Support for pupils with dyslexia

Free text to speech for dyslexia

A free reading tool for students, parents, and teachers with no sign-up required. Paste any text, choose a voice, and listen straight away. No app to install, no account, and no monthly fees.

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Read and listen together

Working tool

Dyslexia-friendly reading workspace

Follow the words on screen as they are read aloud. Customise font size, line spacing, colour theme, voice, and reading speed.

0 characters
Show format, timing, and saving settings

Reading display

Fix how a word is said

Add a word the voice gets wrong and spell it the way it should sound. The fix is used every time you generate, and your script stays exactly as you typed it. Saved in this browser only.

    Source files are parsed locally. In Cloud mode, only the selected text sections are sent for speech generation. In-browser mode keeps both the source and generated speech on this device.

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    This tool page isn’t translated yet — the working tool below runs in English. Use it in English

    Reading support

    How text to speech helps with dyslexia

    Reading with dyslexia takes real effort. It is nothing to do with intelligence, but simply that the brain spends its working memory turning letters into words. Text to speech removes that hurdle. Comprehension improves, mental fatigue drops, and learners read more because it stops feeling like a chore.

    The quick answer

    Paste your text, choose a clear voice, and begin at around 0.9x speed. Follow the highlighted words on screen, adjust font size or spacing to suit you, and download a WAV or MP3 file to listen offline later.

    Comfortable listening

    How to set up a dyslexia-friendly reading session

    1. 01

      Paste your text: AI Voice Generator

      Drop an essay, article, email, or scanned document into the reading workspace.

    2. 02

      Choose an easy-to-follow voice: AI Voice Generator

      Sarah, Bella, or Emma work brilliantly for long texts. Clear diction and steady pacing make tracking every word far simpler.

    3. 03

      Drop the speed to 0.9x: AI Voice Generator

      A slightly slower pace gives your eyes time to track along. You can always nudge the speed back up once you get into the rhythm.

    4. 04

      Listen and read along: AI Voice Generator

      Play the WAV file as you read through the text. Pairing sound with sight is the most effective way to beat reading fatigue.

    Everyday situations

    How families use it

    04 scenarios
    01 / 04

    Homework help: AI Voice Generator

    Paste schoolwork into the reader and listen while following the words on screen. Get through tough chapters without the usual struggle.

    02 / 04

    Revision and exam prep: AI Voice Generator

    Turn revision notes into audio files to listen back on the bus, during a walk, or whenever reading off paper feels draining.

    03 / 04

    Reading for pleasure: AI Voice Generator

    Paste tricky book passages to work through dense chapters without losing track of the plot.

    04 / 04

    Proofreading your own writing: AI voice generator

    Listening to your text read aloud highlights typos and awkward phrasing that your eyes easily skim past on screen.

    Keep going

    Voices that minimise cognitive load

    When reading with dyslexia, the best voice is one you can follow for 30+ minutes without tiring. Steady pacing, clear consonants, and a balanced pitch matter far more than vocal flair. Try a few options so the reader can choose what feels right.

    01 US

    Sarah

    Warm, steady pacing

    Best for

    A reliable first choice for most learners. The calm pace and clear articulation mean fewer rewinds when reading along with the text.

    02 US

    Bella

    Soft and calming

    Best for

    Late-evening revision, fiction, and anyone who finds sharper tones tiring. Gentle pronunciation reduces mental strain.

    03 UK

    Liam

    Even-paced British English

    Best for

    Learners who follow British accents more easily, or who prefer an even, predictable rhythm for dense study material.

    04 US

    Adam

    Clear American male

    Best for

    Non-fiction, science textbooks, and instructional texts where clear pronunciation matters more than warmth.

    05 UK

    Emma

    Gentle British female

    Best for

    Fiction, set texts for school, and learners who prefer a measured, clear pace.

    06 US

    River

    Smooth neutral

    Best for

    Learners who prefer a gender-neutral voice. The calm tone stays easy to listen to across study sessions of 30 minutes or more.

    Want to hear them? Browse all 54 voices →

    Study advice

    Practical advice for students and parents

    This guide does not replace structured literacy support or specialist teaching. These are straightforward tips to help you get the most from text-to-speech tools, covering pacing, steady voices, manageable sections, and reading while listening.

    • 01

      Set playback to 0.85 to 0.95x speed

      If you are following the text while listening, slowing the audio down slightly cuts down on rereading and gives your eyes time to track each line. Most learners naturally increase the speed to 1.0 or 1.1x after a few weeks as they get used to the voice. Let the student choose what feels right.

    • 02

      Listen whilst reading the printed text

      Reading research regularly shows that following the words on the page whilst listening improves understanding. Most literacy specialists recommend this approach. Listening on its own works well for audiobooks, but pairing text with audio delivers the clearest learning gains.

    • 03

      Break longer texts into 1 to 2-minute clips

      A 5,000-character block produces about 5 to 7 minutes of audio. For detailed study material, split the text into shorter sections of 1 to 2 minutes first. Shorter clips make it much simpler to replay a tricky paragraph without having to scrub through a long audio file.

    • 04

      Stick with one voice for the whole study session

      Choose Sarah, Bella, or Liam at the start of a study block and keep to that single voice for at least half an hour. Switching voices mid-session forces your brain to re-adjust, breaking your concentration each time. Using different voices on different days works well, but switching during one study session just gets in the way.

    • 05

      Pick a voice that stays comfortable past 30 minutes

      A voice that sounds lively in a 60-second preview can quickly feel grating during a long revision session. Voices like Bella and River are easier on the ears over time because their tone is softer and less harsh. Try listening to a five-minute clip before settling on a voice for a full textbook chapter.

    • 06

      Use punctuation to create natural pauses

      The reader pauses at commas, full stops, dashes, and new paragraphs. If the text sounds rushed, try adding commas between clauses in your pasted text without altering your original document. Split overly long sentences into two, as understanding spoken text drops sharply when sentences stretch past 30 words.

    How we compare

    FreeTextoSpeech compared with free browser Read Aloud extensions

    Free Chrome and Edge extensions that read web pages aloud are a handy starting point. However, they typically rely on robotic operating system voices, carry adverts, and only work live in the browser without offering an audio download. When you need to revise schoolwork offline on your phone, having a downloadable file makes all the difference.

    Voice quality and realism

    FreeTextoSpeech

    Kokoro neural model with natural rhythm that stays easy to listen to

    Free browser Read Aloud extensions

    Most free extensions use flat, robotic system voices or restrict realistic samples

    Speed adjustments

    FreeTextoSpeech

    Precise, fine-tuned speed settings for every generation

    Free browser Read Aloud extensions

    Usually limited to fixed jumps like 0.5x, 1x, or 1.5x with no fine tuning

    Commercial use

    FreeTextoSpeech

    Permitted

    Free browser Read Aloud extensions

    Restricted to personal use on most free extensions

    Downloadable audio for offline revision

    FreeTextoSpeech

    Download as WAV to listen on any device offline

    Free browser Read Aloud extensions

    In-browser playback only, needs an active internet connection, no offline files

    Range of accents

    FreeTextoSpeech

    54 voices across British and American English, plus 7 other languages

    Free browser Read Aloud extensions

    Limited system voices with few accent choices

    Distraction-free setup

    FreeTextoSpeech

    No adverts, pop-ups, or countdown timers pushing upgrades

    Free browser Read Aloud extensions

    Most free browser extensions display adverts or prompt you to upgrade while reading

    Sign-up needed

    FreeTextoSpeech

    No

    Free browser Read Aloud extensions

    Usually insists on an account or includes tracking

    Dedicated paid tools include full ebook catalogues and sync across devices. FreeTextoSpeech keeps things straightforward with active-text highlighting, customisable playback speed, and offline audio downloads straight from your browser. Pick whichever setup suits the learner best.

    FAQ

    Frequently asked questions

    01

    Does text-to-speech genuinely help with dyslexia?

    Yes. Decades of studies confirm that listening to text takes the pressure off decoding individual words. This leaves more mental bandwidth for understanding the content. Students with dyslexia who use text-to-speech read more, remember more, and finish their work with far less mental strain. Most UK schools, colleges, and universities recognise it as a standard reasonable adjustment.
    02

    Is FreeTextoSpeech genuinely free for students?

    Yes. You do not need a paid plan or an institutional licence. The editor clearly displays your current cloud character balance, and anyone signed in can run generation privately within the browser.
    03

    Which voices work best for dyslexia support?

    Even, unhurried voices are usually the most comfortable. For British English, Emma and Daniel are both dependable choices. If you prefer American accents, Sarah, Bella, and Adam cope well with long paragraphs. Dropping the speed to 0.9x or 0.95x helps you track the words on screen without falling behind.
    04

    Can pupils use this for schoolwork and coursework?

    Yes. Paste text straight in from a PDF, Word file, or website, then follow along on screen as it plays. You can download the spoken track as a WAV or MP3 file, with no need to install any software.
    05

    Is this better than dedicated dyslexia reading apps?

    Dedicated apps like Speechify, NaturalReader, and Voice Dream include e-book library connections and multi-device syncing. FreeTextoSpeech instead offers a fast, lightweight workspace focused on essentials: live sentence highlighting, custom text sizing and spacing, colour themes, playback speed controls, and audio downloads.
    06

    Can FreeTextoSpeech replace clinical reading support or specialist tutoring?

    No. It is an assistive tool, not a clinical intervention. Structured literacy tuition (such as Orton-Gillingham, Wilson, or Barton methods) delivered by a qualified practitioner is still the proven route to stronger decoding skills. FreeTextoSpeech simply removes the strain of reading long passages, helping pupils keep up with their school curriculum while their core literacy develops.
    07

    Can pupils use text-to-speech for schoolwork and exams?

    Yes, for general coursework and comprehension tasks. Text-to-speech is a widely approved access arrangement across the UK (under EHCP and SEN support plans), as well as in the US, Canada, and Australia. Pure reading assessments designed to test unaided decoding usually exclude it. Check with your child's teacher or school SENCO if you are unsure about a specific exam or task.
    08

    Does relying on text-to-speech harm a child's reading progress?

    No, evidence does not support that concern. Bimodal reading (listening to the audio while following the text on screen) is shown to improve comprehension and maintain interest. There is no evidence that it reduces decoding ability, provided students continue looking at the words. Most literacy specialists recommend pairing voice output with text on the page rather than relying on audio on its own.

    Still wondering? Get in touch →

    Try it now

    Free reading support.

    No sign-up and no limits. Paste your text and listen straight away.