Want to hear PDFs read out loud? Here are the top PDF to audio converter apps to improve accessibility and productivity.
PDF to audio converters: A how to.
In our increasingly digital world, PDF files have become an essential format for sharing and preserving documents. We’ll talk about PDFs, show you how to listen to your PDFs for free and reveal the best PDF to audio converter.
Portable Document Format, or PDF, offers a versatile and consistent way to present text, images, and various content across different operating systems and devices. Yet, the text within these PDF documents often remains static, requiring us to visually decipher the information they contain. But what if you could seamlessly convert PDFs into spoken words, making the content more accessible, mobile, and engaging? This is precisely where a PDF to audio converter comes into play.
What is a PDF to audio converter?
A PDF to audio converter is a software or tool that transforms the text within a PDF file into an audio file, typically in popular audio formats like MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, and more. It leverages text to speech (TTS) technology to read out loud the content of the PDF document, effectively turning written words into spoken language. This process enables a more inclusive and flexible approach to consuming information, making it accessible to individuals who may have visual impairments, prefer auditory learning, or wish to multitask while absorbing the content.
Common audio files and features of each
Before diving into the benefits of converting PDFs to audio, it’s essential to understand the common audio file formats and their best use cases, so let’s dive take a brief look at each.
MP3 (MPEG-3)
MP3 files are one of the most widely used audio formats due to their excellent compression, maintaining sound quality while reducing file size. It’s ideal for music, audiobooks, and spoken content.
WAV (Waveform audio file format)
WAV files offer lossless audio quality, making them suitable for professional audio editing, music production, and high-fidelity recordings.
WMA (Windows media audio)
Developed by Microsoft, WMA files are well-suited for Windows-based systems and are commonly used for streaming media.
OGG (Ogg vorbis)
OGG files provide high audio quality and are popular for streaming and online media. They offer an open-source alternative to proprietary formats.
FLAC (Free lossless audio codec)
FLAC files are a popular format for high-quality audio compression, preserving the original sound without loss of quality; they are commonly used by audiophiles and music enthusiasts who prioritize superior sound fidelity over file size efficiency.
Benefits and converting PDFs to audio
Converting PDFs to audio brings a multitude of benefits, each enhancing the accessibility, flexibility, and convenience of the content. Some key advantages include:
- Accessibility: PDF to audio converters make content accessible to those with visual impairments or reading difficulties, ensuring they can comfortably consume the material.
- Multitasking: Audio files enable users to absorb information while performing other tasks, such as commuting, exercising, or housework.
- Portability: With audio files, you can carry the content on your mobile devices, allowing you to listen to it on the go.
- Language flexibility: TTS technology allows for the conversion of text in different languages, broadening the reach of the content.
- Enhanced learning: Audiobooks, lectures, or educational material in audio format can enhance the learning experience, particularly for auditory learners.
- Reduced eye strain: Listening to content rather than reading it can reduce eye strain, making it more comfortable for extended consumption.
Top PDF to audio converter apps
The conversion of PDF documents to audio files stands out as a valuable resource for individuals seeking a dynamic and flexible approach to information consumption. Let’s dive into the top PDF to audio converter apps and explore their pros, cons, and pricing to help you choose the best PDF to audio converter for your needs.
Speechify
Speechify, the leading PDF audio reader, provides both a free version and a premium subscription priced at $139 per year. Utilizing advanced text to speech and OCR technology, it can audibly render any digital or physical text. Accessible across devices through its website, Speechify also offers a Chrome extension and mobile app for Android and iOS. Boasting 200+ realistic voices, support for 30+ languages, synchronized text highlighting, text scanning, bookmarking, and speed controls, it stands as a versatile tool for a seamless and user-friendly auditory experience.
Adobe Acrobat Reader
Available for free or with a premium subscription at $12.99 per month, Adobe Acrobat Reader is a renowned PDF viewer that surpasses Adobe Reader in functionality. It provides e-signing, response tracking, form filling, collaboration features, text-to-speech, and text/image editing in PDFs. While it offers a comprehensive PDF tool, some users may desire more lifelike TTS voices for PDF reading.
Voice Dream Reader
Priced at $59.99 per year and exclusively available on IOS and MacOS, Voice Dream Reader supports various content types with 200+ voices, text highlighting, offline listening, sleep timers, custom pronunciation dictionaries, and more. Despite its feature richness, some users have reported occasional issues with highlighting and audio synchronization.
NaturalReader
Priced at $59.88 annually with a free version available, NaturalReader offers mobile apps for IOS or Android, a Chrome extension, and a web reader. It has the capability to read various text formats, such as PDFs, online articles, and even images captured by your camera. Featuring 200+ voices, support for 25 languages, synchronized reading, pronunciation editing, dark mode, and bookmarking, NaturalReader is offers many options. However, some users have reported slow customer service, low-quality audio downloads, and mentioned that the best voices are exclusive to the Plus plan.
ReadSpeaker docReader
ReadSpeaker docReader is a cloud-based audio reader for PDF accessible through a web browser, meaning it’s available on any device. It displays and reads aloud online documents, including PDF and Word files as well as offers 200 voices, supports 50+ languages, and provides text highlighting and translation features. It even offers a clutter-free text mode for ease of reading. However, pricing details may require contacting ReadSpeaker directly.
Balabolka
Balabolka is a free, Windows-only online PDF reader that supports various file formats, including PDF, DOC, DOCX, EPUB, HTML, PPT, PPTX, TXT, RTF, and more. It can read PDFs and other formats, offering features like text extraction, saving text as an audio file, and customizable fonts and background colors. However, it is limited to Microsoft platforms and is considered relatively bare bones in terms of features.
How to convert PDF to audio with Speechify
With PDF to audio converters, you can unlock the potential of your PDF documents, turning them into dynamic audio content ready to accompany you wherever you go. Whether it’s for educational, professional, or personal purposes, the transformation from static text to spoken words brings a world of accessibility and convenience within reach.
Speechify – #1 PDF reader and text to speech app
Speechify stands out as the ultimate PDF reader and text to speech application. Speechify elevates your reading experience by seamlessly converting PDFs and any digital or physical text materials, such as Google Drive files, webpages, Dropbox documents, Excel files, PowerPoints, handwritten notes, and more, into articulate spoken words. With a spectrum of features designed for accessibility and convenience, Speechify offers:
Text highlighting
Speechify enhances comprehension with its text highlighting feature, dynamically illuminating the words as they are spoken. This synchronized visual aid not only reinforces auditory processing but also provides a valuable tool for users who benefit from both auditory and visual cues, fostering a more immersive reading experience.
Speed controls
Offering unparalleled flexibility, Speechify allows users to tailor their listening experience with customizable speed controls up to 4x the speed. Whether you prefer a brisk pace for efficient information absorption or a slower speed for careful comprehension, this feature empowers users to adapt the reading speed to their individual preferences, promoting a personalized and comfortable listening experience.
Lifelike voices
Speechify’s diverse range of lifelike voices transcends language barriers and cultural nuances, providing users with the ability to choose from an extensive selection of languages and accents. This inclusivity ensures that users from around the world can enjoy a more authentic and engaging listening experience, making Speechify a globally accessible tool for diverse audiences.
Celebrity voices
For premium subscribers, Speechify introduces an extra layer of entertainment and familiarity by featuring celebrity voices such as Snoop Dogg and Gwyneth Paltrow. This unique offering not only adds a touch of novelty but also allows users to enjoy their favorite content narrated by well-known personalities, transforming the reading experience into a personalized and enjoyable journey.
OCR scanning
With its Optical Character Recognition (OCR) scanning capability, Speechify breaks down barriers by transforming physical documents or images like JPGs into accessible audio, such as MP3 audio formats. This feature enables users to effortlessly convert printed text into spoken words, making Speechify a versatile tool for those who want to listen to content from a variety of sources, including books, articles, and handwritten notes.
How to convert PDFs to audio using Speechify
Speechify is widely available no matter where you consume content with its website, Chrome extension, and mobile apps. Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to get started reading PDFs aloud with Speechify on each regardless of whether you use a iPhone, Android, Apple, Mac, or Windows device.
How to read a PDF aloud with the Speechify website
Do you prefer to use Speechify’s webplayer over downloading an app? No problem. You can listen to any content with Speechify straight from their website. Simply follow these steps to listen to PDFs using Speechify’s website:
- Open your web browser and navigate to Speechify.com
- Sign in or create an account if you haven’t already.
- Tap “New” in the left-hand toolbar.
- Click “Local Documents.”
- Upload your PDF or enter the text you want to convert.
- Customize the voice, reading speed, and other preferences.
- Click the “Play” button to have Speechify read the content aloud.
- Enjoy a seamless and accessible reading experience right in your web browser.
How to read a PDF aloud with the Speechify Chrome extension
If you love the Google Chrome browser, here’s how to use the Speechify Chrome extension so you can listen to PDFs:
- Install the Speechify Chrome extension from the Chrome Web Store.
- Click on the Speechify icon in your browser toolbar.
- Sign in or create an account.
- Select the PDF or text you want to read and choose your desired settings.
- Click the “Play” button on the Speechify pop-up to start the text to speech conversion.
- Listen to the content being read out loud while you browse the web, and even adjust settings on the fly.
How to read a PDF aloud with the Speechify app
If you’re always on the move, here’s a breakdown of how to use the Speechify app to enjoy any PDF read aloud.
- Download the Speechify IOS or Android app from the App store or Google Play store.
- Open the app and sign in or create a new account.
- Tap “Add” on the bottom toolbar.
- Choose “From your computer.”
- Choose files and import PDFs or copy and paste text into the app.
- Customize voice preferences, reading speed, and other settings.
- Tap the “Play” button to begin listening to the converted content.
- Use the app’s additional features, such as highlighting text or changing the voice for a more interactive reading experience.
Try Speechify for free today
With Speechify, you can enhance your productivity, accessibility, and reading enjoyment, whether you’re a student, professional, or simply someone who values a more accessible reading experience. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to transform your reading habits. Experience the power of Speechify today by signing up for a free trial. Try Speechify for free on the web, as a Chrome extension, or through the app, and enjoy the convenience of having your documents and text content read aloud to you.
PDF ro Audio Converter FAQs
To convert PDF text into MP3 audio files, employ PDF-to-audio conversion tools such as Speechify. Simply upload your PDF file and initiate the conversion process to obtain the desired MP3 format for the converted files.
You can convert a PDF format to an audio file using specialized PDF converters like Speechify. To use Speechify’s online converter, upload the PDF and generate an audio file.
Speechify is the best and easiest way to transform PDFs into a wide variety of audio files. It offers the most lifelike voices, across various languages, including English, French, Russian, Ukrainian, and more.
FAQ
How can I convert a PDF into MP3 audio?
To convert PDF text into MP3 audio files, employ PDF-to-audio conversion tools such as Speechify. Simply upload your PDF file and initiate the conversion process to obtain the desired MP3 format for the converted files.
How can I convert a PDF format to an audio file?
You can convert a PDF format to an audio file using specialized PDF converters like Speechify. To use Speechify’s online converter, upload the PDF and generate an audio file.
What is the best PDF to MP3 converter?
Speechify is the best and easiest way to transform PDFs into a wide variety of audio files. It offers the most lifelike voices, across various languages, including English, French, Russian, Ukrainian, and more.
