📚 Reading apps and reading coaches · 🔊 Reading aloud and accessibility
ReadAloud
Here for your child to play now? Arcade · Library
The answer in one minute
- What ReadAloud is: A text-to-speech web tool that reads pasted text or uploaded DOC, DOCX, PDF and EPUB files aloud in AI voices, with a choice of voice…
- Ages, price, ads: Free, with paid extras · Ages 13 and up (terms) · Ads: yes.
- Our take: Suits a teen or adult who wants documents read aloud; parents of younger children should skip it, since it sets a 13 minimum and shows ads…
Peabody (ours): free stories by reading level, read aloud. Free through the end of 2026, no sign-up, no ads.
Play freeBy Media Edge LLC. Go to ReadAloud ↗
Desk research from the maker's own pages. Not yet tried by us. Checked 2026-11-10.
Quick answers
- How much does ReadAloud cost?
- Free plan: 20,000 characters a day, standard voices, ads. Paid: 1 month 10 euros a month, 6 months 7 euros a month, 12 months 4 euros a month, each with a 3 day trial; only the 12 month plan is unlimited (Nov 2026).
- What age is ReadAloud for?
- Ages it suits: 13 and up (terms). What its terms say: You must be at least 13, or the legal age of digital consent in your country.
- Is ReadAloud safe for kids?
- Our take: Suits a teen or adult who wants documents read aloud; parents of younger children should skip it, since it sets a 13 minimum and shows ads on the free plan. Ads: yes. In-app purchases: yes. Account: a parent's account. Watch for: Ads on the free plan, including Google AdSense.
- Where is the official ReadAloud site?
- The official site is readaloud.net, from Media Edge LLC. It works on the web.Go to ReadAloud ↗
- What are the alternatives to ReadAloud?
- Three others in reading aloud and accessibility: Bloom Library, Bookshare and Learning Ally.
A text-to-speech web tool that reads pasted text or uploaded DOC, DOCX, PDF and EPUB files aloud in AI voices, with a choice of voice, language and speed, and MP3 or WAV export. It is a general tool for any reader, not a children's site. The free plan allows 20,000 characters a day with standard voices and shows ads; paid plans add premium voices and remove ads. Browser extensions are available.
Our take
Desk researchSuits a teen or adult who wants documents read aloud; parents of younger children should skip it, since it sets a 13 minimum and shows ads on the free plan.
- PriceFree, with paid extras
- AdsHas ads
- In-app buyingYes
- AccountA parent's
Ages 13 and up (terms) · 4 good things · 4 things to watch for
Is ReadAloud OK for my kid?
Find your child's age. Each row reads ReadAloud's own terms (quoted above), the ages it suits and the account it needs. An age rule is the least a maker asks, not a judgement that it suits a child of that age. Check another app.
| Age | By its terms | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 5 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 6 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 7 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 8 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 9 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 10 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 11 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 12 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.Younger than the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 13 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.In the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 14 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.In the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 15 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.In the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 16 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.In the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| 17 | No age rule | We found no age the terms set for using it.In the ages it suits (about 13 and up).A parent sets up the account. |
| Ages it suits | 13 and up (terms) |
|---|---|
| What its terms say about age | You must be at least 13, or the legal age of digital consent in your country. (terms) |
| Price | Free, with paid extras. Free plan: 20,000 characters a day, standard voices, ads. Paid: 1 month 10 euros a month, 6 months 7 euros a month, 12 months 4 euros a month, each with a 3 day trial; only the 12 month plan is unlimited (Nov 2026). |
| Works on | Web |
| Account | A parent's account |
| Ads | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes |
| The AI in it | The maker says it uses AI voices to turn text into natural-sounding speech. |
What's good
- Free plan with no payment needed
- Reads PDFs, Word files and EPUBs
- Choice of voices, languages and speed
- Paid plans remove ads
Watch for
- Ads on the free plan, including Google AdSense
- Privacy policy is silent on uploaded text and files
- Refund only within 48 hours of the first purchase
- Paid plans renew automatically
8 things to know before your child uses ReadAloud
- Check the age rule first. You must be at least 13, or the legal age of digital consent in your country.
- Know what it costs. Free, with paid extras. Free plan: 20,000 characters a day, standard voices, ads. Paid: 1 month 10 euros a month, 6 months 7 euros a month, 12 months 4 euros a month, each with a 3 day trial; only the 12 month plan is unlimited (Nov 2026).
- See whose account it is. A parent's account.
- Expect ads and in-app purchases. ReadAloud has ads and in-app purchases. Turn off purchases in the phone's settings before a child opens it.
- Read what it does with data. The privacy policy says free users see third-party ads, including Google AdSense, and that cookies support analytics and marketing. It says personal information is not sold. It does not say what happens to text, files or audio you submit, and gives no retention period.
- Know where the AI is. The maker says it uses AI voices to turn text into natural-sounding speech.
- Watch for the main catch. Ads on the free plan, including Google AdSense.
- Start with what it does well. Free plan with no payment needed.
Data and privacy
The privacy policy says free users see third-party ads, including Google AdSense, and that cookies support analytics and marketing. It says personal information is not sold. It does not say what happens to text, files or audio you submit, and gives no retention period. Read the privacy policy.
Does it work?
The maker's own claims only; we found no independent study.
ReadAloud beside 4 alternatives
| App | Price | Ads | In-app buying | Account | Ages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ReadAloud (this page) | Free, with paid extras | Has ads | Yes | A parent's | 13 and up (terms) |
| Bloom Library | Free | No ads | None | None needed | mostly early readers; some… |
| Bookshare | Free | No ads | None | A parent's | all ages (PreK-12 students… |
| Learning Ally | Paid | No ads | None | A parent's | grades PreK-12, plus college… |
| LibriVox | Free | No ads | None | None needed | all ages (children's genres… |
Alternatives to ReadAloud
Desk researchFreeNo adsNo account
Bloom Library
SIL Global · ages mostly early readers; some books for adults (health, farming)
A standout for families reading in a home or heritage language; parents should filter by topic, since religious and adult titles mix with children's books.
Desk researchFreeNo ads
Bookshare
Benetech (nonprofit) · ages all ages (PreK-12 students through adults)
A free, practical library for US students with a documented print disability; families without that need should use a public library app instead.
Desk researchPaidNo ads
Learning Ally
Learning Ally, Inc. (nonprofit) · ages grades PreK-12, plus college and adults
A strong choice for a child with dyslexia or a print disability who needs grade-level books; check first whether the school already provides it free.
Desk researchFreeNo adsNo account
LibriVox
LibriVox (volunteer project) · ages all ages (children's genres sit beside adult classics)
A free source of human-read classics for family listening; a parent should pick the book and preview the reader.
Desk researchFreeNo adsNo account
Microsoft Immersive Reader
Microsoft · ages all ages (helpful from early readers up)
A useful free helper for any child who struggles with print, especially with dyslexia; it supports reading but does not teach it.
Desk researchFree, with paid extras
NaturalReader
NaturalSoft Ltd (Canada) · ages older students and adults; school EDU plans
Useful for teens and parents who want text read aloud; younger children are better served by a school-managed reader.
Where these facts come from
- https://readaloud.net/
- https://readaloud.net/en/privacy-policy
- https://readaloud.net/en/terms-of-service
- https://readaloud.net/en/plans
Prices, terms and features change. Nobody paid to be listed, nothing here is an affiliate link, and Peabody never rates itself. Where we and the maker disagree, the maker's own pages are the ones to trust.