Turn a manuscript, a book chapter or a long document into narrated audio. Scholarly reads your text word for word in a voice you choose and saves each part as one MP3 with a time-synced transcript, up to 30,000 words per file.
Reads your text word for wordUp to 30,000 words per file66 voices to previewMP3 download on paid plans
Used by 200,000+ learners and professionals worldwide
Quick answer
What is an AI audiobook generator?
An AI audiobook generator reads a written text aloud with a synthetic voice and gives you the audio as a file. In Scholarly you upload a PDF, a Word file or a text file, choose a voice and a speed, and it narrates the text exactly as written. Each narration is one MP3 of up to 30,000 words, a little over three hours at normal speed. A short book or a long report is one file, and a full-length book is a few files, one per part.
Input: PDF, Word, OpenDocument, RTF, text and Markdown files, or a web page link. EPUB and Kindle files are not supported, so export the book to PDF or Word first.
Output: one MP3 per narration, with a time-synced transcript. There is no M4B file and there are no chapter markers.
Voice: one narrator per file, chosen from 66 voices you can preview. There is no multi-voice cast and no voice cloning.
Cost: 1 AI Creation Credit per 10,000 words. A Google or Grok voice outside your language's standard set adds 1.
Download: MP3 download is on paid plans. On Free you listen in Scholarly.
Scholarly is built for listening to your own material. It does not prepare audio to a store's submission requirements, so check a store's rules before you plan to publish there.
Checked against the product on November 13, 2026.
Upload the manuscript
A PDF, a Word file or a text file. For a PDF, pick the page range of the part or chapter you want narrated.
Choose the narrator
Preview the voices, pick one, and set the speed to 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x or 1.5x. The cost is quoted from the word count before you start.
Listen, then do the next part
The MP3 is saved to your library with its transcript. Repeat for each part of a longer book, with the same voice and speed so the parts match.
What people narrate
Your own manuscript
Hear a draft read back to you. Awkward sentences and repeated words are easier to catch by ear than on the page.
Course readers and long reports
A reading pack or a long report becomes something you can get through on a commute.
Texts you have the right to use
Public-domain books and open-access papers, narrated in a voice you choose.
Guides and manuals
Handbooks, onboarding guides and manuals turned into audio for people who would rather listen.
Input
PDF, Word, OpenDocument, RTF, text and Markdown files, and web page links
Output
One MP3 per narration, with a time-synced transcript
Length
Up to 30,000 words per file, a little over three hours at normal speed
Narrator
One voice per file from a library of 66, read at 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x or 1.5x
Cost
1 AI Creation Credit per 10,000 words, quoted before you start
Not included
EPUB input, M4B files, chapter markers, a multi-voice cast and voice cloning
How a full-length book works
One narration holds up to 30,000 words. A 90,000-word book is therefore three files of a little over three hours each, or more files if you prefer one per chapter. For a PDF, use the page range selector to narrate one part at a time. For a Word or text file, split the manuscript into parts before you upload. Keep the same voice and speed for every part so the book sounds like one recording.
What it costs to narrate a book
Narration costs 1 AI Creation Credit per 10,000 words, rounded up for each file. A 90,000-word book narrated as three 30,000-word files uses 9 AI Creation Credits. Premium includes 15 a week and Laureate 80 a week, and a Google or Grok voice outside your language's standard set adds 1 per file. The Free plan's 1 lifetime AI Creation Credit covers one narration of up to 10,000 words, which is enough to hear how a chapter sounds.
It reads your words and changes none of them
The narration is the text as written, in order. Scholarly does not shorten, summarize or rewrite it. The only thing removed is formatting, such as Markdown symbols and heading marks, so the voice reads prose instead of punctuation. Tables, footnotes and equations do not read well aloud, so a text that is mostly prose gives the best result.
What Scholarly does not do
Scholarly is a study and training tool, and narration is one of the things it creates. It does not accept EPUB or Kindle files, does not produce an M4B audiobook or chapter markers, does not give different characters different voices, and does not clone your voice. It also does not prepare files to a store's audio specifications. If you plan to sell an audiobook, check the store's current rules on AI narration and its technical requirements first.
Narration or podcast
If you want the book's own words, use narration. If you want the ideas discussed and explained, Scholarly can make a podcast from the same file instead: a new script spoken by a host, a guest and an optional producer. A podcast is not a reading of the text.
Keep exploring
Related tools
Other ways to turn a document into something you can listen to.
Yes, for listening to your own material. Scholarly reads a PDF, Word or text file aloud word for word and saves it as MP3. One file holds up to 30,000 words, so a full-length book is narrated in parts and becomes several MP3s.
Is there a free AI audiobook generator?
Scholarly is free to start, with no credit card. The Free plan includes 1 lifetime AI Creation Credit and one uploaded file, which covers one narration of up to 10,000 words that you listen to in Scholarly. On Free, the upload can be up to 8 MB and a PDF is read to 32 pages. Downloading the MP3 and narrating a whole book need a paid plan.
How long can one audiobook file be?
Up to 30,000 words, a little over three hours at normal speed. Longer books are narrated in parts, and each part is saved as its own MP3.
Can I upload an EPUB or Kindle book?
No. Scholarly reads PDF, Word, OpenDocument, RTF, text and Markdown files, and web page links. Export the book to PDF or Word first, and only upload text you have the right to use.
Can I choose the narrator's voice?
Yes. For English, the voice library has 10 Standard voices, 30 Google voices and 26 Grok voices, and you can preview a voice before you start. Not every voice speaks every language. Each file has one narrator, and there is no voice cloning.
Can characters have different voices?
No. A narration uses one voice from start to finish. Scholarly's podcasts have up to three speakers, but a podcast is a discussion of the text, not a reading of it.
Can I publish the audiobook on Audible or another store?
Scholarly does not prepare files for stores. It makes MP3 files for listening, with no M4B output, no chapter markers and no mastering to a store's audio specifications. Stores set their own rules on AI narration, so check the store's current requirements and Scholarly's terms before you plan to sell anything.
How much does it cost to narrate a whole book?
1 AI Creation Credit per 10,000 words, rounded up for each file. A 90,000-word book in three files uses 9. Premium is $30 a month or $180 a year in US dollars with 15 AI Creation Credits a week, and Laureate is $99 a month with 80 a week.
Does it summarize or shorten the book?
No. Narration reads the text as written. For a shorter spoken version, use the audio summary generator or make a podcast.
Do I get the text as well as the audio?
Yes. Every narration is saved with a time-synced transcript. You can search it, click a line to jump the audio to that moment, and copy it out.
Hear your document read aloud
Upload a chapter, pick a narrator, and get an MP3 back with its transcript.
Sample lecture
What one video lecture gets
Free makes a lecture of about 2 minutes in 720p with the Scholarly logo, to watch in Scholarly. Premium and Laureate make lectures up to 45 minutes in 1080p that you can download as an MP4, with the logo off if you choose.
With the Scholarly logo, to watch in Scholarly. Podcasts of about 2 min.
1 free AI Creation Credit total
2 lifetime images · Beta
100 lifetime AI Chat messages
1 free file upload total (8MB)
AI Meeting Notes: 1 meeting total, no reset, up to 60 minutes, notes included
5 lifetime quiz questions
1 completed practice exam total
5 lifetime voice minutes
32-page PDF to flashcards
500 lifetime autocomplete words
Use it to generate flashcards, improve a deck, or create a podcast, video lecture, slides, infographic, mind map, Summary, worksheet, spreadsheet, story book, timeline, SOP, flowchart, lesson plan, or outline - or run Deep Research. A meeting recorded with it comes with its transcript and AI Meeting Notes.
Pricing shown in USD by default. Local currency may be available in app or at checkout.
Compare plans
Image creation · Beta
Shared across Image Studio and chat. Separate from AI Creation Credits. Free images are lifetime and do not reset. Paid allowances reset weekly without rollover. Limits may change during beta.
Free
2 lifetime
Premium
40/week
Laureate
80/week
AI chat
Premium and Laureate include unlimited AI chat on Auto. Chat starts on Best, and premium models such as GPT 6.1 Sol, Claude Sonnet 5.5, and Claude Opus 5.5 draw on a weekly premium usage allowance; when it runs out, chat keeps going on Auto until it resets. Chat never spends AI Creation Credits.
Free
100 total
Premium
Unlimited
Laureate
Unlimited
Premium chat models (Best)
Chat answers on Best, the strongest model, by default. Premium models draw on a weekly allowance that resets every Monday at 00:00 UTC; long threads, large files, background tasks, and Claude Opus 5.5 use it faster. When it runs out, chat keeps going on Auto until the reset.
Free
Not included
Premium
Weekly usage
Laureate
4× weekly usage
AI Creation Credits
AI Creation Credits cover videos, slides, documents, and other AI creations. Most models use 1 credit, a few use 2, and Frontier models use 2, 3, or 4. Image Studio and chat images have a separate weekly allowance.
Free
1 total
Premium
15/week
Laureate
80/week
Podcast length
Free episodes are about 2 minutes. Paid plans can set a target length up to 60 minutes.
Free
About 2 minutes
Premium
Up to 60 minutes
Laureate
Up to 60 minutes
Video lecture length
Free lectures with a length control are about 2 minutes. Paid plans can set a target up to 45 minutes. Short uses its own short video format.
Free
About 2 minutes
Premium
Up to 45 minutes
Laureate
Up to 45 minutes
Video lecture resolution
Free
720p
Premium
1080p
Laureate
1080p
Download lectures as MP4
Free
-
Premium
Included
Laureate
Included
Scholarly logo on lectures
Free
Always on
Premium
Your choice
Laureate
Your choice
File uploads
Free
1 total (8MB)
Premium
Unlimited (300MB)
Laureate
Unlimited (1 GB each)
PDF to flashcards
Free
32 pages
Premium
1000 pages
Laureate
3000 pages
Sources per creation
Free
Up to 1
Premium
Up to 10
Laureate
Up to 20
Practice questions
Free
5 total
Premium
Unlimited
Laureate
Unlimited
Practice exams
Free
1 total
Premium
Unlimited
Laureate
Unlimited
Voice mode
Free
5 min total
Premium
2 hr/day
Laureate
12 hr/day
Autocomplete
Free
500 words total
Premium
Unlimited
Laureate
Unlimited
Export to Anki
Free
-
Premium
Included
Laureate
Included
Support
Free
Standard
Premium
Priority
Laureate
Priority
Feature
Free
Premium
Laureate
Image creation · Beta
2 lifetime
40/week
80/week
AI chat
100 total
Unlimited
Unlimited
Premium chat models (Best)
Not included
Weekly usage
4× weekly usage
AI Creation Credits
1 total
15/week
80/week
Podcast length
About 2 minutes
Up to 60 minutes
Up to 60 minutes
Video lecture length
About 2 minutes
Up to 45 minutes
Up to 45 minutes
Video lecture resolution
720p
1080p
1080p
Download lectures as MP4
-
Included
Included
Scholarly logo on lectures
Always on
Your choice
Your choice
File uploads
1 total (8MB)
Unlimited (300MB)
Unlimited (1 GB each)
PDF to flashcards
32 pages
1000 pages
3000 pages
Sources per creation
Up to 1
Up to 10
Up to 20
Practice questions
5 total
Unlimited
Unlimited
Practice exams
1 total
Unlimited
Unlimited
Voice mode
5 min total
2 hr/day
12 hr/day
Autocomplete
500 words total
Unlimited
Unlimited
Export to Anki
-
Included
Included
Support
Standard
Priority
Priority
What customers say
Scholarly has enhanced the quality of notes and questions I administer to my tutees. Insightful, to the point.
TD Georgas
Tutor
I have very good experience with Scholarly it summarize me scientific text in hovel academic level with citation. I use this for any therapeutic area . It is great and useful tool.
Diana
Scholarly user
Scholarly has been a valuable tool for my studies. The AI-generated flashcards and intuitive features make organizing and retaining information much easier.
Briana
Scholarly user
This app is great for studying for big test. Drop your PDF's in the system and it'll do the trick. You can organize it specifically for your needs.
Kelvin
Scholarly user
Your questions, answered
Is Scholarly free to use?
Yes! The free plan includes core study tools with lifetime allowances: 100 AI Chat messages, 500 autocomplete words, 5 quiz questions, 5 voice minutes, 1 practice exam, one free AI Creation Credit total, and 1 file upload. These allowances do not reset. Image Studio and chat also share 2 lifetime images during beta; this separate Free allowance does not reset and may change. Upgrade to Premium for 15 AI Creation Credits per week and unlimited uploads.
What uses my free AI Creation Credits?
AI Creation Credits are shared across flashcards, podcasts, videos, slides, AI Documents, Deep Research, and the Transcribe tool. The selected model determines the credit cost. Recording a meeting does not use an AI Creation Credit. Transcript and notes are included, up to 10 hours on paid plans.
Can I cancel anytime?
Absolutely. There are no contracts or commitments. You can cancel your subscription at any time from your account settings, and you'll keep access until the end of your billing period.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe. Pricing is displayed in USD by default, but local currency is available in the app.
Can I use Scholarly with a class or school?
Yes. For a school or organization-wide rollout, contact us at hello@scholarly.so and we'll help you find the right setup.
What happens when I hit a free plan limit?
You'll see a prompt to upgrade. Your existing work is never lost - limits only apply to new actions. Most Free allowances are lifetime limits. The separate beta image allowance includes 2 lifetime images on Free with no reset, 40 per week on Premium, and 80 per week on Laureate. Limits may change during beta. Premium includes 15 AI Creation Credits per week, podcasts up to 60 minutes, video lectures up to 45 minutes, unlimited uploads, chat, autocomplete, quizzes, and exams, plus more daily voice time.
