Written by Pratik Nayak, the developer of Readlet. This guide covers free options as well as our app. Updated November 6, 2026. Speechify prices are from published 2026 pricing summaries; check speechify.com for current pricing.
Where Speechify fits
Speechify works across iPhone, Android, the web, browser extensions and Mac, with many voices and languages. If you listen on several devices or need languages other than English, a cross-platform subscription can make sense. Its Premium plan is listed at about $139 a year, or about $29 billed monthly.
Free first: your Mac's own voice
macOS can read selected text in almost any app. Turn on Speak selection in System Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content (Read & Speak on the newest macOS), select text, and press Option-Esc.
Apple's guide to having your Mac speak text ↗
Readlet: pay once, read on your Mac
Readlet is a Mac app for people who want a natural voice without a subscription.
- $19 USD once for the introductory paid beta, limited to the first 10 buyers. Updates within version 1. 14-day refund policy.
- On-device voice. After a one-time voice download of about 392 MB, speech and text recognition run on your Mac. No account, and your text is not uploaded.
- Reads anything on screen. Drag over visible text, including in apps that will not let you copy, or open a document, searchable PDF or image.
- A small player with progress, pause, speed and stop.
Side by side
| Speechify Premium | macOS Speak selection | Readlet | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | About $139 a year | Free, built in | $19 USD once (paid beta) |
| Devices | Phone, web, Mac and more | Every Mac | Apple Silicon Mac, macOS 26+ |
| Languages | Many | Many system voices | English |
| Best for | Listening across devices | Quick reading at no cost | Natural voice on a Mac, no subscription |
Which should you pick?
- You listen on your phone too, or need other languages: a cross-platform service like Speechify.
- You only need a quick read now and then: macOS Speak selection, free.
- You read on a Mac and want a natural voice without a subscription: try Readlet, with a 14-day refund policy.
About Readlet's Kokoro voice ↗ · All text-to-speech options on a Mac ↗