Speechify for Nonprofits: AI Text-to-Speech for Accessibility & Learning
Transform any text into natural-sounding audio with 200+ AI voices in 60+ languages. Speechify makes content accessible for people with dyslexia, ADHD, visual impairments, and diverse learning needs—serving 50M+ users worldwide with OCR scanning, synchronized highlighting, and speeds up to 5×.
What Speechify Does
Speechify is an AI-powered text-to-speech platform that converts written content into natural-sounding audio using advanced voice synthesis technology. Founded in 2017 by Cliff Weitzman to help students with learning differences, Speechify has grown to serve over 50 million users worldwide—from students and professionals to nonprofits and advocacy organizations.
For nonprofits, Speechify addresses the critical challenge of making content accessible to diverse audiences. Whether your organization serves people with visual impairments, supports individuals with dyslexia or ADHD, works with multilingual communities, or simply wants to reach busy stakeholders who prefer audio content, Speechify transforms PDFs, web pages, emails, ebooks, and even printed materials into high-quality audio that sounds remarkably human.
The platform's OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scanning capability is particularly valuable for nonprofits working with physical documents, historical records, or educational materials. Simply scan a printed page with your phone camera, and Speechify converts it to audio instantly. This feature, combined with synchronized highlighting that helps users follow along with the text, makes Speechify a powerful tool for creating truly inclusive content experiences.
Best For
Organization Size
- Small nonprofits with limited budgets (generous free tier with 10 voices)
- Mid-sized organizations needing accessible content at scale
- Educational nonprofits and youth development programs (K-12 student grants available)
- International organizations serving multilingual communities (60+ languages)
Use Cases
- Making educational content accessible for diverse learners
- Supporting staff/volunteers with learning differences
- Converting long reports into audio for busy stakeholders
- Creating accessible versions of training materials
- Multilingual content consumption for immigrant/refugee services
Key Features for Nonprofits
Ultra-Realistic AI Voices
Best-in-class natural voice quality
Speechify's 200+ AI voices (Premium) are recognized as among the most lifelike and expressive in the industry. This matters for nonprofits because natural-sounding voices reduce cognitive load and improve comprehension, especially for individuals with learning differences.
- 60+ languages for multilingual accessibility
- Adjustable speeds up to 5× for personalized pacing
- Free tier includes 10 basic voices at 1.5× speed
OCR Scanning
Convert printed materials to audio instantly
Speechify's OCR technology turns physical documents into accessible audio by simply scanning them with your phone camera. This is invaluable for nonprofits working with printed materials, historical records, or educational content that hasn't been digitized.
- Scan textbooks, handwritten notes, worksheets, flyers
- Make archival materials accessible without manual transcription
- Create audio versions of community resources on the fly
Synchronized Highlighting
Follow along as text is read aloud
Speechify highlights text in real-time as it's being read, creating a multisensory learning experience. This feature is particularly effective for individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, or anyone who benefits from both visual and auditory input.
- Improves reading comprehension and retention
- Helps dyslexic learners track text position
- Supports language learners following pronunciation
Cross-Device Sync & Offline Use
Access your content anywhere, anytime
Speechify works seamlessly across web, desktop (Windows/Mac), mobile (iOS/Android), and as a Chrome extension. Premium users can download content for offline listening—critical for nonprofits working in areas with limited connectivity.
- Sync progress across all devices automatically
- Offline downloads for field staff or low-connectivity areas
- Chrome extension reads any web content instantly
Multiple Content Formats
Works with PDFs, web pages, emails, and more
Speechify handles virtually any text format your nonprofit encounters, from digital documents to web content to physical materials. This versatility means one tool can serve all your accessibility needs.
- PDFs, Word docs, ebooks, emails, web pages
- Scanned/printed documents via OCR
- Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, Gmail
Voice AI Productivity Assistant
Beyond text-to-speech: AI notes, podcasts, voice typing
Speechify Premium includes a Voice AI Productivity Assistant that expands beyond simple text-to-speech. Nonprofit staff can research topics, take AI-generated notes, create AI podcasts, and use voice typing to compose documents hands-free.
- Voice typing for accessibility and efficiency
- AI-generated notes from meetings or documents
- AI podcast creation from written content
Real-World Nonprofit Use Case
A literacy nonprofit serving immigrant and refugee families uses Speechify to make educational resources accessible across language barriers and literacy levels. Their program coordinators scan printed worksheets and community resources using Speechify's OCR feature, then share the audio versions with families who speak limited English or have varying literacy skills.
For one family from Somalia, Speechify transformed their son's educational experience. The parents, who were still learning English, could now listen to their son's homework assignments in Somali using Speechify's multilingual voices. This allowed them to support his learning despite language barriers. The synchronized highlighting feature helped their son follow along with English text while hearing it read aloud, significantly improving his reading comprehension and confidence.
The nonprofit also uses Speechify to convert grant applications, impact reports, and program guidelines into audio for board members and stakeholders who prefer listening to lengthy documents during commutes. Staff members with dyslexia or ADHD report that Speechify's natural voices and adjustable speeds (up to 5×) help them process information more efficiently, allowing them to stay on top of required reading without feeling overwhelmed.
By making content accessible in multiple formats and languages, the organization has expanded its reach, improved family engagement, and created a more inclusive environment for both the communities they serve and their own diverse staff.
Pricing
Free Tier
Great starting point for small teams
$0
- 10 basic AI voices
- 1.5× reading speed limit
- OCR scanning
- Cross-device sync
- PDFs, web pages, emails, ebooks
Premium
Full features for professional use
$139/year
~$11.58/month, or $29/month billed monthly
- 200+ natural AI voices
- 60+ languages
- Speeds up to 5×
- Offline downloads
- Voice AI Productivity Assistant
- Priority support
API Pricing for Developers
For nonprofits building custom accessibility solutions or integrating text-to-speech into their own platforms, Speechify offers API access with pay-as-you-go pricing:
- $10 per 1 million characters processed
- Voice cloning capabilities available
- Developer-friendly API documentation
Note: Prices may be outdated or inaccurate.
Nonprofit Discount & Special Offers
While Speechify does not currently advertise a specific nonprofit discount program, they offer educational grants and may provide organizational pricing.
K-12 Student Grants (Free Premium)
Speechify is granting Premium access to 10,000 students in K-12 American schools completely free. Educational nonprofits working with youth can help students apply.
- Must be enrolled in a K-12 school
- Requires valid school email address
- First-come, first-served basis
Bulk Educational & Organizational Pricing
Speechify works with large school districts and organizations around the world to provide access at scale. Nonprofits should contact their sales team to inquire about:
- Bulk organizational licenses
- Potential nonprofit pricing programs
- Custom deployment for large teams
Contact Speechify directly to discuss your nonprofit's needs and explore available options.
Learning Curve
Beginner-Friendly
Intuitive interface designed for accessibility
Speechify is designed with accessibility in mind, which means it's intentionally simple to use. The interface is clean, modern, and intuitive—users can typically start converting text to audio within minutes of downloading the app or installing the Chrome extension.
The platform's cross-device availability (web, desktop, mobile, browser extension) means staff can choose the format they're most comfortable with. Whether you're scanning a printed document with your phone, listening to a PDF on your desktop, or converting a web article with a browser extension, the core experience remains consistent and straightforward.
For nonprofits with staff or volunteers who have varying levels of technical expertise, Speechify's simplicity is a major advantage. There's minimal setup required, and the most common tasks—scanning documents, adjusting reading speed, changing voices—are accessible with just a few clicks. Premium features like offline downloads and the Voice AI Productivity Assistant integrate seamlessly without adding complexity to the core text-to-speech functionality.
Integration & Compatibility
Platform Support
- Web: Browser-based access (no download required)
- Desktop: Windows and Mac apps
- Mobile: iOS and Android apps with OCR scanning
- Browser Extension: Chrome extension for instant web content reading
- Cross-device sync: Seamless progress tracking across all platforms
Integrations
- Google Drive: Access and read documents directly
- Dropbox: Import files for text-to-speech conversion
- Gmail: Listen to emails directly
- API: Custom integrations for developers ($10 per 1M characters)
- File formats: PDFs, Word docs, ebooks, web pages, images (OCR)
Data Portability & Accessibility
Speechify Premium allows offline downloads, meaning you can save audio versions of documents for listening without an internet connection. This is particularly useful for nonprofits working in areas with limited connectivity or for creating accessible content that can be distributed offline (such as on USB drives or via email).
The platform's API provides flexibility for tech-savvy nonprofits to build custom accessibility solutions or integrate text-to-speech into their own platforms, websites, or apps. Voice cloning capabilities mean organizations can create consistent branded audio experiences if needed.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Best-in-class voice quality — Ultra-realistic voices that sound remarkably human, reducing cognitive load and improving comprehension
- Strong accessibility focus — Designed specifically for dyslexia, ADHD, visual impairments, and learning differences
- OCR scanning — Convert printed materials to audio instantly with phone camera
- Cross-platform sync — Seamless experience across web, desktop, mobile, and browser extension
- Generous free tier — 10 voices and basic features at no cost
- Large user base — 50M+ users indicates reliability and ongoing development
- Adjustable speeds up to 5× — Personalized pacing for different learning styles
- Multilingual support — 60+ languages for diverse communities
Cons
- No confirmed nonprofit discount — Unlike some competitors, Speechify doesn't advertise a specific nonprofit pricing program
- Premium pricing may be a barrier — $139/year per user can add up for organizations with many staff needing access
- Limited voices in free tier — Only 10 voices compared to 200+ in Premium
- Speed limited to 1.5× on free tier — Premium required for higher speeds
- API pricing can add up — $10 per 1 million characters may become expensive for high-volume use
- Less file format flexibility than competitors — Natural Reader offers more format options and pronunciation editing
Alternatives to Consider
Natural Reader
Text-to-speech with extensive file format support
Natural Reader offers a wider range of file format support, a pronunciation editor for customizing how words are spoken, and a more generous free version. However, its voices are generally considered less natural-sounding than Speechify's, and its interface feels slightly dated. Pricing is higher at ~$200 for the ultimate package, though paid plans start at $29/month.
Best for: Nonprofits needing extensive file format support or pronunciation customization, or those who prefer a generous free tier.
Murf.ai
AI voice generation for professional voiceovers — 20% nonprofit discount
Murf.ai creates ultra-realistic voiceovers in 120+ voices and 20+ languages, with voice cloning, pitch/speed control, and video integration. It's designed more for content creation (voiceovers for videos, presentations, training materials) than accessibility-focused text-to-speech reading. Murf offers a 20% nonprofit discount and starts at $19/month with a free tier.
Best for: Nonprofits creating multimedia content, training videos, or presentations who need professional voiceovers rather than personal text-to-speech reading.
ElevenLabs
Advanced AI voice generation with free Impact Program for nonprofits
ElevenLabs offers AI voice generation and text-to-speech in 70+ languages with professional voice cloning. The platform has a free Impact Program specifically for healthcare, education, and culture nonprofits. ElevenLabs is particularly strong for creating custom voices and high-quality audio content, though it's oriented more toward content creation than personal accessibility reading.
Best for: Nonprofits in healthcare, education, or culture sectors who qualify for the free Impact Program and need professional-grade voice generation for content creation.
Getting Started with Speechify
1Sign Up for Free Tier
Start with Speechify's generous free tier to test the platform with your team. Visit speechify.com and create an account. Choose the platform that best fits your workflow—web, desktop, mobile, or browser extension. The free tier includes 10 basic voices, 1.5× speed, OCR scanning, and cross-device sync.
Test it with real use cases from your organization: Can staff with dyslexia process reports more efficiently? Can multilingual families access educational materials in their native languages? Can busy stakeholders listen to impact reports during commutes?
2Explore K-12 Grants & Contact Sales
If you're an educational nonprofit working with K-12 students, explore Speechify's free Premium grants program (10,000 grants available). Students need a valid school email address to apply. Learn more at their student grants page.
For organizational licensing or potential nonprofit pricing, contact Speechify's sales team directly. While they don't advertise a specific nonprofit discount, they do offer bulk educational pricing for large organizations. Explain your nonprofit's mission, accessibility needs, and how many staff members would benefit from Premium access.
3Roll Out to Your Team
Once you've decided Speechify fits your needs, roll it out across your organization. Consider creating a simple guide for staff showing how to:
- Scan printed documents using the mobile app's OCR feature
- Use the Chrome extension to listen to web articles and emails
- Adjust reading speed and change voices to find what works best
- Download content for offline listening in low-connectivity areas
- Use synchronized highlighting to follow along with text
Encourage staff to explore the Voice AI Productivity Assistant for voice typing, AI notes, and other productivity features beyond basic text-to-speech.
4Measure Impact & Accessibility
After implementation, gather feedback from staff, volunteers, and the communities you serve:
- Are staff with learning differences able to process information more efficiently?
- Can multilingual families now access resources they couldn't before?
- Has stakeholder engagement improved with audio versions of reports?
- Are training materials reaching a wider audience through audio formats?
Document these accessibility wins as part of your impact reporting. Demonstrating improved inclusivity and reach can help justify the investment and inform future technology decisions.
Need Help Implementing Accessibility Solutions?
Making your nonprofit's content accessible isn't just about technology—it's about strategy, training, and thoughtful implementation.
At One Hundred Nights, we help nonprofits assess their accessibility needs, choose the right tools (like Speechify or alternatives), train staff on effective use, and measure the impact of accessible content on engagement and inclusion. Whether you're just starting to think about accessibility or looking to expand your current efforts, we can guide you through the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Speechify offer a nonprofit discount?
Speechify does not currently advertise a specific nonprofit discount program. However, they offer free Premium access grants for K-12 students (10,000 grants available) and bulk educational pricing for large school districts. Nonprofits should contact Speechify's sales team directly to inquire about potential organizational pricing or nonprofit programs.
What makes Speechify different from Natural Reader?
Speechify excels in voice quality with more lifelike and expressive AI voices, offers broader platform support (iOS, Android, Chrome, Windows), and has a more modern, intuitive interface. It's priced at $139/year compared to Natural Reader's ~$200 ultimate package. Natural Reader offers a wider range of file formats, a pronunciation editor, and a more generous free version. Speechify is best for natural-sounding voices and cross-device accessibility, while Natural Reader suits users needing extensive file format support.
Can Speechify read printed materials?
Yes, Speechify includes OCR (Optical Character Recognition) scanning capability that converts printed text—such as textbooks, handwritten notes, photos, and worksheets—into digital audio by simply scanning a page with your phone camera. This feature is particularly valuable for nonprofits working with physical documents, educational materials, or historical records that need to be made accessible.
Is Speechify good for people with dyslexia or ADHD?
Speechify is specifically designed to support individuals with dyslexia, ADHD, and other learning differences. Key accessibility features include synchronized highlighting that helps users follow along with text as it's read, adjustable reading speeds up to 5× for different learning paces, OCR scanning for printed materials, and natural-sounding voices that reduce cognitive load. Speechify is widely used in educational settings and has free K-12 student grants available.
How many languages does Speechify support?
Speechify Premium supports 60+ languages with over 200 natural-sounding AI voices. This extensive multilingual support makes it valuable for nonprofits serving diverse communities, creating accessible content for non-native speakers, or working internationally. The free tier includes 10 basic voices in select languages.
Can I use Speechify offline?
Yes, Speechify Premium includes offline download capabilities, allowing you to download audio versions of documents for listening without an internet connection. This feature is particularly useful for nonprofit staff working in areas with limited connectivity or for creating accessible content that can be distributed offline.