How this text to speech reader works
This reader uses the Web Speech API, a feature built into modern browsers that turns written text into spoken audio. Because the speech is generated by your browser and operating system, there is nothing to install, no account to create and no cost — and the text you type never leaves your device.
When the page loads, the browser publishes the list of voices it has available. Pick one from the menu, set how fast you want it read with the speed slider, and adjust the tone with the pitch slider. Press Play to start, and use Pause, Resume and Stop to control playback.
Worked example: paste a paragraph from an article you are proofreading, choose an English voice, drop the speed to 0.9× so it reads a touch slower, and press Play. Hearing the words aloud makes it much easier to catch a repeated word or a missing one than reading silently.
Reference note: voice availability, quality and offline support depend on your browser and operating system. The controls below summarise what each one does.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Voice | Selects which built-in voice, language and accent reads the text. |
| Speed (0.5–2) | Sets the reading rate. 1× is normal; lower is slower, higher is faster. |
| Pitch (0–2) | Raises or lowers the tone of the voice. 1 is the default pitch. |
| Play | Reads the current text aloud from the start. |
| Pause | Temporarily stops playback without losing your place. |
| Resume | Continues reading from where you paused. |
| Stop | Ends playback and clears the current utterance. |
Frequently asked questions
- How do I convert text to speech for free?
- Type or paste your text, optionally pick a voice and adjust speed and pitch, then press Play. The reader uses the voices already built into your browser, so there is nothing to install and no cost.
- Can I change the voice or speed?
- Yes. The voice menu lists every voice your browser and device provide. The rate slider controls how fast the text is read (0.5× to 2×) and the pitch slider raises or lowers the tone (0 to 2).
- Why are there no voices / why won't it play?
- Voices load asynchronously, so the menu can be empty for a moment when the page opens — it fills in once the browser fires its voiceschanged event. If it still will not play, your browser may not support the Web Speech API; try a recent Chrome or Edge.
- Does this work offline?
- It uses the voices installed on your device, so once the page has loaded the speech works without a connection. Some browsers also offer higher-quality online voices that need internet; the on-device voices keep working offline.
- Can I download the audio?
- No. The Web Speech API plays audio through your speakers but does not provide a file to save, so there is no download here. You would need separate recording software or a dedicated TTS service to capture a file.
- Is my text sent anywhere?
- No. The reader runs entirely in your browser using on-device voices, so the text you enter is not uploaded to larely or any server.