Speechify Books: Read & Listen icon
Speechify Books Review: Comprehensive Analysis of the Audiobook Platform

by Speechify Inc.

4.7
IOSBooks
Speechify Books offers synchronized reading and listening for 100,000+ titles, positioning itself as an Audible alternative. The app serves audiobook enthusiasts seeking immersive experiences and visual learners who benefit from text accompaniment.

Detailed Review

Speechify Books: Read & Listen enters the competitive audiobook market as a challenger to established platforms like Audible, leveraging its parent company's experience with 20 million users worldwide. The iOS application distinguishes itself through synchronized text-and-audio functionality, providing access to a catalog of over 100,000 titles from major publishers including Simon & Schuster. This dual-mode approach represents a significant evolution in digital reading experiences, particularly for users who benefit from both auditory and visual engagement with content. The core functionality centers on simultaneous reading and listening, with real-time text highlighting that follows the narration. Users can tap anywhere in the text to jump to corresponding audio segments, creating an interactive experience that traditional audiobook apps lack. The platform maintains standard audiobook features including playback speed control, sleep timer, and bookmarking, while adding unique value through its visual component. The library includes current bestsellers across fiction and non-fiction categories, with particular strength in fantasy and sci-fi genres where complex terminology benefits from visual reinforcement. User experience demonstrates thoughtful design with an onboarding process that multiple reviewers describe as comprehensive and user-friendly. The interface employs clean typography and intuitive navigation, though some users report intermittent review prompt interruptions during reading sessions. Real-world usage patterns show particular utility for commuters, multitaskers, and those with reading differences who benefit from dual sensory input. The text synchronization proves especially valuable for proper noun comprehension in complex narratives and for retention through combined learning modalities. User feedback trends overwhelmingly positive, with a 4.65/5 rating reflecting general satisfaction. Reviewer Pumpkineater54 (August 12, 2023) notes the platform's ethical appeal, stating they switched 'after hearing how Audible treats its authors.' Galaxyprincess (October 17, 2023) praises the text synchronization specifically for fantasy genres: 'It's so amazing to be able to see how all the proper nouns are spelt.' However, TellTheTruthReviews (September 5, 2024) cites frustration with 'nag screen to review' interruptions, indicating some UX friction. Customer service receives positive mentions, with Quad Bravo (July 20, 2023) reporting responsive support via text message. The platform demonstrates clear strengths in innovative reading immersion and ethical positioning, though its catalog depth compared to industry leaders remains to be fully evaluated. The simultaneous text-audio feature provides genuine differentiation, particularly benefiting visual learners, language learners, and those processing complex material. Limitations include potential catalog gaps in niche genres and occasional intrusive review prompts. Ideal use cases include educational contexts, accessibility applications, and immersive reading experiences where text reference enhances comprehension.

Key Features

  • Synchronized text and audio playback allowing visual tracking while listening to narration
  • Tap-to-jump navigation enabling precise audio positioning by selecting text passages
  • 100,000+ title catalog featuring current bestsellers from major publishing houses
  • Visual proper noun reinforcement particularly valuable for fantasy and sci-fi genres
  • Comprehensive onboarding process explaining functionality to new users intuitively
  • Multi-format accessibility supporting varied learning styles and reading preferences

Why Users Love It

Innovative text-audio synchronization
Ethical alternative to market leaders

Perfect for: Audiobook enthusiasts seeking immersive reading experiences with visual reinforcement

Screenshots

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Ranking History

Track Speechify Books: Read & Listen's performance in Books over the last 30 days

Top 5
Top 10
Top 15
Below 15

Current Rank

#50

Best Rank

#50

All-time high

Average Rank

#50

30-day average

User Reviews

Galaxyprincess
Oct 17, 2023

Really love this app. I love that I can follow long with the text while I listen to the narrators. As someone that mostly listens to fantasy and sci-fi, it’s so amazing to be able to see how all the proper nouns are spelt. I like that I can click directly on the text to jump forward and back; it makes finding your place easy if you get distracted or fall asleep. Sanderson brought me here and I’m glad Really love this app. I love that I can follow long with the text while I listen to the narrators. As someone that mostly listens to fantasy and sci-fi, it’s so amazing to be able to see how all the proper nouns are spelt. I like that I can click directly on the text to jump forward and back; it makes finding your place easy if you get distracted or fall asleep.

TellTheTruthReviews
Sep 5, 2024

In the middle of using the application, it pops up nag screen to review. I hate that interruption so much. Here is your review. Remove the nag screen and I will update my review. Nag pop up to review In the middle of using the application, it pops up nag screen to review. I hate that interruption so much. Here is your review. Remove the nag screen and I will update my review.

Pumpkineater54
Aug 12, 2023

I decided to switch over after hearing how Audible treats its authors. The intro to the app alone felt fresh and user friendly explaining everything I needed to know. The experience so far is amazing! Hope to see more migrate to this app. Honestly impressed I decided to switch over after hearing how Audible treats its authors. The intro to the app alone felt fresh and user friendly explaining everything I needed to know. The experience so far is amazing! Hope to see more migrate to this app.

Quad Bravo
Jul 20, 2023

My experience with Speechify has been great so far, and it only got better when I had to interact with someone involved in customer service! Wanting to purchase a book with a credit, and seeing that I was unable to do so, I contacted the customer service via text message, and they got back to me fairly quickly. Since the title I was after was unavailable for purchase with a Speechify credit, I was offered a complementary credit to balance it out! Keep it up, speechify! You guys are certainly solidifying yourselves as a major competitor against Audible. Excellent customer service My experience with Speechify has been great so far, and it only got better when I had to interact with someone involved in customer service! Wanting to purchase a book with a credit, and seeing that I was unable to do so, I contacted the customer service via text message, and they got back to me fairly quickly. Since the title I was after was unavailable for purchase with a Speechify credit, I was offered a complementary credit to balance it out! Keep it up, speechify! You guys are certainly solidifying yourselves as a major competitor against Audible.

TellTheTruthReviews
Sep 5, 2024

In the middle of using the application, it pops up nag screen to review. I hate that interruption so much. Here is your review. Remove the nag screen and I will update my review. Nag pop up to review In the middle of using the application, it pops up nag screen to review. I hate that interruption so much. Here is your review. Remove the nag screen and I will update my review.

App Details

Developer

Speechify Inc.

Platform

ios

Rating

4.7

Last Updated

9/7/2025