Readio is a text-to-speech platform that converts webpages, PDFs, and ebooks into natural AI speech using advanced neural voices.
What is Readio?
Readio is a text-to-speech tool that reads aloud webpages, PDFs, and ebooks with natural AI voices. It accepts input in PDF, EPUB, and DOCX formats, as well as webpage URLs, and outputs synchronized audio with real‑time sentence highlighting. The platform runs in a web browser at readiolabs.org (formerly readio.online) and is designed for hands‑free listening, learning, and work.
Key Features
- Natural AI Voices – Six distinct voices (Alloy, Echo, Fable, Onyx, Nova, Shimmer) with varied characteristics (balanced, warm, deep, bright, etc.) that support over 50 languages with lifelike intonation.
- 140+ Languages and Accents – Read content in more than 140 global languages and dialects, including English (US, UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand), German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Danish, and many more.
- Real‑Time Sentence Highlighting – As the audio plays, sentences are highlighted in sync and the page scrolls automatically, keeping text and sound aligned for focused reading.
- Smart Content Filtering – Built‑in filters can skip footnotes, superscripts, and bracketed text; users can also manually select sections to exclude from reading.
- Full Playback Control – Adjust playback speed, move between sections, and jump to specific document parts via the audio player.
- Document Format Support – Works with PDF, EPUB, and DOCX files; upload existing documents without altering their layout.
Who is it for?
- Students and researchers – Listen to academic papers, textbooks (PDF/EPUB), or web articles hands‑free while studying or commuting.
- Professionals – Review reports, contracts, and long documents (DOCX) during commutes or while multitasking.
- Accessibility users – People with visual impairments, reading difficulties, or those who prefer auditory learning can listen to any text‑based content.
- Language learners – Hear correct pronunciation in any of 140+ languages and accents to improve listening comprehension.
What can you do with Readio?
- Listen to web articles – Paste a URL or use the platform to read aloud any webpage, ideal for catching up on news or long‑form content.
- Convert PDFs to audiobooks – Upload PDF, EPUB, or DOCX files and listen to them like an audiobook, with automatic page scrolling and highlighting.
- Filter out distractions – Use smart content filtering to skip footnotes, superscripts, or bracketed text, focusing only on the main body.
How does Readio work?
Users upload a file (PDF, EPUB, DOCX) or enter a webpage URL, select a voice and language, then press play. The platform reads the text aloud while highlighting each sentence in real time, and playback speed or section navigation can be adjusted on the fly.
Pricing
Readio offers a freemium model. A free tier is available at readiolabs.org/dashboard/files; paid plans with additional features are accessible at readiolabs.org/pricing.
FAQ
What voices does Readio use?
Readio provides six AI voices: Alloy (balanced), Echo (clear), Fable (warm), Onyx (deep), Nova (friendly), and Shimmer (crisp). Each has a distinct tone, and all support multiple languages.
How many languages and accents does Readio support?
Readio supports reading in over 140 global languages and dialects, including English (US, UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand), German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Danish, and many more. The voices themselves cover 50+ languages.
Is Readio free to use?
Yes, Readio has a free tier. You can start at readiolabs.org/dashboard/files without payment. Paid plans unlock additional capacity or features.
