Text to Speech
Paste text, choose a voice, and listen to it read aloud. Proofread by listening — catch errors your eyes miss.
Write with Your Voice, Proofread with Your Ears
Use Steno to dictate your text, then use this tool to hear it read back. The complete voice-first writing workflow.
Download Steno FreeFrequently Asked Questions
How does text-to-speech work?
This tool uses the Web Speech Synthesis API built into modern browsers. It converts written text into spoken audio using the voices installed on your device. No data is sent to any server — everything happens locally in your browser.
What voices are available?
The available voices depend on your browser and operating system. Most modern systems include dozens of voices across multiple languages. macOS and iOS offer high-quality voices like Samantha and Alex. Chrome includes Google's voices. You can select any available voice from the dropdown menu.
Can I adjust the speed and pitch?
Yes, you can adjust speaking speed from 0.5x (half speed) to 2x (double speed) and pitch from low to high using the sliders. This is useful for proofreading at slower speeds or quickly scanning content at higher speeds.
Is this text-to-speech tool free?
Yes, completely free with no limits. It runs entirely in your browser using your device's built-in speech synthesis. No account, no installation, no data collection.
Proofread by Listening: A Better Way to Edit
Reading your own writing silently is unreliable — your brain auto-corrects errors and fills in missing words. Listening to your text read aloud forces you to process it differently, making typos, awkward phrasing, and run-on sentences immediately obvious.
Why text-to-speech is essential for writers
Professional editors have long recommended reading work aloud as a proofreading technique. This text-to-speech tool automates that process — paste your draft, press play, and listen for anything that sounds wrong. It's especially effective for catching:
- Missing words and repeated words your eyes skip over
- Awkward phrasing that reads fine but sounds unnatural
- Run-on sentences that leave you breathless
- Tone inconsistencies across paragraphs
The voice-first writing workflow
Combine this tool with Steno for a complete voice-first workflow: dictate your first draft with Steno at 150 WPM, then paste it here to proofread by listening. You can also check your text with our readability checker or grammar checker before finalizing. Use the word counter to track your text length.
Tips for effective TTS proofreading
Start at 1.0x speed for your first listen, focusing on overall flow. Then increase to 1.5x for a second pass focused on specific errors. Use a slower 0.75x speed for dense or technical content. Different voices can also reveal different issues — try switching voices between passes.