Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TextAloud VS Speech Central

Compare TextAloud VS Speech Central and see what are their differences

TextAloud logo TextAloud

NextUp.com develops Windows text to speech (TTS) software applications like TextAloud that let your...

Speech Central logo Speech Central

The ultimate text-to-speech app
  • TextAloud Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-03-27
  • Speech Central Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-06

With over 20,000 licenses sold and consistent ratings above 4 stars Speech Central is one of the leading global text-to-speech brands. It was nominated for the best iOS accessible app in 2020 and 2017 on AppleVis, the leading authority in the field of accessibility on Apple devices. The app has won many awards from Microsoft (including that it was in the official Best of 2014 collection).

The app implements state of the art features for voice readers: โ—ฆ The best in class support for the web sites / news reading. - listen to the all web pages - both articles and headlines (first ever) supported - RSS feeds - import from any app that can share a link - open articles from headline pages - sync articles with Pocket โ—ฆ The widest support for documents/office and e-book formats โ—ฆ Knowledge and text annotation tools built-in โ—ฆ Export the text with annotations to .docx format โ—ฆ The widest selection of keyboard shortcuts to control the speed and browse the text that is read aloud. โ—ฆ The app can be used with dozens of languages that have text-to-speech support on the device with automatic language detection from the content. โ—ฆ import the text from the scanned PDF using OCR โ—ฆ Export the text to the audio file โ—ฆ Your data stays truly private, we collect only analytics data with no identifiable reference to the user or imported content even when the syncing is enabled โ—ฆ The app is updated frequently, usually there are new features and improvements each month.

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.

Speech Central features and specs

  • Comprehensive Platform Support
    Speech Central is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, providing users with flexibility and accessibility across different devices.
  • Wide Range of Content Accessibility
    The app allows users to listen to web pages, documents, books, and emails, enabling easy access to various types of content in audio format.
  • Customizable Voice Options
    Speech Central offers multiple voice options and supports various languages, allowing users to customize their listening experience to their preferences.
  • Enhanced Productivity Features
    The app is designed to improve productivity with features like bookmarks, annotations, and the ability to control audio playback speed.
  • Support for Offline Use
    Users can download content for offline listening, making the app convenient for situations where internet access is limited or unavailable.

Possible disadvantages of Speech Central

  • Premium Features Require Purchase
    While the app is free to download, many advanced features require in-app purchases or a premium version, which may not be ideal for users looking for a completely free solution.
  • Occasional Performance Issues
    Some users have reported bugs or glitches, particularly with syncing across devices, which can affect the overall user experience.
  • Learning Curve for New Users
    The abundance of features and customization options may be overwhelming for new users, requiring time and effort to fully understand and utilize the app.
  • Dependence on Device's TTS Engine
    The quality of the text-to-speech experience can heavily rely on the built-in TTS engine of the device, which might vary in quality across different operating systems and devices.

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.

TextAloud videos

Getting Started with TextAloud 4 (2018)

More videos:

Speech Central videos

Speech Central Voice Reader App is Better & Cheaper than Speechify & Voice Dream Reader Pro

More videos:

  • Review - Speech Central AI Voice Reader Version 14 for iOS - Read Books and Articles Aloud!
  • Review - Speech Central AI Voiceover Platform Review - Usage Experience

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to TextAloud and Speech Central)
AI
94 94%
6% 6
Text To Speech
91 91%
9% 9
TTS
91 91%
9% 9
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, TextAloud seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time since March 2021. 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.

TextAloud mentions (1)

  • FOSS TTS software for windows?
    Hi, Iโ€™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: about 3 years ago

Speech Central mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Speech Central yet. Tracking of Speech Central recommendations started around Mar 2023.

What are some alternatives?

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

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

TTS โ€“ Text to Speech - TTS โ€“ Text to Speech app allows users to create and manage to-do lists by using advanced text to speech features.

Simple TTS Reader - Simple TTS Reader is a small clipboard reader. Simply copy any text, and it will be read aloud.

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

MultiReader - MultiReader converts document into voice (TTS : Text to Speech).

Coqui TTS - Transform text into natural-sounding speech with Coqui TTS. Features voice cloning, real-time generation, and support for 17 languages. Create custom voices for educational, gaming, and business use.