Text to speech

Listen to Your Documents as One Natural MP3

Upload a PDF, report, chapter, or set of notes and Scholarly reads the whole thing aloud in a natural voice, then hands you a single MP3 file. Not a summary and not a chatty two-host show — your document, word for word, in your ears.

1 AI credit per 10,000 words · Included on every paid plan

Used by 170,000+ learners and professionals
30,000
Words per narration
25+
Voices to choose from
1 file
One unified MP3

Quick answer

What is a document text-to-speech tool?

A document text-to-speech tool converts written material into spoken audio so you can listen instead of read. Scholarly takes a PDF, Word document, slide deck, web page, or your own notes, strips out the formatting a voice should never say out loud, and reads the full text in a natural AI voice. The result is one continuous MP3 rather than a folder of clips — so it plays end to end in any podcast app, car stereo, or headset. Nothing is summarized, reworded, or skipped: it is your document, read aloud.

Updated August 2026. Voice options, length limits, and credit costs reflect the current version of Scholarly.

How it works

From document to MP3 in three steps

Under a minute of setup, then it runs in the background while you do something else.

01

Add your document

A PDF, Word file, PowerPoint, text file, web page, or something already in your library. Combine up to five sources into one narration, and pick a page range if you only need part of a long PDF.

02

Pick a voice and pace

Choose from over 25 natural voices and set the speed anywhere from 0.75× to 1.5×. Narration is available in the same languages Scholarly supports everywhere else.

03

Listen anywhere

It generates in the background and lands in your library as a single MP3. Play it in Scholarly, or download it once and listen on your commute, at the gym, or offline.

Read aloud vs. summarize

Two different jobs, two different tools

Text to speech reads what is actually on the page. An audio summary rewrites it into a shorter spoken recap. Pick the one that matches what you need from the material.

Text to speech reads it
  • Every sentence of the source, in order, unchanged
  • Right when the exact wording matters — contracts, regulations, papers, coursework
  • Long-form: a full chapter or report, not a highlight reel
  • One MP3 that plays end to end anywhere
An audio summary rewrites it
  • Condensed into the key ideas, in a host's own words
  • Right when you want the gist of something you will not read in full
  • Short-form: 5 to 12 minutes for a whole chapter
  • Chapters, a synced transcript, and citations back to the source
What you get

What a narration actually gives you

Built for people who need the material in their ears, not a novelty voice demo.

Formatting that stays silent

Markdown symbols, table pipes, and heading marks are stripped before anything is spoken, so the voice never reads "hash hash Introduction" at you.

A voice you choose

Over 25 voices with different warmth, pace, and character. Preview them, pick one, and every narration you make uses it until you change it.

Speed you control

0.75× when the material is dense, 1.5× when you are reviewing something you already know. Set it before generation so the file is right on the first play.

Your language

Narration follows the language setting you use everywhere else in Scholarly, so a document you study in one language reads back in it.

A real file you keep

One MP3 in your library. Download it and it is yours — no app required, no streaming, no expiry.

Runs in the background

Start it and close the tab. A long report takes a few minutes; Scholarly opens the finished audio for you when it is done.

FAQ

Text to speech questions

How much does it cost to narrate a document?

One AI credit per 10,000 words, rounded up, with a one-credit minimum. A 6,000-word article costs one credit; a 24,000-word report costs three. You are charged when the narration starts, and refunded automatically if it fails.

How long can a document be?

Up to 30,000 words in a single narration, which is roughly three hours of audio. For anything longer, narrow the page range or split it into two narrations — you can select a page range on any PDF before you start.

What file types can I narrate?

PDFs, Word documents, PowerPoint decks, plain text and Markdown files, spreadsheets, saved web pages, and anything already sitting in your Scholarly library. You can also paste a URL and narrate the page behind it.

Is this a summary?

No. Text to speech reads the source as written, in order, with nothing added or removed. If you want a shorter spoken version that explains the material rather than reciting it, use the audio summary generator instead.

Can I download the MP3?

Yes. The narration is saved to your library as a normal MP3 file, and you can download it and play it in any podcast app, media player, or car stereo. It works offline once downloaded.

How long does it take to generate?

A short article is usually ready in a minute or two. A full-length report can take several minutes because the audio is synthesized in pieces and then assembled into one file. It runs in the background, so you can close the tab and come back.

Can I choose the voice?

Yes. Over 25 voices are available, each with a distinct character and pace, and you can preview them before choosing. You can also set the playback speed between 0.75× and 1.5× before the narration is generated.

Does it read tables, formulas, and citations?

It reads the text it can extract from your document, and strips formatting characters that would otherwise be spoken aloud. Dense tables and mathematical notation do not narrate well by nature — for material like that, a study guide or audio summary is usually the better format.

Keep exploring

Related tools

Other ways to turn your material into something you can listen to, study, or share.

Audio summary generator

A short spoken recap of a chapter instead of the full read.

AI podcast generator

A two-host conversation that explains your source material.

Podcasts feature

See how Scholarly turns sources into podcast episodes.

PDF to podcast

Turn a PDF into a hosted episode with chapters.

Audio to text

The reverse trip — transcribe a recording into text.

Audio to notes

Turn a recording into structured study notes.

Summarizer

Condense a long document into the key points in writing.

AI study guide

Build a structured guide from the same source.

Pricing

Start listening to what you have to read

One AI credit per 10,000 words, on every paid plan. Upload a document and get an MP3 back.

Free

See what it does with one of your own sources.

$0

/month

Free forever

No card required.

  • 3 lifetime AI Chat messages

  • 1 free AI creation total

  • 2-minute podcasts and video lectures

  • 1 free file upload total (8MB)

  • 5 lifetime quiz questions

  • 1 completed practice exam total

  • 15 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, study guide, worksheet, spreadsheet, story book, timeline, SOP, flowchart, lesson plan, or outline — or run Deep Research or turn a recording into AI Meeting Notes.

Premium

Most Popular

Steady weekly output from the material you already have.

$12

/month

Billed yearly at $144 · save $216

  • Everything in Free, plus:

  • 10 AI creations per week

  • Unlimited AI chat & autocomplete

  • Podcasts up to 60 minutes, videos up to 45 minutes

  • Unlimited file uploads (up to 300MB)

  • Unlimited study sessions

  • Unlimited exams & quizzes

  • 1000-page PDF to flashcards

  • Export to Anki

  • Priority support

Laureate

For work where being right matters more than the price.

$99

/month

billed monthly · cancel anytime

For frontier models & 7x more AI Creations

Our most advanced and most expensive tier.

  • Everything in Premium, plus:

  • 75 flexible AI creation credits every week

  • 75 AI creations per week

  • Podcasts up to 60 minutes, videos up to 45 minutes

  • Unlimited uploads up to 1 GB, plus 3,000-page PDFs

  • 12 hours of voice mode per day

  • Priority support and early access to new Frontier models

Pricing shown in USD. Local currency may be available for Premium in app.

Compare plans

AI chat

Premium and Laureate include unlimited AI chat. GPT 5.6 Sol and Claude Opus 5 are reserved for credit-metered AI creations.

Free
3 total
Premium
Unlimited
Laureate
Unlimited

AI creations

AI creations share one credit balance across every creation tool. Standard models use 1 credit; Frontier models Sol and Opus use 3.

Free
1 total
Premium
10/week
Laureate
75/week

Podcast length

Free episodes are fixed at 2 minutes. Paid plans can set a target length up to 60 minutes.

Free
2 minutes
Premium
Up to 60 minutes
Laureate
Up to 60 minutes

Video lecture length

Free lectures with a length control are fixed at 2 minutes. Paid plans can set a target up to 45 minutes. Short and Kids stay about 30 seconds.

Free
2 minutes
Premium
Up to 45 minutes
Laureate
Up to 45 minutes

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

Practice questions

Free
5 total
Premium
Unlimited
Laureate
Unlimited

Practice exams

Free
1 total
Premium
Unlimited
Laureate
Unlimited

Voice mode

Free
15 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

What customers say

Scholarly has enhanced the quality of notes and questions I administer to my tutees. Insightful, to the point.

TD Georgas

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

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

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

Kelvin

Scholarly user

Your questions, answered

Is Scholarly free to use?

Yes! The free plan includes core study tools with lifetime allowances: 3 AI Chat messages, 500 autocomplete words, 5 quiz questions, 15 voice minutes, 1 practice exam, one free AI creation total, and 1 file upload. These allowances do not reset. Upgrade to Premium for 10 AI creations per week and unlimited uploads.

What uses my free AI creations?

Generating flashcards, improving a flashcard deck, making a podcast, creating a video lecture or infographic, building slides, a spreadsheet, or a story book, making a mind map, study guide, or worksheet, having an AI Agent create a timeline, SOP, flowchart, lesson plan, or outline, running Deep Research, or processing a recording uses your free AI creation. It is a lifetime free credit and does not reset. AI Chat, autocomplete, quiz practice, voice, exams, and file uploads have separate lifetime allowances.

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. Free-plan allowances are lifetime credits and do not reset. Premium includes 10 AI creations 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.