The Best 8 Text to Speech Converters for Mac – Hear Your Words Come to Life!

Text to speech technology has been around for quite some time and has significantly improved over the years. With its ability to convert any written text into spoken words, it has proven to be a valuable tool for people who prefer listening to reading. In this blog post, we will be focusing on the best text to speech converters for Mac. We will be discussing the features that each software has, what factors to consider when choosing one, and our thoughts on each of them.

Video Tutorial:

What Text to Speech Converters Can do?

Text to speech (TTS) converters enable Mac users to listen to any written text read out loud by their computer. The software provides accessibility benefits to people with visual impairments, dyslexia, or other reading difficulties. It also enables people to multitask while listening to diverse content like emails, articles, reports, etc. The software can also read out textbooks and lectures, which makes learning more engaging and interactive.

What Factors Should Be Considered While Choosing Text to Speech Converter?

Choosing the right text to speech software can be challenging, especially when there are many options available in the market. Here are some factors to consider while selecting the best text to speech converter:

1. Voice Quality: The software should offer different voices with different accents, pitch, and speed, providing the user with a selection of voice options to choose from.

2. Compatibility: Compatibility with different file types and different versions of Mac operating systems is essential. The software should be flexible enough to work with web browsers, different document types, and other apps.

3. Customization Features: Users need to customize their experience. Look for software that allows users to adjust voice speed, pitch, volume, and pronunciation.

4. User Interface: Look for an intuitive and user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and operate.

5. Price: While price should not be the primary factor, it is important to look for software that provides value for money.

Top 8 Best Text to Speech Converters for Mac Recommendation

1. NaturalReader

NaturalReader is one of the best text to speech software for Mac that is designed to help users read digital content more efficiently. It has multiple voices, and the user can adjust the reading speed, volume, and pitch. The software is compatible with different document extensions such as PDF, MS Word, TXT, EPUB, and webpages. It also integrates with multiple platforms such as Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and iCloud. Additionally, it offers a built-in OCR feature that converts image-based text into readable text.

Pros:
– High-quality voices available.
– It has OCR functionality.
– Integrates with different platforms.

Cons:
– The free version has limited features.
– The premium version is a bit expensive.

2. Capti Voice

Capti Voice is an ideal software for students, professionals, and people with reading difficulties. It offers customizable reading options and a range of high-quality voices. Its cloud-based system allows users to save their reading material and listen to it on different devices. In addition, it integrates with different platforms, including web browsers and cloud services like Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive.

Pros:
– It is ideal for students and professionals with reading difficulties.
– Customizable reading options.
– Cloud-based system for accessing reading material on different devices.

Cons:
– The free version has limited features.
– It is relatively expensive compared to other text-to-speech software.

3. Read Aloud

Read Aloud is a simple and straightforward text to speech software that reads text from web pages, documents, and eBooks aloud. It supports a wide range of file formats and allows users to customize the reading speed and voice. Read Aloud also comes with a dictionary feature that enables users to lookup for the meanings of specific words.

Pros:
– It is easy to use.
– It supports various file formats.
– It has a dictionary feature.

Cons:
– The free version has limited features.
– Limited languages support.

4. Balabolka

Balabolka is a free text to speech software that can read text from clipboard contents, file types such as DOC, EPUB, RTF, PDF, and HTML. The software can highlight spoken words, optimize pronunciation, and save files to different audio formats. Balabolka supports many text encoding, including UTF-8, UTF-16, and many older encodings such as ISO-8859.

Pros:
– It is free, easy to use, and supports many file types and text encodings.
– It has many customization options, and voice options.
– Full-featured text editor.

Cons:
– Quality of the voice could be better.
– The interface is less intuitive compared to other text-to-speech software.

5. Voice Dream Reader

Voice Dream Reader is a feature-rich text to speech software designed to help people with reading difficulties. It supports various file formats such as PDF, DOCX, DAISY, and ePub. The software allows users to customize their reading options (voice, speed, and pronunciation), highlight selected text, and save audio files in different formats. Voice Dream Reader integrates with multiple platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and iCloud.

Pros:
– High-quality voice available.
– Comprehensive features for people with reading difficulties.
– Integrates with multiple platforms.

Cons:
– The iOS app is expensive compared to other text-to-speech software.
– Steep learning curve.

6. The built-in macOS Text to Speech

Apple has a native text-to-speech feature that comes with every Mac computer. The built-in text to speech software has different voices that support multiple languages. Users can customize the reading speed, pitch, volume, and pronunciation. The feature is compatible with different file types, including web pages, PDFs, and text documents.

Pros:
– It’s free, and it comes with every Mac.
– Customizable reading options.
– Compatibility with different file types.

Cons:
– Limited voices available.
– Limited customization options.

7. Voicepaper

Voicepaper is a simple-to-use text to speech software that reads articles, stories, and web content aloud. The software supports various file formats, including PDFs, eBooks, and webpages. Voicepaper allows users to listen to their content even when they are offline. The software allows users to customize their reading options, save their audio files, and share them through email or social media platforms.

Pros:
– It is simple and easy to use.
– It supports various file formats.
– It can be used offline.

Cons:
– The voice is robotic and less engaging compared to other text-to-speech software.
– Limited features compared to other text-to-speech software.

8. TTSReader

TTSReader is a free text to speech software that reads text, PDFs, webpages, and eBooks aloud. The software allows users to customize their reading options, which includes different voices, speech rate, and volume. TTSReader also provides a bookmarking feature that allows users to save the position in the reading where they stopped.

Pros:
– It’s free, easy to use, and supports different file types.
– It supports multiple languages, including English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish.
– The bookmarking feature allows users to continue reading from where they stopped.

Cons:
– The interface is less intuitive compared to other text-to-speech software.
– The quality of the voice could be better.

Comprehensive Comparison of Each Software

We have created a table comparing the free trial, price, ease of use, and value for money of each text to speech software:

Our Thoughts on Best Text to Speech Converters for Mac

After reviewing all the text to speech software, we found that NaturalReader and Voice Dream Reader are the best choices for Mac users. NaturalReader offers high-quality voice and OCR functionality. Voice Dream Reader is feature-rich, with comprehensive features for people with reading difficulties. Both software are compatible with different file types and integrate with various platforms. They are worth the price, as they provide value for money and are easy to use.

FAQs About Text to Speech Converters for Mac

Q1: Is Text to Speech software useful for people with dyslexia?

A: Yes, text to speech software is useful for people with dyslexia. The software can read text aloud, which enables people with dyslexia to listen to the text more easily while following along with the text.

Q2: Are there any free text to speech software options?

A: Yes, there are several free text to speech software options available for Mac users, including Balabolka, TTSReader, and Read Aloud.

Q3: How does text-to-speech software improve productivity?

A: Text-to-Speech software makes it easier to multitask and listen to content while doing other tasks. It helps reduce strain on the eyes and saves time as it is faster to listen to content than read it aloud.

Q4: Are there any text-to-speech software useful for language learning?

A: Yes, software such as NaturalReader and Voice Dream Reader support different languages, making them ideal for language learning. Users can learn new words, their pronunciation and enhance their understanding of the language.

Q5: Can text-to-speech software help people with vision impairments?

A: Yes, most text-to-speech software is designed to help people with vision impairments. The software reads out the content, allowing people with vision impairments to listen to it more easily.

Final Words

Choosing the right text to speech converter depends on your requirements, preferences, and budget. The software that offers high voice quality, customization options, and compatibility with different file types and integrating with platforms provides the best value for money. In our blog post, we have provided some of the best text-to-speech software for Mac, with a detailed comparison of their features and their pros and cons. We hope that our review and insights have helped you make an informed decision when choosing the best text to speech software for your needs.