With those tools, it is possible to listen to texts while doing some other activity, such as filling in a spreadsheet, formatting a document, or performing a general task. In addition, we need to emphasize the importance of extensions in terms of accessibility. People with visual impairments or reading difficulties, such as dyslexia, for example, can use automated reading to their advantage, facilitating communication with relatives and friends. But first of all, we need to understand what TTS is, as it is the basis of most extensions. The acronym TTS stands for “Text To Speech”, it is a technology that allows reproducing a text through the use of a voice synthesizer. In the database, recorded speech pieces, phoneme unions, syllables, and even whole words or phrases are stored. And from the concatenation of these recorded pieces, a complete message is formed. Now that we know the term, can you see the time saving that activating one of the text-to-speech extensions for Chrome can bring you? Below we list some of the best extensions to convert texts to audio in Chrome, let’s go to them:
1. Natural Reader
With several positive features, Natural Reader is a text-to-speech extension on Chrome that lets you control text-to-speech playback and manage settings from a widget, with customizable options. It works for different types of files such as PDF, websites, e-books, emails, with fluent reading and with different voice options, free for your choice, and with support for about 18 languages for free. You can choose to hear only a few snippets of text and, with keyboard shortcuts, control playback, and you can also download the audios to listen to them whenever you want. It works offline and has apps for Android, IOS, and Web. No registration is required for basic usage, but you can opt for more voice options on the Premium and Pro plans, starting at $10 per month.
2. Read Aloud
Another option among the text-to-speech Chrome extensions is Read Aloud. With support for more than 40 languages, it is specially designed for people who prefer listening over reading texts. Easy to use and with keyboard controls to facilitate your interaction, it allows you to adjust the tone, speed, and volume of the reading with many free voice options. The read-aloud option opens a mini pop-up reader that highlights the text being read. Still, some voices can sound a little robotic, which is to be expected in free software. Read Aloud has around 2 million users, works offline, and requires no registration for basic usage.
3. Text to Speech (by Hewizo)
Hewizo is not just a text-to-speech application. This text-to-speech Chrome extension offers several productivity features such as disabling ads, saving articles for later use, and aggregating top news from around the world. Capable of reading articles in over 30 languages using a state-of-the-art TTS AI engine, this extension displays a playback control bar at the top of the page, working in a very simple way. However, if your concern is with security, here’s a tip: the view is routed through the Hewizo website. This means that if you were reading this article through the Reader view of the extension, you would not be on our website, but on Hewizo.com. Although the service uses the HTTPS protocol, this method of redirection represents a privacy issue and is worth keeping an eye on. Some options aren’t included in the free version, but you can access the paid versions, from $1 to $10 a month.
4. Talkie
A very basic alternative among the text-to-speech extensions for Chrome with more limited features, Talkie: text-to-speech has support for reading pages or reading snippets. With this extension, new voices, languages, and dialects can be downloaded for free for your operating system, for example from Microsoft, Apple, and Google. Once installed correctly, Talkie will automatically detect them. With support for around 40 languages, you can download the Premium version, without a fixed price, it works like a “pay what you can”.
5. Snap&Read
Snap&Read simplifies vocabulary, translates and reads inaccessible OCR (Optical Character Recognition) texts. This way, OCR will separate the letters from the image, allowing you to search the content through keywords, for example. All this clearly and objectively. Snap & Read is the next-generation reading tool, this option among the text-to-speech Chrome extensions captures and quotes sources and can cover the most diverse reading needs, in addition to many other features. In addition, you will be able to translate texts into other languages and adjust the readability of the text. It costs $3.99 per month, but you can try it for free.
6. @Voice Add To List
As its name suggests, @Voice Add To List adds a list to your page, for later reading, by syncing with your Google account. However, to access the saved pages, you must install the @Voice Sync Plugin application on your Android phone. Then, to listen to the articles, a second app is needed, @Voice Aloud Reader. The reader app is compatible with Google Drive and Pocket. The app supports over 40 languages with multiple voice options to choose from. If the voice is installed on your device, you can use the text-to-speech feature even when you do not have access to an internet connection.
7. Simple Translate
It’s not just text extensions that support the text-to-speech function on Chrome, translation add-ons can be a good option. In this item, we present Simple Translate which has TTS as an option. You will have a form where you can paste the text, and hear it translated, with a plug-in developed by Google Translate. It is not possible to choose different voices as the plugin selects the default voice according to your location. Which can help if you want to learn the local language. In summary, there are several types of extensions to convert texts into audios in Chrome and the best option is the one that best aligns with your profile and what you are looking for.
Did you like the text-to-speech Chrome extensions?
You’ve seen that there are several options, so take advantage and let us know if you’ve already used some of these tools. And come check out how to use Grammarly in Google Chrome!
