Round-Up: Text to Speech in Reading Apps on Android
While text-to-speech (TTS) is a highly practical feature for digital reading, it remains surprisingly uncommon among Android reading applications. Major platforms like Kindle, Nook, and Kobo currently lack native TTS support. Furthermore, while the Android operating system includes "Talkback," this is an accessibility suite designed to narrate every menu and interaction, making it cumbersome for those who simply want a book read aloud. High-profile apps such as Feedly and OverDrive also fail to integrate with Talkback effectively.
The following is a breakdown of Android reading apps that offered TTS functionality as of April 2015.
### Google Play Books
This is the standout option among major mainstream ebook platforms. It provides reliable TTS with decent audio quality. Users can customize the experience by installing secondary TTS engines or adjusting pitch and speed within the system’s accessibility settings.
* **Formats:** EPUB and PDF.
### FBReader
TTS is available here via an external plugin. While the configuration process can be repetitive and slightly temperamental, the app allows users to replace the subpar stock voice with high-quality alternatives like Ivona.
* **Formats:** EPUB, Mobi, FB2, RTF, HTML, and Doc.
### Moon+ Reader
The premium (paid) version of this app includes TTS capabilities. It is noted for having a more robust set of playback controls compared to its competitors and performs consistently well.
* **Formats:** EPUB, Mobi, FB2, PDF, CHM, and more.
### ezPDF Reader
For users specifically working with PDFs, ezPDF is a top-tier choice. Although it is a paid application, its TTS implementation is polished and effective, making it a worthwhile investment for professional or academic use.
* **Formats:** PDF.
### Voice Aloud Reader
Primarily designed as a TTS utility rather than a dedicated library manager, this app can "read" content shared from web browsers or news apps like Feedly. It is particularly useful for handling specialized office formats.
* **Formats:** DOCX, ODT, PDF, HTML, and experimental EPUB support.
### Pocketbook
While the TTS feature is present, it is somewhat hidden behind a specific long-press gesture. Once activated, however, it integrates well with third-party voice engines.
* **Formats:** EPUB, PDF, DJVU, FB2, and others.
### Content Aggregators: Pocket and Instapaper
Both major "read-it-later" services offer TTS for saved web articles. Instapaper’s implementation is generally considered superior due to a cleaner interface, whereas Pocket’s playback controls tend to obstruct the text on the screen.
### Minor Options and Warnings
* **Mantano:** While the paid version lists TTS as a feature, its performance is often too inconsistent to recommend for purchase.
* **CoolReader:** Although the feature is listed, the audio quality and execution are poor.
### Editor’s Recommendation
For a seamless, free experience that includes an integrated bookstore and cross-device syncing, Google Play Books is the best overall choice. Power users may prefer the versatility of Moon+ Reader or ezPDF, especially when paired with a high-quality voice engine like Ivona to replace the standard Android system voice.