On-Device Neural TTS
for iPhone & iPad.
LocalReader reads PDFs, EPUBs, and web pages aloud using on-device neural voice synthesis — all AI inference runs locally on Apple Neural Engine. No internet, no cloud, no tracking — your documents never leave your device.
Edge AI speech synthesis · 8 languages · Real-time word-level alignment
Supported Formats
Read any document aloud on iPhone
Open a PDF, EPUB, web page, or plain text file — LocalReader converts it to natural speech, entirely on your device.
Multi-page, word highlight
EPUB
Chapter navigation
Web Pages
Share from Safari
Plain Text
Paste or type
Features
Why LocalReader leads on-device neural TTS
On-device AI inference, privacy by default, and features designed for real reading — no cloud dependency.
100% On-Device AI Inference
Works in Airplane Mode with zero cloud dependency. Neural voice synthesis runs on Apple Neural Engine — on-device AI inference with no network round-trips, no data collection, no uploads.
Neural Voice Synthesis
Natural-sounding voices across English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Italian, and Portuguese. Apple's neural voice engine runs directly on-device — no robotic monotones, no cloud latency.
Fast Playback
On-device AI inference means no network round-trips. Real-time word-level alignment keeps your eyes and ears in sync as the voice reads.
Read PDFs & EPUBs Aloud
Open PDFs, EPUBs, web pages, and plain text. Share from Safari, Mail, Files, or any app. Multi-page navigation, chapter support, and bookmark your position.
Speed Control (0.5x–3.0x)
Adjust reading speed from 0.5x for language learning to 3.0x for speed reading. Voices stay natural at every speed.
Siri, Apple Watch & Lock Screen
"Hey Siri, resume reading." Control playback from your wrist, Lock Screen widgets, and Live Activities. Hands-free listening while driving, cooking, or exercising.
How It Works
From text to speech in 3 steps
Open a document
Share a PDF, EPUB, or web page from any app into LocalReader. Or paste text directly — it starts reading in seconds.
Choose a voice
Pick from on-device neural voices across 8 languages. Every voice runs locally on your iPhone — no cloud required.
Listen anywhere
Press play and follow along with real-time word highlighting. Works on flights, in the subway, or anywhere without internet.
Comparison
Cloud text-to-speech vs. on-device
Most TTS apps upload your text to remote servers. LocalReader keeps everything on your iPhone.
| Cloud TTS Apps | LocalReader | |
|---|---|---|
| Works offline | ❌ Needs internet | ✅ 100% offline |
| Your text stays private | ❌ Uploaded to servers | ✅ Never leaves device |
| Per-word/character limits | ⚠️ Common on free tiers | ✅ No per-word limits |
| Neural voices | ✅ Cloud-rendered | ✅ On-device |
| Multiple languages | ✅ Dozens | ✅ 8 languages |
| Account required | ✅ Usually | ✅ No account |
Use Cases
Who uses offline text-to-speech?
📖 Students & Researchers
Turn academic PDFs, textbooks, and research papers into audio. Listen to course material during commutes or while exercising. Speed up study sessions at 2x–3x.
🧠 Dyslexia & Reading Support
Real-time word highlighting syncs visual and auditory reading, a proven technique for dyslexia support. Adjustable speed and natural voices reduce cognitive load.
✈️ Commuters & Travelers
Read articles, books, and documents on flights, trains, and subways — where there's no signal. Offline text-to-speech that works anywhere.
🌍 Language Learners
Hear correct pronunciation across 8 languages. Slow down to 0.5x for careful listening. Read foreign-language books and articles with natural pronunciation.
👁️ Low Vision & Accessibility
Large text with synchronized audio and word highlighting. An alternative to screen readers for people who want to listen to specific documents rather than the entire interface.
✍️ Writers & Editors
Hear your writing read back to you — the fastest way to catch awkward phrasing, typos, and rhythm issues. Paste a draft and listen at comfortable speed.
Privacy
Your documents never leave your iPhone
Speech synthesis runs on your device — not a remote server. There are no analytics SDKs, no crash reporters, no tracking frameworks, and no account system. Your reading history, bookmarks, and documents are stored locally on your device.
Pricing
Start free. Upgrade when you need more.
No trial tricks, no hidden limits. The free tier is genuinely useful — Premium unlocks everything.
Free
$0
- ✓ 2 voices
- ✓ 30 min/day playback
- ✓ PDF, EPUB, web, text
- ✓ Word highlighting
- ✓ 100% offline
Premium
$9.99/mo
- ✓ All voices unlocked
- ✓ Unlimited playback
- ✓ All 8 languages
- ✓ Everything in Free
Annual
$59.99/yr
- ✓ Save 50%
- ✓ Everything in Premium
- ✓ Installments available
Frequently Asked Questions
Does LocalReader really work offline as a text-to-speech app?
Yes. LocalReader uses Apple's on-device speech synthesis to generate speech directly on your iPhone. No internet connection is needed for playback. It works in Airplane Mode, on flights, underground, and anywhere without Wi-Fi or cellular data.
What file formats can LocalReader read aloud?
LocalReader reads PDFs, EPUBs, web pages, and plain text aloud. You can share documents from Safari, Mail, Files, or any other app directly into LocalReader. It handles long documents, multi-chapter books, and web articles.
How many voices and languages does LocalReader support?
LocalReader supports 8 languages — English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, Hindi, Italian, and Portuguese — using Apple's on-device neural voices. The number of available voices depends on what's installed on your iPhone (typically 30+ across all languages). The free tier includes 2 voices; Premium unlocks all available voices.
How is LocalReader different from Speechify or NaturalReader?
Speechify and NaturalReader synthesize speech on cloud servers, which means your text is uploaded for processing and you need an internet connection for the best voices. LocalReader generates speech entirely on your iPhone. Your documents never leave your device, it works offline, and there are no per-word or per-character limits.
Is LocalReader free to use?
Yes. LocalReader has a free tier with 2 voices, 30 minutes of daily playback, and support for all document formats including PDF and EPUB. Premium ($9.99/month or $59.99/year) unlocks all voices, unlimited playback, and all 8 languages.
What iPhone models support LocalReader?
LocalReader works on iPhone XS and later models running iOS 17 or newer. iPad with A12 Bionic chip or later is also supported.
Can I use LocalReader to read PDFs aloud on iPhone?
Yes. Open any PDF in LocalReader and it reads every page aloud with real-time word highlighting. Share a PDF from Files, Safari, or Mail — or open it directly from the app. Speed is adjustable from 0.5x to 3.0x.
Does LocalReader track my reading data or documents?
No. LocalReader has zero tracking, zero analytics, and zero cloud uploads. Speech is generated on your device, documents stay in the app sandbox on your iPhone, and nothing is ever transmitted to any server. The only network request the app makes is checking for App Store subscription status.
Guides
Learn more about offline text-to-speech
Comparison
LocalReader vs Speechify
On-device vs cloud TTS. Privacy, pricing, and offline support compared.
Comparison
LocalReader vs NaturalReader
Two TTS apps at the same price. Which is better for offline iPhone reading?
Comparison
LocalReader vs Voice Dream Reader
Apple's featured TTS reader vs a privacy-first on-device alternative.
Comparison
LocalReader vs ElevenReader
On-device neural voices vs ElevenLabs cloud AI. Voice quality vs privacy.
Guide
Read PDFs Aloud on iPhone
Step-by-step: open a PDF, pick a voice, listen with word highlighting.
Guide
Offline Text-to-Speech for iPhone
How on-device TTS works and why it matters for flights, commutes, and privacy.
Accessibility
Text-to-Speech for Dyslexia
Word highlighting + neural voices for reading support and comprehension.
Guide
Listen to EPUB Books on iPhone
Turn any ebook into a spoken audiobook. Chapter navigation, bookmarks, free.
Turn every screen into your personal narrator
Free to download. No ads, no account, no internet required. On-device neural voices read PDFs, EPUBs, and web pages aloud — 100% on your iPhone.
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