Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

NVDA VS TextAloud

Compare NVDA VS TextAloud and see what are their differences

NVDA logo NVDA

A fast, functional free screen reader

TextAloud logo TextAloud

NextUp.com develops Windows text to speech (TTS) software applications like TextAloud that let your...
  • NVDA Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-15
  • TextAloud Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-27

NVDA features and specs

  • Free and Open Source
    NVDA is completely free to use and open source, allowing users to access screen reading technology without cost barriers and enabling developers to contribute to its improvement.
  • Wide Platform Compatibility
    NVDA works on numerous Windows versions, making it accessible to a broad range of users and ensuring compatibility with various systems and applications.
  • Regular Updates
    The NVDA community and developers provide frequent updates that improve stability, add features, and ensure compatibility with the latest software and technologies.
  • User-Friendly
    Designed to be intuitive and easy to use, NVDA offers an accessible interface and various support resources, making it suitable for individuals new to screen readers.
  • Multi-Language Support
    NVDA supports multiple languages, broadening its usability globally and catering to a diverse user base.

Possible disadvantages of NVDA

  • Limited to Windows
    NVDA is specifically designed for Windows, limiting its use for those on other operating systems like macOS or Linux.
  • Microsoft Environment Dependence
    Its optimal use is often within the Microsoft ecosystem, which may not be as advantageous for users who frequently interact with non-Microsoft applications or systems.
  • TTS Engine Quality
    The default Text-to-Speech (TTS) engine may not offer the highest quality voice synthesis available, which might affect the user experience for some individuals.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite being user-friendly, there is still a learning curve associated with fully utilizing screen reader features, particularly for users with no prior experience.
  • Performance with Complex Documents
    NVDA may struggle with complex documents or websites where dynamic content and intricate navigation are involved, potentially impacting accessibility.

TextAloud features and specs

  • Wide Range of Voices
    TextAloud supports a variety of high-quality voices from multiple providers, allowing users to choose from different accents, genders, and languages to best suit their needs.
  • Customization Options
    The software provides numerous customization options such as adjustable reading speed, pitch, and volume, which enables users to tailor the reading experience to their preferences.
  • File Format Support
    TextAloud can handle various file formats, including text, PDF, and HTML, making it versatile for different types of documents and sources.
  • Batch Processing
    Users can convert multiple files to audio simultaneously, which is a time-saving feature for those with large volumes of text to process.
  • Integration with Other Applications
    TextAloud integrates seamlessly with browsers and email applications, allowing users to listen to web pages and emails directly without extra steps.

Possible disadvantages of TextAloud

  • Price
    TextAloud comes with a one-time purchase price that may be higher than free alternatives, which could be a barrier for some users.
  • User Interface
    The user interface may seem outdated or less intuitive compared to more modern applications, potentially impacting the ease of use for new users.
  • Voice Naturalness
    While TextAloud offers high-quality voices, some users might still find the synthetic nature of text-to-speech voices less natural compared to human speech.
  • Performance on Long Texts
    For very long texts, the software might slow down or require significant system resources, which can be a drawback for users with less powerful hardware.
  • Limited Mobile Support
    TextAloud is primarily designed for desktop use, and there is limited support for mobile devices, which can be inconvenient for users who need on-the-go accessibility.

Analysis of TextAloud

Overall verdict

  • Overall, TextAloud is considered a reliable and effective text-to-speech software. Its features and user-friendly interface make it a strong choice for anyone looking to convert text into audio. However, some users may find the voice quality better in premium voices, which can incur additional costs.

Why this product is good

  • TextAloud, developed by NextUp, is often praised for its versatility and robustness. It allows users to convert text into spoken words using various voices and languages. The software is beneficial for those who need to listen to documents on the go, have visual impairments, or prefer auditory learning over reading. It also supports multiple file formats and has customizable pronunciation features, making it flexible for different user needs.

Recommended for

    TextAloud is recommended for students, professionals, people with visual impairments, and individuals who prefer to consume written content in an audio format. It's also useful for those who wish to multitask while listening to documents or for language learners who benefit from auditory repetition.

NVDA videos

Screen Reader Basics: NVDA -- A11ycasts #09

More videos:

  • Review - Is NVIDIA Stock a Buy in 2020? | NVDA Stock Analysis
  • Review - Accessibility Testing with the NVDA Screenreader

TextAloud videos

Getting Started with TextAloud 4 (2018)

More videos:

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to NVDA and TextAloud)
Text To Speech
22 22%
78% 78
AI
17 17%
83% 83
Grammar Checker
100 100%
0% 0
AI Voice
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, NVDA seems to be a lot more popular than TextAloud. While we know about 11 links to NVDA, we've tracked only 1 mention of TextAloud. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

NVDA mentions (11)

  • a really weird dream I had, any thoughts?
    I feel I should mention that I'm blind, so my dreams can get pretty weird from what I've heard. I don't see in them, sadly, if you wanted to know, and I'm using what simplifies to the classic computer voice to type this. Specifically, [nvda](https://nvaccess.org). Source: over 1 year ago
  • made an actually good sounding song yesterday
    Last thing; since it gets asked a lot, I type and go on my computer with [nvda](https://nvaccess.org). Just thought I would add it here because I don't feel like answering this one again hahaha. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Any way to contact the developers without signing up to their forum?
    I found a bug though with screen reader support and the numbering of items in playlists with foobar2000 on Windows. I'm blind, and using NVDA on my PC to access foobar2000. You can read more about NVDA here. https://nvaccess.org. Source: about 2 years ago
  • Totally blind software engineer, searching for a motherboard for a CPU heavy workstation
    Window Eyes... Now that's a blast from the past! I use (and contribute code to) NVDA. The Pi KVM looks interesting! Source: about 2 years ago
  • Totally blind Microsoft employee in downtown Bellevue, contemplating moving at the end of my lease
    Yes, I use a screen reader and also make code contributions to it! Source: about 2 years ago
View more

TextAloud mentions (1)

  • FOSS TTS software for windows?
    Hi, I’m very enthusiastic about open-source software, and recently I downloaded TextAloud but, realized that I can only get a free-trial before needing to purchase it. Source: over 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing NVDA and TextAloud, you can also consider the following products

Microsoft Narrator - Screen reader included in Microsoft Windows.

NaturalReader - Main Feature: Full Common Functions: Read Text Files o Text files o MS Word files

JAWS - Javascript + AWS Stack – A server-free, webapp boilerplate using bleeding-edge AWS services

eSpeak - eSpeak is a compact open source software speech synthesizer for English and other languages, for...

Orca Screen Reader - Orca is a free, open source, flexible, and extensible screen reader that provides access to the...

Balabolka - Balabolka is a Text-To-Speech (TTS) program.