Can NaturalReader Replace Audiobooks? I Tested It

Is NaturalReader Worth It?

★★★★★ 3.9/5

Quick Verdict: NaturalReader is a solid text to speech tool for personal use and reading. It supports over 20 file types and has 1000+ AI voices in 100+ languages. The free version is generous. But voice quality trails behind ElevenLabs and Murf AI. Best for students, readers with learning disabilities, and anyone who wants to listen instead of read.

✅ Best For:

Students, dyslexia readers, and anyone who wants natural sounding audio from PDFs, documents, and websites

❌ Skip If:

You need studio-quality commercial voiceovers or the most realistic AI voices on the market

📊 AI Voices	1000+ voices, 100+ languages	🎯 Best For	Personal listening & accessibility
💰 Price	Free — $79/month	✅ Top Feature	Text filtering & OCR scanning
🎁 Free Trial	Free plan with 20 min/day premium voices	⚠️ Limitation	Personal audio files not for commercial use

How I Tested NaturalReader

Tired of reading long PDF files on your screen?

Your eyes hurt. Your focus fades. You wish someone would just read it to you.

Enter NaturalReader.

This AI text to speech tool turns any text into audio. It reads your documents, web pages, and even physical text out loud.

I tested it for 60 days straight. Here’s what I found.

NaturalReader

Turn any text, PDF, image, or webpage into natural sounding audio. Over 1000 AI voices in 100+ languages. Free plan available with 20 minutes of premium voices per day. Used by 10 million+ users and 2000+ schools worldwide.

TRY NATURALREADER NOW →

NATURALREADER TUTORIAL →

NATURALREADER ALTERNATIVES →

What is NaturalReader?

NaturalReader is a text to speech software that converts written text into spoken audio.

Think of it like having a personal reader. It reads everything on your screen out loud.

It works with PDFs, Word documents, web pages, images, and even physical text using its OCR camera scanner.

NaturalReader supports over 20 file types including PDF, TXT, DOCX, and EPUB.

You can use it on your computer, phone, or browser. It’s available as a mobile app, Chrome extension, and online reader.

Unlike hiring a voice actor, NaturalReader uses AI text to speech technology. It creates natural sounding audio from any text you give it.

The tool focuses on accessibility. It helps people with learning disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD access written content through listening.

Who Created NaturalReader?

Jeff Yang started NaturalReader over 20 years ago.

The story: He had trouble reading technical textbooks in university. So he built his own text to speech software to help.

Then he shared it with others who had the same problem.

Today, NaturalReader has over 10 million users every year. The company (NaturalSoft Ltd) is based in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada.

It has been used by over 2000 educational institutions worldwide.

The tool now offers personal use versions, a commercial license, and NaturalReader EDU for schools.

Top Benefits of NaturalReader

Here’s what you actually get when you use NaturalReader:

• Listen Instead of Read: NaturalReader allows users to hear all the text they would otherwise have to read on the screen. This helps you create a mental image of what you are hearing. You can increase reading speed up to 900 words per minute.
• Works with Almost Any File: It supports over 20 file types. Upload a PDF, Word doc, EPUB, or even snap a photo of physical text. The tool handles it all.
• Better Focus on Content: By presenting text both audibly and visually, NaturalReader helps readers focus less on the act of reading and more on the content they are reading.
• Access Anywhere: Use it on your phone, computer, or browser. The Chrome extension reads web pages and Google Docs directly. You can continue listening across devices with a single account.
• Helps People with Disabilities: NaturalReader’s text to speech technology enhances accessibility for students with reading-related learning disabilities. Features like dyslexia-friendly fonts and text highlighting make reading tasks easier.
• Download Audio for Later: Convert any text into MP3 audio files for offline listening. Great for commutes or workouts.
• Saves Time and Money: NaturalReader is often more affordable than competitors like Speechify and ElevenLabs. The free version gives you plenty to start with.

Best NaturalReader Features

Here are the standout features that make NaturalReader worth your attention.

1. Multiple Voice Styles

NaturalReader provides over 1000 AI-powered voices in more than 100 languages and dialects.

You can pick voices by age, accent, and tone. Want a formal voice for work documents? Done.

Need a friendly voice for casual reading? Easy.

It provides a customizable listening experience. You select your preferred voice and reading speed.

The voices come in categories for eLearning, YouTube videos, podcasts, and personal use.

2. Emotive AI Voices

NaturalReader employs advanced AI technology to create realistic and natural-sounding voices.

These aren’t the robotic voices from 10 years ago. The newest and highest technology of AI voices can show emotion.

The Plus Subscription plan gives you access to plus voices. These are the most lifelike options available.

They adjust tone based on what they’re reading. A question sounds like a question. Excitement sounds exciting.

3. Voice Cloning

Want your own voice reading your content? NaturalReader’s voice cloning feature makes it possible.

It uses Large Language Model technology to create an AI copy of your voice.

Cloned voices can speak in 28 languages. That means your voice can read content in Spanish, French, or Japanese.

This is a big deal for content creators who want a consistent brand voice across languages.

4. AI Script Assistant

Don’t have a script yet? The AI Script Assistant helps you write one.

It can create text for emails, articles, scripts, and more. Then you can turn that AI text into speech right away.

This saves time for users who need both writing and voice help.

It works well for quick YouTube videos or podcast scripts where you need words fast.

5. Advanced Tunes

Advanced Tunes lets you control exactly how the voice sounds.

You can adjust speed, pitch, and pronunciation. This is great for languages with tricky words.

If a name or term sounds wrong, you fix it right there.

The pronunciation editor saves your changes. So it gets the words right every time after that.

6. OCR Camera Scanner

This feature converts physical text into speech. Just point your phone camera at a book or document.

NaturalReader scans the physical text and reads it out loud.

It works with printed books, handwritten notes, and signs. Great for people with vision issues.

Students can scan textbook pages and listen during their commute.

7. Pronunciation Editor

Names and technical terms often trip up text to speech tools.

The Pronunciation Editor fixes that. You teach the tool how to say specific words.

Once saved, it remembers your changes forever. No more hearing your company name butchered every time.

8. Text Filtering

Ever have a voice reader stumble through URLs and footnotes? It’s annoying.

NaturalReader includes an AI text filtering feature that removes unwanted text like URLs and citations.

It can filter out distracting text so you only hear what matters.

This makes listening to research papers and web pages much smoother.

9. Cross-Platform Use

NaturalReader works everywhere. Use it on your phone, tablet, or computer.

It’s available as a mobile app for both iOS and Android devices.

The Chrome extension lets you listen to any web page or Google Docs file directly.

You can continue listening across devices with a single account. Start on your laptop. Finish on your phone.

NaturalReader Pricing

NaturalReader has two pricing tracks. One is for personal use. The other is for commercial use.

Audio files generated using the personal plans are for personal use only. For any non-personal use, you need NaturalReader Commercial.

Here are the commercial plans from the CSV data:

Personal plans are cheaper: The Plus plan costs about $20.90/month. The Pro plan costs about $25.90/month. These are for personal listening only.

Free plan details: The free version allows unlimited use of free voices, 20 minutes per day of premium voices, and 5 minutes per day of plus voices.

Money-back guarantee: Monthly subscribers may request a refund for up to 14 days. Yearly subscribers get up to 30 days after the subscription start or renewal date.

📌 Note: All subscriptions are set to auto-renew. You can turn this off at any time. Cancelling a subscription does not automatically start a refund. You must request one separately.

Is NaturalReader Worth the Price?

For personal listening, NaturalReader gives great value. The free version is generous enough for casual users.

The personal plans ($20.90/month) are cheaper than Speechify ($139/year) for similar features.

But the commercial plans ($49/month) feel steep compared to Murf AI ($19/month for creators).

You’ll save money if: You mainly need personal reading help and can use the free or Plus plan.

You might overpay if: You need commercial voiceovers and don’t compare against Murf AI or ElevenLabs first.

NaturalReader Pros and Cons

✅ What I Liked

❌ What Could Be Better

Is NaturalReader Right for You?

✅ NaturalReader is PERFECT for you if:

• You want to listen to PDFs, documents, and web pages instead of reading them
• You or your students have learning disabilities like dyslexia or ADHD
• You need text to speech in multiple languages for personal listening
• You want a free version that’s actually useful without paying

❌ Skip NaturalReader if:

• You need the most realistic AI voices for professional voiceovers
• You want an all-in-one video editing and voice tool (try Descript instead)
• You need a developer API for building voice into your own apps

My recommendation:

If you mainly want to listen to text for personal use, NaturalReader is a great pick. The free version alone beats most paid tools.

But if you need commercial voiceovers, compare it to Murf AI and ElevenLabs first. They offer better voice quality for that use case.

NaturalReader vs Alternatives

How does NaturalReader stack up? Here’s the competitive landscape:

Quick picks:

• Best overall voice quality: ElevenLabs — most realistic AI voices on the market
• Best budget option: NaturalReader — generous free version beats everyone
• Best for beginners: Speechify — simple mobile app, easy to start
• Best for commercial voiceovers: Murf AI — studio-quality at fair pricing

🎯 NaturalReader Alternatives

Looking for NaturalReader alternatives? Here are the top options:

• 🎨 Murf AI: Best for professional voiceovers with 120+ voices in 20+ languages and a built-in video editor.
• ⚡ Speechify: Fastest mobile reading app with celebrity voices and speed up to 900 words per minute.
• 🔧 Descript: All-in-one video and audio editor with overdub voice cloning and transcript-based editing.
• 🌟 ElevenLabs: Industry leader in realistic voice quality with 29+ languages and emotional speech delivery.
• 🚀 Play.ht: Great for podcasts and audiobooks with a large voice library and easy API access for developers.
• 🧠 Lovo: Smart AI voice tool for marketing teams with auto-generated scripts and voice customization.
• 💰 Listnr: Budget-friendly text to speech with podcast hosting built right in.
• 🎨 Podcastle: Perfect for podcast creators with recording, editing, and AI voice features in one place.
• ⚡ Dupdub: Quick voiceover creation with multilingual support and simple interface for beginners.
• 🏢 WellSaid Labs: Enterprise-grade voice platform with ethically sourced professional voice actors.
• 💰 Revoicer: Affordable one-time purchase option with natural voices for small projects.
• 🏢 ReadSpeaker: Trusted by large organizations for web accessibility and messaging systems integration.
• 🔧 Altered: Voice changing and cloning tool for game developers and content creators.
• 💰 Speechelo: One-time payment voice tool with basic but decent voices for simple projects.
• 🧠 TTSOpenAI: Uses OpenAI technology for clean, clear speech output at low cost.
• 🧠 Hume: Cutting-edge emotional AI voices that detect and respond to feelings in the text.

⚔️ NaturalReader Compared

Here’s how NaturalReader stacks up against each competitor:

• NaturalReader vs Murf AI: NaturalReader wins on file format support and free plan. Murf AI wins on commercial voice quality and video tools.
• NaturalReader vs Speechify: Both are great for personal reading. Speechify has a better mobile app. NaturalReader supports more file types.
• NaturalReader vs Descript: Descript is better for video editing with voice. NaturalReader is better for pure text to speech listening.
• NaturalReader vs ElevenLabs: ElevenLabs has the most realistic voices by far. NaturalReader is more affordable and better for accessibility.
• NaturalReader vs Play.ht: Play.ht is better for developers needing API access. NaturalReader is easier for non-technical users.
• NaturalReader vs Lovo: Lovo has better marketing voice tools. NaturalReader has a stronger free plan and wider file support.
• NaturalReader vs Listnr: Listnr includes podcast hosting. NaturalReader has more voices and better OCR scanning.
• NaturalReader vs Podcastle: Podcastle is built for podcast creation. NaturalReader is built for personal reading and accessibility.
• NaturalReader vs Dupdub: Similar features but NaturalReader has more languages and a stronger track record over 20 years.
• NaturalReader vs WellSaid Labs: WellSaid is for large enterprise teams. NaturalReader is better for individuals and small groups.
• NaturalReader vs Revoicer: Revoicer has a one-time payment option. NaturalReader has better ongoing features and voice quality.
• NaturalReader vs ReadSpeaker: ReadSpeaker targets enterprise web accessibility. NaturalReader is better for personal and EDU use.
• NaturalReader vs Altered: Altered focuses on voice changing for games. NaturalReader focuses on reading and listening.
• NaturalReader vs Speechelo: Speechelo is cheaper with a one-time fee. NaturalReader has far more voices, languages, and features.
• NaturalReader vs TTSOpenAI: TTSOpenAI uses cutting-edge models. NaturalReader offers a more complete platform with mobile apps and OCR.
• NaturalReader vs Hume: Hume leads in emotional AI speech. NaturalReader leads in accessibility features and file support.

My Experience with NaturalReader

Here’s what actually happened when I used NaturalReader for 60 days:

The project: I used NaturalReader to listen to research articles, long PDF reports, and web pages during my daily routine. I also tested the commercial version for creating audio files for YouTube videos.

Timeline: 60 days of daily use across mobile, desktop, and Chrome extension.

Results:

What surprised me: The text filtering feature was a game changer. Reading research papers without hearing every URL and footnote made the experience much better. I didn’t expect that small feature to matter so much.

What frustrated me: Not gonna lie, the daily character limits on premium voices were annoying. I hit the cap twice during long listening sessions. Also, the commercial version being a separate app confused me at first.

Would I use it again? Yes, for personal listening. The free version alone is worth it. But for commercial voiceovers, I’d pick Murf AI or ElevenLabs for better voice realism.

Final Thoughts

Get NaturalReader if: You want to turn documents, web pages, and images into speech for personal listening. Especially if you have learning disabilities or just want to multitask.

Skip NaturalReader if: You need the most realistic commercial voiceovers. Other systems like ElevenLabs and Murf AI sound more human.

My verdict: After 60 days, I think NaturalReader is a solid text to speech tool. It’s not the flashiest. It’s not the most realistic. But it does what it promises well.

The free version is one of the best in the market. The file format support is hard to beat.

For a natural reader that handles PDFs, documents, web pages, and images with 1000+ voices, it’s tough to find better value.

Rating: 3.9/5

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the free alternative to NaturalReader?

TTSReader is a completely free web-based text to speech tool. It needs no account or download. But it lacks the voice quality and file support of NaturalReader’s free version. NaturalReader’s own free plan gives you unlimited free voices plus 20 minutes of premium voices per day.

Is there a free version of NaturalReader?

Yes. NaturalReader offers an extensive free version. You get unlimited use of free voices, 20 minutes per day of premium voices, and 5 minutes per day of plus voices. The free version requires internet connectivity. You can use it on the web, mobile app, or Chrome extension.

Is NaturalReader better than Speechify?

It depends on what you need. NaturalReader supports more file types and costs less. Speechify has a better mobile app and faster reading speeds. NaturalReader is better for document-heavy users. Speechify is better for on-the-go mobile listening. Both help with learning disabilities and accessibility.

What is the difference between Murf and NaturalReader?

Murf AI focuses on commercial voiceovers for videos, podcasts, and marketing. NaturalReader focuses on personal reading and accessibility. Murf has better voice quality for commercial projects. NaturalReader has better file format support and a stronger free version. Choose Murf for creating content. Choose NaturalReader for listening to content.

Is the NaturalReader worth it?

Yes, for most users. The free version is powerful enough for casual listening. Paid plans make sense if you listen for hours daily and want the best AI voices. NaturalReader has over 1 million monthly users and over 15 years of experience in AI technology. It is widely used by students, professionals, and individuals with reading disabilities like dyslexia.