- Best Mac Video Software
- Best Mac Software Programs
- Best Text Recognition Software Mac Free
- Best Text Recognition Software For Mac
Whether you prefer articles read to you while you do something else or trying to grasp a new foreign language or even for specially abled students, TTS (short for text-to-speech) has proved to be very useful.
In our previous articles we saw some of the best text to speech apps for Windows and Android. And today, we take a look at some of the best TTS options available for Macs.
Text To Speech For Mac
Dec 26, 2019 Easy Screen OCR for Mac It is a light and simple Mac free OCR software to recognize texts from images. All you need to do is, capturing the screenshots of your file first, then performing OCR on the file to make the image text copyable. Also, it allows users to. Jan 09, 2020 FineReader is an OCR Software that is used both by Windows and Mac OS. ABBYY is the company that has made this software to be used by people. This program allows its users to convert image documents (photos, scans, PDF files) into a format that can be easily edited. Files can be saved in the DjVu format in its version 11.
1. macOS TTS
Before we get too ahead of ourselves and start downloading third party apps, it is very trivial to know that macOS itself comes with a built-in TTS and you can use it anywhere on your computer from the Notes app to any browser.
To get started, highlight or select the text which you want to be read and then right click, go to Speech and then to Start Speaking; and your Mac should start reading the text to you. It also supports a lot of other languages other than English and there are a lot of voices to choose from in all the languages. To change the language option simply go to Accessibility > Speech. Cr2 to jpg mac app. Although some voices are very robotic, there are a few which aren’t and sound more like a human.
But the TTS is far from perfect; it is very basic and barebones and lacks options like pause/play, picking up from a selected word instantly and a lot more.
Quick Tip: It blew my mind and might even blow yours to know that the native TTS on Mac also supports converting your text into audio files. Just select the required text, right click and go to Services > Add to iTunes as a spoken track. The text will be converted to an audio track and added to your iTunes library.
Pros:
– Built-in system wide
– Lots of voice options
– Converting text to iTunes track
– Built-in system wide
– Lots of voice options
– Converting text to iTunes track
Cons:
– No Pause/Play
– Have to select manually all the words to be read
– No instant pickup
– No Pause/Play
– Have to select manually all the words to be read
– No instant pickup
![Best Text Recognition Software Mac Best Text Recognition Software Mac](/uploads/1/2/6/1/126133294/230306890.png)
Verdict:
Overall, the TTS that comes with macOS is very barebones without all the bells and whistles and should be perfect for somebody looking for a basic TTS experience without even buying or installing any third party software.
Overall, the TTS that comes with macOS is very barebones without all the bells and whistles and should be perfect for somebody looking for a basic TTS experience without even buying or installing any third party software.
2. Invicta TTS
Invicta TTS is a very simple free Text To Speech app available on the Mac App Store.
Once you open up the app, it presents you with a text box where you can enter or paste any text which will be then converted to speech. The app is very lightweight and minimal in nature with everything being to the point.
Once you open up the app, it presents you with a text box where you can enter or paste any text which will be then converted to speech. The app is very lightweight and minimal in nature with everything being to the point.
Although the app is very basic, unlike the built in TTS of Mac OS, it does add the option of playing or pausing the audio which becomes crucial when listening to long texts or articles. The voice settings cannot be changed but the in built voice does the job pretty good enough.
Pros:
– Minimal and Light
– Play/Pause Option
– Minimal and Light
– Play/Pause Option
Cons:
– Cannot read documents automatically
– Supports only English
– Cannot read documents automatically
– Supports only English
Verdict:
If you need a simple and light TTS app and might be listening to long articles, Invicta TTS does the job pretty well but do remember that it can only read English.
If you need a simple and light TTS app and might be listening to long articles, Invicta TTS does the job pretty well but do remember that it can only read English.
Link: Get Invicta TTS on the App Store
Price: Free
3. Natural Reader
The next app on our list is Natural Reader which is an extremely powerful TTS software available not only on Mac OS but also on Windows, iOS, Android and even has an online reader.
The app comes in many flavours, each with its fair share of features for the price. The free version comes with basic TTS features along with the ability to read directly from file formats such as Docx, PDF, ePub and Txt. It also has a floating bar which can be used to read text while you are in other applications. The next option or the Personal version, at a steep $100, allows you to read web pages directly, converting text to audio files and syncing everything between your phone apps. There are also Professional and Ultimate versions which add OCR support and a bunch of natural voices.
Pros:
– Support for file formats
– Convert to audio files
– Cross Platform
– OCR Support
– Support for file formats
– Convert to audio files
– Cross Platform
– OCR Support
Best Mac Video Software
Cons:
– Pricey
– No instant pickup
– Pricey
– No instant pickup
Verdict:
All the features of Natural Reader definitely come at a price and you should be able to decide whether it is a suit for you with respect to your investment in TTS, but even for a casual user the free version works really well. Overall, Natural reader is not just best text to speech software with natural voices, but since it also support PDF, it’s also a good option for those who are looking for PDF Voice Reader for macOS.
All the features of Natural Reader definitely come at a price and you should be able to decide whether it is a suit for you with respect to your investment in TTS, but even for a casual user the free version works really well. Overall, Natural reader is not just best text to speech software with natural voices, but since it also support PDF, it’s also a good option for those who are looking for PDF Voice Reader for macOS.
Pricing Options: Pricing for Natural Reader
Link: Download Natural Reader from here
4. Read Aloud
Read Aloud is not exactly a stand alone Mac app but instead a Chrome extension which might appeal to some people. Considering how many posts and articles are read on the internet everyday, we had to include Read Aloud.
It is completely free and once you install it, its icon will appear in the extension bar which you can now use to read any webpage or any online article, just by a single click. When it is in work, you get a play/pause button along with a forward or rewind button which can be used to advance or backtrack paragraphs. Considering it is free, the voice options are really good and feel very natural and premium.
Pros:
– Great natural voice
– Forward or rewind by paragraphs
– Listen to webpages
– Great natural voice
– Forward or rewind by paragraphs
– Listen to webpages
Cons:
– Works only on Chrome
– Works only on Chrome
Verdict:
Suggesting Read Aloud is very straight forward; if you are someone who reads a lot on the internet and are looking for a free TTS software for that, nothing beats Read Aloud.
Suggesting Read Aloud is very straight forward; if you are someone who reads a lot on the internet and are looking for a free TTS software for that, nothing beats Read Aloud.
Price: Free
Link: Download Read Aloud from the Chrome Store
5. Capti Voice
Capti Voice is probably the most polished and well rounded TTS software available for the Mac and the award are only there to justify that. Starting off, Capti Voice uses your browser for the app to function instead of a stand alone Mac application. Don’t worry, you can still use it while you are offline as it stores all its data locally and personally I have had no issues.
Capti Voice has a subscription based model and even the free version has a lot to offer from various file format supports to text search while the premium versions add features like creating playlists, OCR Support and intelligent dictionary lookup. The voices offered across all the platforms are very high quality and commendable.
Quick Tip: Don’t forget to use the Chrome extension which allows you to save articles or webpages to be read later by Capti Voice.
Pros:
– Cross platform with mobile apps
– Create Playlists
– Dictionary lookup
– Shortcuts to get around
– Cross platform with mobile apps
– Create Playlists
– Dictionary lookup
– Shortcuts to get around
Cons:
– No standalone app
– Syncs only when you add to cloud storage
– No standalone app
– Syncs only when you add to cloud storage
Verdict:
Overall, Capti Voice is a really compelling app with features packed to the brim and is very similar to natural Reader but with a subscription based model. It is really the best TTS experience you can get on Mac OS.
Overall, Capti Voice is a really compelling app with features packed to the brim and is very similar to natural Reader but with a subscription based model. It is really the best TTS experience you can get on Mac OS.
![Best mac software Best mac software](/uploads/1/2/6/1/126133294/817961131.png)
Pricing Info: Pricing Options for Capti Voice
Link: Download Capti Voice from here
6. Honorable Mentions
Best Mac Software Programs
CereProc has some of the most natural sounding computer speeches available on the market, which you can use to replace the default voice on your Mac (also available for other platforms). There are a lot of high quality voice packs to choose from and each costs around $35.
Zamzar is a free online service which you can use to convert your text to audio files or mp3s. Unlike the iTunes spoken track which you can use only on Apple devices, you can use it on any platform without any hassle.
Wrapping up: Best Text to Speech for Mac
So these were some of the TTS software available on the Mac and we hope we made your decision a little bit easier. If you are someone who reads mainly on the internet, Read Aloud is by far the best free option. Although a little limited, the built-in TTS feature seems to work just fine, but it can be a pain for long stretches of texts or long articles for which there is Invicta which is also free.
Natural Reader and Capti Voice both are spectacular TTS apps with a lot of plans to choose from, but I guess what it comes down to is the paying model. Natural reader is a one time purchase and should be better if you feel you will be invested in TTS for a long time whereas Capti Voice follows a subscription based model also with a one week free trial. Thanks for reading and do comment below which one is your favorite TTS app on Mac OS.
Read: Make your Devices Read Out Text, With Text to Speech
Handwriting Recognition Software – Convert Your Handwritten Documents into Digital Text Documents
Related:
Having a lot of handwritten documents in your business can be really confusing if you want to digitize your business. Typing all the documents manually can take a lot of time to complete. Thus, handwriting recognition software is necessary for you to automate all the process. This software helps you to convert your handwritten documents into digitized text documents, which make them more readable and easier to store.
This is useful if you want to convert all of your paper documents into digital documents. Not only paper documents, this software can also be used to recognize handwriting input from various sources, including touchscreen devices and photographs.
TopOCR
TopOCR is an OCR software developed for document cameras, which is a new way to scan documents with the best accuracy. Thus, this software can be used to scan books and magazines and convert them into digital documents easily. It can output to PDF text and PDF image files, making it easier for you to keep and organize the digital documents in your drive.
FreeOCR
FreeOCR offers a handwriting recognition technology that allows you to scan handwritten documents and convert it into text format, which you can then export as a Microsoft Word document. The software can also scan your handwritten documents and convert it into a JPG image file or PDF. The software is only available for Microsoft Windows.
Neuroph OCR
Neuroph OCR is an open source handwriting recognition tool that is developed to recognize various handwritten letters and characters. The software is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it can be used as a standalone software or as a plug in. It is a simple software the gets the job done to recognize the handwritten letters and convert it into digital document formats.
PenOffice
PenOffice provides an accurate handwriting recognition software with the extensive set of pen-based collaboration tools. It features new user interface, multi-monitor systems, multi-language support, new handwriting recognition engine, built-in dictionary, inline gestures, and customizable on-screen keyboard. This software can be integrated with Microsoft Office and OpenOffice software.
WritePad Pro
WritePad Pro is a word processing app with handwriting recognition engine embedded in it, allowing you to recognize your handwriting as you type on the iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch devices. The app can save your file in HTML format, in which you can view in any web browser. It features handwriting recognition, document import formats, text formatting, multimedia, document sharing, translator, and a file manager.
AceCad DigiMemo
DigiMemo is a software that allows you to take and organize digital memo. It is embedded with memory and handwriting recognition. It features the user interface that is available in various languages, send to OneNote function, and online writing function. The handwriting recognition software provided by DigiMemo can help you to recognize handwriting, diagrams, tables, and shapes, and convert them into Microsoft Word format.
Other Handwriting Recognition Software for Different Platforms
Some handwriting recognition software is available only for the Microsoft Windows platform, but some others are available for other platforms as well. Aside from that, there are some mobile apps that allow you to convert your handwriting into digital texts, and save the file as a Word document.
Windows Journal
Windows Journal is a built-in application that is available on Windows, which you can use to convert your handwritten letters into text documents. You can find this small utility by searching with the keyword “Journal” in your Windows search box. It offers the text correction feature, allowing you to keep the accuracy of your converted text.
inkBook for Mac
inkBook for Mac facilitates the old way of taking notes, allowing you to write your note as if you are writing it on a paper. Using a digital pen and tablet, you can easily create notes with your handwriting, and with the help of this software, convert it into text files accurately. It features multi-notebook style interface, customizable tabs, gestural input, handwriting recognition, and freeform layout.
Google Handwriting Input
This simple app allows you to convert your handwriting into digital texts, with support for emoji. Aside from typing your handwriting directly on your Android phone or tablet, you can also covert printed and cursive writing into digital texts as well. It features touchscreen typing, voice input, emoji drawing, and support for all types of handwriting.
Ink2Text Handwriting Recognition System
This is a simple open-source software that allows you to convert your printed and cursive writing into text documents. This software is available only for Linux system. https://skieyfire.weebly.com/cms-1500-software-for-mac.html. It can also recognize the gesture input that you give via your keyboard, handwriting input panel, or tablet computers. It should be used in collaboration with S/HIP (Stylus/Handwriting Input Panel) project.
ABBYY FineReader – Best Handwriting Recognition Software of 2016
This software allows you to convert paper documents, PDF, and digital photos into editable text documents. The software’s main feature is that it provides the output text documents with a high level of accuracy, which helps you to reduce the amount of time needed for you to edit and format the output documents. The text recognition engine embedded in this software can recognize up to 190 different languages. This handwriting recognition software is available for Windows and Mac.
What is Handwriting Recognition Software?
Handwriting recognition software, often called OCR software, is the type of software that allows you to convert your handwritten documents into digital documents. Not only that, the software can also convert the handwriting done on a touchscreen interface, using digital pen and stylus. You can convert your handwritten documents or texts into various formats, such as Microsoft Word, PDF, and JPG formats. Some handwriting recognition software can also recognize drawing, shapes, tables, and diagrams and convert them into digital formats as well. Whereas you can usually use this software with a stylus, digital pen, or any touchscreen device, you can also use your scanner and camera to scan your paper documents and convert them into digital documents with the help of this software.
How to Install Handwriting Recognition Software?
Some handwriting recognition software is only available for specific platforms. So, you should make sure that your platform is compatible with the software before you start installing it. To install the software, you need to download the installation file to your device and run the installation process by clicking the downloaded file. To use the software, you need to have the associated accessories, such as touchscreen panel, digital pen, and stylus. Some handwriting recognition software is also available for mobile devices.
Best Text Recognition Software Mac Free
Converting paper documents into digital documents can take a lot of time to do if you do it manually. OCR or handwriting recognition software can help you to convert multiple paper documents into digital documents at the same time. This will save your time in the process. As the handwriting recognition technology is advancing day by day, the accuracy of the handwriting recognition software is increasing. Nowadays, you can accurately convert printed and cursive handwriting into digital text files without much editing needed. All the formatting is done by the software so that you don’t need to spend your time fixing errors due to bad accuracy in the handwriting recognition system.