Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Read Time VS Speechius

Compare Read Time VS Speechius and see what are their differences

Read Time logo Read Time

Webpage read time estimator chrome extension

Speechius logo Speechius

The teleprompter that listens - your script follows the words you say
  • Read Time Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-17
  • Speechius Your script scrolls when you speak
    Your script scrolls when you speak //
    2026-07-30
  • Speechius Always see where you are in the script
    Always see where you are in the script //
    2026-07-30
  • Speechius Fits any window and stays on top
    Fits any window and stays on top //
    2026-07-30
  • Speechius Skip words and trigger slides
    Skip words and trigger slides //
    2026-07-30
  • Speechius On-device, one-time purchase, macOS and Windows
    On-device, one-time purchase, macOS and Windows //
    2026-07-30

Speechius is a desktop teleprompter that scrolls when you speak. Speech recognition runs entirely on device and matches what you actually said against your script, so the text moves at your pace instead of a fixed speed. Pause and it waits. Go off-script and it catches up on its own.

It is not a dictation tool: nothing is transcribed into a document. Your script stays your script, and the app only decides how far you have got.

What it does

  • Follows your voice word by word along a focus line you place yourself
  • Floats above any application, so it works with Zoom, Meet, Teams and OBS rather than inside one recorder
  • Can be excluded from screen sharing and screen recording, so your audience sees only your slides
  • Resize the window freely; the focus line stays where you put it
  • Adjustable transparency, so you keep an eye on what is behind the script
  • Mark words to skip, for names the recognizer never gets right
  • Mark trigger words that advance your slides automatically
  • Pin the window so it always stays on top

Who it is for

People who record screencasts and tutorials, run webinars and online classes, or rehearse conference talks, and who want to sound spoken rather than read.

Practical details

macOS 13 or newer and Windows 10/11. Recognition in English and German. One-time purchase, no subscription, with a 14-day trial that starts with your first recognition session.

Speechius

$ Details
paid Free Trial โ‚ฌ30.0 / One-off (Pro)
Platforms
MacOS Windows
Release Date
2026 July
Startup details
Country
Germany
City
Tubingen
Founder(s)
Jay Imdahl
Employees
1 - 9

Read Time features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Read Time is easy to install and offers a simple interface that integrates seamlessly with Google Chrome, providing users with immediate feedback on the estimated reading time of articles.
  • Time Management
    By providing estimated reading times, it helps users manage their time better, allowing them to balance their reading with other tasks and commitments.
  • Enhanced Reading Efficiency
    Users can quickly assess if they have time to read an article at a given moment, improving decision-making and helping prioritize content.

Possible disadvantages of Read Time

  • Limited Use Cases
    The extension focuses solely on providing reading time estimates, which may not justify installation and use for individuals who do not prioritize this metric.
  • Dependency on Chrome
    As a Chrome-specific extension, it doesn't work on other browsers, limiting its accessibility for users who prefer alternatives to Chrome.
  • Potential for Inaccuracy
    The algorithm used to estimate reading time may not accurately reflect individual reading speeds, leading to discrepancies in expected versus actual reading times.

Speechius features and specs

  • Voice-following scroll
    The script moves only when you actually say the next words. Pause and it waits.
  • On-device speech recognition
    Apple Speech on macOS, a bundled Vosk model on Windows. Nothing leaves your machine.
  • Recognition languages
    English and German
  • Hidden on screen share
    The window can be excluded from screen sharing and screen recording.
  • Anchor line
    Drag the focus line to where you read; the text balances around it.
  • Window transparency
    Adjustable, so you keep an eye on what is behind the script.
  • Always on top
    Pin the window above any application, including Zoom, Meet, Teams and OBS.
  • Skip words
    Mark names the recognizer never gets right so they are ignored.
  • Slide triggers
    Mark words in your script that advance your slides automatically.
  • Licence
    One-time purchase, no subscription, 14-day trial.

Read Time videos

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Speechius videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Read Time and Speechius)
Productivity
69 69%
31% 31
Writing Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Screen Recording
0 0%
100% 100
Group Chat & Notifications

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Read Time and Speechius.

What makes your product unique?

Speechius's answer:

It recognises the words you actually say and finds them in your script, rather than scrolling on a timer or reacting to how loudly and quickly you speak. That means it still follows you when you rephrase a sentence, skip a line or jump back.

Recognition runs entirely on your own device, and the window can be excluded from screen sharing and screen recording.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Speechius's answer:

Several teleprompters advertise voice-controlled scrolling, but most of them track your speaking pace and volume: they speed up when you speak faster and stop when you go quiet. They do not know which words you said, so going off-script or jumping back confuses them.

Speechius matches the recognised words against your script, which is the part that keeps working when you stop reading and start talking. It is also a one-time purchase rather than a subscription, and nothing is sent to a server.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Speechius's answer:

People who speak to a camera or an audience while their script has to stay out of sight:

  • Creators recording screencasts and tutorials
  • Trainers and teachers running online classes and webinars
  • Speakers rehearsing conference talks

Typically solo, on their own machine, without a studio setup.

What's the story behind your product?

Speechius's answer:

I record programming tutorials for my own YouTube channel, and neither option worked for me: reading from a script sounds read, and improvising means losing the thread until a ten-minute recording takes forty. Existing teleprompters scroll at a fixed pace, so I ended up chasing the text instead of explaining.

I built the thing I wanted, and it turned into my first own product, released in July 2026.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Speechius's answer:

  • Flutter for the user interface on macOS and Windows
  • Apple Speech for on-device recognition and window exclusion on macOS
  • Vosk, bundled as a local model, for recognition on Windows
  • Ed25519 signatures for licence keys, sold through Paddle
  • Sparkle for updates on macOS, Sentry for crash reporting

User comments

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Read Time and Speechius, you can also consider the following products

The Read Time - Calculate read time, speech time, and word count of any piece of text all at once!

FlowPrompter - A Fluid and Smooth Teleprompter APP

Spritz - Speed reading application

GhostPrompter - Read your script while recording or presenting. GhostPrompter is a laptop teleprompter app for Windows and Mac with click-through overlay. One-time $49.

How Long to Read - Find out how long will it take you to read that book

TalkEze - Invisible speaker notes, visible confidence.