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Text-to-Speech Tools

The full version of Read&Write is available for all current Conestoga students and employees to download using the links above.

Choose the Microsoft Account option when logging in and use your Conestoga email and password.  

 Features:

  • Features include text-to-speech, speech-to-text, highlighters, and summary tools.
  • Provides personalized support tools to help with reading, writing, and researching.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Chrome extension

Cost: Free.

OrbitNote

Hear PDFs read aloud & more

OrbitNote logo

Features:

  • Have PDFs read aloud and customize the voice & reading speed.
  • Highlight and extract information with coloured highlighters.
  • Type text on top of your PDFs or use freehand & shape drawing to scribble and draw on your digital documents.
  • Add text and voice comments or use pushpins for helpful hints or instructions.
  • Collaborate on documents in real time.

Compatibility: Google Chrome extension

Cost: Free. Choose the Microsoft Account option when logging in and use your Conestoga email and password.

Microsoft Edge: Read Aloud

Listen to text in the Edge browser

Read Aloud logo

Features:

  • Step away from the screen as you listen to content while performing other tasks or improve your reading comprehension by hearing content at your own pace, in your desired language.
  • Available in a variety of natural-sounding voices and accents.
  • Reads both web pages and PDFs.

Compatibility: Edge Browser

Cost: Free

Watch How to Use the Read-aloud Function in Microsoft Edge

Video source: Richard Byrne. (2019, July 29). How to Use the Read-aloud Function in Microsoft Edge [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRQ_p6Kt7fE&t=24s

Adobe: Read Out Loud

Listen to PDFs in Adobe

Adobe logo

Features:

  • Hear PDFs read aloud in Adobe Reader and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Adjust the volume, pitch, voice, and words per minute.
  • Listen on the go on any device.

Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Android, iPhone

Cost: Free.

Watch Reading Aloud PDFs | Acrobat DC for Educators (2 mins) on YouTube

Video source: Adobe for Education. (2020, September 11). Reading aloud with Acrobat [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/qXJlazKGTuo

Android: Select to Speak

Select & listen to text on an Android

Select to Speak logo

Features:

  • Select items on your screen and hear them read or described aloud.

Compatibility: Android

Cost: Free

Watch How to Turn On Text To Speech Read Aloud on Android/Samsung - 2022 (5 mins) on YouTube

Video source: ITJungles. (2022, June 28). How to turn on text to speech read aloud on Android/Samsung - 2022 [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/Ka5AdeLt43o

Apple: Speak Screen

Listen to text on an iPhone or iPad

Speak Screen logo

Features:

  • Hear the screen, selected text, and typing feedback.

Compatibility: iPhone, iPad

Cost: Free

Watch How to use Speak Screen on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (1 min) on YouTube

Video source: Apple Support. (2022, July 21). How to use Speak Screen on iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/tBfcPu61nSI

Chromebook: Select-to-Speak

Hear text read aloud on a Chromebook

Select-to-Speak logo

Features:

  • Hear parts of a page, including specific words, read aloud with Select-to-Speak.

Compatibility: Chromebook

Cost: Free

Watch How to use Select-to-Speak on your Chromebook (5 mins)

Video source: Chromebook. (2019, June 21). How to use Select-to-Speak on your Chromebook [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/_gz4lXWDzTQ

Speechify

Text-to-speech extension & mobile app 

Speechify logo

Features:

  • Natural sounding voices to listen to your articles, PDFs, physical books
  • Mobile app allows you to scan physical book pages with your camera and Speechify will read you the content

Compatibility: iOS, Chrome, Web, Android, Mobile Safari Extension. Your library of audiobooks will sync across all your devices.

Cost: Free and premium accounts.

Natural Reader

Reader with natural-sounding voices

Natural

Features:

  • Text-to-speech to read webpages, documents, eBooks, and emails aloud

Compatibility: Windows, Mac desktop software, iOS and Android app

Cost: Free and paid versions available

Voice Dream Reader

Mobile text-to-speech app

Voice Dream Reader logo

Features:

  • Mobile text-to-speech app. Reads webpages, documents, PDFs, and eBooks. 
  • Tools include bookmarking, text highlighting and annotation, full text search, and dictionary 

Compatibility: iOS, Android app

Cost: $20.99 (iOS); $13.99 (Android)

Other Reading Tools

Immersive Reader

Reading comprehension & learning tool

Immersive Reader logo

Features:

  • Tools that read text out loud, break it into syllables, and increase spacing between lines and letters.
  • Improves comprehension, encourages independent reading, and is simple to use.

Compatibility: OneNote, Word, Outlook, Microsoft Edge, Teams, and Office Lens.

Cost: Free.

Safari Reader

Read without distractions

Safari Reader logo

Features:

  • Formats a webpage to show just the relevant text and images.
  • Hides ads, navigation menus, and other distracting items.
  • Lets you adjust the font, font size, and background color.

Compatibility: Mac, iPhone, iPad.

Cost: Free.

Dolphin Easy Reader

Accessible reading app

Dolphin Easy Reader logo

Features:

  • Accessible reading app for people with print disabilities including dyslexia, low vision and blindness
  • Instant and direct access to 15 international accessible book and newspaper libraries, including CELA library and Bookshare 

Compatibility: iOS and Android app

Cost: Free

Postlight Reader

Remove ads & distractions online 

Mercury Reader logo

Features:

  • Simplify the web reading experience by removing ads and distractions to focus on the text

Compatibility: Chrome extension

Cost: Free

Microsoft Office Lens

Digitize handouts & whiteboard notes

Microsoft Office Lens logo

 Features:

  • Digitize printed handouts and whiteboard notes into editable documents and save to OneDrive or OneNote
  • Use with Immersive Reader to have text read to you

Compatibility: iOS and Android app

Cost: Free

Claro ScanPen

Scanner & reader app

Claro ScanPen logo

Features:

  • Take a photo of your printed document, select text with your finger and have it read back to you

Compatibility: iOS, Android app

Cost: $13.99

Dark Reader

Dark mode for every website

Dark Reader logo

Features:

  • Creates dark themes for websites on the fly.
  • Inverts bright colors, making them high contrast and easy to read.
  • Helps you adjust brightness, contrast, sepia filter, dark mode, and font settings.

Compatibility: Google Chrome extension

Cost: Free.

Alpha Text

Make text readable

Alpha Text logo

Features:

  • Quickly adjust font size, font style, and line spacing on websites.
  • Customize the text and background colour to your liking.
  • Remove distracting media (images, videos, backgrounds).
  • Save favourite style sets to apply with a single click.

Compatibility: Google Chrome extension

Cost: Free.