Best Free TTS Software?

[authorannie]

Hey everyone! Since I cancelled my Eleven Labs subscription, I've been searching for the perfect free text-to-speech (TTS) solution. Ideally, I'm looking for an open-source option that offers decent voices—nothing too robotic-sounding—and provides a good amount of customization, like the ability to choose accents and genders. I've tested out Natural Reader, which I quite liked, but it requires a subscription. Any recommendations for a free TTS software that fits the bill? Thanks in advance!!!.

 

[pmmg]

I doubt you will get all the features you want for free. But I have not looked into this at all.

 

[artsyChica]

Hey everyone! Since I cancelled my Eleven Labs subscription, I've been searching for the perfect free text-to-speech (TTS) solution. Ideally, I'm looking for an open-source option that offers decent voices—nothing too robotic-sounding—and provides a good amount of customization, like the ability to choose accents and genders. I've tested out Natural Reader, which I quite liked, but it requires a subscription. Any recommendations for a free TTS software that fits the bill? Thanks in advance!!!.

I've been using Balabolka for awhile now and while it may not have all the bells and whistles you're looking for, I have had no complaints.

From the site:
Balabolka is a Text-To-Speech (TTS) program. All computer voices installed on your system are available to Balabolka. The on-screen text can be saved as an audio file. The program can read the clipboard content, extract text from documents, customize font and background colour, control reading from the system tray or by the global hotkeys. Balabolka supports text file formats: AZW, AZW3, CHM, DjVu, DOC, DOCX, EML, EPUB, FB2, FB3, HTML, LIT, MD, MOBI, ODP, ODS, ODT, PDB, PRC, PDF, PPT, PPTX, RTF, TCR, WPD, XLS, XLSX.
The program uses various versions of Microsoft Speech API (SAPI); it allows to alter a voice's parameters, including rate and pitch. The user can apply a special substitution list to improve the quality of the voice's articulation. This feature is useful when you want to change the spelling of words. The rules for the pronunciation correction use the syntax of regular expressions.

Balabolka can save the synchronized text in external LRC files or in MP3 tags inside the audio files. When an audio file is played with players on a computer or on modern digital audio players, the text is displayed synchronously (at the same way, as lyrics for songs).

 

[authorannie]

I've been using Balabolka for awhile now and while it may not have all the bells and whistles you're looking for, I have had no complaints.

From the site:
Balabolka is a Text-To-Speech (TTS) program. All computer voices installed on your system are available to Balabolka. The on-screen text can be saved as an audio file. The program can read the clipboard content, extract text from documents, customize font and background colour, control reading from the system tray or by the global hotkeys. Balabolka supports text file formats: AZW, AZW3, CHM, DjVu, DOC, DOCX, EML, EPUB, FB2, FB3, HTML, LIT, MD, MOBI, ODP, ODS, ODT, PDB, PRC, PDF, PPT, PPTX, RTF, TCR, WPD, XLS, XLSX.
The program uses various versions of Microsoft Speech API (SAPI); it allows to alter a voice's parameters, including rate and pitch. The user can apply a special substitution list to improve the quality of the voice's articulation. This feature is useful when you want to change the spelling of words. The rules for the pronunciation correction use the syntax of regular expressions.

Balabolka can save the synchronized text in external LRC files or in MP3 tags inside the audio files. When an audio file is played with players on a computer or on modern digital audio players, the text is displayed synchronously (at the same way, as lyrics for songs).

Thanks! i'll give this one ago.

 

[Prince of Spires]

For what purpose?

I think Google has free TTS narrators for audiobooks if you publish your audiobook to google play (you can then use the file elsewhere as well). They're supposed to be pretty good, but they're only available in certain countries.

 

[authorannie]

For what purpose?

I think Google has free TTS narrators for audiobooks if you publish your audiobook to google play (you can then use the file elsewhere as well). They're supposed to be pretty good, but they're only available in certain countries.

For edits.

 

[Prince of Spires]

If you just want to have software read your writing back to you, then I've heard the one in Word described as "good enough".