Is Speechify Premium Worth it? An Honest Review | March 2023 |

Logic With Julia
14 Mar 202312:32

TLDRThis review explores Speechify Premium, an app that converts text and documents into audio, ideal for reading on-the-go. The app offers a three-day free trial with premium voice options, but the annual subscription of $69.99 is a one-time payment, not monthly as some might expect. The review highlights the app's ability to read various formats and its potential issues, such as mispronunciations and glitches when scanning pages from books. Despite these, the reviewer finds the app valuable for speeding up reading, especially for long texts and homeschooling, and recommends it with a few caveats.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Speechify is an app that reads aloud any text, document, or book by taking a picture or importing files.
  • 🔍 The app allows users to copy and paste text, scan pages, paste web links, or import from various sources for reading aloud.
  • 🗣️ Speechify offers a variety of premium voices after a three-day free trial, enhancing the listening experience compared to the default robotic voice.
  • 💰 The app has a one-time annual fee of $69.99, which was initially misunderstood as a monthly subscription by the reviewer.
  • 🤔 There was confusion regarding the payment charge showing only the CEO's name instead of the company's, causing momentary concern for the reviewer.
  • 📸 The app requires clear and well-aligned pictures of pages, especially from books, to avoid misreading due to page curvature.
  • 🔉 The app allows users to switch voices and adjust reading speed to match personal preferences.
  • 👀 Dark mode in the app has a minor issue where pasted text may not be visible against a dark background if the text color does not change.
  • 📈 Speechify can be time-consuming for scanning pages from books due to the need for precise alignment and editing to remove page curvature artifacts.
  • 🎓 The app is beneficial for speeding up reading, especially useful for educational purposes or when studying large volumes of text.
  • 👍 Despite minor glitches and issues, the reviewer highly recommends Speechify for its ability to make reading more engaging and efficient.

Q & A

  • What is the main function of the Speechify app?

    -The main function of the Speechify app is to read out loud any text, document, or book by taking a picture or importing it from various sources.

  • How does the Speechify app handle different types of text input?

    -Speechify can handle text input by allowing users to copy and paste text, scan pages from books or documents, paste web links, or import files from various sources like Google Drive or a computer.

  • What are the voice options available in Speechify's free trial?

    -During the free trial, users have access to more premium voices, as opposed to the very robotic voice available without the trial.

  • How much does the Speechify Premium subscription cost and what is the payment structure?

    -The Speechify Premium subscription costs $69.99, which is a one-time annual payment, not a monthly subscription.

  • What was the reviewer's experience with the payment process for Speechify Premium?

    -The reviewer found the payment process a bit strange as the charge on their bank account showed only the name of the CEO, not the company name, which led to initial confusion.

  • What are some of the issues the reviewer faced while using Speechify to scan pages from a book?

    -The reviewer faced issues with the app misinterpreting lines on the side of scanned pages as numbers and having difficulty with curved pages from books, which could cause the app to skip lines or mispronounce words.

  • How does Speechify handle text that is cut off or separated onto the next line?

    -Speechify sometimes mispronounces or cuts off text that is separated onto the next line, especially when scanning pages from a book.

  • What is the reviewer's opinion on the clarity and human-like quality of the voices in Speechify?

    -The reviewer found the voices to be of good quality, sounding very human, which makes the reading experience more engaging.

  • Does Speechify have a dark mode and how well does it function in this mode?

    -Yes, Speechify has a dark mode, but the reviewer noted an issue where pasted text from the clipboard is not visible against the dark background because it doesn't change the text color to a lighter one.

  • What are some of the advantages of using Speechify according to the reviewer?

    -The reviewer found Speechify advantageous for speeding up the reading process, especially for long books, and for making reading more engaging by having the text read aloud while following along.

  • How does the reviewer recommend using Speechify for the best experience?

    -The reviewer recommends taking clear and flat pictures when scanning pages, especially from books, and making sure to edit out any lines or curvature that might cause the app to misread the text.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Discovering Speechify App

The speaker introduces an app called Speechify, which reads aloud text from images or documents. The app allows users to copy and paste text, scan pages, paste web links, or import documents from various sources. The user demonstrates the app's functionality with a book example and discusses the premium voice feature available through a three-day free trial. The user also mentions a one-time annual subscription fee of $69.99, which was a surprise as they expected a monthly payment plan. They express concern about the payment being charged under the CEO's name rather than the company's, causing confusion.

05:00

🔍 Scanning and Reading Documents with Speechify

The speaker discusses the process of using Speechify to scan and read documents, noting the importance of taking clear, well-aligned photos to avoid misreadings due to page curvature. They mention the app's ability to switch voices and the occasional glitches that occur when scanning pages from books. The user also highlights the app's dark mode feature, which has a minor issue with text visibility against a dark background. Despite some drawbacks, the speaker finds the app useful for speeding up reading, especially for lengthy books, and provides tips for optimizing the scanning process.

10:01

🎧 Adjusting Reading Speed and Dealing with Glitches

The user talks about adjusting the reading speed in Speechify, finding the default speed too fast and preferring a slower pace. They demonstrate how the app sometimes skips lines or misreads text when scanning pages that are not perfectly flat, causing the app to glitch. Despite these issues, the speaker emphasizes the app's value for educational purposes and for those who find reading tiring or unengaging. They conclude by recommending the app, highlighting its benefits for speeding up the reading process and making it more enjoyable.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Speechify

Speechify is the name of the app being reviewed in the video. It is an application designed to read aloud documents, text, and books either by scanning or through other input methods. The app is central to the video's theme, which is to provide an honest review of its features, benefits, and potential drawbacks. For example, the script mentions how Speechify can read from various sources such as Google Drive and the phone, illustrating its versatility.

💡Premium voices

Premium voices refer to the higher quality, more natural-sounding voice options available within the Speechify app. The video discusses the difference in voice quality between the free trial and the paid subscription, emphasizing the value of upgrading for a more pleasant listening experience. The script mentions that without paying, users receive a 'very robotic voice,' while the premium version offers voices that 'sound very human.'

💡Subscription model

The subscription model is the pricing structure of Speechify, where users pay a certain amount to access the app's full features. The video points out a potential misunderstanding regarding the payment, as it was initially perceived as a monthly subscription but is actually a one-time annual fee. The script highlights this discrepancy to inform viewers about the actual cost and payment method.

💡OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

OCR is the technology that allows Speechify to scan and convert printed text into digital text that can be read aloud. The video script discusses the importance of taking clear, well-aligned photos for accurate OCR results, especially when scanning pages from books. An example from the script is the mention of the app picking up lines on the side as numbers, which shows the sensitivity of OCR to image quality.

💡Dark mode

Dark mode is a feature within the Speechify app that changes the interface to a darker color scheme, which can be easier on the eyes in certain lighting conditions. The video points out a minor issue with the dark mode, where pasted text is not visible against the dark background unless highlighted, indicating a potential area for improvement in the app's design.

💡Glitches

Glitches refer to the minor errors or malfunctions that the reviewer encountered while using Speechify. The script mentions instances where the app mispronounces words or skips lines due to formatting issues in the scanned text. These glitches are part of the honest review, providing viewers with a balanced perspective on the app's performance.

💡Reading speed

Reading speed in the context of the video refers to the pace at which Speechify reads the text aloud. The reviewer adjusts the speed to a setting they find comfortable, noting that the default speed might be too fast for some users. The script provides an example of how the app's reading speed can be customized to enhance the listening experience.

💡Homeschool curriculum

Homeschool curriculum is mentioned as one of the use cases for Speechify in the video. The reviewer suggests that the app can be beneficial for educational purposes, helping to speed up the study process by having the material read aloud. This example illustrates how Speechify can be applied beyond casual reading, serving specific needs such as education.

💡Engagement

Engagement, in the context of the video, refers to the increased interest and focus that the reviewer experiences when Speechify reads material aloud. The script explains that having the text read aloud can make the reading process more engaging, especially for topics that might not initially capture the reader's interest.

💡Annual fee

The annual fee is the one-time cost of Speechify's premium service, which is $69.99 as mentioned in the script. This fee grants access to the full range of features for a year, including premium voices and advanced reading options. The video provides this information to help viewers understand the financial commitment involved in using Speechify.

Highlights

Speechify is an app that reads aloud any text or document by taking a picture or importing it.

The app offers a variety of voices, including premium options available during the free trial.

The app's premium voice feature is considered worth the investment for a more natural reading experience.

The subscription model is a one-time annual payment of $69.99, not a monthly subscription as initially thought.

An unusual aspect of the payment process is that the charge appears under the CEO's name rather than the company's.

The voices in Speechify are described as human-like, enhancing the reading experience.

The app can struggle with reading scanned pages from books due to curvature and alignment issues.

Users must ensure scanned pages are flat and clear to avoid misreading by the app.

The app includes a dark mode feature, but it has a minor issue with text visibility on a dark background.

Speechify can read from various sources including web links, Google Drive, and computer imports.

The app has been beneficial for speeding up the reading of lengthy books, especially for homeschool curriculum.

Speechify can help users who get easily distracted or bored while reading by making the process more engaging.

The app allows users to adjust the reading speed to their preference.

There can be occasional glitches in reading, such as skipping lines or mispronouncing words due to text separation.

Despite minor issues, the reviewer highly recommends Speechify for its ability to enhance reading efficiency.

The app provides a three-day free trial for users to experience its features before committing to the annual payment.

The reviewer emphasizes the app's value for money, especially for educational purposes and personal study.

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