Narrly

Convert PDFs, web pages, and eBooks into natural-sounding audio for hands-free listening on iOS and Mac. Ideal for students and professionals multitasking on the go.

Freemium document reading

About Narrly

Narrly serves as a versatile text-to-speech (TTS) application designed specifically for the Apple ecosystem, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision. Its primary mission is to transform static text from various sources—such as PDFs, EPUBs, Word documents, and live web pages—into fluid, natural-sounding audio. This allows users to consume written content hands-free, making it an essential tool for those looking to boost productivity or enjoy literature while multitasking. Unlike many cloud-based readers, Narrly focuses on a privacy-first architecture, performing all speech synthesis directly on the user's device. This ensures that sensitive documents are never uploaded to external servers, providing a secure environment for professional and personal use. The tool offers a suite of features that cater to both casual readers and power users. It supports more than 50 languages and provides access to over 100 enhanced voices already available on the device. Users can customize their experience by adjusting playback speeds, organizing files into folders, and setting specific reading areas to exclude distracting elements like headers, footers, or footnotes. One of its standout functional capabilities is the ability to export narrated text as standalone audio files, enabling users to create their own audiobook library from personal documents or web articles. The app also features a full-screen mode and landscape support to optimize the reading interface for different device sizes. Narrly is particularly beneficial for students dealing with dense academic material, professionals who need to catch up on industry reports during their commute, and individuals with visual impairments or cognitive disabilities who require assistive reading technology. Because the app works entirely offline, it is a reliable companion for travelers or those in areas with poor connectivity. The interface is designed to be intuitive, following native Apple design patterns, and it integrates deeply with system-level accessibility features like VoiceOver, Voice Control, and Dark Mode. What sets Narrly apart is its commitment to data privacy and its transparent pricing model, offering a lifetime purchase option alongside standard subscriptions.

Pros & cons

Pros

Processes all speech on-device to ensure maximum document privacy.
Supports over 50 languages with high-quality, natural-sounding voices.
Works completely offline, making it ideal for travel and remote use.
Offers a one-time lifetime purchase option, avoiding forced monthly subscriptions.
Deeply integrates with Apple accessibility features like VoiceOver and Dark Mode.

Cons

The free version imposes a limit on the number of PDFs that can be uploaded.
Some users have reported bugs when attempting to use the audio file export feature.
Requires iOS 17.5 or later, which may exclude users with older hardware.
Lacks a synced text highlighting feature that moves exactly with the audio narration.

Use cases

University students can convert dense biochemistry or law textbooks into audio to study while commuting or exercising.
Commuters can save long-form web articles and news stories to listen to as personalized podcasts during their drive.
Individuals with cognitive disabilities or visual impairments can use the app as a God-sent tool for reading assistance.
Busy professionals can listen to work-related Word documents or RTF reports while performing other tasks hands-free.
Avid readers can transform their EPUB collection into audiobooks without needing to purchase separate audio versions.

Features

pdf and epub support
audio file export
icloud synchronization
custom reading area (skip headers/footers)
adjustable reading speed
offline listening capability
on-device ai speech synthesis
web page text extraction

Pricing

Narrly Pro Monthly

$2.99 / month

Unlimited PDF uploads
Advanced TTS features
All 50+ languages
Audio file export
No paywalls for features
Priority support

Narrly Pro Yearly

$9.99 / year

Unlimited PDF uploads
Advanced TTS features
All 50+ languages
Audio file export
No paywalls for features
Priority support

Narrly Pro Lifetime

$19.99 / one-time

Permanent unlimited access
Unlimited PDF uploads
Advanced TTS features
All 50+ languages
Audio file export
No paywalls for features
Priority support

Free

Read PDF, EPUB, Word, and Text
Listen to web pages
100+ enhanced voices
Offline listening
Speed controls
Folder organization
Limited PDF uploads

FAQs

What document formats can Narrly read aloud?

Narrly supports a wide range of formats including PDF, EPUB, Microsoft Word, RTF, and plain text files. It can also extract text from images and narrate live web pages directly through the app.

Does Narrly require an internet connection to work?

No, Narrly is designed for offline functionality. Since the speech is synthesized directly on your device, you can listen to your documents and saved web pages anywhere without an active data connection.

Is my data and document content kept private?

Yes, privacy is a core feature as Narrly does not collect personal data. Your files are stored locally on your device or in your personal iCloud, and documents are never uploaded to the developer's servers.

Can I save the narrations as audio files for later?

Yes, Narrly includes a feature that allows you to export your documents as audio files. This is useful for creating your own audio library to listen to on other media players.

Which languages are supported for text-to-speech?

The app currently supports over 50 languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese, and many others. It utilizes natural-sounding voices that are already built into your iOS or macOS device.

Ratings & reviews

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