time.
10. Voice Announcer
Voice Announcer’s text-to-speech capability does not end with just reading SMS. It can let you know through voice who is contacting you and what all your notifications are about, including alerts for charging and low battery. The reader also doubles as a productivity app because it can yell any reminder you set in advance.
11. Speaking Email
Speaking Email is the best text-to-speech reader app dedicated to incoming emails on your Android or iOS device. It can filter out unnecessary parts of an email; for example, headers, signatures, and disclaimers. Additionally, the reader lets you make gesture and voice commands that will prompt it to send preset or dictated messages on your behalf.
12. Read My Text Messages
The Read My Text Messages app has one of the best text-to-speech functions most readers do not have. That is the ability to read messages out loud twice. The feature is simple yet great for people who have hearing problems. As long as you have a text-to-speech feature or assistant on your mobile device, it can work automatically to cover every incoming message.
13. Voice Notification
Voice Notification is the best text-to-speech reader if you do not want online and social contacts to see that you have read their messages for you. That is because the app specializes in extracting and reading message content out loud straight from the notification preview. The reader’s other notable features include sender and caller name dictation, voice reading of any text you copy, and the plethora of languages it supports.
14. Notification Reader: Shouter
This app is slightly similar to Voice Notification because it specializes in reading out loud mobile alerts and message content. What’s different with Notification Reader: Shouter is that it can also announce important data for when you are on the road. For instance, it tells you your mobile device’s battery power level and proximity to a set location.
15. Caller Name Announcer
This hands-free calling app doubles as one of the best text-to-speech readers. In fact, Caller Name Announcer can read out loud who your text message is from and its contents. The reader works not only for calls and SMS. It is compatible with WhatsApp, so you can expect the same useful features to apply to the messaging app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use text-to-speech on my iPhone without internet?
Yes. The Speak Screen and Speak Selection features on iPhone work entirely offline. The voices are stored on your device, so no internet connection is needed to read text aloud.
Does Android Auto read messages from all messaging apps?
Android Auto can read messages from any app that supports Android’s notification system, including SMS, WhatsApp, and Telegram. You simply need to grant permission for the app to access notifications.
Is it safe to use text-to-speech while driving?
Yes, when used properly. Built-in tools like Android Auto and iPhone’s Spoken Content are designed for hands-free operation, allowing you to keep your eyes on the road and hands on the wheel. Always set up the feature before you start driving.
Can I change the voice or speed of the built-in text-to-speech reader?
On iPhone, you can adjust the speaking rate and choose from over 80 voices in the Accessibility settings under Read & Speak. On Android, voice settings are managed through the Google Assistant or Text-to-Speech output settings in your device’s system settings.
Will text-to-speech read my private messages aloud when others are in the car?
Yes, if the feature is enabled. To maintain privacy, you can pause the reading, use headphones, or set your phone to only read the sender’s name rather than the full message content. Some third-party apps offer more granular control over this.
Related reading: 16 Best Auto Clicker Apps for iPhone and Android and How To Take RTT Off Your Phone.
